Then the light began to break in through Conductor Monett's cap, and he soon discovered the mistake Miss Palmer had made. Although his heart swelled with sympathy, he couldn't do anything for the young lady in the breakfast line; but he did the next best thing. He brought her to Merced so she could take a fresh start, which she did this afternoon. Let us hope and pray that Miss Mary will keep going in the right direction this time until she reaches Yosemite.

      It seems that the individual arrived in Merced from Yosemite Valley about 11 o'clock on the Y. V. train. He then went from the Yosemite Valley railroad's depot to that of the Santa Fe, and there purchased a ticket for San Francisco. He then proceeded to put in the time until train time by taking in the sights.

      Along in the afternoon he returned to the Santa Fe depot for about the time that the same train that had brought him down from the valley was backing into the yards to allow the passengers that had arrived on that time enroute to Yosemite to board.

      Not knowing that the Y. V. railroad had a spur running into the Santa Fe yards, the said tourist boarded the train and was soon on his way back to the wonderland with his San Francisco ticket.

      He did not discover his mistake until he was out of town a considerable distance and had been informed of the error by the conductor. The later very accommodatingly stopped the train and allowed his irate passenger to walk back to the fountain city.

      And to further add to his troubles the tourist, after hiking all the way back, found that in his hurry to leave the train he had neglected to take with him his suit case and other paraphernalia that he had deposited on the seat beside him when he went aboard.

      He then put in some time cursing the town and seeing the sights.

      For the benefit of those who are not acquainted with the irrepressible James H. it may be stated that at one time he was noted as the leader of the Horses and Carts faction in San Francisco and as such was a political power to be reckoned with in the municipal affairs of the coast metropolis. Later he added to his fame by building the railroad into the Yosemite Valley.

      James H. O達rien furthermore asserts that but for the jealousy of an army officer of Uncle San his name would have been handed down to posterity as have been those of William Shakespeare and Napoleon Bonaparte and a few others. Here is the story of the reason why the name O達rien, so far as James H. is concerned, will be a thing of the past 5000 years or so from the present time.

      During the period that O達rien was constructing the Yosemite railroad he endeared himself to the several thousand men in his employ to such an extent that there was absolutely nothing too good for the boss. It would have been as much as a person痴 life was worth for any one to have invaded one of the workingmen痴 camps and have uttered anything against James H. O達rien.

      After the road had been completed and the men were engaged in constructing the wagon road leading into the Valley proper, some of the laborers conceived the idea of doing something for their employer that would be appreciated. The opportunity presented itself when a monster granite rock was encountered along the path of the wagon road. This rock completely shut off further progress and as the road was being blasted along a cliff hundreds of feet high on one side and with the Merced river thundering along a few hundred feet below on the other, there was nothing to do but to drill a roadway through the rock.

      By dint of hard labor after some days this work was completed. It was then that the inspiration came. Among the workmen was a stone mason, who upon the suggestion of his fellow laborers, mounted to the top of the entrance of the tunnel, and there inscribed the name of "James H. O達rien" in the solid rock, where it stood out in bold relief to the view of all incoming visitors to the Valley. The work was seen and approved by O達rien, who swelled with pride at the idea that his name would remain on the granite for years to come as a monument to his achievement.

      All was well until one day an officer of the detachment in the Valley happened to be traveling along the road and allowed his gaze to rest upon that name.

      "Gadzooks," he said, or words to that effect, "who may this plebeian be who so dares to defile the works of nature?"

      An investigation by the military authorities led to the discovery that O達rien was a mere civilian.

      About the next thing that happened was the application of a stick of dynamite to the entrance of that tunnel. The name of James H. O達rien, though somewhat shattered, went higher than even its ambitious owner had ever hoped for in his wildest dreams. Particles of the letters rained on the mountain sides and also splashed gently into the river.

      It was a cruel blow to O達rien. All his hopes for immortality vanished with the explosion. But an O達rien will not accept a setback as permanent. Now that he is engaged in building the Associated Pipe line fresh hopes have grown in his expansive breast. Perhaps there may be an artist among his workmen who may paint in oils. And if there is O達rien can rest assured that there will be no jealous army officer on hand to deprive him of any honors that may be coming his way.

           She pushed a lock of ebony hair from her eyes and continued reading a sign which read as follows "The ONLY way to Yosemite Valley is via Yosemite Valley railroad from Merced. No more hot and dusty two-day stage rides. Only nine hours by rail from San Francisco and 16 hours from Los Angeles. A smooth and dustless roadbed roadbed winding through the panoramic Merced river canyon for nearly 60 miles. Fine observation cars. Round trip by rail and stage, $18.50"

           As Jean glanced down at the seat beside her, she realized that her purse was missing. A swift movement caught her eye and she turned toward the door in time to see a brown-haired woman disappear into the pullman car.

     Without hesitation, Jean quickly hurried after the woman. She caught up to her in the middle of the pullman car. As she took hold of the woman's arm, Jean spoke in a quiet voice "Excuse me, but I believe you have my purse." Before the woman could reply, there was tremendous thunder-like noise, and the piercing screams of people in agony could be heard.

     Both women dashed to the window of the pullman car and saw that the baggage car and day coach, from which Jean had just come, had broken away and had gone into the Merced river!

     Immediately they pitched in a helped with the ones who were hurt and not dead, for several were killed.

     Later, in El Portal, "the purse thief" introduced herself to Jean Nelson. She explained that she had picked up the purse by mistake. Jean said, in a relieved voice, "What a lucky mistake for me!"

     Before leaving Bagby, Castagnetto was informed that the track was clear and did not notice the coming train until it was almost upon him. He escaped by jumping from the car. The hand car was wrecked.

     Frank Sayers and Ed Bunnell were on the car and worked frantically to control it with hand brakes. Seeing it was completely out of control they jumped to save their lives. A passing motorist on the All-Year Highway checked the speed and found it to be 60 miles an hour. Section crews repaired the track and train service was not delayed.

     Al Rose of coarse, said there is no way to varify this tale. Knowing how bureaucrats stumble some times - it does sound plausible.