WITH UNCLE SAM 41 



This work was very interesting, but no "snap" 

 by any means. The transportation and hotel 

 accommodations were far from being first-class, 

 and the inspector found many things to worry 

 about. 



I remember one instance in which I was 

 detailed to make an inspection of Mexican cat- 

 tle across the line from Columbus, N. M. I left 

 El Paso at six in the evening on a mixed freight 

 and passenger train, arriving at Columbus about 

 midnight. Columbus at that time consisted of 

 the depot, a section house, and the cow pens. 

 Getting off the train, I asked the depot agent 

 where I could get a night's lodging. He said 

 there was no place "in town" where they put up 

 travelers, but there was a man living about a mile 

 west who "usually took them in." He pointed 

 out a light to me in that direction, saying, "See 

 that light? Well, that's the place." 



I did not like the idea of walking a mile 

 through that rattlesnake desert at midnight; I 

 followed him into the depot and asked permis- 

 sion to sleep on the floor. At first he refused my 

 request; but when I told him I was a federal 

 officer, and after he had taken a look at my 

 badge, he said I might stay. 



So I made a pillow of my grip and slept away. 



About 2 o'clock I awoke, chilled to the bone. 

 Although the month was July, I was experienc- 

 ing one of those cold nights so common in that 

 high altitude; I don't believe I ever suffered so 

 from cold, before or since, as I did there that 

 July night. 



I found it impossible to sleep again and got 



