They had been living with me for some little time in the rear part of our "store." At this time Mr.Rose and myself had a contract under Schumacher, Miller & Co., constructors of the Kansas Pacific, for grading five miles of track westward from Big Creek, and running through the site of Rome.
Notwithstanding we had been deserted, we had some small hope that they would not be able to get water at the new town, and that the people would all soon move back to Rome, as we really had the best location.

We determined, therefore, to go on with our grading contract, and wait for something better to turn up.

It was indeed hard for us, who had been millionaires, to come down to the level of common railroad contractors-- but we had to do it, all the same.
We visited the new town of Hays almost daily, to see how it was progressing, and in a short time we became much better acquainted with Dr.Webb, who had reduced us from our late independent to our present dependent position.

We found him a perfect gentleman--a whole-souled, genial-hearted fellow, whom everybody liked and respected.

Nearly every day, "Doc." and I would take a ride over the prairie together and hunt buffalo.
On one occasion, having ventured about ten miles from the town, we spied a band of Indians not over two miles distant, who were endeavoring to get between us and the town, and thus cut us off.