The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1917-07-19
An Episode
Of Mexico
BY r. A. Mitchell


very well. Mexico had long been Al
pcacc with hersela foreign capital had
come In 20 develop the country. and II
,ooked as though her prosperity would
continue.
The fret wreck of my hopes was the
revolution that displaced Dlaz and
placed Madero az the head of the Mexi-
can government Hut this was aothlng
To the accession Of Huerta and the tur-
mol during his administration and fall.
The Mexican people, especially those
: who supported Huerta. believing that
their troubles csme largely from the rc-
scsal Of the United States government
to recognise him as president OF Mexico.
turned more bitter than ever against
Americana
had made q number OF friends
among Msxicans and was permitted TO
continue my business without molesta-
ton. This was all very well 20 long
ss remained In the location of my
home and business. But I was fond
Of sketchlnE. and I intended as soon a.
could ret out % Mexico with my
ca pltal 60 10 north and study art The
Sierra Madre mountains are not far
from my home. and I desired 10 take a.
many sketches a. possible away with
me of the nne landscapes there.
Que evening after sketchlng during
the day went 70 a house devoted 10
the entertainment OF strangers 20 pass
the night The place corresponded 10
the oid American tavern Of former
days IL was not especially clean. and
the persons Il contained were OF low
grade
About 10 o'clock at night I Was att
ting In the dining room reading n news
paper. I had gone there for the pur-
pcse. since a lamp swung over the tn.
BILE gave the only light that enabled me
20 read comfortably. I was seated d.
rectly under II. with my back 10 an
open door. when. hearing a faint crcak
of q fccr board IN my rear. raised my
eyes from my paper. They lighted on
q shadow cast on a wall before me. The
shadow was no, cast by the light over
my head. but hy one hack OF the object
that prciucvsl H. IL was not very dis
tinct. hut sufficiently - for me Co dls-
tingulsh Il a. the shadow of n man.
rhe head covering was plainly . son
orcr0 Tho owner and shoulders came
next. The ieft arm was lowered, and
slnce the shadow of the right arm was
s.nI'r a lump I surnIsed that IL was
0iise-l and pointed IN my direction
Il rcquinrf only a fracfioa q a go
ond Tor me % sce In this shadow what
3 called In art q foreshorteued arm.
I believed also that the hand ccntained
q wcspon. That "a was a pistol aud
nof . knife ~as evident. since u. too.
vas forcshoricaed Had u hoen .
knife L woald have been heid In a diff
fsrrnt grip. wkich wcaid have prolnc-
81 q shadow. would have Secn some
eFtdenos % q blade. In short. a man
~as slAn1in- IN q passaee behind me
and aAouf L. sboot NE Expecfing 70
- innedlateiy killed. was p4raly1s-a.
l had nos efen The power 10 dock IN
DER the table Naturally M eyes wene
rised % the eTldenoe % ny eanser.
sndteniy I Saw an Increase q The
ara q fhe xhade~. "a elther sIde.
ln<f o<kou ths shooA1erzL a r.resst.<r-
sncs sllosre1 nsennenfaFily then u.~--- I
ed inte the zIin laik- The
~ns lssered aod hang atana.
rhe beaF. Sow csasid see that.
an ara and tkere vas . siaaow
whaf = ~Hs rAKl1 uns pistol harrrI
hh~n Ne are IN oangtr car facalties
i,eo1Alle Er1nIiy sharrensd- 1 aussfioa
q thry o. Do< heualas rafher instinct
! rr1sos'ed o1s tAs ehans- is fhis wi.s:
s1ans asns had oe,ne ~ tehind ths naa
~ho vas hi.oui 10 IA ne and Thrown
lalr q ar-ns a,.slt hin- What shouid
% ns~f isluays carriei a revolver
"a M skelcALng taafs, bat n was AZ
ny AlA 11oer 1y cat III turo~8
ne~ - oefea1 uysslf whIls NJ -
es~l.1 ~as is~eEed 1 alstt b
iss ATE WoereAs II I sat stHl pr.-
,enal-g q ~ iEooeant q whar vas ro-
-ls 81 1~ei1,l ~. I might bs saved
Al-ls e<1si1eTafla1 fasAaa thrna.h
NJ eraA gEtia a frasfiaa of . -
-ne Aaa -cariely oaacs.iei Il -.
~-S tAe sAladsH ~ he ar,n arnwn
~ - ~ faru1rr Issirioa. Exla.-.,,-
=. - = - A1a te-a i1ierrspsed wss
--r'.-i.n< . sFeoeed as l--sors ths Ia
-r~ tnrf- NAs = cUzalnori..n IN N.
- ~ 81 tn~ sha8sw- 49, !. =.
'-ifsss sir9sEs heSwssa suo -.
'enA fAs rlsal aEAn sksssw .un...,..s
- ~As Erasre1 nrar ~. - -