The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-19

made an Investigation and was rewarded by
the discovery of a mastodon rattlesnake, which
he was on the point of dispatching so as to put
it out of misery as the rocks had so fallen that
portion of the snakes body was badly man
gled and torn. In the matter of taking the
reptiles life he hesitated owing to the pathetic
and pleading expression in the wounded
creatures eyes. 1t quite unnerved him to
commit murder, so he rolled the rocks off and
awaited results, which came in the shape OF
very pronounced gratitude. The delighted and
thankful creature wriggled over to him and
rubbed his leg with grateful air that was
bound to last. The professor was moved by
this exhibition, and, having some cotton in his
valise, he bound up the wounded part and left
the snake as comfortable as possible. The next
day he left Yucatan for Guatemala and was
gone over five years. On his return to Yucca
tan he again had occasion to pass over
the desert, and, greatly to his surprise, encoun-
tered the same reptile few miles from where
the previous incident had occurred. The
recognition was mutual and the joyful rattler
eoiled around his leg, licked his hand with
friendly tongue and showed marked and indus
trious appreciation. When the professor took
up his line of march again the snake followed
him and even insisted upon getting in the
wagon and becoming regular occupant"
''Look here, Edgar, amt you going little too
far with that yarn p inquired q friend.
"Not as far as the snake is going. To con-
tinue. He finally got back East and had for
travelling companion the snake, which was &C
corded special privileges in the shape of glass
case, from which he was allowed to wander at
will AS natural consequence the professor
and his dumb friend became the best of chuH.s
and it was a common thing to see the natural
list walking out in the road with his snake
gliding along beside him. Well--now here
hQ MT nj nj
after the professor had retired and left the
snake downstairs in the dining-room he was
suddenly awakened by the crash of glass fol-
lowed by the falling of a heavy body. He rose
up in his bed only to hear groan and the
crushing of bones In flash he bounded into
his dressing-gown and repaired to the room
whence came the sounds of strife. Imagine
his horror upon striking light to see his
pet snake coiled around mans bleeding
body, which 1t had dashed to the stove and was
hugging violently. On the floor was burglars
dark lantern and kit of tools, while the
snake, in order to display his presence of mind,
had his tail out of the window"
''What for?' inquired a listener in breathless
excitement
"Rattling for policeman"
[Personal-Mr. Edgar Raymond is visiting
Weber Lake, where he is recuperating from
fall received while passing out of the main en-
trance to the Occidental Hotel recently. Both
arms are not broken, as was at first reported,
but his limbs were violently strained.l
Colonel Richard Henry Savage, the author OF
"My Official Wife," while at the Palace on his
last trip explained how an experience of his
furnished the plot of that novel and made him
a litterateur.
"Never shall try to help pretty woman in
distress, for my last attempt sent me to dun
geon, though it made me novelist I was at
Berlin with my own wife, and had arranged
trip to st. Petersburg to surprise our daughter
there, who is married to an official of the en-
pire. secured a passport in Berlin for my
self and wife to enter Russia. At the last mo-
ment she declined to go, fearing the st. Peters
burg winter. For safety's sake hastily secured
another passport for myself alone, and de-
parted with the two on my person.
81 boarded the train, and all went well till
we approached the Russian frontier. Near me
was q pretty French girl, from whose remarks
to the guard discovered that she was trying
to immigrate without a passports penal Of
Tense in Russia. Alas monsieur said she to
the guard, my husband is sick in st. Peters
burg and must see him.
"As the customs officials were about to enter
said to her, Here is passport for myself and
wife. You may call yourself my wife and
easily reach the capital She thanked me
rapturously, and after few anxious moments
we were speeding over the Cars domain,
cracking jokes at the hoodwinked Rus
slams. Unfortunately for this affair, my
wife had spent several summers in
st. Petersburg, and had quite
circle of acquaintance, while was personally
unknown. The police telegraphed list of
those coming, including Colonel and Madame
Savage. My daughter and family were out of
town, but all their set rallied to meet the colo
mel, whom none of them knew, but more par
ticularly madame, whom they all adored. The
st. Petersburg police have the unheard-of GUS
tom of approving each passport before the pas
senger can leave the train. We were ready to
alight when in marched a police officer with
several ladies. Here is Madame Savage said
he. NO, no, no, no, that is not madame
shrieked feminine chorus. In vain did OK
postulate; the police conveyed the girl and
myself to prison, cast her into one cell and me
into another, where we languished for three
days. at last an old comrade of the diplomatic
service identified and released me, while the
pretty adventures, poor thing, was deported
to Siberia.
"Oh, it was a nice introduction to my rela-
tives, with bogus wife and a rescue from Jail.
"But what had this to do with my becoming