The Caucasian., 1913-08-24

the window when we slowed down.
and what do you s'pose I saw?'
Dan paused impressively.
"a big bunch of shoutiE', yelin
dagos Guns was goin' off, every one
was hollerin', and the crowds was
rushin here and there like mad. Then
the seenyor jumps up. nearly pullin'
me out Of the seat-I had him han'cuff-
ed to me-and begins viva-in' at the
train had stopped. and catchin' sight
Of some guards or soldiers yanks the
runt back and unfastens the han cuffs.
"'Quickr says l. maxim for the door.
Get off YOU little two spot or I'll
stick pin through you and wear you
back for q watch charm
And he understood!
"A bigger yell than ever came when
the crowd sees us. and son. my heart
was woriin' like a revolvin' door they
makes one grand rush inst as if they
was eXpectin' us There was two
fellas in front plastered with gold
braid. and placin' my pocket edition
OF a prisoner in front Of me, | yells.
With Uncle Sans kindest regards,
and gives my man a swift kick.
"As he left the ground, took to my
heels.''
An elephantine sigh interrupted
Dams narrative
"Son," he said. swinging his chair
around, they're still talkin' about that
run I made Old Ben Rice seen the
finish of 1t. and he'll go to his grave
regrettin' he didn't have a stop watch
on me.
First. I started back over the rail-
road bridge, but switchin' engine
was in the way, so I took acrost the
first vacant lot I come to, with a
couple Of thousand yellin' leekeaters
after me.
GAS luck would have it, I went in
the direction Of another bridge not far
up the river my legs poundin' under
me like piston rods--I was carryin
26O pounds then-and my breath
comm in chunks. I could see couple
of Mexicans where I was headin' for.
They stood 1ookin' at the race wonder
in what it was all about, and then
made out they was gettin' ready to
stop me. But by that time there
want nothin' could do it.
'"The crowd behind me was yellin
to add to the distractions, and so
think I'll show 'em a little lung work
myself in their own lingo. And |
n
them gate tenders hollerin' Viva! Null
ligatawny! Castanets! Chile con carnev
the first things that popped into my
head.
''Two or three more high hated in
dividuals hearin' the noise run out Of
a shanty and the little insects prepare
to hold me up"
Dan laughed. 81 went through 'em
like chief Office deputy servin' sub
poenas on a holiday. Now that bridge
is fairly longish one, and up to that
time I reckoned my speedometer ID
been registerin' pretty high, but, Lord,
it want nothin' to what | did when
them greasers started playin' seven up
on my coattails with Mauser bullets.
anyway, I've figgered since that |
swung on to American soil in the nick
O. time. And the first man l see was
old Ben Rice. He was that excited
he was dancin'.
"'You thunderin' galootv I heard
him shout as l come around the end
of the bridge. Where you goin'?
"'Goin'!' I says, keepin' right on.
I'm goin' home
"And the old man begins to jog
along after me.
".Wait minute, you leather head
ed idjit,' he hollers. @
Ct can't, Ben,' I answers him over
my shoulder Pm on through
| ticket
"And I was. I knowed there was a
| train pulled out for the north at 8:47,
and I caught it on the dead run half
block from the station.
THE last thing saw in FL Paso was
old Ben. He was shakin' his fist
at me- ...
Office thinkin' I'd done somethin' pret-
ty smart in gettin' rid Of the seenyor
at Juarez and wonderin' whether
they'd shot him yet
Dan spat thoughtfully as be unfold
ed the letter in his hand.
"Waitin' for me- he added. was
| this"
This time my friend allowed me to
take the message. 1t ran:
Dan-We looked for you in Ell Paso the
morning you arrived / had orders
| from the secretary Of state directing you
to deliver Recaredo Meneses at Juarez.
You corn fed, splay footed galoot. what
did you run for? Didn't you know the
bunch Of rebels Meneses was tied up with
won out the very day you got in Ell Paso
and that crowd at the station was a pub
| lie reception for your prisoner?
The newspapers were full of 1t, and ten
minutes after you left Juarez Meneses
was made provisional governor Of the
state OF Chihuahua.
II ever catch you in the western dis
| trict Of Texas I'll jail you on general
principles. BEN RICE.
saw Dan frown as he watched my
face, and I refrained from smiling. |