Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1904-04-01

until 1t amply covered my face, con-
eealing even the ears. Then cut very
small holes for my eyes, nose and
mouth. SO that | could barely breathe
comfortably. Then. sewing on strings
TO hold the contriyance in place | pro-
ceeded TO smear 1t literally with good,
strong Mexican leeks-and how they
did smell to high heayen
When ready for bed | carefully ap-
piled this odorous mask. and tied il on
50 that 1t could not by any possibility
come Off. AS | put out the candles, |
caught glimpse of myself. and came
near shrieking at the sight for | look
ed more like tirst-class ghost than
anything else. | had twisted my hair
back tight, and, to protect 1t from the
leeks, covered 1t with an old white
bathing cap. The mask entirely hid
my face, and l looked like some un-
earthly tall, white thing with nat
nose, and no eyes and mouth. | assure
you that l was as ghastly an object as
one could we'll imagine; so hideous, In
fact, that l precipitately shut out the
view, blew out the lights and hastily
sought my couch.
My 'beautitier" murdered sleep; |
tossed about for hours, vainly endeav-
oring to doze OFF Now aud 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, yainly 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-
titlon OF the sudden wild cry that had
thrilled through the great. empty
house, waking me from deep sleep. Mo
tionless, | waited there In the dark,
not daring to light the candles, and
wondering at the sang frold with
which l had assured my husband that
mo burglars could worry me-" In
moment, there 1t was again--a cry for
help, not so loud as 1t 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 .3S Colt In my hand. [
noiselessly opened my door. passed
through it, and crept down the corrl-
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
the two Cinnamon; next. they would
dispose of me, and then rob the house.
So furious did the thought make me
that | lost all fear, and fairly ached
to get at the wretches.
Noiselessly stealing along, close to
the wall, my pistol cooked and ready
for work, | caught glimpse of what
was happening before | myself was
seen. The light of several lanterns set
about showed me poor. old Ching, evil
IDENTIFY 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 Il gaped my
SELF in my astonishment. for / had
never seen the hole before, But that
was all l did see just then, for at that
very moment one of the men caught
ciUbt of tyIa I
advanced upon them. Then he gave IA
loud yell that fairly terrified me into
standing still for moment dropped
his boxes and took to his heels yelling
that 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
the back door, dropping their burdens
as they went. | fired twice only, for
their terror had somewhat taken me
aback, and had the supreme pleasure
of seeing two of the miscreants clap
grievous groans. q had fired purpose
ly at their legs, for | didn't want to
kill them-Mexican jalls aren't overly
comfortableD 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
Charley wounded my feelings by shut
ting his eyes tight and trying to wrig-
gle away from my touch.'- Go way"
he moaned: me good Chinaman-no
stealce. like Mexican -boy--go way,
devil!"
SO they had all taken me for ghost,
or the devil. | could hardly contain
my laughter as | enlightened and un-
tied Charley, and left him to revive
his unconscious cousin. Then, having
relieN ed myself of my ghostly attire,
| sent out for two gendarmes, to whom
| confided the wounded burglars, and