Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-01-31
SAVED BY A GLASS.

s"TaIk about bair-raising experiences"
said G.. N. Scott, Of Chicago, who has late
v returned from a trip through the south
west, Il thought ! had about run the
gamut, as I've Travelled a great deal and
come in for my full share of adventure, but
an experience was reserved for me in
biexico that completely topped off the
whole list.
My friend and travelling companion,
VIII Harbine, was a young fellow, a stu
dent from Texas, out on his vacation. |
run on to him quite by chance at Stlpech,
a little town of native Mexieans.
Il mad been riding all day, and at night
/ rode into this little town, made up most.
~ of adobes, down the one main street
till | came to a kind Of a grocery store. l
dismounted and went in at first the chance
Of getting anything to eat seemea pre.ty
slim, the lazy Mexicans seeming equaas n
different to a mans needs and his coin.
While | was endeayoring to make myself
understood the door opened and another
man from the states stalked in on the
same quest as myself. We struck up an
acquaintance at once, for his knowledge Of
Spanish was on n par with mine. Be
tween US however, we finally made our
wants known and at last got some sup
per, but when it came to a bed that was
impossible.
"We vent out together, and, leading our
ponies strolled through the town making
inquiries. Moo would give us shelter.
Quite disgnsted with this lack of hospitality
in a people noted for tropical warm-heart-
edness, WI rode out Of the city, deciding to
hobble our ponies and sleep on the ground.
u was about as well satisfied, especially
as l found Harbine a delightful compan-
ion. lie was on a botanical tour and talked
enthusiastically of the interesting plants
he had found. He took out a large, round
~magniiyIng glass and made me look through
1t at certain plants OF especial interest to
him, but / was little interested in botany,
so he soon put his outfit away. We dis
mounted near an old deserted adobe and
were sitting on the ground comparing notes
on Mexican manners, when suddenly a ter
riied yell rent the air and a. dirty hlae
'greaser came running out of the adobe,
Shaping his leg and crying: 'Alacransl
Alacrans!' We both jumped to our feet
and started towards him, but he ran as
last as his legs would carry him toward
the town we had just quilted, still crying,
now more family: 'Alacrans! Alacrans!
" Poor fool, guess he thought he saw
a ghost Harbiue commented.
1T was growing dark and we accepted
this version of the matter and returned
to our interrupted discussion.
Finally we each rolled over on the
ground to sleep.
Il had with me a rubber blanket, which
] had carried in case of rains, and the night
being cool | wrapped myself in it and was
soon sound asleep.
Il haven't the least idea what awoke me,
but towards morning / suddenly sat up
with a start. My companion was gone. |
glanced hurriedly about. His pony was
there, as was also my own, but | could
see no sign Of Harbine. 1t had rained in
the night, l discovered, and then l glanced
toward the old adobe and my fears subsidized.
Having nc blanket he had sought shelter.
L sprang up and ran quickly to the hut,
and here some intuition made me move with
caution.
"Peering into the dark moldering adobe
] saw my friend stretched full length on
the floor, but | saw something else that
drove all strength for the moment out
of me.
His body was literally swarming with
scorpions, The great ugly black venom
Gus things had come out Of the walls and
from under the stones and sought warmth
from his body.
"Was he dead? That was my next query.
/ moved cautiously and looked into his
face. No, he was breathing regularly and
in apparent physical comfort. They had
not yet stung him. But l knew that the
slightest movement or sound on his part
would instantly cause him to be stung to
death.
''How long l stood t-ere fairly paralyzed
with fear | have no iGea, but the sun ris-
ing in all its tropical splendor gave me a
sudden inspiration.
''Should Harbine continue to sleep till
the sun penetrated his dismal chamber it
would send the scorpions running back to
their holes,
''But would Harbiue sleep? And would
the sun ever enter that low dark howell?
Then / remembered Harbine's magnify
ing glass.
Il hurried to his pack, unfastened it and
took out the glass and returned noiselessly
to the open doorway. Then l held the glass
up to the sun and directed a brilliant ray
into the adobe, full on a large, black scor-
pion resting A my friends leg. ltran Ike
a bah Of mercury. ] moved the glass quick
Is here and there over Harbine's body, and
the way those devils scampered, and the
number Of them, made my blood run cold.
/ kept the glass working some time after
| had seen no more, fearing one might be
lurking in hiding somewhere. At last,
fearing further delay, l turned the glass
full on Harbine's face. He spraug up.
"'YYhat the he exclaimed, but | cut
him short.
"'Get out Of there, quick. You are in a