Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-11

izer of the camp years before had forese :,
which We lived so that our door faced toward
the powder magazine. This powder house was
down the hill and on the side of the arroyoS
but within range Of a rife.
With a swagger, Victor approached the steel
door that barred his way to the dynamite He
realized that for the time being he held the
center Of the stage. The lock confused him
until he thought Of using his pistol AS he
was placing the muzzle Of his gun against the
paddock of the door. he fell. A bullet had
passed through his left side near the heart.
He squirred like a rabbit for a moment, stiff
ened twice and turned over on his face. Our
.30-.30 rifle had reached him the first shot!
My wife made this shot by taking a rest
against the doorsill, while covered any up
risings that might come from the others.
Loud curses from the remaining members Of
the band greeted our success, but the bandits
did not make any attempt to fire back.
could hear a great deal of what the men
were saying and it seemed they had the mis-
taken idea most natives have; meaning, that
Americans are all wealthy and have boards of
money IN their possession Poor fools; there
was not one peso In our possession. We paid
all the employees by check and never saw
my salary as it was deposited In United
States bank for me.
The afternoon drifted along, with only an
occasional shot being fired, until dark; and no
moon I had been thinking about the coming
of darkness and what 1t might mean TO u.s. but
try as would no remedy came to my mind.
Shortly after complete darkness and without
any warning whatever, our peace was disturbed
by shots that came whiZzing toward me from
both sides of the house They had discovered
our remaining weakness!
From the announcing shots until my capture
seemed like hours Of brisk fighting: in reality,
IL could have been no more than three minutes.
THE men closed in from both sides, shoot
ing as they came. I was shooting with
both hands and crawling backward into the
room. II was one-room house made Of
adobe and with wood floors (the only real
floors in any house within several days ride.
The men rushed in through the open door,
shooting as they came. Many shots were fired
at Don and me from distances Of not over 10
feet. She was shooting now, and We were
giving a good account Of ourselves. Three
men fell in that brief skirmish who never
arose. One shot went through the left armpit
of my leather jacket
Men closed in about me, grappled for q
pistol that was being pointed toward me and
not more than Is inches away from my chest
and succeeded in keeping it from being fired
at me. Some one hit me on the head and felc
myself sinking. fought for consciousness and
called for my wife to run: then everything
seemed black tried to rally myself. and
struck again on the head. Then lost con-
seriousness completely.
few minutes later-they seemed hours-I
came to my senses. was tied hand and foot
and on a dirt floor. My hands and legs were
numb from lack of circulation, caused by the
extremely tight cords I was bound with. NV
holster and cartridge belt were around my
waist but the pistol, of course, was not there
I called to my wife in English Don, where
are you?" This was repeated several times
before my wife answered.
Eyes, honey she said. Don't worry, we
will get out of this all right"
For pure spunk under such conditions this