The Helena independent., 1893-12-09
SNAKES 5 UNDER The BED.
A Pair of Vsnomous Rattlers Taks
Possession Of Two Sleep
ing Rooms
And It Was not an Entirely
Easy Job to Get Them
Out.
a Ma. XVIn Knssx XYbAn IL YHna TlnnG
A Man Who Knew When It Was Time
to Wake Up-This story From
Texas.

Well, It was out in northwest Texas that
came up with an old schoolmate who has
u whent farm near the palo Pinto can
yon. He was glad to see me, suppose,
because Twas something from the old life,
and invited me to spend a week with him.
accepted the invitation, but was one day
called to the nearest town on business and
did not get back to the farmhouse till late.
Every light was out, and all the inmates
had evidently retired, SO l determined to
gain my room without arousing them, ii
possible. Fortunately found my win
dow open, and without lighting lamp
undressed and crawled into bed. But
could not get to sleep, and finally con-
cluded to try n cigar us soothing tonic,
so got up and began to walk over to
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 rattle
snake. The sound is unmistakable, and
was aware that these creatures often
creep into houses in that region, ,nnd some
times show fight when IN attempt is made
to drive them out. did not wait to in
vestigate his snakeship's whereabouts,
but gained my bed without touching the
floor ut all, believe. must have awak-
ened my hostess by my movements in COM
ing in, in spite Of my caution, for I now
heard her sing out to her husband-their
bedroom was next to mine with only a
thin lath partition between-"Oh, John,
there's q rattlesnake in Mr.. Richardson 3
room heard himp'
Then failing to arouse him, she called
to me: "Where is he? Do you see himf"
answered that did not.
The lamp was yard or two from me,
and if had had to go without light
from then until now I 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 are a coward. People
will find it out soon enough. She wanted
to know then why did not get up and
kill him. 'tOh,"I said, "I do not object
to his being here" She began to scream
then and to try again to awaken her hus-
band, but while I am firmly convinced he
was wide enough awake to take in the sit
uation not word could she get out OF
him.
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 he himself In
troduced there from good spirits, and
said SO. Mrs. John did not, however,
view the matter in this light, and fatty re-
fused to allow John to run this risk, John
still taking no part in the argument, but,
like Br'er Rabbit, kept on saying nothing
and "laying low" In the meanwhile the
snake had again composed himself fol-
slumber, leaving Mrs. John and me to set
tie the thing as we might, until IL mouse
must have run over him in the dark, fol
we heard him sound his alarm, and the
next moment shrill shrek of agony pro
claimed that the mouse had been struck,
This set Mrs. John off again, and she in.
sisted that the intruder must be killed
"With all my heart, madam" said EN-.
phatically. "Will you do it?"
This silenced her for n time, when
Johns snores grew to be something be
yona all records Of such fcats. My imag.
ination now commenced to grow interest
ed. and could picture that mottled de
mon of the plains crawling toward me in
the dark, stealing noiselessly up the leg
of the bed on to it and-but here Mrs
John asked, "Mr. Richardson, are you
going to kill that snake?"
| took in every point of the situation
and replied yes, if she would hold the
| light To my surprise she said she would
And in another moment I saw the CLEAN
| of light in the next room, and the com
municating door was thrown open, ant
Mrs. John. with an extra adornment of {
gayly colored patched quilt over her shoul
ders, hung over the foot Of her bed with {
lighted lamp in her hand. The rays wer'
thrown into my room, and by them saw
monster rattler coiled up within thre,
feet of the bed.
slipped my hand under my pillow ant
secured the revolver had got into tn
habit during my stay in that part of tn
country of never allowing to be away from
me for u moment, and drawing it ou
cooked it.
Here Mrs. John gave new and specia
sort of scream-a woman is moro afrait
of firearms than of, f,,anything else on eartl
and said: "Oh, Mr. Richardson, dom
shoot. You might kill John" "If
could do that, madam, / would feel that
had not lived in vain," asserted in
deadly, cold, heavy villain tone, but re
pented it, for Mrs. John nearly fell bac]
into he'd with the lamp and my hopes o
Kidding my apartment of my roommate
B1t she recovered sufficiently to sit u
once more and hold the light in wobbly
hysterical sort of way, and fired. Th
snake, which did not hit, as only want
ed to make him lift his head so that
could dispatch him with II single shot
now furiously threw himself into col
and raised his ugly head, and /, aiming
as carefully as Mrs. John would let me
fired again and sent the snake down wit
bullet through his brain.
Ha, but what was this? From the mex
room, from under Mrs. Johns own bed
there sounded second rattle like II not
of defiance. And simultaneously job
awoke with suspicious suddenness. la
back with the happy consciousness OF dut
performed and drained the sweet cup {
vengeance with it. "Arise, john" sal
in calm tones. land slay this menace t
thy happy home" and, blush to say. h
again so forgot the laws of hospitality q
TO bid his guest to hold his tongue
Mrs John had collapsed and gould onl
utter indistinct means. John now d'
manded of me that should throw him 9,
cry object in my reach, which l at frs
declined to do, feeling drowsy, but ut las
consented, and showered boots, spurs an
riding whips on Mrs. Johns prostrat
Grm. John gathered these up and |
turn showcrcd them under the bed. A
| s;.,t thn upala rcfr, sod RI Ina 1iSlOdUcf