Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-23
t h e ID ailv
Short Story
CROSSING 4 FORD.
By Elias kilban.

When the national guard was or
dered down to the Mexican border
was keeping store about a hundred
miles south of the border line. | had
gone down from the States with a III.
tie money I had inherited from NV ia.
ither, thinking there was better
chance TO use it in Mexico than in a
more settled country l was only u
I wears old and without experience.
| located in town in chihuahua A
few miles south Of Conehas river
tributary to the Rio Grande, and since
there was no other store carrying
such stock as / had in the place. |
did very we'll. but ! encountered the
luminosity of other dealers,
There was an American family
named Talbot living near the Conchas
north of me. and since was NOT made
welcome in the homes of the Mexican
families, 1 used TO ride out there for
companionship Perhaps it was the
second daughter Emily who attracted
me.
Several of the storekeepers whose
business | had taken away from them
put their heads together, and resolved
TO do" me- They watched for an on
1 portunity to make away with me when
/ was at some distance from the town.
Such an opportunity occurred on a
trip I made to collect an account from
man near the American border.
was Obliged to cross the Conehas
which is fordable near the Talhots,
| and | found it convenient TO stop there
for a visit. Jose Zangas, one Of nv
competitors, learned of my proposed
/ trip, and followed me. II was about
twenty miles from the river to where
my debtor lived and Zangas kent a
short distance behind me all the way
He saw me, unseen himself, go into
4 M debtors home and saw him paw
me 800 pesos. Zangas had picked up a
couple OF men who made their living
! by robbery.
On my way back I stopped al noon
for q. rest and to eat a snack | had
with me, After refreshing myself I
filed my pipe, and. resting my head
on the root CT a tree, smoked while my
horse grazed near me. II was not
long before I fell asleep was awak-
ened by a kick, and there, looking
: down on me, cooked revolver in his
hand was Jose Zangas, while the other
t two men, mounted, were near at hand
n My revolver was under me at my
i. hip, and I was at his mercy. He or
Y dered me to turn over. l did so, and
= he relieved me OF my weapon. Then hi
Il ordered me TO give up the money | car.
ried which I did He divided it be
tween his assistants, taking none fol
himself.
The place where [ was captured va
- a few miles from the ford, and thithe
. they directed eur course When VI
= Preached it one Of the robbers stsrter
to cross, then the other, then l, ani
behind me Zangas, who was 10 cove
:, me with his revolver to the other side
which was not visible. The eurren
= was quite swift Moving in runnin
' water one is liable TO go down streaI
!, instead of straight across We ha
= got half way over when there was
sharp report and the leading robbie
fell from his horse and disappeare
d. under the water. This disconcerte
l. the second robber. and. being nisd
r rected by the running water, he lei
A. the ledge and all that remained TO
IF seen Of horse and rider was the an
r mails feet above the surface
1s Zangas might have shot me had L
le kept his wits; but he was discof
TX certed by what had happened that b
G. delayed. I turned to look at him, an
ID the hand that held his weapon wa
ID trembling; but seeing me turn, b
Of raised his revolver. Before he coul
We fire he fell forward from his hors
r and his body was carried away by II
r. current
is It now occurred to me TO look abot
as for the person who had saved me n
one was TO be seen. | crossed The for
taking care not TO be misled by Il
7 current. On reaching the oppos
nv side behind some bushes I saw Emf
ed Talbot lying ia a faint
- | took her up in my arms and CO.
= cred her face with kisses This warn
"a ed her TO consciousness, and seeing \
10, looking down upon her. she smiled
nh There was never q definite propos
ed and acceptance between me and Emil
ar Our counting, proposal ami acceptan
~ were all included in the kisses th
,or brought her back to life