The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-24
An Episode
OF Mexico
BY r. A. Mitchell

During the presidency Of Diaz of thu
republic Of Mexico went there with 9
stock of goods and opened store ir
the state Of Durango. For awhile die
very we'll. Mexico had long been al
peace with herself, foreign capital had
come in to develop the country, and IL
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 Mexi-
can government. But this was nothing
to the accession Of Huerta and the tur-
moil 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 q number of friends
among Mexicans 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 was fond
of sketching, and 1 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 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 corresponded to
the old American tavern of former
days. 1t was not especially clean, and
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. 1 had gone there for the pur-
pose, since a lamp swung over the ia
bic gave the only light that enabled me
rectly under 1t, with my back to an
open door, when, hearing a faint creak
of a floor board in my rear, raised my
eyes from my paper. They lighted on
a shadow cast on a wall before me. The |
shadow was not cast by the light over |
my head, but by one back of the object |
that produced 1t. 1t was not very dis |
tinct, but sufficiently so for me to dis
tinguish 1t as the shadow Of a 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 q lump / surnised that 1t was
raised and pointed in my direction.
1t required only fraction of a Sec
snd for me to see In this shadow what
u called In art a f0reshortened arm.
! believed also that the hand contained
q weapon. That it was a pistol and
not 4 knife was evident, since 1t, too,
was foreshortened. Had 1t been a
knife 1t would have been held in diff
fsrent grip, which would have produc-
ed q shadow. I would have seen some
evidence Of a blade. In short, a man
was standing in a 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 l saw an increase of the |
area of the shadow. On either side.
Just below the shoulders, a protuber- y
ance appeared momentarily, then merg-
ed into the main bulk. The right arm !
was lowered and hung at an angle with 4
the body. Now / could see that it was
IN arm and there was a shadow of
what it was plain was pistol barrel. !
When we are in danger our faculties
become greatly sharpened. / question !
4 they do not become rather instinct. G
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 a revolver I
IN my sketching tours. but it was at u
ny hip, under my coat. If / turned
low to defend myself while my enc 6,
ny's weapon was lowered | might be
90 late, whereas If | sat still. pre-
ending TO be ignorant OF what was go
ng on behind me, might be saved.
This consideration flashed through 81
ny brain within a fraction of a sec N
nd. l had scarcely conceded it when II
saw the shadow of the arm drawn Al
~ to its former position. Evidently d.
he man who had been interrupted was :
to proceed as before the in =,
"
Then there was a commotion in the
utline of the shadow. judged IL to
xpress a struggle between two per-
ons. The right arm shadow appeared L
nd was grasped near the wrist by
and.
Now was my time to act. | made
our moves instantaneously-I drew
~ pistol. rose, ! turned, and | COW
red my enemy.
A Mexican stood before me strug-
ling with a woman. who maintained a
rm grip of his right wrist. At my
ovement both stood still.
Drop that weapon said.
The man replied by an effort to
rench his wrist from the woman.
fed TO quiet him by putting a bullet a
W inches from his head. but he con-
aued TO struggle. and the woman held
J. In another moment saw his hand
It'll the pistol In It extended on his
zht put a ball in the hand. and the
stol dropped on the floor. Darling