Part 15 (1/2)

Then ine-driver found time to be a little curious

”What'n hell?” he asked, in the _lingua franca_ that all Indians are supposed to understand

So I answered hiot at a venture, and he bit

”There's a man down the line a piece who'll blow your train to hell,” said I, ”unless you pull up when he flags you”

”Son of a gun, eh?”

”Sure bet!”

”Where you learn English?”

”States,” said I ”You been there too?”

”Sure pop! Goin' back soet the hint, you won't That guy down there ahead means business”

I don't think he would have dared try to run the gauntlet in any case, for the best the engine could do with that load behind it was a wheezy twenty miles an hour, and the track was so out of repair that even that speed wasn't safe I illing to bet Grim hadn't lifted a rail or placed any obstruction in the way, but the driver had no un, eh?” he repeated ”What in 'ell's 'e want?”

”Nothing, if you pay attention to hi He wants to talk”

”Uh! What in 'ell's a , but he'll put a crimp in your ive him dry steam He'll run like the devil”

”Don't you believe it He's wise Better humor him”

”Shucks! I shoot him I shot lots o' men”

”No need to shoot,” said I ”This is love stuff He's got a lady in the last car”

”Oh, gal on the train, eh? All right You cli the cars an' kick her off soon as you see him”

”Gosh!+ I'd sooner kick a nest of hornets!”

”You her brother?”

”Not so's you'd notice it”

”What then?”