The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-09

DIX. MILES MEDICAL CO., Elkhart, Inc.
her daughter was 20 hire an engine ana
follow on that
"'Old mamma took fire Mt once and
sent Il message to the superintendent
asking for an engine. They wired back.
Yes, if she would pay 800 for the
first hour and 500 for each succeeding
hour Pretty steep, but, you see, they
cinched her because she was u Diiao.
Pilao is derived from pilado-peelcd,
without clothes or anything else. They
knew Augustinita had quite !. bit Of
money put away, and it is the proper
thing 10 keep the pilaos true TO their
namc and caste-peeled.
"Augustinita WAS bloodcd. She bit
her teeth down on her chcroot and said.
send for It,
In about two hours tho engine CAME
laundering i'll from Aguas Calien;es.
Tom iasllins was the pilot and the on
gineer WAS one OF tho best on the extra
list
The road was clear for Il half dozen
stations, and they Went whining along,
so kilomotcrS an hour
Old mamma sat stolidly looking
out Of the cab window, apparently ui-
moved by the tremendous speed and the
lurching of Tho engine as they tore
round tie short curves, but 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 clampcd her
jaws on her puro and sat immovable,
with her bcady eyes fastened OH the rail-
ahead
They met the passenger train i'll the
carly morning, and, as word had gone
from one end of the line to the other of
course the trainmcn had informed tie
passengers and, with heads out of win
dows and the platforms crowded, they
checrod and laughed as the engine ran
by. One wag shouted; Hurry, and
you'll catch them. They re just round
the bend'
Not 20 minutes later, at the next
station, WAS the freight train, humbly
side tracked, waiting the enemy.
They had had Il terrible time assist
ing Augustinita i'll the cab You can see
for yourself she weighs about 275, and
clumsy at that. Haskins and tho engi-
necr pulled, and the fireman, who was Il
Mexican, pushed, and Augustinita
struggled and gruntcd and finally was
landed. But when she saw the yellow
caboose she frisllcd out like kitten
The engineer. who is IL spiritualist, said
that the spirits helped her. Haskins said
ho would have been much more grateful
to them if they had helped her in. but
he thought they showed good sense i'll
taking the easy end OF the job
'Haskins was afraid Branscombc
would shoot or abuse the old woman i'll
some way, so he went with her TO the
caboosc. Tho two were sitting ON II sort
of locker lie had his arm about the
girl, and, beyond rising. they made no
change in their position. Haskins, on
tho platform. lowered near the open
door.
"Augustinita walked up to them and
asked Ma,uela III her politcSt basso to
come home. Tho girl gave an impudent
answer and poor old mamma turned
to Branscombo who laughed in her face
and gave Manucla IL fcrvcnt kiss. Later
III the day the thought of that kiss and
others made Branscombe's 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 III store for her. Besides she
is thrifty old body, and Manuela' s
beauty brings great many ccntavos to
the house. Many of the mon eat here
merely to get "a look i'll her big gray
eyes.
"At Branscombc's laugh Augustinita
burst cut: 'Caramba! No moro will YOU
laugh this day! look
with surprisingly quick move
mcnt she pulled off Mmuela's chal and
tore open her high neclled camisa
Branscomhc gave one glance and stag
gered heavily against the wall.
Keep away he screamed, with
cutstrotchod hands. For Gods sake,
keep away Don't let her come near
me! I'll hit you if you touch mcp as
tho girl cndoavored to catch ut him,
pleading with him in her soft tongue.
Bcanscombc, mad with fear, was
deaf Although he had threatened To