Wichita eagle., 1888-09-21
A MEXICAN BANDIT.

q thin belt worn about his person In an
outside belt. elegantly embroidered he wore
a superbly jeweled revolver, warranted TO be
useful as a weapon at long range, in the hand
of self collected man resting under safe
shelter.
As to other personal furniture, his COM
Portable figure was adorned with "a fine gold
watch, possessing national reputation for
beauty and value throughout the republic of
Mexico, and hat covered with gold lace
and bangles that made it tie envy OF all the
beaux in town.
Under these conditions Mr. Edgar Wood
entered the ten mule stage that stood in the
patio of'the Hotel lturbide, for a trip down
the country to pay off 5000 laborers a
months wages.
The stage started. The wealthy contractor
twas alone that morning. This month" be
considered, will cost me $50 600, for which
outlay the government pays me 100000,
which is $4,000 clear gain. In two more [
shall be in good trim, and then | shall ask
Old Juarez for Emilia. | think she admired
me last night when | said my adieu" And
he looked at his pistol, his fine watch and Gle
CANT hat, and-a rife ball whistled through
the coach window, followed by command
of "Pararse!n (halt.
There is no discussing such an order given
under such circumstances.
1t was not possible for Mr.. Wood to say
just how he looked, but he felt very pale,
when a pleasant, gentlemanly voice at the
window inquired, 'Have | the honor of ad-
dressing Senior Edgaro WoodT'
THAT is my name, sir.
"Ah, Don Edgaro, | am so sorry to have TO
modest you in your journey, but won't you
Il L. 1
Now, if there was one quality on which
that gentleman prided himself more than on
another, it was the superiority of his man.
ners. He was known as tho polite American
Of Mexico, and SO, when addressed simple
request III such courteous terms, he was fain
to comply.
He therefore alighted, and tried TO do SO
promptly, but his motions We're not 50 grace
ful as usual; there seemed a tremulous ex-
ritement, almost a stagger, in his move
ments, when he looked about him.
Four men, armed with cuasSes, rifles and
revolvers, stood ready TO receive him The
upper half of each face was covered with a
black mask They were evidently natives,
save one-whose head, broader than the 9th
ers' at the temples, and ruddy face below the
mask, ending in a thin, frouzly, tow colored
goatee-seemed to indicate an Englishman
Mr. Wood, noting him carefully, thought he
had seen him before but failed in any at
tempt to place him.
"Senor Wood, said the spokesman, advanc-
ing, II am pleased to greet you, and regret
that you are not able to reciprocate the cor
dial sentiments | entertain for YOU | must
say, Anicuillo, you wear a charming hat,
and such things are SO common to you that [
am sure there win be no objection to an ex-
change. See what poor thing | wear, AMI
so linseited to nay Gears and position in So
ciety! Ii fits well, too. And also, Senior
Wood, you are said to possess an excellent
watch; that, sir, would be AN extremely con-
venient article TO have in my profession, that
may be prompt in meeting the stage, and
thus avoid tircsome watching. | viii accept
IL, with your permission"
Mr. Wood was rapidly learning TO adapt
himself to circumstances. He knew he must
submit to being stripped, SO, handing over the
watch with the best grace possible, he said,
with a smile and n bow, May / present YOU
with pistol. as good as there is in the repub-
lie, except your own"
"Ah, senior, now You 1atter me; | accept it
in your name, Amiguilo. And also, senior,
l admire your coat; let us exchange. Your
trousers too, viii tit Ele nicely, and your
boots, even If little large, viii be better
than these. Have the goodness to be seated
on my old coat, and we Will assist you in re-
moving them; we are experienced Wallets"
To have observed the face of Mr.. Edgar
Wood now. YOU would have thought he was
engaged n frohc He used to say, in tell
ing this story, that he felt all through the
performance as if he were being joked by a
friend
And now" continued the ladron, ''we
will trouble You, Senior Wood, to pass out
your valise, if you VIII toe so obliginE.n
Mr.. Wood hesitated for the first time, and
looked around, but there was no mercy: the
muzzleS of three pieces looked into his eyes,
while he replied, Very well, gentleman, if
sou insist" lie handed out the heavy Va
Use, which was taken aside by the MexicanS,
while the English looking thief kept guard at
the stage door. When the precious cargo
was removed 20 a short distance from its
owner, the sentinel muttereI To him IN
English, ''lf you give ne 5000, unseen, from
your belt, You can have the rest; otherwise,
III fix every dollar you've got
Mr.. Wood felt sure he had somewhere seen
the face, of which the mouth and chin were
exposed, but if be suspected the truth, he
kept it 10 himself, and quietly handed over
the money TO the man.
in few minutes the nearly empty valiSe
was returned, and the party babe the trav-
eler adieu, and wished HIM safe journey.
II his disaCreeable fix he could only ride till
lie met the return stage, and go with it To the
capital, under the shelter OF a shawl lent hrn
by sympathetic lady among the paSSen-
gers. with whom, at noon, he entered tie
patio, from which he had So oxultinclv sal
lied in the early morning. The idle popu-
lace, as usual, rushed in with the stage. and
witnessed the discontinue OF the American.
as he darted across the pavement TO the
nearest entrance of the hotel and made his
way 10 his room
When Mr. Wood emerged therefrom he
made his way 10 the English bank, to deposit
the papers saved in his belt, and there en-
ccuntared the second surprise of the day
Tie teller who received and credited him
with the amount was the counterpart Of taG
English robber of the morning; but he had ne
peard, nor could Wood recall that be had
ever seen hun adorned with that symptom Of
manhood Ii was impossible that he should
be l3dron-his position in the bank, his
easy, self possessed manner, not brazen, but
natural and innocent. No, it was a mistake.
The next day, there being several Mexican
merchants to start Tor Vera Cruz, Mr.. Henry
4orke, OF " God 4 Co., was dispatched with /
them in the morning sta2e lie went We'll |