The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-11

graph ONCE, where he remained few mo
ments: when he came out again he carried
in his hand a crumpled bit Of paper. upor
which appeared the words, Run regard
less His hand shot upward in sigma
to the waiting engineer, and, with changing
bell and the hiss Of escaping steam. thu
train moved out.
Anxiously the refugees at Las Deiicias
scanned the western horizon. In that d.
recton an almost level plain stretched
away mile upon mile to where 1t met q
range of mountains that were velvety and
blue with distance. Midway in this plain
cloud of dust arose, grew larger with
every moment, and drew rapidly nearer.
Now dense roll of black smoke appeared.
and assembled straight upward to lose it,
self in the blue Of the sky. and an angry
glare of fame leaped upward beneath it
The Apaches were coming in a whirlwind
Of death and destruction.
"A Dios, they are but little more than
three leagues away" groaned Don En-
rique. What shall We do?"
No need for worry, senor," returned
Evans, who was sitting with one ear over
his telegraph instrument; and with exas-
perating GOODNESS he struck match and
lit his pipe.
mo need Tor worry" gasped Don En-
uTedl UCu, HAL, IQOu ART CIGZSu
with fear!'
But Evans did not reply. did not hear:
he was entirely absorbed by what the
telegraph was saying. Presently a lcok
OF satisfaction shone in his face, and he
made a hastily mental calculation: Tn
dams ten miles away, an comm ten
miles an hour: soldiers sixty miles away.
an 'Cussin' Jimmy Johnson a-pullin'
en-; result some Indians to bury bout an
hour il Jimmy stays on tn rails-hot
times for US if he DON'T
The cloud of dust kept rolling nearer,
and group Of tiny black specks came
into view at its base-specks that in
creased in number with every moment,
and that grew larger, took form. and be-
came gailoping Apaches. Nearer, carer
they came, and the sobbing. praying. hys-
terical Mexicans relinquished all h.pe of
mortal aid, but not so with Evans. Lean
ing far out of his window, he was watch
ing the track. and presently. far away
where the two lines Of cleaning rails
seemed to unite in one. he caught sight Of
another speck-a speck that was sending
aloft a plume Of inky black smoke.
"Fireman's workin' like ,th devil" he
unused. "an' Jimmy's got her wide open,
comm down 1 per cent grade, too.
Amt he a bird?" Now hg looked at the
Indians, and a look Of concern stole into
his face. They were getting dangerously
near. Going to his desk. he took out and
cooked his revolver. 1t held six loads,
one for each of the women IL worst
should come-far better death for them
than capture by the Apaches, he thought.
CHANGING at these poor creatures. who
were budding together in corner of the
room, he noticed for the first time that
one OF them, young woman whom ne
took to be Don Enrigue's daughter, was
possessed OF more than average beauty.
and he trembled with the thought that
his might be the hand that must end her
life.
The Apaches were within rife range OF
the station, and the rapid pounding of
their horses hoofs were distinctly heard.
when the rails began to vibrate and hum
beneath swiftly turning wheels The rext
minute, with deafening roar Ct escaping
steam. and with every wheel sliding and
sending showers of sparks from the rails.
the train bearing the soldiers swept up
to the station and came to stop. STEM
torian commands rang cut. followed in
stantly b. a rafting and cracking Of
locks, and a thunderous yolley crashed
from the car windows.
The surprise Of the Apaches was COM
plete; several of their number ree1ed and
almost fell from their ponies. A whoop
and wave of their leaders hand sent
them flying back toward the moutains,
and the soldiers quickly pouring from the
trains. started in hopeless pursuit Of
them.
Dcp Enrique was as one who sees a
rision-so sudden transition firm dumb
despair to a sense of safety stupefied him.
With round, wide open eyes, he stared a
ew minutes at the fleeing Indians, at the
lusty soldiers above whose heads Hut
erred the flag OF his country. and then.
n a sudden transport of joy. rushed TO
Evans, and clasped him to his arms.
MY friend, my very dear friend" he |
ried, Kissing the surprised American, |
rst on Que cheek. then on the other.
Nay. thnv art more than friend-savior-I
avior OF my property-of my family-of |
IL tina. hold dear, Thou hast
"0h, hello! Say. drop 1t. Turn me |
pose, ycu old fool! DIN you. quit kissin' |
ne," sputtered Evans, speaking English,
5 was natural under the circumstances
performed miracle, thou and thy
and thy telegraph" Don En- !
ique went on, not noticing this interrupt
ion, and holding tight to Evans, who was
truggling with all his strength to get |
way.
Evans gave up. and, to escape further
sculation. pushed forward his head on
he Mexicsn's shoulder; his face was
ushed with shame. and his eyes were
billing ludicrously from side to side, fair
: speaking the disgust he felt.
cay de mi. 1 did oppose the building
thy railroad. I thought it was the work
the devil. and l denounced the Gov
for permitting it. But l was
rong-I. Enrique del Toro, do admit that
was wrong-and henceforth I am the
lend of railroads.&c. the telegraph, also,
has been the means of saving our lives,
nd therefore cannot be harmful to our
pulls. / am the friend of thy railroad.
epeat, and 1 will now accept the pass l
nee did refuse. Come to my house. my
lend. 1t is thine. All that 1 possess is
line at thy pleasure
He was trying to kiss Evans again,
hen a voice that shook with laughter
illed from the window; Say, Evans,
hats the matter with the good lookin'
I'd rather kiss her than the
Id man-I'll take her if you'll let me get
ito the game" Tsf
"p-n you an the daughter. too" Ev-
rs returned wrathfully. glancing at the
-imy face of "Cussin' Jimmy" which was
AIMED in the window. and with mighty
renchirg himself free, he ran cut Of the
,om.
A year passed. and one day Evans hail
the engineer of train that was slow
g into Las Delicias. Say. Jimmy he
lied do you remember tn little Mex
an girl you saw out here last year-th'
me you pulled tn extra. bringin' sold !
rs?"
The one that was lookin' so lonesome
lille you were huggin' the old man." an
vered Jimmy. Why. yes; what's be- {
me of herr"
''She doesn't get lonesome that way any {
ore" Evans replied. grinning sheepish- {
slip on your best clothes an dead ,
,ad out here tomorrow, an you'll see her
come Mrs. Evans. The Argonaut.
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