The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-30

iron. and IN, bass humnsing like bees.
"Damn it--they're having dance"
muttered Richardson, ..fretfully. He
heard two men quarfelinR in short,
sharp words, like pistol shots; they
were calling each other worse names
than common people know in other
countries,
M wondered Why the noise was so
loud Raising his head from his sad
ne pillow, hc saw, with the help of the
valiant no0nbeoms, ~ blanket hang
na 1at against the wall NJ the fur
ihcr erd ~ the room Bcing OF tho
opinion that q concealed a door. and
rcu 1r bcrng tbat Mexicnn drink made
men very drunk. he pulled his revolver
closer TO him and prepared for sudden
Disaster.
Richardson was dreaming OF his far
anil beloved north.
"WvE. would KIN him. then!"
$40 you must not,'
"Ye VIII lull MIN. Listen! Twin
as1 +l American beast For his hcnnti.
ful lt.tol ana rr.- ana money and sad.
de anl If he will not give them-you
will eel"
"But these Americans-they are o
strange people. Look out, senor."
Then twenty voices took part in the
discussion They rose in quivering
shrillness, as from men badly drunk.
Richardson felt the skin draw tight
around his mouth and his knee joints
turned to bread. He slowly came TO n
sitting posture, glaring at the motion.
less blanket ut the far end of the room.
This stiff and mechanical movement.
accomplished entirely by the muscles
of the wrist, must have looked like the
rising OF corpse in the wan moonlight,
which gave everything hue of the
grave.
My friend, take my advice and never
be executed by hangman who doesn't
talk the English language. II, or any
thing that resembles ii, is the most
difficult of deaths. The tumultuous
emotions of Richardson's terror de-
stroyed that slow and careful process
of thought by means of which be un-
| derstood Mexican. Then he used his
J instructive comprehension of the first
and universal language, which is tone.
! Still Ii is disheartening not TO be able
To understand the detail of threats
against the blood of your body.
Suddenly, the clamor of voices ceased
| There was a silence-a silence of de-
! cision. The blanket was flung aside
and the red light of a torch fared into
| the room. 1t was held high by fat
round-faced Mexican, whose little
| suake-like mustache was as black as
his eyes, and whose eyes were black as
iet. He was insane with the wild rage
| of a man whose liquor is duly burning
at his brpin. Five or six of his fellows
crow,ietfafter him. The guitar. which
mad been thrummed doggedly during
the time of the high words, now sud-
denly stopped.
They contemplated each other.
Richardson sat very straight and still,
| his right hand lost IN the folds OF his
blanket. The Mexicans jostled in the
light of the torch, their eyes blinking
md glittering.
The fat one posed in the manner OF
grandee. Presently his hand dropped
to his belt, and from his lips there spun
! an epithet-a hideous word which often
| foreshadows lsnife-blows, word pecul
tarfy of Mexico. where people have tt
dig deep to find an insult that has MOI
| lost it's SAVIOR.
The American did not move. He wat
staring mt the fat Mexican with
strange fixedness of gaze, not fearful
oot dauntless, not anything that coult
be interpreted. He simply stared.
The fat Mexican must have been dis
concerted, for he continued TO pose as
grandee, with more and more sublim
Ety. until il would have been easy TO
him TO have fallen over backward. Hi
companions were swaying in yer.