The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-04-21
An Episode
Of Mexico
By F. A Mitchell


'he stale or Durango. For awhile did
very well. Mexico had long been at
peace with herself. foreign capital had
come in to develop the country. and II
looked as though her prosperity would
continue.
Ihe hrst wreck of my hopes was the
revolution that displaced Diaz ana
placed Madero at the head OF tho Navi-
can government. But this was nothing
70 the accession of Huerta ana the tur-
MOL during his administration and fall.
The Mexican people. especially those
who supported liuerta. 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.
l had made a number of friends
among Mexicans and was permitted TO
continue my business without molesta.
ton. This was all very well so long
as l remained in the location Of my
nome and business But | was fond
of sketching. and intended as soon as
l could get out of Mexico with NV
capital 10 go north and study art. The
Sierra Madre mountains are not far
from my home, aud desired to take as
many sketches as possible away with
me of the fine landscapes there
One evening after sketching during
the day | went TO house devoted to
the entertainment of strangers to pass
the night. The place correspondent TO
the old American tavern of former
days. Ii was not especially clean, and
the persons 1t contained were of IA low
grade.
About 10 o'clock ut night was sit
ting in the dining room reading news
paper. l had gone there for the pur-
pose, since lamp swung over the ia
BILE gave the only light that enabled me
TO read comfortably. was seated di-
rectly under il, with my back to an
open door when. hearing faint creak
of Il floor board in my rear, raised my
eyes from my paper. They lighted on
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 il as the shadow of man.
The head covering was plainly SOM
brero. The owner and shoulders came
next. The left arm was lowered, and
since the shadow of the right arm was
simply lump | surmised that it was
raised and pointed in my direction
1t required only fraction of a 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 and
not a knife was evident, since 1t. too.
was foreshortened. Had it been
knife 1t would have been held In diff
ferent grip. which would have produc~
ed a shadow. l would have seen some
evidence Of blade. In short man
was standing in passage behind me
and about TO shoot me. Expecting to
be Immediately killed, was paralyzed.
had not even the power to duck I'M
der the table. Naturally my eyes were
glued to the evidence Of my danger.
Suddenly | saw an increase of the
area Of the shadow. On either side,
lust below the shoulders. protuber-
ance appeared momentarily. 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 1t was plain was pistol barrel.
When we are in danger our faculties
become greatly sharpened. question
il they do not become rather instinct.
| reasoned out the change is this wise:
Some one had come up behind the man
who was about TO kill me and thrown
a pair OF arms about him. What should
| do now? | always carried revolver
on my sketching tours, but 1t was at
my hip. under my coat III i turned
now to defend myself while my ene-
my's weapon was lowered l might be
too late whereas il | sat still. pre-
tending to be ignorant of what was go
ing on behind me, l might be saved.
This consideration flashed through
INV brain within a fraction of sec
ond. had scarcely conceded 1t when
| 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 commotion In the
outline of the shadow. judged II to
express a struggle between two per-
sons. The right arm shadow appeared
and was grasped near the wrist by
hand.
Now was my time to act. l made
four moves instantaneously-I drew
NV pistol. | rose. turned. and ! COW
cred my enemy.
A Mexican stood before me strug-
Cling with a woman. who maintained a
firm grip of his right wrist. At my
movement both stood still.