The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-04-08

ipondent % the 81. Louis Gl0pe-beho-
.rat The lady had evidently not yet
reached the age Of two-score years. and
was strikingly beautiful. while her
companion. upon whom she lavlshed
4 wiie's tender devotion. might have
been either 30 or 60 years old " one
we're TO Judge from his face, upon
which were mingled indications Of
youth and extreme age that we're al
once perplexing and mystifying. His
eyes we're large. dark and lusirous, his
complexion clear. though deadly pale.
sharp lines dlshgured his otherwise at
lractlye features. and there was
quick. nervous movement OF head and
hands that suggested palsy. Those
who were permitted 10 hear this mans
strange story ceased 90 wonder that |
his countcnance was furrowed as by |
age, and maryeled that he lived 10 re-
late his horrible experience. His name |
Is James Payne. and he IL a resident OF |
Parkersburg. W. Va. where his family |
Is well-to-do and highly respected. Two |
months ago he started for the Pacific
coast. intending 20 investigate the busl-
ness opportunities Of that region. with
a view OF getting married and locating
there. lie purchased a ticket for
Seattle and. being well supplied with
money. anticipated an enjoyable trip
and a speedy return 10 his sweetheart.
On the train betweean Green River and
Pocatello his pockets were picked and
money. ticket and everything stolen.
Tie was even unable 20 telegraph home
for money, having no money. and de-
termined 20 make his way through by
the box-car route. on the second night
Of his stay In Poeatello a west-bound
special pulled In. IN which were several
fruit cars. Congratulating himself that
he might now speedily reach his des-
tlnation. he climbed into one OF these
cars through an open end door and
prepared TO make himself rs comfort.
able o. possible. He had scarcely con-
eealed himself when the door. which
II appeared had been broken open
by tramps. was closed and sealed. but
this did not az the time occasion any
serious alarm Oh his part. The car
proved 20 have been loaded with ha-
nanas. 10 some OF which he vas glad
10 help himself. being very hungry.
and arguing that Il was no crime 10Y
a man In his predicament lie then
composed himself TO sleep. These fruit,
specials generally run under a sixty
mile order. as this one proved 10 b,
doing. and when the passenger awok,
with start few hours later Il vas
70 End himself In Egyptian darkness
with the train flying along with ter
rife speed Ne had been aroused from
- his sleep by something having a soft
yelyety touch creeping stealthily
/ across his face. and struck a match &,
see what had disturbed him. To hil
. horror he saw several large tarantulas
which. In his excited Imagination. as
e sumed the proportions OF ordinar!
= land turtles Startled by the ligh,
. they scurried away while his blood raj
d cold and his limbs were almost para
b lyEei as the flickcring match died on
b and he realized the position In whicI
= he was placed.
Young Payne ala no; dare 20 strik
; mother match. even N his trcmblln
q hands would have performed that soI
: vice. bu, be- knew that he was In n
T. most immincu, peril Of bis lie. r
T. leap from The door OF the car mean
/. certain death and the probability d
D. his fate remaining forever a mysjer
% To the loved ones az home. Will
j. these thoughts dar,ei through hi
mind a cold. hairy substance dashe
itself In his face and. thinking n
d time had come. he tainted.
70 How long he Jay unconscious he DO,
'' not know. but when be came again
life u was broad daylight and n
y train still speeding like the wind. 4
= tried the door and almost faint,
~ when he found that q was fastened az
x that he was doomed 10 suffer hou
70 longer the prospect OF an attack al al
VI instant from the hldeous creatur
o. whose character he knew so well. II
=, struggling rays that penetrated q
OF cracks OF the door enabled him to 8
o. dlmly the objects about him. and d
ne cold Precipitation broke out on his Tor
en- head as he recognized his visitors
ne the night before and saw that IN,
number had been trehled. lie look
about for loose board and found
u small one. but knew u he attacked {
tarantulas they would leap AZ him a
rd' that he could not ward them on. !
ns apprehension was increased when
saw that they had engaged In one
those fearful and deadly combs
en- among themselves for which they
'al 20 well known In the south. and
~ which they furnish 10 the natives ab,
os' the same class OF amusement az
horse race and the bull fight
For hours he sat there, facing IN
dreadful creatures. which neither
he yanced nor retreated Then nil
ms came on. and again he was mercitu
he rendered unconscious.
YER when next he knew what was 90
ms on about him he was on a cot Ia
ns. hospital In Portland. lie had b
yer there a month and hae gone thro,
100. a well.nigh fatal attack OF brain fe'
csc Meantime the authorities. having
Dur covered his identity from his deliri
, Is talk. had telegraphed to his peo
va and the young woman he was 70 ma
BY FASTENED to his bedside. He had
nk- been found until the car was ope
an. Al Ia destination. when he was
ere conscious and ravlng like a maniac
lne mark on his forehead indicated
rly he had In reality been bitten D.
on. tarantula. probably when he fair
the second time. As soon az he
able TO travel he started for home
ats. easy stages. nrst having married