The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-08-21

the instant felt the brute land on
my feet. | had honestly thought that
| could not move, but in sudden
ecstasy of fear | drew up both feet and
| kicked.
Clatter-smash went basin, stand and
chairs again, and then swish, with a
Whit of repulsive odor, some heavy
body dashed across the cot, over my
very face!
Before l knew 1t, was sitting up,
striking out with both hands. The
beast, whatever it was, landed with a
thump on the floor, and then | heard
1t crawling horribly, scratching its
nails on the tiles! No dog or pig
would ever make noise like that,
was sure. What could it be?
Under my pillow had one of those
Little vest pocket electric lights, such
as are now sold cheaply at all the
large stores. | had brought it with
ne from home, and had found it very
handy at night for looking at my
watch. Hastily | now fumbled for it,
and finding it, pressed the button. The
tiny bright beam pierced the dark
ness-and there, squatted, blinking,
on my trunk, close to the foot of the
cot, was the worst looking object t at
| had ever seen. 1t was brown, scaly,
horrible, with a ridge of bristling
spines rising along its back, and its
CLASSY eyes were fixed on me!
What could it be? l could think
only of a Gila monster. Was the ISL
and infested with them? Or was it
some hideous marine thing that had
crawled up from the sea?
Ny hand shook as l tried to keep
the beam of light focused on the hor-
ror. Perhaps l dazzled its eyes with
it. In jumped, struck on the foot OF
the cot-and about that time jumped
too!
don't know how did it, but I
leaped out of that cot and actually
ran out at the door into the patio! I
was shouting, too, shouting, Help!
Help"
In fact, l nearly ran into the Sonora
Rafaela, who had heard me call her,
and in her own good time was COM
ing to see what wanted.
Naturally the woman was aston
ished. "Senor! Senior Estevan!" she
cried. as it tbou?"
Fetch a light! Fetch light" l
cried. There's a Gila monster in my
ha4 oil
think of as l staggered about there in
the darkness, trying to keep on my
feet.
She brought a candle, and after
striking a number of matches, lighted
it and peered into the room. Look
out" cautioned her "Cudia! 1t will
jump at you!"
But the Sonora Rafaela laughed,
wholly unterrified. "No tenga miedo,
senior" (Do not fear), said she, sooth-
ingly. les guiana solamente." ct is
only 'guana)
"'Guana!" I exclaimed.
Isl, senior. Els guiana. Lo mismo
ticken. All same ticken."
"Ticken?" said l. What is that?
Chicken?"
Isl, senior. Muy bueno para Ia COM
ida. Very good to eat" And march
ing in with her candle she captured
the horrible creature by the tail,
dragged it, scratching on the tiles, in
to the other room, and shut the door,
which the wind had blown open.
returned to my cot with much
matter for reflection, but had the sem
ora leave the candle burning. Come
to think Of it, had never seen nor
heard any chickens about the place;
yet the senora's supply of "cold
chicken" seemed unlimited. "All the
same ticken!" Those were her
Chickens" then-and I felt rather
sick when thought of the quantity
Of it which I had eaten.
I imagined that I had something to
tell the doctor when he came to see
me that morning. Doctor" said, do
you know what we are all eating here
for cold chicken!"
"Oh, yes," said he. laughing. at Is
guiana. But it's just as good. Why,
all chickens, all fowls and birds of
every kind were reptiles once, or are
descended from reptiles. 1t is just as
good"
"Oh, all right" said. "But I have
my own opinion Of it"
Plainly could not astonish him
that way. He had been at Panama a
year. But he did look a little sur
prised when l got up off my cot and
took step or two. I had been pom
dering that, too, and concluded that
if fear could put me on my feet.
resolute exercise of will power ought
also to do it.
In fact. left Taboga the next day.
But l did not partake Of any more of
Sonora Rafaela's cold chicken. These
large lizards, however, are quite fire.
quently eaten by the Panamanians.
Ugly as they look, too, l am assured
that they are quite inoffensive.-
Youths Companion.
Proud of His Dog.