The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1916-06-02
A Close Call
By DONALD CHAMBERLIN

During the administration Of Presi-
dent Huerta of Mexico l was employ
ed by the United States government to
do certain service for the state depart
ment. | went by land, crossing the
Rio Grande at Laredo and entering
CoahuIa. | soon fell in with a promi-
nent leader of the rebel forces, who,
after had satisfied him that my mis-
sion was not detrimental to his inter-
ests, expressed a willingness that /
should go to my destination the City
of Mexico
How 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 l have in mind would not In
terfere with that at all, l desire to
get a message through to a 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 supposing l am caught with
such letter on my personT l asked.
"In that case you would be shot"
"And what would receive for TAX
| ing this riskY'
He named a sum that tempted me.
1t seemed to me that, being in the en-
ploy of the United States government
there would be little or no risk In my
bearing the generals message. l need
ed the sum he offered for certain
purpose and concluded to stake being
shot against 1t.
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 Huerta. His name and
address were given me, but were not
written on the message, though 1t was
signed by fictitious name | decided
to carry it in the upper vest pocket on
the left side. my object being to have
1t where | could easily get it 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 l succeeded
in delivering the message or not.
Going southwark on the generals
pass | struck the Federal lines not
far from the City of Mexico. l 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
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 antagonize him by refusing and
after the evening meal sat down with
him in his tent to play. He soon won
all the cash | had provided for my
! journey. and | proposed to quit. He
seemed inclined to play on, and l
! feared to refuse him. | had the mon
ey the general had given me, a roll
Of bills. in my pocket and was obliged
to produce 1t.
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 l asked my enter
tainer to cash a draft on the Amer
lean consul at the capital. He prom
ised to do so, but made no move to pro-
duce the funds. His actions were so
suspicious that | began to think !
had better seize upon any opportu'
nifty to destroy the generals message.
| But l was given no opportunity. My
host never left me for a moment I'M
less there was some one else in the
room. All the while he was telling
me that he was endeavoring to secure
conveyance for me, that he expected
team very soon, and when it came
he would furnish me with money for
the journey.
About 10 o'clock in the morning /
saw a sergeant posting a guard about
the house. My heart stood still. was
suspected, would be searched. and the
message would be found on me. That
meant death. The officer was looking
over some military papers at table,
with an unllghted cigarette between
his lips Taking cigar from my peck
ct, and with a show of GOODNESS / did
not feel, / deliberately cut Off the end
with my penknife and asked him If he
had match. He produced one. struck
it and was about to light his cigarette
when, remembering politeness, he ex-
tended the match to me.
after you," | said.
He touched 1t to the end of his ciga-
rette and handed ii TO me. put the
fame 10 the end of my cigar, but pur-
posely failed to close my lips tight in
order 10 prevent suction. When the
match had burned near my fingers
! tho Y,,acsoua From, MN xraSf nOalraf