The Meeker herald., 1917-07-21
An Episode
OF Mexico
BY F. A. mitchell

I
stock of goods and opened store in
the state of Durango. For awhile did
very well. Mexico had long been at
peace with herself. foreign capital had
come in to develop the country. and 1t
looked as though her prosperity would
continue.
The first wreck Of my hopes was tho
revolution that displaced Diaz and
placed Madero at the head of the Next
can government. But this was nothing
to the accession of Hucrta and the tur-
MOL during his administration and fall.
The Mexican people, especially those
who supported Ilucita. 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 thnn ever against
Americans.
l had made a number OF friends
among Mexicans and was permitted to
continue my business without nolesta-
ton. This was all very well so long
MS I remained in the location OF my
home and business. But | was fond
of skctching, and intended as soon as
l could get out of Mexico with my
capital to go north and study nrt. The
Sierra Mndre mountains are not far
from my home. and desired to take ms
many sketches as possible away with
me Of the fine landscapes there.
One evening after sketching during
the day l went to 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. ana
the persons it contained were of low
grade.
About 10 o'clock at night I was sit
ting in the dining room reading news
paper had gone there for the pur-
pose, since a lamp swung over the Ia
BILE 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 faint creak
OF II floor board In my rear, raised my
eyes from my paper. They lighted on
a shadow cast on n 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 it 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 l surmised that it was
raised and pointed i'll my direction.
1t required only fraction Of n sec
ond for me to see in this shadow what
is called in art forcshortened arm.
I believed also that the hand contained
weapon. That it was n pistol and
not knife was evident, since it, too.
was foreshortened. Had it been
knife it would have been held in DIFF
fercnt grip, which would have produc-
ed shadow. would have seen some
evidence OF blade. In short, man
was standing in passage behind me
and about to shoot me. Expecting to
he Immediately killed, / was paralyZcd.
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.
just below the shoulders, protuber-
nnce appeared momentarily. then mcrS-
cd 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 shadow OF
what 1t was plain was pistol barrel.
When we are in danger our faculties
become greatly sharpencd. l question
if 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
I do now? l always carried revolver
OIL my sketching tours, but it was at
my hip, under my coat. If l turned
now to defend myself while my enc
mys weapon was lowered might be
too late whereas If | sat still. pre-
tending to be ignorant of what was go
ing on behind me, might be saved.
This consideration flashed through
my brain within fraction of a 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 us before the in
terruption.
Then there was commOtion in the
outline of the shadow. Judged IT 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. | made
four moves instantaneously-I drew
my pistol. l rose. I turned. and | COW
cred my enemy.
Mexican stood before me strug-
Cling with a woman. who maintained a
firm grip of his right wrist. At my
movement both stood still.
Drop that weapon" said
The man replied by an effort to
wrench his wrist from the woman. l