The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-07-18
CHAPTER VIII.

IuIh AAh6 a EOAACSNAoh VI - - SAN
yet, even with due allowance for de-
layed trains and possible intervals on
foot or on horseback. would land them
at Rancho Nogal within the time
limit set by their superiors. Neither
OF the youngsters was so optimistic
as to expect q smooth, uninterrupted
journey, and each, as he speculatsd
upon the chance OF trouble, was men
tally thankful for the presence OF the
strong. nervy, capable youth beside
him.
Brockett, with q good-sized map in
hand. drew out . pencil. and began
marking down q few lines Of cOnnec-
tion, when the Cuban. with one quick
jerk. wrested the pencil from his hand.
Harry. you need a guardian. Your
mentality Is just about flt for the
dotty-house."
Why, what's agitAting you?"
queried Brockett. astOunded and some
what Jared. The Cuban smiled de-
risively.
i"You should know better, Harry.
than to mark out our real route on
any map or sheet Of paper. We don't
believe, of course, that there Is any
one on this train who Is on our track
and yet our best policy is to believe
1t up to the minute We reach Jersey
City. Just for an experiment. we'll
say, have an idea
why not have 1t toasted, with
mayonnaise on the side? I'm hungry
enough to eat it."
We'll, the African brother just an
nounced that lunch am now sehVed
in de dining cab ahaid.' Let's go In
and punish the provender. And now
watch, please, without appearing to
do so. Notice the way | lay these
maps upon the seat, Notice, also,
that | take this little postage stamp.
fold 1t, and gum 1t with one-half on
each page of this timetable. Any
one who opens the timetable tears
the postage stamp. Now, let's 60 and
attend to the rations."
The boys did full justice to their
lunch, and sauntered back to their
seats. Their maps and papers lay
apparently undisturbed, but Solano
contracted his black eyebrows signifi-
cantIy as he examined the timetable.
1t had been opened, and the binding
stamp had been torn In two.
Still after us, old man." remarked
the Cuban. mo, no, don't fasten any
Sherlock Holmes gaze upon the other
passengers. Don't show a sign OF sur
| prise or worry. That would be play
ing right into their hand Listen,
now: when We reach Jersey City. let's
make lightning exit without waiting
for the train to reach the west-shore
terminals. Let's take a chance on get
ting our clothes dusty. II anyone is
fool enough to rush out after us, we
have him spotted-if he stays on the
train we have a lot more chance to
get away before he can land in the
station"
Wish We had hoped of at Phil
adelphia," sighed Brockett. In city
OF that size we might have made a
better escape, and happen to know
the streets Of the burg pretty well.
| Well have to make the best OF it now,
though. The moment we hit the sod
We'll run so fast we'll discover sew
eral new streets In Jersey City"
Solano was silent for a few min
utes, and then his features lighted up.
20
league schedule about you?" he de-
manded.
Think have. Got one with sched-
ules of twenty leagues in it-this note
book What's the idea?"
rs Jersey City playing at home to.
day"
"Yes-playing Newark. Some fun
there. That's old Iron Man McGin,
nity's team"
Good stuff. Well, how's this for a
supplement to our first idea, then; go
right out to the ball park, buy bleach.
er seats, and mix in with the crowd
It's hard, awfully hard, to locate any.
body in ball park, and the task would
be twice as hard for some foreigner
who wouldn't even know how to find
his way around the stands. We want
ed to kill time in Jersey City till eve
ning-where could we kill it more
pleasantly or more safeiy?"
Some of your ideas, dear Ramon
denote almost human intelligence. II
listens good to me. But, say-we are
just rolling into Jersey City now. Wait
bit-shell slacken little-NOW!'
The boys sprang from their chairs
and bolted down the aisle. An as
tonished negro tried to intercept then
with cry of Hold on boss-we aim
in de station yeti" but only received
shoulder and an elbow as reward
Solano unhesitatingly leaped, strucl
on graVelly spot, went to his knees
and then shot forward on his palms
Brockett swung off a shade more care
fully, landed fairly on his feet, and
after staggering a dozen yards, re
gained his balance.
ANY bones broken, Ramon?"
Nothing but a suspender and m!
pet pipe. Little gravel in my knee
and hands. I'll bet they think we arr
pair Of escaped crooks, but the!
can't back up the train. Hurry-leti
get a vigorous move ont"
Twenty minutes later the messen
gers of state were buried in a mas
of bowling fans at the Jersey Cit.
ball park, where ancient rivalries will
the Newark team were being settled
They picked position halfway from
the front Of the bleachers. and tn
swarm Of fanatics all around then
formed a veil that would have bal
fed Vidocq and an X-ray to pierc
! through Here. safe from pursuit o