Arizona republican., 1910-07-10
TWO AMERICANS
 RODE WITH THE KING
And Almost Beat Him in a Morning
 Race for the Dining Car.

fOnSO IS told by RODerI dOWdru RUS sell in Harper's.
 We were informed" says ne, that no one would be allowed to board the train, as alI-the accommodations had been reserved for the night by King | Alfonso. who was returning to San Sebastian from Madrid. where he had been called from his summer home by the Barcelona riots.
 This was a severe blow, as even in Spain, when you have sat up until 3 o'clock in the morning to catch a>train, you do not like to miss it. We held conference and decided to resort to strategy Our baggage consisted of two handbags, two cameras and two wine skins, and quietly, under the cover of the darkness we removed it to the eX- treme end of the station, in the shadow of small switchhouse, near which. we hoped the last car of the train might come to a stop.
 We were right in our conjectures, and the rear of the last car pulled up directly in front of us; but here we encountered a fresh difficulty in the watchful French guard, who told us that it was absolutely impossible that he should allow us to board the train, as all the accommodations had been reserved for the king and the train contained not only Alfonso but Queen Victoria, the Queen Mother, Prime Minister Maura. a large military guard of officers and household troops. as well as detectives and personal body guards of the king.
 We had short time for argument, so we wasted little of it in further conver- sation but kept slipping large Spanish silver dollars into the hands of the guard at rate that must have con vinced him that he had discovered two peripatetic hints, he still protesting, however that it was absolutely i'm possible for us to board the train. But finally the flood of silver dollars proved irresistible. and he whispered to us excitedly that the door of the furthest away from the station was not to be too securely fastened when the train started.
 If we should take advantage of that fact it would be entirely without his knowledge or consent, nor was he to be held responsible for any unpleas- ant consequences which might befall 
 by the detectives. as the road from Madrid to San Sebastian had been guarded by stationing soldiers every hundred yards along the track. It was feared that an attempt might be made to blow up the train by the Barcelona anarchists.
 However, after our weary vigil we were afraid of nothing so much as see ing the train go off without us. so just as the whistle blew we pushed the rear door quietly back. showed our bag gage into the vestibule. and unostenta- tiously sat down on 1t to await results. We did not have long to wait. Before the train was fairly under way two de- tectives stood before us eXcitedly ques tioning the guard in Spanish as to our presence there.
 About this time a revolver that l had politely carried in my hip pocket as protection against the childlike and genial brigands of the Portuguese and Sapanish mountains commenced to assume proportions of Calling gun, and I had a subcOnscious feeling that from rear view I must resemble a small donkey transporting mountain howitzer on his back. Cautiously l shifted it from my pocket to the inside of my trouser leg.
 All this time an animated and somewhat heated discussion was being carried on by the two detectives and the guard and the question seemed to be as to whether it would not disturb the king more to stop the train and put us off than to keep us under guard un- til the morning. Finally the latter course was decided upon. Two mat tresses were placed in the corridor of the carriage. our bags and cameras were sequestered out of our reach in the vestibule and we lay down peace fully to sleep with a detective with ] revolver seated at each end of the corridor to guard our slumber.
 "A little after 6 o'clock in the morn ing we had to get up to clear the passageway. and we arose not particu- larly refreshed, but pleased that we were now in a fair way to reach our destination. It had evidently been de- cided by this time that we did not contemplate any attempt upon the life of the king. as our guard was with drawn and we were given comfort able apartment in which to enjoy the remainder Of our journey.
 "The French guard now resumed friendly relations with us, and told us that restaurant car would be at tached to the train at Zumarraga at about half past 8. As we were coming into the station we saw the car on siding some quarter of mile away, but before we could get to the door and swing off the still moving train to make a run for it a slim figure in a tweed suit and a green Tyrodean hat slipped off the ear ahead of us and made for the restaurant car with agility and despatch. We were not far behind. however, and as he turned to look over his shoulder at the line of fat and puffing little generals and off cers in gold braid toiling along behind us we recognized the king.
 Here might have arisen cause for alarm in the minds of the detectives. for fleetly as the king sped we kept in desperate pursuit. as though our lives depended on overtaking him be- fore he should reach the sanctuary of the restaurant car. The detectives fol- lowed. yelling and making wild and violent gestures.
 However. the king got to the car first and secured the first table, but