Page:Autobiography of Mother Jones (1925).djvu/189

180 "Do you want to get on now, Mother?"

"Yes."

"Then yours is made up."

I showed him my tickets and he led me across the tracks.

"Mother," he said, "I know you now but later I might find it convenienter not to have the acquaintance."

"I understand," said I. "Now here's two dollars to give to the conductor. Tell him to let Mother Jones off before we get to the Santa Fe crossing. That will be early in the morning."

"I sure will," said he.

I got on board the sleeper in the yards and was asleep when the coaches pulled into the Denver station for passengers south. I was still asleep when the train pulled out of the depot.

Early in the morning the porter awakened me. "Mother," he said, "the conductor is going to stop the train for you. Be ready to hop."

When the train slowed down before we got to the crossing, the conductor came to help me off.

"Are you doing business, Mother?" said he.

"I am indeed," said I. "And did you stop the train just for me?"

"I certainly did!"

He waved to me as the train pulled away. "Goodbye, Mother."

It was very early and I walked into the little town of Trinidad and got breakfast. Down at