Southern Alabama and Mississippi are full of these detectives; and seldom it is that a man gets through without a scratch. Sometime between 11 and 12 o'clock that day we ran into the suburbs of Mobile. Darting from the closed doorway, in which I had been standing, to the car platform, I cautiously peeped out. Several men standing on the sidewalk near a large factory saw me, and motioned violently with their hands for me to jump off, but the train was running too fast for that, and with a feeling of indescribable fear, I quickly sprang back and jammed myself tightly against the closed door--careful even to turn my feet sideways, with my face pressed flat against the door. All hopes of safely alighting in the suburbs was given out. The houses were fast getting thicker and stores began to flash by. Presently, to my surprise, the train turned into one of the principal business streets of Mobile. Large mercantile houses towered above me on every side. The train ran several blocks down this street before stopping at the depot. A man stepped in front of me to uncouple the engine. Not daring to move, I whispered: "Which side is the depot on?" "Get off on your right, quick!" he whispered, without glancing up. In an instant I was upon the ground and walking towards the boat wharves, but a few blocks distant. Only by prompt action in getting off the train, and knowing which side to alight on, had I been able to escape the wide-awake officials at Mobile. I felt like laughing as I reached the wharves and noted that no one had pursued me. Evidently, I was getting to be an expert "hobo"--but my joy was of short duration, for now I was as anxious to reach New Orleans as I had been to reach Mobile--and what if I was thrown in jail for a long term in Southern Mississippi? Well, my people should never hear of it, I resolved. Going on a small vessel I asked for soap and water. I was given a big cake of dirty looking soap, half as large as my head, and told to draw my own water. Seizing a water bucket to which a long rope was attached, I cast overboard and soon drew into view a big bucketful of slimy looking water, that at home my own dog would have sniffed at contemptuously. But a chap buffeting against the world, as I was now doing, soon learns not to be too choice. After awhile he forgets the luxuries that were once his, and in most respects life assumes a different aspect. Having washed up, I thanked the boatman and left the wharves. A good dinner made me feel better, and I decided to stay in town over night and rest up. I noticed but few automobiles in Mobile. After dinner I found a nice room and paid for a night's lodging in advance. About one o'clock in the afternoon I retired to sleep, determined to get as much rest as possible for my money before next morning. I slept probably two hours, and then awoke with an uncomfortable feeling. I had been dreaming of beating trains and of several narrow escapes from death.