Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1905-07-20
j2ETRIBUTION
tOriginal,1

generally. With us the rattlesnake is
the most dreaded Of reptiles, but out
there they have what they cak the
{Iila 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
Gila bite. When | went out there
had never heard Of ella, but after
had seen one and its effect 1 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 clatter and, turning, saw q
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. I thought he didn't
see the little fellow, but he did, for
just before reaching him he gave
whoop, cutting at him at the same
time with his Quirt. The child, toe
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
roGe on to a saloon farther up the road.
where he dismounted and went inside
| have never felt so ashamed Of my
self for OuttCiug TO DO what honor
seemed 10 call for as in this case In
the east | would not hesitate to protect
4 lady from 4 rullian. yet here was a
won N whose Child bad been purpose
~ ttanrlel before her eyes, and l did I
not raise q hand 10 ayenge her. But |
what C0ul0 10? Any interference on /
my part nlUst result either in my death
or Tat Of tie Liam wko had committed 7
the outrage
I Ircp0"tcd tie matter to the owner Of I
the ranch, who told me that the boys
father VS. IN his employ and was then
away herdinc cattle There was a feuJ
between hini anl the man, q worthless
and desperate vaga1ond who had
ridden down The Child TO ayenge some
fancied injury. When the father re-
turned one or the other would doubt
less bite the dust
And If the father falls there will be
two victims instead OF one I re-
marx ed
We caAt LeIp that out here" re-
piled my informant. There's too little
law y c35er a;!c,l eases"
IL next morning bile riding over
the plain | came upon the child's moth
er. She carried a stick and coarse
bag and was evidently looking for
| did not see her face, for
her back WAS turned. Suddenly | saw
her raise The stick and strike at some
thing on the ground. In a few mo-
mehts she picked up what resembled
young alligator holding 1t by the tip
Of the TAIL dropped it in the bag, tied
up tie bags mouth and carried her
burden away, holding it apart from
her Then She turned and came toward
me. | would have liked to ask her
what she had been about, but there
was look in her face that decided
me not TO question her. and she passed
On without seeming to be aware of my
presence.
Curiosity got the better of me, and l
turned and followed her She went to
Tie saloon up the road, and before
reaching it ] saw man asleep on the
porch, though | could not see who he
was. The woman drew near him
stealthily, pausing occasionally, with
her eye fixed on him, till at last, COM
Ing upon him from a point where he
could not see her, she united the mouth
u her bag, held it above him. and the
thing 1t contained fell on his
breast. I
The man started up and on seeing {
what had awakened him gave a cry as Q
piercing, as full Of despair, as had
been given by the woman when her T
-ALhu W dS Iuu uOWu. 0dW uIIO SlTUR.
cling with something that had fastened q
lpon one Of bis hands and finally throw 0
I from him. 1t crawled away, and I a
aw 1t no more. The woman turned p
md walked toward her home.
l had seen the dreaded Gila monster. q
The woman had learned that her enc s
ny was asleep on the saloon porch and, c
DING out ON the plain, had found a s.
lila. When attacked the monster e
eigned TO be dead. She had therefore IL
o difficulty In carrying out her pur- o
ose. She knew that when her hus- G
and returned the man who had run
own his child would expect to die or o.
III his adversary. Her husband, not
moving Of the outrage would be taken 81
yr Shn had rfanlx.od hox. ! lN