The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-06-20

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 es were right
 "I looked at the agent, and I saw
 that he knew what I was driving at.
 Might be a good thing for some
 people is she did run away said Rob
 inson.
 " Yes answered the agent, and the
 switches will be right They're al
 United States up the line, aint they 2
 Every blessed one,' I said
 Then I'd bet on the switches he
 answered
 He didn't waste any more time
 talking, but went into his den and com
 menced working the telegraph key.
 saw him at it as we pulled out. Between San Jose and Paso del
 Norte there was only one stop, and
 that was at Samalyuca, 30 miles from the river. We were late because of the accident, and I was pushing her along to pick up some of the lost time. The soldiers had got a little more used to the motion of the engine and though they didn't like 1t they weren't looking so scared when we struck a curve. I felt better, too, because there was less danger of their guns going off by acci- 1 dent.
 T kept up my bluff that there was something wrong with the engine, and got one of the soldiers to help me with some bogus repairs, Bill had heard what I said at San Jose, and he was on. When we got near Samalyuca made believe that I couldn't shut off steam. I pulled at the throttle, out didn't release the spring catch and SO, of course, it wouldn't budge. Then called to a couple of soldiers, and they came and pulled, too, but it didn't do any good. Finally I shut off steam and 1 brought her up, but we had run by the station and had to back in. " Did she run away with you?" ask ed the station agent, as I climbed out of the cab.
 He was bright young fellow, and there was look in his eyes that show ed me he knew what was up.
 " She pretty nearly did I remarked. I'm afraid she will, next time
 " She won't hit anything if she doas,' he replied. I caught message to san Jose that said the track was clear.
 " Then I'm pretty sure the old girl will get fractious when she gets near the river I said. She's United States make, and she seems to want to go to her old stable
 Robinson came up and we talked and he and Ellsins grinned at each other
 " I've fixed the air brake he said. The soldiers can pull at it all day with out making it work
 Good boy I answered. If she don't run clear home it will be because she hits something that stops her
 Tt is 30 miles from Samalyuca to Paso del Norte, and from the station there it's another mile to the station in Fl Paso, and halfway beween the two stations is that make-believe river, the Rio Grande.
 The running card allows an hour and 20 minutes to Paso del Norte. but we were behind time, and I slammed her along. I was getting anxious as the time camel or putting the scheme through. I began wondering what the soldiers would do when they found out what was up: whether they would let us run away with them, or whether they excited and shoot. But I decided to take the chance, anyhow, and, to 1 keep them occupied, I went at the old bluff of getting them to help me With | the engine. Bill joined in his game, and hooked the fire rake into ring | at the back of the tender, and got three | of the soldiers to pull on the rake. [ pretty nearly laughed when I saw what | they were doing. It seemed as though [ a -year-old kid would have known ! better But the Mexicans took it all |
  busy.
 They were so occupied with their monkey work that they din't notice how close we were to Paso del Norte. f did, though, and I looked ahead mighty sharp to see that the track was clear. l was sure it would be, as far as the station. What worried me was whether it would be from the station to the United States.
 Just before you get to the depot there is a curve in the track. As we struck that 1 let the old girl out bit. The two soldiers who were helping me lad their heads below the cab window, md the three who were pulling at Ilkins' fire rake had their backs turn ed and couldn't see where we were, But the other fellow, who was sitting n Elkins' seat caught sight of the station as it seemed to jump out of the ground He gave a yell like a fright ,ned coyote and leaped at me. I had lold of the throttle and pulled her ,pen another notch. Then I pretended o be trying to shut her off, but with he same trouble I had had at I called to the soldier; Co lelp me, and they tugged as they had lone before. This time they couldn't To anything, for l had jammed a cold > hisel at the bottom of the lever, so hat an elephant couldn't have moved , t.
 But the soldiers thought I was in . arnest in trying to stop, and did their est to help. Elkins men pulled at the . re rake until the sweat run down heir faces, and mine worked as they . ever had before.
 "It was all over in less time than I an tell it. We were going a good 45 . niles an hour and in a second we were ast the station The nervous per piration was running down my face s I peered ahead It was dark and ! II theights I could see showed white ut how would it be in the yards on T le other side of the right. . "Then another fear came to me Sup OSe we should hit a street car or a 1 N