The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-03-02
4 CLOSE CALL
ity Donald Chamhcrlin

Coahuila. | soon fcll In with promi
, neut leader of the rebel forces, who
after | had satisfied him that my mis-
sion was not detrimental to his inter
ests. expressed willingness that
should 90 10 my destination. the City
Of Mexico,
"lIow would you like to earn some
money!" asked the general
81 would gladly earn money If | can
do SO without compromising my en-
ployers at Washington"
what ! have in mind would not in
terfere with that at all | desire to
get message through to certain
person In the City of Mexico. As a
messenger OF the United States you
would not be suspected. Your govern
ment has not taken sides in this mat
ter, and there is nothing to prevent
your being the bearer Of letter from
me TO a friend"
But suppoSins | am caught with
such letter on my person. | asked.
"ln that case you would he shot"
"And what would receive for tax
ing this risk
He named n sum that tempted me.
| II seemed TO me that. being in the EN-
| plOy Of the United States government,
| there would he little or no risk in my
bearing the generals message, / need
ed the sum he offered for certain
purpose and concluded TO stake being
shot against it,
He wrote his message on "A bit Of
thin paper about three inches square
| was to take it to man high in favor
with President Hucrta. His name and
address were given me, but were not
written on the message, though il was
signed by fictitious name. | decided
to carry 1t In the upper vest pocket on
the left side, my object being to have
II where I could easily get 1t to de-
stroy it In case | was cornered. The
general paid me the money for the
service | was about TO render, for
was to receive it whether | succeeded |
In delivering the message or not
Going southward on the generals |
pass | struck the Federal lines not
far from the City of Mexico. In
formed the commanding officer of my
mission and was received by him with
the courtesy due one In the United
at point where he saw no one except |
his officers and men he seemed pleased |
to see me, and since ! reached his
quarters in the evening he insisted on
entertaining me overnight
He proved TO be an inveterate gam
bier. and nothing would do but that
! must play cards with him. | dared
not antagoniZc him by refusing and
after the evening meal sat down with
him in his tent to play. lie soon won
all the cash had provided for my
journey, and ! proposed TO quit He
seemed inclined TO play on. and |
feared to refuse him. | had the mon
ey the general had given me, roll
of bills, in my pocket and was obliged
to produce it.
My opponent looked at this large
quantity of Mexican money with in.
terest He said nothing about it, but
from that moment he began to talk
about the difficulty OF my getting on
in the morning and expressed the opin-
ion that ! would be delayed His
prophecy came true, for he gave or
ders that no conveyance was to be
furnished me
The next morning asked my enter
tainer to cash a draft OH the Amer
lean consul at the capital. He prom
sed TO do so, but made no move to pro
luce the funds. His actions were so
suspicious that ] began to think
had better seize upon any Opportu
nifty to destroy the generals message.
But | was given no opportunity. My
lost never left me for a moment un ,
ess there was some one else IN the
'oom All the while he was telling
ne that he was endeavoring to secure
for me, that he expected
team very soon, and when ii came
le would furnish me with money for
he journey.
About 10 o'clock In the morning |
Jaw sergeant posting a guard about
he house My heart stood still. was
would be searched, and the .
Message would be found on me. That .
meant death. The officer was looking
'yer some military papers at table, y
With an unlightcd cigarette between &
lis lips Taking a cigar from my pOck a
t, and with a show Of cOOlness ! did n
ot feel, deliberately cut of the end II
With my penknife and asked him If he v
ad match. He produced one, struck
. ana was about to Hight his cigarette
lhcn, remembering politeness, he ex
ended the match 10 me. s.,
after You" ] said. Il
He touched II 10 the end Of his dga Il
cite and handed 1t 10 me. | put the b
anne 10 the end ~ nay cigar but pur-
osely failed 70 close NY lips tight IN "
-ler 10 prevent suction. When the "
latcb had burned near my fingers ] p
,ok the message from my vest pocket, HI
lt one end 10 the fame aud BIC my al
gar with H. taking sufficient time for ".
10 be entirely consumed fiji
I saw the officer look up 8t me quics II