Spray courier. (Spray, Or.) 1???-19??, 1916-03-30
IA Close Call
BY DONALD cllANinERLlN

, do certain service Tor The state depart
ment, went by land, crossing III,
Rio Granoe at Laredo nnd enterms
Coahuila, ! soon fell IA with pl,oni
nent 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 80 TO my destination. the City
OF Mexico,
'How would you like 20 earn some
money!" asked the general
II would gladly earn money IL I can
( do So without compromising my en-
! ployers az Washington"
what have 81 mind would not In.
/ tertere' with that at all desire 10
/ get q message through 10 q certain
/ person In tho 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 60 prevent
Your being the bearer OF letter from
me to Il friend"
"But supposinS ! am caught with
such letter on my personT' | asked.
In TINT case you would be shot"
And what would ! receive FOR tax.
Ing this risk?''
He named Il sum thar tempted me.
II seemed TO me that. being In the ON
ploy OF the United States government.
there would be little OF no risk In my
bearing the generals message. need.
ed the sum he offered for n certain
purpose and concluded TO stake being
shot against Il.
He wrote his message on bit OF
thin paper about three inches square.
was to take It TO man high In favor
with President Huerta. His name and
address were given me. but We're not
written on the message. though ii was
signed by fictitious name. decided
TO carry 1t in the upper vest pocket on
the left side, my object being TO have
1t where could easily get 1t TO de-
stToy 1t 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 southwark on the generals
pass | struck the Federal lines not
fur 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
States service. Indeed. being stationed
o n mint yt.hara ha co "a ,,n npe ox-co,,4
his officers and men he seemed pleased
to see me. and since l reached his
quarters In the evening he insisted on |
me overnight
He proved TO be an inveterate gam |
bier. and nothing would do but that
must play cards with him ! dared I
lot antagonize him by refusing and
ifter the evening meal sat down with
i'm In his tent to play. He soon won
u the cash / had provided for my
odrney, and I proposed to quit He
eemed inclined to play on, and
cared to refuse him. I had the mon
= the general had given me, roll
I bills. in my pocket and was obliged
D produce it.
Ny opponent looked at this large
uantity OF Mexican money with in. /
crest. He said nothing about it, but
rom that moment he began to talk
bout the difficulty OF my getting on
/ the morning and expressed the opin- :
IN that | would be delayed. His |
roDhecy came true. for he glye or
ers that no conveyance was TO be
me. IT,
The next morning asked my enter J
liner to cash Il draft on the Amer 9
an consul at the capital. He prom i
ed to do SO, but made no move TO pro- .
zee the funds. His actions were SO
lspicious that began to think
Id better seize upon any opportu- L
ty to destroy the generals message.
nt was given no opportunity. My !,
jst never left me for moment un-
~ there was some one else In the :
ON. All the while he was telling
e that he was endeavoring to secure
uYeyance for me. that he expected
team very soon. and when it cume
would furnish LIE with money for
G journey.
About 10 O'Clock in the morning / :,
W sergeant posting guard about =
e house. Ny heart stood still was A
spectcd, would be searched and the d,
sssagc would be found on me. That !,
can't death. The officer was looking =,
er some military papers at q table, ~
tn an uniighted cigarette between II
! lips. Taking cigar from, my pock- /.
ana with show of GOODNESS I did Al
feel, / deliberately cut of the end
th nay penknife and asked him. if he ~
d match. lie produced one. struck 2,
and was about to light his cigarette as
len, remembering politeness, he ex- n
ded the match to me. :,
After you," said. -
ie touched it to the end Of his ciga- al
te and handed It to nae. / put the th
ne to the end Of my cigar. but pur. III
'ely failed to close my lips tight in e.,
or TO prevent suction. When the
tch had burned near my fingers I'D
k the message from my vest pocket, pr
one end TO the fame and lit my sy
ar with II, taking sufficient time for 81
o be entirely CONSUMED.
saw the officer look up at me quick ~
but he said nothing. Dropping the
of the paper ON the floor, put th
foot on it, rubbing it with tie sole at,
my shoe SO that it could not be-
Y me en-
think i,n co II, I4y nv .,,,,,ye;n,, 4t,o+ Aft