Nogales international., 1929-08-16
final Instalment


''Wait minute" I said. An idea
had struck me- Il have a friend up
in the next coach who will pay my
fare"
"All right. Let me meet him." The
conductor was frankly sceptical.
| led the way with some misgivirlg
across the swaying platform to the
s4Smoking car ahead.
Yes, Julius was still there, his back
turned toward u.s. Evidently he was
greatly contented with his lot in the
world.
I crowded into the seat in front of
him.
Suffering cats" The cigar fell
from between Julius's lips.
eyes, it's your old pal. Tom Bill
beck" said reassuringly, at the same
time drawing down my left eyelid.
Mystihed, he preserved discreet
silence He had no way of knowing
what my next move was going to be.
Julius" 1 said heartily, II find that
/ have come away from home without
any cash, and I want you to pay my
farc."
julius laughed a hearty, ringing
laugh.
"Me, pay your fare? I don't know
you from Adam"
leaned over and whispered in his
ear. There is sheriff in the next
car behind" said. eff you pay my
fare l won't tell him you are on the
train"
It was a long shot, but he had no
means of knowing whether was tell
ing the truth or not and it won.
'fWhy didn't you say that IN the
6rst placer" Julius said heartily, reach
ing down in his pocket and producing
a roll of bills, one of which he handed
to the conductor.
l. where do you want 10 60 t0F
q asked that worthy. Z
Julius looked inqr1iringy && me.
81 am going with this gcsMiensn," "
I said to the conductor.
Julius grinned his appreciation while
the conductor made chapge and Yhsn.
he was gone he eyed me sardonicalIy.
What do you want?" he asked.
"You or the pearls" replied even
ly. Il am not very particular which,
except that if get you | will get the
pearls anyway
He sat in silence for some time di-
gesting this. Finally he grinned.
How do you think you will get the
pearls?" he asked at length.
A. Perfectly simple, my dear Julius"
,, answered, patronizingly. "All |
have to do is to go to the postmaster
of your town as soon as this train gets
in and ask him to hold all mail ad-
dressed to a man by the name of
julius something or other. There can't
be many Juliuses, and l will be pretty
sure to get the right package"
Darn clever" he admired. 1T
would work, too, if / had addressed
that package to myself, but didn't.
Besides my real name amt Julius"
He leaned back and surveyed me
with an impudent smile. My face must
have shown how creStfallen | was at
having my scheme overthrown. |
wasn't much of detective after all,
not to have thought of this simple de-
vice for evading me. Now had be-
trayed my plan to him and it was
worthless.
Don't be down-hearted, pal," he
said encouragingly. you've done
pretty good for an amateur, but l am
too old hand for you. have been
up against this game too often"
He was still telling himself how |
good he was when our train came to |
slow stop. We both looked out to see
if it was a station. It was not We
were in the midst of a Snow-piled |
prairie.
What the deuce is the matter?"
Julius inquired anxiously.
Every one was asking the same
question, turning to one another in the
aisles.
Finally some one got out to see, and
returned shortly with the informationl
that we were stuck in snow-drift
with every probability of being there
for some time.
After we had waited quite a while |
I had new idea. I got up and started
down the aisle. "You amt going to |
leave me, are you, pal?" asked julius.
'You better keep an eye on me if you
ever expect to see me again"
"I'll take a chance on that" I as
sured him. you've got fat chance
Eof getting away in this kind of coun-
try with the snow eight feet deep"
J My action in deserting him evidently |
puzzled him, but he did not follow.
With most of the other male pas
sengers | got out and walked toward |
the head of the train. They went on
to see how badly we were stuck, but
stopped at the railway post-ofice car.
The mail clerks in the car. apparently |
welcomed slight vacation before they
got to the next town, and they were
not averse to talking to picturesque
stranger like myself.
] gained their attention by an ex-