New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-15
A MEXICAN DICK TURPIN.

lars i'll ten-dollar rolls nicely packcu IN a NailnS
with q few toilet articles, ana twelve thousand
dollars in bank notes and bills OF exchange snugiy
sewed into thin belt worn about his person In
superbly jeweled revolver, warranted TO be useful
as q weapon AZ long range In the hand OF sell
TO o,Ssr PERSONS pesoSai furnsar his Comfortable
figure was adorned with q fnc gold watch, pos
sessing national reputation Tor beauty ana value
cred with gold lace and bangles that made IL the
envy Of alf the beaus in town,
Under these conditions Mr.. Edgar WOOD entered
the ten-mule stage, that stood In the patio OF the
Hotei Iturbide for a trip down the country to pay
off three thousand laborsis 9 months wages AGES,
The driver gathered up his lines shouted at all
the mules together and at each mule by name.
The assistant driver seized the whip and added its
resoundng crack to his vociferous entreaties and
dcnuneations The two outriders ran along the
sides Of the team, shouted and swore and pcitcd
the mules with stones, while ten bows of cow
bells suspended above the ten collars, added their
clangor to the confusion, and the whole cortege
rolled over the toughest cobbc-stone pavement on
the American continent awakening an angry city
from its comfortable slumbers
The wealthy contractor was alone that morning,
and he occupied every corner OF the stage In such
rapid succession and varied positions that, II the
City of Mexico had been twice as broad as i was,
he must have been dsagreeable jelly before
reaching the suburbs. As It was, however, the
grand exhibition of style and enterprise was soon
over, and the team settled down to the comforta-
bio habit of the country, very slow trot IN
rather soft roads, while the passenger settled HIM.
self in the corner, lighted a Vera Cruz cigar, and
fhi lo m no he eoPsidsred. viii i cost me-
twenty thousand dollars, for which outlay the
government pays me one hundred Thousand dol
lars, which is eighty thousand dollars clear gam;
In two more ] shall be in good trim; and then
shall ask old Juarez for Emilia. think she od-
mired me last night when sald adieu; ana ne
looked at his pistol, his fine watch, and elegant
hat and-a rife ball whistled through the coach
window, followed by command OF " Fararse! i
(halt)
There was no discussing such an order given
under such circumstances.
IL was not possible for Mr.. Wood to say just
how he looked. but he felt very pale when q
pleasant gentemany voice at the window IN
Guircd, Have I the honor of addressing Senior
Edearo Wood 2'
THAT is my name, sir"
"Ah, Don Edgaro, am so sorry to have TO mo- mo,
lest you in your journey, but won't you do ME the
favor to alight for moment?a
gentleman prided himself more than on another,
It the superiority of b manners lie was
known as the polite American of Mexico, and so.
when addressed a simple request IN SUCH courteous
terms, he fain to comply.
lie therefore alighted. and tried to do so
promptly, but his motions were not so gracciul as
usual; there seemed tremulous excitement al,
most a stagger, in his movements when ne IooKeu
about him. 90
-Four men, armed with cutlasses, rifles and re-
yolyer, stood ready to receive him. Inc upper
half of each face covered with II black mask
They were evidently natives, save one-whOse
head, broader than the others at the temples, ana
ruddy face below the mask, ending III thin
frouzly tow-colored goatee-seemed to lnd1cate an
Englishman Mr.. Wood, noting MN cdreluny,
thought he had him before but 1alled IN
every attempt to place him.
Senior Wood said the spokesman, advanc-
Ing am pleased to meet you, and regret Ihat
ments entertain Tor you. | must say, Anlguiilo,
YOU wear a charming hat and such things are SO
common TO you that am sure there VIII be no Cd,
lection to an exchange. See what poor thing l
wear and so unsuited TO my years ana poSltloh
in society it fits wei, too. Aud also Senior wood
YOU are said to possess an excellent watch that,
sir would be an extremely convenient article to
have, in my profession, that may be prompt ID
meeting the stage, and thus avoid tresome watch
ing / viii accept it, with your permission .
Mr.. Wood was rapidly learning to adapt hlmseu
to circumstances. lie knew he must submit Ito 70
being stripped So handing over the watch Win
the best grace possible he said, with smile ana
bow, May present you with pistol, as good
as there is IN the republic shSe your accent it in
your name, Amiguillo. And also, senior, admire
your coat let us exchange Your trousers , t1I,
large will be better than these Have the good
ness to be seated on my old coat and we Will as,
sist you in removing them we are eAperienceu
Wallets
To have observed the face OF Mr. Edgar Wood
now you would have thought he was engaged IN
froc lie used to say in TELLING TINS as i II were e
And now" continued the ladron, We viii
trouble you. Senior Wood, to pass out your Vailse'
if you will be so obhging'
Mr.. Wood hesitated for the first time, and
looked around, but there was no mercy; the muz-
replied Very WELL gentlemen II you insist,
He handed out the heavy vallse which was taken
aside by the Mexicans while the Engiish;ooKihg
thief kept guard at the stage door When Ihe
precious cargo was removed to short distance
from its owner, the sentinel muttered to him III
English, " If you give me two thousand dollars
unseen, from your belt you can save the rest;
otherwise I'll fix every dollar you've got"
Mr. Wood felt sure he had somewhere seen the
face Of which the mouth and chm Were expIbSg m
self, andquietly handed over the money TO the man
In a few minutes, the nearly empty xalise was
returned and the party babe the frayeer ao,en'
able fix lac could only ride Till lie met the return
stage and go with It to the he ea bder la .e
among the passengers, with whom at noon, he en-
tered the patio. from which he had SO exuItingy
as usual rushed in with the stage, ana Witnessed
the discontinue Of the American, as ne daft t
across the pavement to the nearest entrance OF 1e
hotel, and made his way to his foou..
When Mr. Wood emerged therefrom, he made
his way to the English bank, 10 deposit the papers
saved in his belt and there encountered the sscond
surprise of the day. The teller who received anu
credited him with the amount was the counter
part of the English robber Of the morning; but ne
had no beard nor could Wc9a rec yutom n' Of If
hood 1t was impossible that he should be q
ladron-his position in the bank, his easy, sell
possessed manner, not brazen, put halutai anu III
nocent. No, it was mistake
The next day. there being severai, Me nacrn
merchants to start for Vera Cruz. MI henry .hays
Yorke OF Wood q Co., was dispatcly,1u VIII and
in the morning stage He went wen arlhIu, anu
had the name Of being fighting man But as
yet, no crowd Of Mexican passengers has irighe-
ened band Of robbers from It's enterprise anu 81,
at sunrise Yorke discovered two small squads or
horsemen bearing down on the stage from opposite
directions
There are six Of them" he said, and we are
nine men, with only one woman. Arc We to hight
gentlemen, shall we surrender p
I'VE viii light to the last drop Of blood"
Yves always" answered the other eight.
II shall be killed; oh, shall be killedl"
shrieked the frightened woman.
ave shall defend you, sonora" they declared.
The horsemen drew near All were masked and
armed. One party passed the coach, wheeled,
and instantly returned Meanwhile forke sprang
from the stage, which had stopped and calling TO
bts Yellow passengcrs TO ioin him. fred his rifle at