The Press., 1903-07-30

this when you bought your tickets.
| The railway officials in San Francisco
would have issued your certificate.
It's wonder that they didn't speak to
you about it."
| Mrs. Mayne had bought the tickets,
and Mary remembered with a sinking
heart that her sister had carelessly
tossed aside a package of papers when
she took the tickets from the envelope.
The conductor went on. "This bu-
bonic plague scare is a confounded null
sance to the travelling public. There is
one way out of it; you can make oath
that you have not been in Chinatown
or the precincts within fifteen days"
"We can easily do that"
1t is the unexpected that happens,
and Bob's opportunity had come. 81
was in Chinatown last week with
Mike" he said loudly.
Miss Appleton looked at him in
amazement. Mike was the majors old
and trusted servant, the last person to
take the boy into a place of danger.
The story was incredible
Bob looked unblushingly at his aunt.
To Bob at that moment there were
things better than truth. The officer
looked down sternly at the little shrink
ing woman. you'll have to be ready
to get off at the next siding. You'll find
box car there. The local freight will
pick you up later and take you to Dem
ing. There you will find out what 1t is
best to do"
The sympathetic excitement of their
fellow passengers was subdued by the
thought of relief from the troublesome
boys and by nervous fear of journeying
with a plague suspect. The friendly
gentleman lent hand in strapping va
Uses and in gathering up the various
fmpedimenta of an overland journey.
There was evidently OH his part no in
tention of questioning the wisdom of
the laws of Texas.
Miss AppletOn's patience received its
crowning stroke when she mounted her
trunk as step and was dragged by q
not overclean employee into the box
car. She had hardly until then realized
the significance of their movements.
She had but a confused idea of the
goodbys of their fellow passengers gen.
orally, but the sympathetic tones of the
friendly man persisted in her mind
Bob scrambled up beside her and an
nounced his freedom in hilarious
whoop. 1t was adding insult to injury,
and, as much to her own amaZement
as to BOb's, she seized the offender by
the shoulders and shook him soundly.
The crestfallen appearance of their
ringleader as he sulked on box in the
corner of the car, new, stern aunt
who certainly held the whip hand, and
strong desires for something to eat
were conditions not conducive to free
and easy romance in the desert. 1t
was a very weary and subdued trio of
boys that the local freight brought into
'Deming.
Miss Appleton's apprehensions that
the whole party would be subject to
an unpleasant quarantine were speed
lily removed. Before she had recovered
from the surprise at the courtesy
shown them by the railway officials,
their fellow traveller of the Overland
stepped from the caboose of the
freight.
81 telegraphed to see that you were
properly looked after, and have come
to see that it is done" he said with a
smile. 81 know this place very well,
as happen to be in the railroad busi-
ness myself. You will be very COM
Portable here for few days, until you
get your passports"
Much to Miss Appleton's relief he
assumed, with matter of fact air, the
entire management of their affairs. He
did the telegraphing. the planning and
the thousand and one duties demand
ed by their quarantine hold up. Once
she ventured an apologetic remon-
STRANGE about taking up his time, but he
had answered gayly that he was "off
on holiday" and that he was enjoy
ing it immensely (Which was strictly
true). ....5
Bob was the only unhappy member
Of the party. Pride forbade an ac-
knowledgment Of his falsehood, and he
grimly accepted his punishment. He
tasted the way Of the transgressor in
lonely quarantine, and also realized the
power of the government of Texas to
punish not only visitors to Chinatown,
but also those who inadvertently stray
in the paths of Ananias.
A number of cablegrams were await
ing the Maynes on their arrival at
Manila. Mrs. Mayne nearly tainted
with astonishment at the contents of
one which her husband read aloud:
"Mary married yesterday to Robert
Read, general manager Great Western
railroad"