Mower County transcript., 1908-11-18
"Where did he so?"


IT wired him I was comm. My
name is O'Connor, and"
"Oh, Mr.. O'Connor," interrupted Mr..
wentworth, ''he told me to give you
this note," which he took from his
desk and handed to the engineer. Mike
was visibly excited when he tore open
the envelope, and after he read the
contents and pocketed the 5000, his
doubling eyes sparkled with a new
enthusiasm.
II thought I might "a been hasty
in judgin' him." he said, half uncon-
scious of the old Gemini's presence,
"and I guess this shows it. Still, I'm
tryin' to do. Why couldn't he have
told me somethin' definite about mat
ters?"
A few minutes later he was briskly
on his way to the railroad station,
where he told the agent that he would
not go all the way to Ell Paso, but
would take ticket to Jimenez. The
thought of wiring Jerry had escaped
his mind.
Mike felt convinced that the kid
napers and Marina had departed from
Vera Cruz and that they had lost no
time in proceeding to Jimenez He
also accepted as fact that the days
trip from that place would bring them
into the mountains. He wondered why
they should go so far away from Vera
Cruz and why they should not remain
in some place of considerable size.
Mike figured that they had left their
train before reaching the City of Mex
leo and caught a train for Jimenez at
some other place than the central sta
tion. He also believed that they would
depart from the capital at the earliest
possible moment. His time table
showed that they could have caught
a train which preceded the one on
which he travelled.
1t was little after seven o'clock
when the train drew up at small sta
tion. Mike looked at his schedule
card and found that it w9s flag"
station, and he went to the platform
and watched another coach being
added to the train. Considerable time
was taken in switching to the main
track, and he sat down on q truck to
smoke his pipe. Just as he struck a
match, which, he afterwards thanked
his lucky stars, did not light, he saw
five persons-three men and two
women-leave the dark little station
and move briskly towards the added
coach.
"It's thim!" he almost muttered to
himself, his pipe falling from his hand,
"and thank hivven they didn't see
me! If could only get word to Tom
my to head 'em off! But can't, and
chances are he wouldn't get the
word in. time, anyway. But" darting
around the station, 'I'll take chance" :"
He was near the telegrapher when the
engine bell began to ring and the Or
der to move was given. The time to
write message was too short, and,
pulling his hat down over his eyes, he
ran to the train.
The first thought that flashed across
his mind after he was aboard was that
either Andre or Felipe would go
through the train with eyes fixed for
either him or Jerry. The train had not
proceeded far before he was talking
with the conductor.
*'1'd give almost anything r. r'73
on an ingine," said he l-1gzfi1eer
myself, but I've never seen the work
ms on locomotive afore. Is it pos
sible for me to get in the cab?"
TITS in violation OK ~ iron-bound
rule for any passenger t. ~de in the
cab," said the conductor.
''1ll tell you what I'll d." said Mike;
'1'll give you the price Of suit of
clothes if you can fix it for me-" He
drew a crisp note from his pocket and
held it so that the poorly paid official
could feast his eyes on it.
''1'll see what I can do for you," said
the conductor, as he moved towards
the engine. Mike followed him to the
door and whispered in his ear:
''Try to get me on right away; J.
want to see things whin it amt too
dark"
Mike had just settled into a seat
when the rear door OF the coach
opened. He drew his hat down over
! his eyes and appeared to be asleep,
| but he managed to cast a glance down
the aisle. Wearing cap we'll down
over his eyes Andre came towards
| him. The stranger drew a glassful
! of water from the tank at the forward
! end of the car and then dropped into
the fourth or fifth seat, three seats
| from Mike. He took paper from his
| pocket and began to read as the con.
ductor re-entered the coach. The of.
f1cial, smile of pleasant anticipation
on his lips, went to Mike and wEis.
pered: '1've fixed it. Come right
along"
"Sh-! I've got a pain In my
stomach now, and think I'll wait till
It's gone. I'll be there all right"
| Fifteen minutes later Andre. his
J cap on the back Of his head and his
, face wearing an expression Of conl.
dence, slowly went out of the coach.