The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-04-19
An Episode
Of Mexico
BY F. A. Mitchell

|ery well. Mexico had long been at
peace with herself, foreign capital had
come in to develop the country, and it
looked as though her prosperity would
continue.
The first wreck of my hopes was the
revolution that displaced Diaz and
placed Madero at the head of the Next
can government. But this was nGtEiug
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 came largely from the re-
fusal of the United States government
to recognize him as president of Mexico,
turned more bitter than ever against
Americans.
I had made a number Of friends
among McEicans and was permitted to
continue my business without molesta
ton. This was all very well SO long
as I remained in the location of my
home and business. But l was fond
of sketching, and l intended as soon as
I could get out Of Mexico with my
capital to go north and study art. The
Sierra Madre mountains are not far
from my home, and l desired to take as
many sketches as possible away with
me of the fine landscapes there.
One evening after sketching during
the day 1 went to a house devoted to
the entertainment Of strangers to pass
the night. The place correspondent to
the old American tavern of former
days. 1t was not especially clean, and
the persons it contained were of low
grade; -
About - clock at night l was sit
ting in the Ching room reading a news
paper, 1 had gone there for the pur-
pose, since 4 lamp swung over the ia
bic gave the only light that enabled me
to read comfortably. l was seated di-
rectly under it, with my back to an
open door, when, hearing a faint creak
II floor board in my rear, I raised my
eyes from my paper. They lighted ON
a shadow cast on wall before me. The
shadow was not cast by the light over
my head, but by one back of the object
that produced it. 1t was not very dis
tinct but sufficiently SO for me to dis
tinguish it as the shadow of a man.
The head covering was plainly som
brer0 The owner and shoulders came
next. The left arm was lowered, and
since the shadow of the right arm was
simply a lump l surmised that it was
raised and pointed i'll my direction
"a 1t required only fraction of a sec
5nd for me to see in this shadow what
called in art a foreshortened arm.
I believed also that the hand contained
a weapon. That it was a pistol and
not knife was evident, since it, too,
was foreshortened. Had it been
knife it would have been held in n diff
fereut grip, which would have produc-
ed a shadow. 1 would have seen some
evidence of a blade. In short, a man
was standing in passage behind me
and about to shoot me. Expecting to
be Immediately killed, l was paralyzcd.
I had not even the power to duck I'M
der the table. Naturally my eyes were
glued to the evidence of my danger.
Suddenly l saw an increase Of the
area of the shadow. On either side,
q. just below the shoulders. a protuber-
ance appeared momentaI1ly, then merg-
ed into the main bulk. The right arm
was lowered and hung at an angle with
the body. Now l could see that it was
an arm and there was a shadow Of
what it was plain was a pistol barrel
When we are in danger our faculties
become greatly sharrened. 1 question
if they do not become rather instinct.
I reasoned out the change is this wise
Some one had come IN behind the man
who was about to kill me and thrown
a pair of arms about him. What should
do now? always carried a revolver
on my sketching tours, but it was at
my hip, under my coat. If l turned
now to defend myself while my enc
my's weapon was lowered 1 might be
too late whereas if ! sat still. pre-
tending to be ignorant of what was 60
ing on behind me, might be saved.
This consideration flashed through
my brain within a fraction of a sec
OA4Ns bci SNdlNCIg NOllNCdtu II WITCH
I saw the shadow Of the arm drawn
up to its former position. Evidently
the man who had been interrupted was
intending to proceed as before the in
terruption.
Then there was a cOmmotion in the
outline of the shadow. l judged it to
express a struggle between two per-
sons. The right arm shadow appeared
and was grasped near the wrist by a
hand.
Now was my time to act. l made
four moves instantaneously-I drew
my pistol, rose, turned, and 1 COW
cred my enemy.
A Mexican stood before me strug-
Cling with a woman, who maintained
firm grip of his right wrist. At my
movement both stood still
Drop that weapon" l said.
THE man replied by an effort to
Bench his wrist from the woman. l
tiled to quiet him by putting a bullet
few inches from his head, but he con
tinued to struggle, ana the woman held
on. In another moment l saw his hand
with the pistol in it extended on his