The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-10
TOLD BY a NEW YORK MAN.
A st. Paul Reporter Went Pooling
Around After a Story, and Got One.

4 rOOInQ
Around After a Story, and Got One.
From the st. Paul Globe.
Rufus Hoyt of New York city, who was
at the Hotel Ryan yesterday, is, perhaps,
one Of the most widely Travelled CONNER
cial men of that city, representing as he
does, some OF the largest iron manufactur.
ing industries in the United States. OBJ
servant OF everything that transpires about
him, he has a stock of anecdotes large
enough to fill volume as voluminous as
labor commissioners report. Aocostlng q
representative of the Globe he said:
do you see that gray-haired man over
thereF pointing as he spoke to a tall, sun
tanned guest, who sat with crossed hands
in one of the benches
''His name," continued the New Yorker.
"is Bertram Smith. He is a Braziltal by
everything but birth, having lived there
aim st ali his life, and it was there that
met him eight years ago. He owned vast
tract Of land in the Amazon valley, near
the base of the Andes, a d had the sweetest
little girl for wife that mortal man could
wish for. Smith was prospecting for all
sorts Of mineral on his property there, and
| sold him lot Of m &c linery that was never
delivered. I'll tell you why.
when l was down at their place Smith
and his wife had just returned from the
honeymoon. He worshiped the very
ground the girl trod, and she in turn was as
devoted as ever woman can be. The house
they lived in was a one-Story affair. not
pretty to look at externally, except that it
was covered by creeping plants, but plenty
of room and the essence of prettiness and
comfort within.
Mrs. Smith came from Rio Janeiro
She had a mortal horror of snakes, and her
husband used to joke her about it. Now.
that country is full of snakes boa constric-
tors thirty feet long and as thick as sand
flies. There was garden about five acres
in extent about the place. and here it was
that the bride Of few months used to get
her outdoor exercise, except when accom-
panied by her husband, at which time,
believe, she would have faced all the cobras
in the country. The prospecting works
wore about three miles from the house, and
che morning Smith started for there on
horseback. He had rife with him. On
ats way home he saw 16-foot boa wind its
Siuuous way across the wagon road. The
hidsous head was raised for an instant, and
ths besdlike eyes glsrsd OF the intruder; the
neat instant q bullet had found its way to
tbs reptiles brain, and with few convul-
sious OF rs Shiny body the python was dead
Bsihe only about three-quarters of a mile
from the house, Smith determined to try
what effect the dead boa would have in
"Hs made fast his hitching rein to the
snakes neck and dragged it through the
gates lotto the garden. Then he went into
houSe and told Mrs. Smith about it. She
impiorsd him tu have it removed, and at
iAIt he consented Then, fearing she would
lose prestige in his eyes by an exhibition Of
cowardice, she said:
4 want the awful thing taken out of
the garden, bnt TO show you | am not afraid
Of 1t will 90 out there alone and inspect
the renlSins,'
He Soa' ce!y expected she would do it. The
dusk was falling and the bushes in the gar
den began 10 cast gruesorne shadows about
them. The girl was game through. She
got a little peSrl-handls1 revolver from q
drawer, threw summer shawl over her
head and weut olt.
"'G you 5sAr mo ssoot,' she said, 'you
will know that the boa has como to life, aud
lShall expect you 20 rascus me- Then she
thew him smile and kiss, and was gone.
''s5lnIch didn't Ike to discourage her, but
bs wished he hadn't suggest a the thing.
Flo sat there wrising. but every breath of
wind seemed. as it bow through the open
windows, to bring with it O whisper of i'm
pending evil. He tried to laugh at his fsars,
b1: they would recur in spite of him.
Suddenly pistol shot rang out on the
still air. He started up Wildly, seized his
ride aud made for the door. Then he
iSughed ct himself. OF course she had fred
the shot to brighten him. What possible
Farm could come to her in the garden with
! q seven-toot palisade about it, Pshaw and
he sat down again, but he kept his rifle in
| his hand and listened
why didn't she return! Surely it was
time. Then he thought he heard a scream,
and at last, in a frenzy of doubt, he burst
through the doors and went in search of
her.
Through the bushes he ran, calling her
name at every step. There was no answer