The St. Joseph observer., 1921-11-12


was an old mining man by the name
of Foster Scur!ook. He had tramped
the bare, brown hills of Mexico from
| gulf to ocean and in the course OF his
wanderings he had seen much OF the
rougher side OF life. As we sat near
bright electric light l could sec the
gleam reflected in his right eye which
was of glass.
Were you ever over along the Pa
cific ?" he asked Of me.
answered that had been down at
! Manzanillo, near Colima.
81 mean further up the coast. above
San Bias, up through sinaloa and
Sonora. It's half-civilized in most
parts of the state of Colima, but take
it further up and pretty well inland
and you can just about ride for days
without seeing a living soul.
"I was through there three years
ago, on the lookout for something to
turn up. Nothing but long strips of
sand and endless ridges of mountains,
with here and there a little mesquite
brush thrown in for decoration. I'm
not much for luxuries. but 1 can stand
good tree to rest under at noon and
cool. fresh spring to water from.
Wild as Deer
"The natives were as wild as deer.
Whenever ! would come to one OF
their villages. nine-tenths of them
would hide In the bushes or scoot off
like rabbits to the mountains. I've
stayed all night in one OF their rickety
huts without seeing or hearing one OF
them. In such a state OF affairs 1t
was serious matter to get anything
to eat.
zone day in August remember
| especially. came In sight of little
adobe hut with a clump OF scrubby
trees around It, after riding all day
with nothing 10 eat or drink. woke
up my pony with a dig in the ribs and
in less than five minutes I swung out
OF the saddle and in at the front door.
my sudden appearance scared the
woman OF the house. for she dropped
the rolling pin with which she was
preparing some corn for tortillas and
ran back to the other door. Then she
turned and stared evilly at me. I GER
tainly didn't want to pick a fuss with
her--I was too hungry--so, hat In
hand, asked her politely II she would
sell me something to eat At first she
pretended that she didn't understand
me, then, after she wouldn't talk,
sat around so lcng that to get rid OF
me she finally erunted a little. Then
I up and asked her again for some
thing to eat.
"She swore up and down that she
didn't have thing In the house.
Plucled His Glass Eye
"I turned and walked toward the
door as II to leave, she following al
my heels. Suddenly / turned and,
grabbing my right eye-this glass one
i crammed It into her hand. yelling
like mad. Keep that till get some
thing to eat" Well, sir. she dropped
plumb down on her knees as is she
had been shot-and then. carefully lay
ing my eye on the floor she crossed
herself repeatedly, saying In a penltent
voice. santo mio! ssnto mior CMy
Saint! My saint"C J. knew then that
her saint would be fed.
"a few minutes later a couple OF
game-like roosters had been killed and
picked and wero we'll on their way to
the kettle.
"rhis supper was a grand success
The Mexican woman and her children
stood with saucer eyes and watched
the holy one eat The guest OF honor
did not need TO he urged to help him
self. nor did he have any complaints
to register After the meal was over
the remains of the repast were care
fully packed in my yawning saddle
bags and live rooster tied on behind
for good measure.
"If you ever travel in those parts
my friend. looking for cement deposits
containing coarse gold, be sure TO take
plenty OF food and good, reliable
glass eye."
lie rose and shook himself like q
bear, then with a hearty "Adios
senior" he ambled away across tho
plaza.-New York Evening Post.