Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1918-01-05
Crossing a Ford
By ELIAS KILLIAN
tcopyrisht 1917. western Nswsoapsr Union. ,

When the National Guard was or
/ dered down 90 the Mexican border
was keeping store about n hundre,
miles south Of the border line. 7 hnt
gone down from the Stntes with n Nc
tie money had inherited from my IN
Their. thinking there was n better
chance 10 use II In Mexico than In q
more settled country. was only TWEEN
ty-one years old and without expert
encc.
located In n town In chihuahua q
few miles south OF the Conchas river
tributary TO the Rio Grandc, and
since there was no other store carrying
such n stock as I had In the place,
did very well. but I encountered the
anlmoslty OF other dealers.
There was an American family
named Talbot living near the Conchas
north Of me. and since was not made
welcome In the homes of the Mexican
families. | used to ride out there for
companlonship. Perhaps II was the
second daughter Emily who attracted
me.
Several Of the stOrekeepers whose
business I had taken away from them
put their heads together. and resolved
10 edo" me. They watched for an OPP
portunity 10 make away with me when
I was M some distance from the town.
Such an opportunity occurred on n trip
| made 10 collect an account from
man near the American border. was
obliged 10 cross the Conchas, which is
fordablc nea- the Talbots. and found
Il convenient to stop there for a visit.
Jose Zangas. one Of my competitors.
learned Of my proposed trip, and fol-
lowed me. II was about 20 miles from
the river 10 where my debtor
lived and Zangas kept short
distance behind mo nll the way.
lie saw me. unseen himself, 60 into my
debtors home and saw him pay me 800
pesos. Zangas had picked up
couple OF men who made their living
by robbery.
On my way back I stopped ut noon
for n rest and to eat n snack I had
with me. After refreshing myself
filled my pipe. and. resting my head on
the root of n tree, smoked while my
horse grazed near me. II was not
long before fell asleep. was awak-
ened by n kick. and there, looking
down on me, "A cooked revolver In his
hand. was Jose Zangas. while the 9TH
or two men, mounted. were near at
hand.
My revolver was under me at my
hip. and I was at his mercy. He Or
dercd me 10 turn over. did so, and
he relieved me Of my weapon. Then he
ordered me 10 give up the money car
rled which did. He divided II among
his assistants. taking nothing for him
self.
The place where I was captured was
a few miles from the ford. and thlth-
er they directed our course. When we
reached II one Of the robbers started
10 cross, then the other. then /. and be-
hind me Zangas. who was to cover me
with his revolver to the other side.
The ford was over a ledge OF rock,
which was not visible. The current
was quite swift. Moving in running
water one Is liable TO go down stream
Instead Of straight across. We had got
half way over when there was a sharp
report and the leading robber fell from
his horse and disappeared under the
water. This disconnected the second
robber, and. being mlsdlrected by the
water. he left the ledge and
nh that remained To be seen OF horse
md rider was the animals feet above
he surface.
Zangas might have shot me had he
kept his wits; but he was so discon-
rerted by what had happened that he
delayed. / turn.I TO look ut him. and
The hand that held his weapon was
but seeing me turn, he
raised his revolver. Before he could
Are he fell forward from his horse, and
his body was carried away by the cur
rent.
II now occurred to me to look about
for the person who had saved me. No
one was TO be seen. / crossed the ford,
taking care not to be mlsled by the
On reaching the opposite side
behind some bushes saw Emily Tai
bot lying In a faint.
took her up In my arms and COW
cred her face with kisses. This warm
ed her to consciousness, and seeing me
looking down upon her. she smiled.
There was never a definite proposal
and acceptance between me and Emily.
Our counting. proposal. and accept
ance were all included In the kisses
that brought her back to life.