The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-02-25

| ]. j. Smith, a Mexican miner in
commercial life, has had some adyen.
turous experiences along the southern
narrated in an offhand colloquial man
ner the other day over his coffee at the
club are interesting.
In speaking of the character Of that
country, he said a man might be asked,
What is your name?" and. respond
ing, Smith, it was considered no af-
front to be asked next, What was
your name in the States?" The ques-
ton would be put with cool candor, for
deception is supposed to be the natur-
al atmosphere of that locality, and the
stranger with a clear past record is a
rarity
Smith stated that cowboys meet
their death from time 10 time on the
lonely plain stretches, and it is gen
orally attributed TO their being thrown
from their ponies. The Mexican miner
assigned more definite reason for the
disappearance, however, having had
close calls himself to quit the world,
but not through the medium OF frac.
tious pony, He had had trouble with
Gaqui Indians, but the 1aquis were
really amiable in comparison with the
freebooter OF the blistered alkali
plains His own personal experience
was that the half-naked Indian, CLASH
fled as lower in civilization. was appre.
ciably less dangerous than pictures
quely caparisoned Spaniard
Smith was travelling one day over Al
stretch Of country where a mans best
friend is his lariat and his gun; where
the longest shadow Is cast by the cac-
tus. where there is no evidence of ami
NAL life but a buzzard circling in the,
air, and where the distant, dim outline
OF an adobe hut or Of mountain looks
friendly
A figure appeared against the hort
zon, and as it grew more distinct it
proved 10 be the outline of a rider
and horse. Soon bronzed face under
a dark s0mbrero was visible
Smith stealthily put his hand on the
trigger OF his revolver.
Buenos dias, senior said Lopez,
the enchanting rider, bestowing fine
Spanish smile on the Mexican miner
Smith returned the salutaton
In another instant, in a mere trice
OF fine the lariat of Lopez cut its
course through the air (for the genial
greeting was a mere decoy), but Smith
had already drawn his revolver and
shot the horse of the Spanfard The
horse fell over and rolled upon Lopez,
holding him fast Lopez |
called on the saints to aid |
him and begged Smith for mercy The |
latter could not say whether the saints |
came TO- the freebooter's rescue. but
MS mercy was not withheld and Lopez |
went on his way reioicing
II Smith had been less vieilant, The
ariat Of Lopez would have done lis
Durposed work. and Smith would have
disappeared as mysteriously as the |
cowboys of current history; the cause, I
lot fractions pony. but fatally Ger
ain lariat
Time slipped by Smith had occa-
sion again to traverse the arid table
and under brilliant tropical sun.
This time not single horseman but
] whole company was discernible in
he distance, and when the riders came
II fun view the cavalcade was headed
by none other than the adventurous
Lopez This time the greetings that
we're exchanged were more sincere.
Not an outlaw made a move against
Smith, for a silent signal from their
eader had warned them. Lopez re-
nembered too distinctly the certain
aim of Smith-possibly, also, his
mercy.