Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-04-08

small holes for my eyes, nose and
mouth, SO that could barely breathe
comfortably. Then, sewing on strings
to hold the contrivance in place, pro-
ceeded to smear it literally with good,
strong Mexican leeks-and how they
did smell to high heaven!
When ready for bed carefully ap-
piled this odorous mask, and tied it on
so that it could not by any possibility
come off. AS put out the candles, 1
caught glimpse of myself. and came
near shrieking at the sight, for look
ed more. like flrst-class ghost than
anything else. 1 had twisted my hair
back tight, and, to protect it from the
leeks, covered it with an old white
bathing cap. The mask entirely hid
my face, and 1 looked like some un-
earthly, tall, white thing, with a fat
nose, and no eyes and mouth. assure
you that was as CHASTITY an object as
one could we'll imagine; so hideous, in
fact, that precipitately shut out the
view, blew out the lights and hastily
sought my couch.
My "beautifier" murdered sleep; I
tossed about for hours, vainly endeav-
oring to doze off. Now and then a
Whit Of the fragrance Of leeks would
steal up through even the small pin
holes had cut to breathe through, and
more often the tightly knotted strings
caused me great discomfort as moved
my head, vainly seeking that rest in
slumber which seemed denied me. At
last, however. some time after the
nearby bells had chimed midnight,
dozed off, despite leeks and strings.
The next thing knew was sitting
up in bed, my heart beating wildly,
while listened breathlessly for repe-
tition Of the sudden wild cry that had
thrilled through the great empty
house, waking me from deep sleep. Mo-
tionless, 1 waited there in the dark,
not daring to light the candles, and
wondering at the sang froId with
which l had assured my husband that
mo burglars could worry me-" In a
moment, there it was again-a cry for
help, not so loud as it had been at first,
and half strangled, choking, this time.
Without stopping to put on more
clothes, my feet bare, and my hus-
bands loaded .38 Colt in my hand, 1
noiselessly opened my door, passed
through it, and crept down the corrl-
dor toward the back entrance Of the
hNr,oa xuha Chtn~ al T.. \
their rooms. AS I went, concluded
that burglars had got in and had killed
the two Cinnamon; next, they would
dispose of me, and then rob the house.
So furious did the thought make me
that 1 lost all fear, and fairly ached
to get at the wretches.
Noiselessly stealing along, close tc
the wall, my pistol cooked and ready
for work, caught glimpse of what
was happening before l myself was
seen. The light of several lanterns SET
about showed me poor, old Ching, evi
IDENTITY dead, lying almost across the
back entrance door, which was wide
open; Charley, bound and still moving
had been flung over him, while several
men in peon blouses were busily haul
ing up mysterious boxes and cases
through hole which gaped in the mid
die of the paved corral. u gaped my
self, in my astonishment, for l hat
never seen the hole before.j But tha'
was all l did see just then, for at thar
very moment one Of the men caugh
sight Of me, and glared, aghast, as
advanced upon them. Then he gave
loud yell that fairly terrified me int,
standing still for moment, dropped
his boxes and took to his heels, yellinl
that the devil was upon them.
AS he fled, the other men stared
about, and seeing me, also emitted
screams of terror, and made wildly 70
the back door, dropping their burden
as they went. 1 fired twice only, 70
their terror had somewhat taken M
aback, and had the supreme pleasur
Of seeing two of the miscreants clal
their hands to their legs, and fall, witt
grievous groans. q had fired purpose
ly at their legs, for l didn't want t
kill them-MeXican jails aren't overl,
comfortably Then, allowing the tw
to groan and pray alternately wher
they had fallen, | went over to atten
to the two poor servants.
Neither of them was dead; Chin
was badly cut and unconscious, bu
} Charley wounded my feelings by shut
ting his eyes tight and trying to wril
gle away from my touch. go way,
he moaned; ''me good Chinaman-n
stealee, like Mexican boy-go way
, devllw