1:35 P.M.
Three days ' journey brought young Harris to Montana , an inland empire state , which lies on both sides of the Rocky Mountains . The Pacific Express was laden with a motley crowd of men and women in search of fame and fortune . Alfonso soon caught their enthusiasm , and visions of castles with gilded domes floated in his imagination . It was 1:35 P.M. when No. 1 , the Pacific Express , pulled into thrifty Helena , capital of Montana , a commercial metropolis metamorphosed from a rude mining camp of twenty-five years ago . The electric cars carried Alfonso to the Hotel Helena on Grand St. , which he thought quite as good as any in his own city . Here he was fortunate in meeting Mr. Davidson , a gentleman of large experience as owner , organizer , and locator of some of the best gold and silver properties in Montana and adjoining states . Irrigating canals and water-rights were a special branch of Mr. Davidson 's business .