Evening journal., 1905-05-08
RETRIBUTION
forleinal.-


The great American desert Is the
home OF queer people and queer things
generally With us the rsttlesnake is
the most dreaded of reptiles, but out
there they have what they call the
ella monster, that is more terrible than
the rattler. It's bite is almost certain
death. and men have been known to
end their lives with a revolver rather
than endure the agony resulting from
q ella bite When l went out there
Aad never heard of a ella. but after
had seen one and its effect never
wanted to see another.
One afternoon while riding past a
house, or. rather, hut, belonging to one
of the herders Of a ranch near by
heard a clatter and, turning. saw
man come galloping down the road. A
child about two years old had just come
out of the house and was toddling
across the road. The horseman paid no
attention to it. 1 thought he didn't
see the little fellow. but he did, for
just before reaching him he gave a
whoop, cutting at him at the same
time with his quirt. The child, too
young to heed, stopped to pick up some
thing that pleased its baby fancy. The
horseman rode straight over him.
The boys mother came to her door
just in time to see what had occurred.
With a shrek she rushed to her child,
picked him up and ran with him into
the house. l would have followed to
administer to her. but there were 9th
ers with her, and, to tell the truth,
had no heart for the work. The man
rode on to a saloon farther up the road
where he Gismounted and went inside.
have never felt so ashamed of my.
self for emitting to do what honor
seemed to call for as in this case II
the east l would not hesitate to protect
n lady from a rutlan, yet here was q
woman whose child had been purpose
ly trampled before her eyes, and / die
not raise a hand to avenge her. Buf
what could / do? Any interference OF
my part must result either in my deatl
or that Of the man who had committed
the outrage.
i reported the matter to the owner o.
the ranch, who told me that the boy'i
father was in his employ and was the;
away herdlng cattle. There was feu'
between him and the man, WORTHLESS
and desperate vagabond who haC
ridden down the child to avenge SOM
fancied injury. When tie father re
turned one Or the other would doubt
less bite the dust.
"And If the father falls there will b
two victims instead Of one" re
marked.
"Wo can't help that out here" re
piled my informant. There's too littl
5aw to cover such cases"
The next morning while riding owe
the plain l came upon the chlld's mott
er. She carried stick and a coars
bag and was evidently looking 70
something. I did not see her face, 70
her back was turned. Suddenly / say
her raise the stick and strike at som'
thing on the ground. In a few ms
ments she picked up what resembled
young alligator. holding it by the Ii
OF the tail, dropped it In the bag, tie
up the bags mouth and carried h'
burden away. holding it apart frol
her Then she turned and came towar
me. | would have liked to ask h'
what she had been about, but thei
was a look in her face that decide
me not to question her. and she passe
on without seeming to be aware of N
presence.
Curiosity got the better of me. and
turned and followed her She went
the saloon up the road. and befoi