, 1896-11-20

The road was clear for a h~alf-dozen
stations. and they went whizzing along.
so kilOmeters an hour.
old Mamma sat stolidly looking
cnt OF the cab window. apparently uu-
moved by the tremendous speed andthe
irrching of the engine as they tCIe
round the short ca1vcs: but HasF;ns
thought she must have been greatly ex-
cited. because she was unable to keep
her cheroot lighted. Finally she tired
of trying to smoke. and simply clamp
ed her jaws en- her puro and sat i'm
movable. with her beady eyes fastened
on the rails ahead.
They met the passenger train in the
early morning, and. as word had gone
from one end of the line to the other.
of course the trainmen had Informed
the passengers, and with heads out of
windows and the platforms crowded
they cheered and laughed as the engine
ran by. One wag shouted: Hurry and
you'll catch them; they're just round
the bend,'
Not twenty minutes later, at the
next station, was the freight train.
my.
They had had a terrible time assist
ing Augustinita in the cab. You can see
for yourself she weighs about 275
pounds, and clumsy at that. Haskins
the engineer pulled, and the fireman.
who was a Mexican, pushed, and Aug
ustin:ta struggled and grunted, and
finally was landed. But when she saw
the yellow %cabOose. she frisked out like
a kitten. The engineer, who is a spirit
ualist. said that the spirits helped her.
Hask:ns said he would have been much
mere gratful to them if they had help
ed her in. but he thought they showed
good sense in taking the easy end of
the job.
"Haskins was afraid B~ranscombe
would shoot or abuse the old woman in
some way, so he went with her to the
''oS-'F Nv wv "'lN SllNIllS III d
SORT Of locker; he had his arm about
the girl, and, beyond rising. they made
made no change in their position. Has
kins on the platform lowered near the
open door.
"Augustinita walked up to them and
asked Manuela. in her pOlitest basso.
to come home. The girl gave an impu-
dent answer. and poor Old Mamma
turned to BranscCmbe. who laughed in
her face and gave Manuela a fervent
kiss. Later in the day he thought Of
blood turn to ice.
Now Augustinita had followed her
daughter because she loved her and
to save her from the fate Brans-
combe had in store for her. Besides.
she is a thrifty Old body. and Manuela's
beauty brings a great many centavos
to the house. Many of the men eat
here merely to get a look in her big
gray eyes.
Al Branscombe's laugh. Augustini-
la burst out: 'Caramba, no more will
you laugh this day-look!'
with a surprisingly quick move
she pulled off M%anuela's chal and
open her h~igh-neckcd camisa.
gave II glance. and stag
yered heavily against the wall.
keep away he screamed, with
0utstretched hands. For Gods saks
keep away! Don't let her ONE near
ne! I'll hit you if you touch me, as the
girl e~ndeavored to catch at him, plead
ng with him in her soft tongue.
"BranscCmbc. mad with fear, was
leaf. Although he had threatened to
strike her. he did not do it. for it would
his flesh in contact with hers.
rhe terror-stricken man. shaking her
off, ran cut OF the car and down the
rack.
"Manuela covered her breast and
walked sulkily back with her mother
o the engine.
"Haskins said it was an awful sight
shining. livid, white blotGles on
he brown skin. a sight he could not
orget for many a day"
| rose, sick and trembling. That was
NE of the loathsome sights of Mexico