Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-01-28

hcDt ~ lHtssu.sc 10 inc superintendent
asking for an engine They wired back,
Yes, if she would pay 800 for the
first hour and $50 for each succeeding
hour, Pretty steep, hut, you see they
cinched her because she WA. pilao.
Pilao is derived from pilado-peeled,
without clothes or anything else. They
knew Augustinita had quite bit Of
money put away, and it is the proper
thing to keep the pilaos true to their
name and caste--peeled
"Augustinita was blooded. She bit
her teeth down on her cheroot and said,
Send for it,
"In about two hours the engine came
laundering in from Aguas Calientes
Tom Haskins was the pilot, and the en-
gineer was one of the best on the extra
list.
1.-THE road was clear for half dozen
stations, and they went whizzing along,
so kilometers an hour.
Old mamma sat stolidly looking
out Of the cab window, apparently un-
moved by the tremendous speed and the
lurching Of the engine as they tore
round the short curves, hut HaskinS
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 clamped her
jaws on her puro and sat immovable,
with her beady eyes fastened on the rails
ahead.
They met the passenger train in the
early morning, and, as word had gone
from ono end Of Che limo to tho other, of
course the trainmen had informed the
passengers. and, with heads out of win
dows and the platforms crowded, they
cheered and laughed as tho engine ran
by. One wag shouted Hurry, and
you'll catch them. They're just round
the bendh
''Not 20 minutes later, at the next
station, was the freight train, humbly
side tracked, waiting the enemy.
''They had had terrible time assist
ing Augustinita in the cab You can see
for yourself she weighs about 275 and
clumsy at that Haskins and the engi-
neer pulled. and the fireman, who was a
MtAlNil, puouCu, anu AUX ua''l'At"
struggled and grunted and finally was
landed But when she saw the yellow
caboose she fris1ed out like kitten.
The engineer, who is spiritualist, said
that the spirits helped her. Haskins said
he would have been much more grateful
to them if they had helped her in, but
he thought they showed good sense III
taking the easy end of the job
"Haskins was afraid Branscombe
would shoot or abuse the old woman in
some way, so he went with her tc the
caboose. The two were sitting on "a sort
of locker. He had his arm about the
girl, and, beyond rising, they made no
change in their position. Haskins, 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 impudept
answer, and poor old mamma turned
to Branscombe, who laughed in her face
and gave Manuela a fervent kiss. Later
in the day the thought of that kiss and
others made Branscombes blood turn
to ice.
Now, Augustinita had followed her
daughter because she loved her and
wished to save her from the fate Brans
combe had in store for her. Besides she
is thrifty old body, and Manuela's
beauty brings a great many centavos to
che house. Many Of the men eat here
merely to get look in her big gray
eyes.
"At Branscombe's laugh Augustinita
burst out: 'Caramba! No more will you
laugh this day! Look
with surprisingly quick move.
ment she pulled off Manuela's chal and
tore open her high necked camisa
Branscombe gave one glance and stag
gered heavily against the wall.
" Keep away he screamed, with
outstretched hands. For Gods sake,
keep away! Don't let her come near
me! III hit you if you touch mel as
the girl endeavored to catch at him,
pleading with him in her soft tongue.
'Branscombe, mad with fear, was
deaf. Although he had threatened 10
strike her he did not do it. for it would
bring his flesh i'll contact with hers. The
terror stricken man, shaking her off, ran
out Of the car and down the track
"Manuela covered her breast and |
walked sulkily back with her mother to
the engine
Hawkins said it was an awful sight
those shining, livid, white blotches
on the brown skin, sight he could not
forget for many day.
! rose, sick and trembling. That was
one Of the loathsome sights Of Mexico to
which | could never accustom myself,
and the thrill of horror ! had felt on
seeing the first white patched, frosty
headed leper returned.
Don't get frightened, madam,
said my friend eating his salsa with
gusto. cold mamma had just paint
ed Manuela up III .er sleep If she had
been leper, Branscombe would have
been welcome to her. Do you think that
old lady would spend $500 recovering
damaged goodsY'
| looked at 'old mamma" sitting on