The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1908-10-15

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.
ton. He also believed that they would
depart from the capital at the earliest
possible moment. His time table
showed that they could have caught
train which preceded the one on
which no travelled.
II was a little after seven o'clock
when the train drew up at a small sta
ton. Mike looked at his schedule
card and found that Il ives a 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 a truck to
smoke his pipe. Just as he struck a
match. which, he afterwards thanked
bis 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 thiml" he almost muttered TO
himself. his pipe falling from his hand
'and thank hivven they didn't see
me, II could only get word to Tom
my to head 'em of, But l can't, and
chances are he wouldn't get the
word in time. anyway. But" darting
around the station, TN take a 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 a 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.
I'D give almost anything TO ride
on an ingine," said he. I'm an ingineer
myself, but I've never seen the work
ms on a locomotive afore. Is It pos
sible for me to get in the cab?"
It's in violation Of an iron-bound
rule for any passenger to ride In the
cab" said the conductor.
'I'll tell you what I'll do" said Mike;
I'll give you the price OF a suit OF
clothes If you can fix ii for me-" He
drew a crisp note from his pocket and
held Il so that the poorly paid official
could feast his eyes on 1t.
I'm see what | 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: l
want to see things whin 1t amt too
dark"
Mike had Just settled into 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 a cap well 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 a paper from his
pocket and began TO read as the con
ductor re-entered the coach. The Of
fetal. a smile of pleasant anticipation
on his lips, went to Mike and whis-
-f.k
along"
"Sh-! I've got 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
cap on the back OF his head and his
face wearing an expression OF conf
dence, slowly went out Of the coach.
"A pretty detectivel" smiled Mike,
as he sat up and pushed back his hat.
You won't always be goin' about with
your cap on the back o. your head.
my dandy. can tell you that. Your
names what my fathers wasl"
Riding on locomotive was not
novelty to Mike O'Connor, for he had
run" engines I'm the United States in |
his earlier days. and when he went to
the cab the sensations were not strong
enough to keep him from concen-
trating his whole mind on plans for
the future. When he returned TO the !
coach. after midnight. with an invita-
ton" to come back to the cab any |
time, he had decided TO follow the Ave |
as far as he could out Of Jimenez. TO |
find out their hiding place, II possible.
and then to communicate with |
Tommy"
When the train reached Escalon he
looked around for Jerry, and, while he
would have given much TO see him,
he was glad that he was not at the
station. Numerous delays added half
4 dozen hours TO the running time. and
Jimenez was not reached until after
lightfall. Mike was on the front plat
lorm when the train came 10 a stop at
he station, and, after giving the engi-
leer bill, he got on and fastened 10
, building so feet away, stationing
himself where he could see the full