The Washington times., 1904-09-04

| vited TO eat with them. After supper
one Of the men left, and pretty soon the
other two went outside. They closed the
| door after them. but there was a small
! window in the front high up in the wall
/ ] crept along until 1 reached the win
! dow, and then listened
The men stood rear the house, and
/ though I could not hear all the CONVEX
sation 1 could make out that they were
| talking OF the ransom of a prisoner
whom they held. / could not tell who
the man was. but naturally supposed 1t
10 be Mr.. Melrose Failing 10 catch all
the conversation I ventured to lift my
head. but the light from the fire cast
my shadow on the stones above. Quick
~ realizing the danger Of being discov-
cred listening. I darted back to my seat
at the other end OF the room, acciden-
tally striking my boot against the table
leg a. ] did so.
/ was none too soon, for ! had no more
than regained my seat when the door
suddenly opened and the men entered,
but / feiEncd to have been doing. and
started up, kicking the table leg again.
l realized all too well that 1 had taken
my life in my hands when 1 started out
to find Mr.. Melrose. If for nothing
more It was certainly worth while 10
murder me for my horse and lrms. But
| most Of all l feared a knife thrust from
I behind for the fellows were cowardly,
and not disposed 10 risk being killed
! themselves in fair encounter.
l sat against the wall. and continued
pretending to doze in my chair. The
men would say something occasionally,
and then look at me. The fire burned
! low. and il was dark, and still those two
/ cutthroats sat watching me. Il was an
uncomfortable position to be In, and I
! felt relieved when one of them got up
and lit . candle
There will be some other men here
/ later be said. Some of our friends
are going to join the army"
Il hope that you will not mind my
! presence" I said.
NO. but we thought we would tell
! you"
He said no more. but produced a deck
Of cards. and invited me 10 join them;
but l made an excuse that I was tired
and did not care 10 play. had taken
an aversion to playing cards with Next
cans. They played by themselves, but
could see that the game lacked in
terest. and now and then they would
listen as IL expecting some one.
Finally I made an excuse to 20 out
side I went to the stable and saw that
my horse was there looked about me.
carefully inspecting the place as well as
/ could IN the dark. It was very still.
Not a sound broke the silence Of the
night: It seemed as If I could almost
hear my heart beat.
When I returned to the room l no
ticed that the men had laid down their
cards. and were engaged IN a whispered
consultation. l made some casual re-
mark about It being late, and asked
them where I could sleep for the night.
One Of them took The candle and led
the way 20 the adjoining room II was
a small room. fitted up with hunks
/ against the walls. = stool and rude
bench constituted all the other furni-
| ture.
You can sleep here" he said. There
will be no one to occupy the room to-
night but yourself"
This will do very Well" 1 replied.
Are you a good sleeper" he asked.
Yes, sleep anywhere" I replied. You
need not mind about me until the sun
| warns things up"
''Senor may sleep as long as he
"
| so if you hear US you need not think it
/ strange. Wen be back during the day."
] he explained. evidently referring 70 him
self and his companions.
| Il am glad you told me- I replied,
as he went out. Il don't want 20 get
out early. I've not had a good nights
/ sleep for a week"
/ sat down on one Of the hunks and
s,V-gTG ]. eli l.
door. Waiting until my eyes became
! somewhat accustomed TO the darkness.
I began an investigation TO learn more
| Of the character OF the place I had been
| imprisoned in. The room had two small
/ windows In front, but they were barred
/ very much as prison windows are.
/ There was a door, too, but this was
| securely fastened, for l endeavored to
| force II and was unable to do so. IN
/ one corner was a small hole in the roof.
/ which had been left TO serve as a chin
/ ney. Mexican houses do not generally
/ contain 1replaces or any means for
/ heating the rooms. though fires are built
/ for cooking. This room had evidently
| been used at some time for a living
! room, though there was no sign Of Il
! fire having been recently built there.
! l climbed TO the windows, which were
! high IN the wall, and examined the
| bars. but they were strong and could
not be moved. As for digging through
/ the walls that was impractiCable The
I chimney hole was not large enough to
] admit my body. Satisfying myself on
/ this point l returned 10 my bunk and
| lay down 10 think over my situation.
| l must have fallen asleep, for / was
/ suddenly awakened by hearing horse.
men outside. ! sat up on my bunk and
! listened. There were three or four men
! in the party, and I heard them hitch
! their horses and come into the house. I
! could hear nothing they said.
! Looking around l saw a face at the
| window Of my room. There was a
| faint moonlight outside, and the face
was distinctly outlined behind the bars
] Of the window. l feigned to be asleep.
! breathing heavily, but all the time l
was watching the face at the window,
| knowing very well that I could not be
! seen on account Of the darkness Of the
/ room. When at last the men went
away ! heard him go into the house.
! Lying on my back. l noticed d streak
| OF light on the ceiling above my head
| which came, as l perceived from the
other room. I stood on my bunk and
! listened was ablc 10 distino7Iish the