Wichita eagle., 1888-08-31
LIFE m cusA
Bandits and Police on Good Terms with
One Another-An Incident.

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One Another-An Incident.
| My three days stay at friends plantation
| has enabled me TO see in ell Is shocking
reality how ultimately the bandits aIic 20
lice are leagued- Ny host is firm believer
| IN tho axiom that ''prueence IS the best par
/ OF valor," and he voluntarily doubled the
| tribute the bandits asked Of him. You can
/ come to NY place In safety he wrote 70 he
| IN answer 10 ny question as to the procaol-i-
/ ties OF my; being kidnapped, ''for fcy my
contribution regularly and the bandits have
promised to respect my friends Ny ex-
| perience has taught me to fear the poles
moro than the bandits, for the latter, al
least, are satisfied WITH stipulated SUM and
keep their word, whereas the former are In
satiable and never fulfill their prcnises.'
The bandits end the police barefacedly pa
rade tbs streets arm IN arm Seated on the
piazza Of the house at dusk Div host pointed
out to me tie brigand chief, Who WITH s
group Of friends, came 70 town every even
ing to visit the gambling houses, as TIE
stakes OF their interiors II the band are not
sufficiently high 10 excite any interest II
them. The chief strolled Into the grounds
the evening after my arrival willis ny nos'
and were seated at cur favorite place, and
was introduced 10 him. He greeted ny
companion Familiarity and bowed low rs M
Jane was mentioned, eyeing me closely al
the while, though he pretended not 10 see my
outsretched hand He was tell, spare and
agile; his long hair was thrown back from Q
high forehead, and the blacklist pair CT eyes
I have ever seen iluuir1ed his swaT-Ey
face His small and well kept hands,
whose dainty finger tips revealed the
professional gambler, toyed nervousiy
with his black and flowing UuStacne,
while he told US of his losses st the gaming
table the night before. On learning was 10
leave the following night he promised TO send
one Of his men with NE 70 see me safely ID
the railway station As I hesitated in ac-
cepting his offer, he forced NE 10 acquiesce
by telling me it would be much safer for me,
for" said he, with sweet smile, AL Of nv
men do not know you as well SIS !. and the
escort Will only cost you an ounce" tSlsl
Without giving me time to thank him he
babe US good night and strobe rapidly away.
My friend Gained my fears by assuring me
the fellows word could be relied On, and
while We smoked e good habano he enter
tanned me with recital OF this bandits ad-
ventures and crimes.
As expressed surprise at the DaIl1iL , re-
fusing my profTerd hano, be explained TO
me that hand shaking among that class Is
considered q most sacred thing, and signifies
either an acknowledgment Of debt and a
premise OF payment, or a sign OF life long
friendship. They cannot shake hands while
they are in debt, ard, as he had told Us of his
losses at the game, his conduct became clear
TO NE. At the appointed hour a rough and
murderous looking wretch presented HIM
self at the plantation and accompanied
me to the train. Though everything passed
off smoothly, freely confess that when
reached my old quarters in this city
breathed easier. The sta,e Of utter helpless
ness TO which respectable persons have been
reduced IS one of the sacdeSt results of this
pernicious government, and it does not need
much argument TO prove that the perpetually
increasing strength OF the bandits is a serious
menace to our social fabric.-Cor. New Yors
Sun.