Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1904-09-03

mouth, 80 that could barely breathe
comfortably. Then, sewing on strings
10 hold the contrivance In place. pro-
ceeded to smear 1t literally with good
strong Mexican leeks-and how they
did smell to high heavenl
When ready for bed carefully ap-
piled this odorous mask, and tied 1t on
SO that It could not by any possibility
come on. Az put out the candles. l
caught 4 glimpse Of myself. and came
near shrieking at the sight, for l look
ed more like q nrst-class ghost than
anything else. had twisted my hair
back tight, and. to protect 1t from the
leeks. covered It with an old white
bathing cap. The mask entirely hid
my face. and I looked like some I'M
earthly. tall. white thing. with . nat
nose. and no eyes and mouth assure
you that was as CHASTITY an object as
one could well imagine: 20 hideous. In
fact, that precipitately shut out the
view, blew out the lights and hastily
sought my couch.
Ny "beautiner~ murdered sleep:
tossed about for hours. vainly endeav-
oring to doze OF. Now and then a
whiff 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 mo 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 OF, despite leeks and strings
Tbs next thing knew 1 was sitting
up in bed. my heart beating wildly,
while listened breathlessly for a repe-
tition Of the sudden wild cry that had
thrilled through the great, empty
house, waking me from deep sleep. No
l 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 agatha cry for
help, not so loud as 1t had been at first,
and half strangled, choking. this time
Without stopping to put on more
my feet bare, and my hus-
bands loaded .3S Colt in my hand,
noiselessly opened my door, passed
through 1t. and crept down the corri-
dor toward the back entrance of the
house, where Ching and Charley had
their rooms. As l went, concluded
that burglars had got In and had killed
he two Chinamen; next, they would
dispose Of me, and then rob the house.
so furious did the thought make me
hat lost all fear, and fairly ached
o get at the wretches.
Noiselessly stealing along, close to
he wall, my pistol cooked and ready
or work. caught a glimpse of what
vas happening before ! myself was
cen The light OF several lanterns set
bout showed me poor. old Ching, evil
lently dead. lying almost across the
,ack entrance door, which was wide
pen; Charley, bound and still moving,
lad been flung over him, while several
men in peon blouses were busily haul
ng up mysterious boxes and cases
through hole which gaped in the mid
lie OF the paved corral. Il -gaped my
'elf, In my establishment, for l had
lever seen the hole before, But that
vas oil did see just then, for at that
very moment one OF the men caught
light OF me, and glared, aghast, as
advanced upon them. Then he gave a
oud yell that fairly terrified me into
still for a moment, dropped
ais boxes and took to his heels, yelling
hat the devil was upon them.
AS he fed, the other men stared
about, and seeing me, also emitted
screams OF terror. and made wildly for
he back door, dropping their burdens
Is they went I fired twice only. for
heir terror had somewhat taken me
aback, and had the supreme pleasure
)f seeing two of the miscreants clap
heir hands to their legs, and full, with
srievous groans. Il had fred purpose
y at their legs, for / didn't want to
Kill them-Mexican jails aren't overly
Then, allowing the two
to groan and pray alternately where
they had fallen, went over to attend
to the two poor servants.
Neither OF them was dead; Ching
was badly cut and unconscious, but
wounded my feelings by shut
ting his eyes tight and trying to wrig-
gle away from NV touch .Co ,,xrox, >,
he moaned; me good Chinaman-no
stealee. like Mexican boy-go way.
devilr'
So they had all taken me for a ghost.
or the devil. could hardly contain
my laughter az l enlightened and un-