The Meeker herald., 1917-10-06
An Episode
Of Mexico
By r. A. mitchell

stock of goods and opened store In
the state Of Durango. For awhile I did
very well. Mexico had long been at
peace with herself. foreign capital had
come in to develop the country. and It
looked a. though her prosperity would
continue.
The frst wreck Of my hopes was the
revolution that displaced Diaz and
placed Madero at the head Of the Next
can government. But this was nothing
to the accession of Huerta and the tur-
MOL during his administration and fall.
The Mexican people, especially those
who supported Hucrta. 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.
had made . number of friends
among Mexicans and was permitted to
continue my business without molesta-
ton. This was all very well so long
ms I remained In the location Of my
home and business. But ! was fond
of sketching, and intended us soon a.
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 I desired to take as
many sketches as possible away with
me Of the fine landscapes there.
One evening after sketching during
the day l went to house devoted 10
the entertainment OF strangers 10 pass
the night. The place correspohueu 10
the old American tavern OF former
days. 1t was not especially clean, anu
the persons 1t contained were OF low
grade.
About 10 o'clock at night l was SIT
ting In the dining room reading news
paper. 1 had gone there for the pur-
pose. since lamp swung over the ia
BILE gave the only light that enablcd me
to read comfortably. l was seated di-
rectly under 1t. with my back to an
open door, when. hearing faint creak
Of floor board In my rear, raised my
eyes from my paper. They iignteu Oh
shadow cast on wall before INC. 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 80 for me to dis
,tinguish 1t as the shadow OF man.
The head covering was plainly a SOM
brero. The owner and shoulders came
next. The left arm was lowered, and
since the shadow Of the right arm was
simply q lump surmised that 1t was
raised and pointed in my direction.
1t required only fraction OF SEC
ond for me to see In this shadow what
Is called in art foreshortened arm.
| I believed also that the hand contained
weapon. That 1t was pistol ana
not a knife was evident, since 1t, too,
/ was foreshortened. Had 1t been
knife 1t would have been held in DIFF
ferent grip, which would have produce
ed shadow. would have seen some
evidence of a blade. In short. man
was standing in a passage behind me
and about to shoot me. Expecting to
be Immediately killed. was paralyzed.
l had not even the power to duck UNI
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.
lust below the shoulders, a protuber-
ance appeared momentnrily, then merg-
: cd into the main bulk. The right arm
was lowered and hung at an angle with
the body. Now l could see that 1t was
an arm and there was n shadow of
what IL was plain was a pistol barrel.
When we are in danger our faculties
become greatly sbarpened. 1 question
n thev do not become rather instinct,
+ rea soned o,,t the change IL this wise
Some ono had come nh behind the man
,,ho no. .ho,,t N LII mo and thrown
. NJ, ~ nm. !. bout him what shonld
a. nows Ie,wovs .arr,od a receiver
-, 49, .ro.oh,n. Tour. hut ~ uas at
49, H. ,nSar ~ ooot r. tnrneI
u.s. ~" ~ sa,snd ,ny,o,r vhi,o nv one.
Nv" W ,'., ,.,.,,,t n.