Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-12-28
A MIDNIGHT SIEGE.
A PAIR OF RATTLERs TAKE POSSES.
SION OF TWO BEDROOMS.

Time to Wake up-A Traveller Ten.
story of Texas to HI. Ea.isru Friends.
Well, twas out in northwest Texas that
came upwith anold schoolmatewhohas
wheat farm near tho palo Pinto oan-
yon. lie was glad TO see me, I silppose
because was something from the old lfe
and invited mo TO spend week with him
accepted the invitation. but was one dnv
called to the nearest town on business and
did not get back to the farmhouse tilllate
Every light was out, and all the ipn,ntes
mad evidently RETIRED so 1 determined 70
gain my room without arousinR them. II
possible. Fortunately found my win
dow open, and without lighting lamp
undressad and orawled into bed. But
could not get to sleep, and finally l con-
Guided to try cigar Va a soothing tonic.
80 got up and began to walk over 10
where had left my clothes for my coat.
In Which had put my cigar case.
had taken only few steps when /
heard the sharp whir-whir Of rattlu-
snake. The sound IS unmistakable, and
i was aware that these creatures often
creep into houses in that region, and some
times show fight When an attempt Is made
10 drive them out. l did not wait TO IA.
vestigate his snakeship's whereabouts,
but gained my bed without touching the
floor at all, l believe must have awak-
ened my hostess by my movements IN com.
ing in, in spite Of my caution, for now
heard her sing out TO her observation-disclosures
bedroom was next 10 mine with only
thin lath partition between-'Oh, John,
there's rattlesnakc in Mr.. Richardson's
room. heard himp
Then falling TO arouse him, sho called
TO mes "Where Is hel DO you see hint"
answered that did not.
The lamp was yard or two from me,
and II 1 had had to go without a light
from then until now do not believe
would have set my bare foot TO the floor
TO have got one. But did not say this,
however, to the lady. There's never any
use IN owning you arc n coward People
will find It out soon enough. She wanted
10 know then why 1 did not get up and
kill him. "Oh, ! said, 81 do not object
To his being here. - She began 10 scream
then and to try again to awaken her hus-
band, but while / am firmly Convinced no
was wide enough awake 10 take in tho BIT
uation not word could she get out Of
him.
1 then began TO get mad. The sacred
laws Of hospitality demanded that John
should arise and free his guests chamber
OF all horrors except such as no himself iu-
troduced there from good spirits, and /
said so. Mrs. John did not however,
view the matter in this light, and natlyre-
fused to allow John 10 run this risk, John
still taking no part in the argument, but,
Ike BF'er Rabbit, kept on saying nothing
and "laying low In the meanwhile tho
snake had again composed himself for
slumber, leaving Mrs. John and me TO set
tie tho thing az we might, until mouse
must have run over him in the dark for
we heard him sound his alarm, and the
next moment a shrill shrek Of agony pro
claimed that tho mouse had been struck.
This set Mrs. John of again, and she In
sisted that the intruder must be killed.
"With all my heart madam" 1 said em-
phatically. OWN you do IT."
This silenced her for time, when
Johns SHORES grew 20 DO something be-
yond all records OF such feats. My imag-
nation now commenced TO grow interest
ed. and could picture that notified de-
mon OF the plains crawling toward me in
the dark, stealing noiselessly up the leg
OF the bed on TO it and--hut here Mrs.
John asked, mir. Richardson, are you
going to kill that snakeW
/ took in every point Of tho situation
and replied yes, II she would hold the
light. To my surprise she said she would.
Aud in another moment l saw tho CLEAN
of Light in tho next room and the com
munioating door was thrown open, and
Mrs. John, with an extra adornment of
rnyly colored patched quilt over her shout
ders, hung over the foot Of her bed with
lighted lamp In her hand. The rays were
thrown into my room, and by them saw
a monster ra.tlcr eoiled up within three
feet OF the bed.
1 slipped my hand undor my pillow and
secured the revolver had got into tho
habit during my stay in that part OF the
country of never allowing TO be away from
me for moment, and drawing it out
cooked it.
Here Mrs. John gave new and special
sort Of scream-a woman is more afraid
of firearms than OF, anlthing else on earth
and said; ooh Mr.. Richardson, don
shoot. You might kill john vi !
could do that, madam, would feel that
mad not lived in vain, asserted in
deadly, cold, heavy villain tone, but re-
pented il, for Mrs. John nearly fell back
INTO he'd with the lamp and my hopes oil
| Kidding my apartment OF my roommate
nut Ale recovered sufficiently to sit up
once more and hold tho light in a wobbly'
bvyterical sort Of way, and fired. me
snake, which did not bit as only want,
ed TO make him lift his head 50 that 1
could dispatch him with single shot,
now furionsly threw himself into a con
and raised his ugly head, and ! aiming
al carefully as Mrs. John would let me-
area again and sent the snake down WIN
a bullet through his brain.
m. but what was thisl From theneSt
room from under Mrs. Johns own Deu,
there sounded a second rattle like nV'e
ogsdedance. And simultaneously Jouh
owoke with suspicious suddenness. my
haok With the happy consciousness OF u".5
REFORMED and drained the sweet SgP -,
ysngsauce with it. ARISE, john" salu
IN aim tones, "and slay this menaee 70
tbv happy home, " and, blush 70 sly, ny
s1,ain 70 forgot the laws Of hospi'aii'y as
80 bid I'D guest to hold his tongue
Mrs. John had collapsed and coulp oiii3
inter indistinct means. John NV "
msrdss Of me that should throw him = ey.
srv object in my rouch, which ! a. my ".
; Ss.,jned 10 do, feeling drowsy- but az lilas s
sansented. and showered boots spurs ti.i
esdIns N,bips on Mrs. Johns prostf'iite
runs John gathered these up ana ~
!o.Ii' sbowered them under the bed ~
a. a. tbe snake refused 10 be disloose ~.
"a IKE all OF us, bad u onll w. " ~, Nv,