The suburban citizen., 1901-10-12

n HAD come from the East to seek
my fortune in Colorado. After
spending nearly two years in pros
a pecting in different parts Of the
State, 1 resolved to go to Los Vegas,
New Mexico, and try to get a position
on the railroad, as l always had
liking for that sort of work.
Well, l only got as far as Trinidad,
when I found myself without a dollar
in the world, and of course I had to
stop over and see If l could not get
something to do
1 went to the Sante Fe railroad sta
ton and applied for work, but failed
to get any Encouragement. Then l
went to the different trainmen and
made diligent inquiries, but none Of
them knew Of any job that was OPEN
A conductor, who was then running
local freight on this line, promised
to give me a position as brakeman, if
would remain in Trinidad two
weeks. His head brakeman was 60
ing to quit him, he Informed me, and
l could have the place if l chose %
remain there till the vacancy oc-
Cured; but two days later he was re-
moved to another division Of the road,
and l was left without any prospect of
employment in Trinidad.
then resolved to 90 to Los Vegas
at once, but, having no money to pay
my fare, was at a loss to know what
to do. At last, however, l decided to
go to the railroad station and endeav-
or to get some of the brakemen on
the freights to let me ride.
When / arrived at the station l
found that a long freight train had
just pulled up and was standing on
the side track to wait the coming
Of the eastern-bound express.
/ first approached the conductor,
and, explaining my condition, asked
him to carry me over his division, but
he dismissed me with the curt reply
that his train was a freight train
and he was forbidden to carry passen-
gers.
Discouraged but not despairng,
went to the head brakeman and
sought to induce him to allow me to
ride on one Of the box cars.
"Got any money!" he asked.
"Not a cent" I replied, "but-"
you'll have to walk then" he said
and passed on.
l tried the other brakeman with
like result; then l began TO feel pret-
ty blue. walked up the track along
the side Of the train, wishing that 1
had never seen the State Of Colorado.
Presently 1 stopped to admire a new
locomotive that was in the train near
| it centre. 1t was a beautiful piece
Of workmanship, fresh from the
shops, and was being taken south for
the Mexican Central
While l was standing there the
train was uncoupled just back Of the
locomotive, and the lower section
backed down to another switch.
A few minutes later the express
went by and then the section that
{ had been run back was brought on to
the main track and went laundering
on its way to Ration. You see the
trains had to be pulled up this long
grade in sections, then, and an engine
was kept at the point to do the work
As soon as the train had disappeared
up the slope l heard the bell ring
and then the other section began tC
move forward. Not until that mo
ment, when the disagreeable sensa
lion Of being left behind took posses
sion Of me, did l have the remOtes
idea Of attempting to steal a ride
Then It occurred 10 me that 1 nigh
easily ride on the engine at the real
end Of the train, and no one be tn,
wiser; but l hcsitated to do such {
thing, and should have given up thu
idea had not the brakeman pointed t,
the engine and limited that if didn'
have backbone enough to get aboarC
ride, l ought to walk.
Thus encouraged, l ran forward an,
leaped aboard the moving engine
Then 1 crept into the tender and seat
ed myself where 1 would be hid from
the observation Of any one who nigh
pass along the train. l knew that tn
brakeman would shield me If h
could, but l must not allow the con
ductor to discover my presence.
The train was now moving taste
and faster, ana the clatter Of tn
wheels over a joint in the rails toll
me that we were passing over tn
switch and on to the main track.
We soon struck the long, ste.
grade, and moved very slowly. Their
Is level space, a quarter Of a mil
long, perhaps, just below the las
grade Of two mues. We had reache