Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-08-01


that Awlpaws concern, an I'd got the
camels an giraffes upside down, when
the plaguy things let all their feet fly
right in my ribs. Did you punch me,
Nancy2 What you want2"
Il want you to listen; there's some
thin in the house." she breathlessly an
swered.
"Poohl Jest your imagiuin'! Quit
your fussin' bout snakes an things, or
you'll be rassln' with more'n 1 hev. Go
to sleep an don't punch me any more"
But there is! heard it. Some
thin droppin'," she persisted. But Mr..
Peak had taken his own advice aud had
dropped again to sleep.
Not satisfied, but hearing nothing
more, Mrs. Peaks courage rose to the
point Of investigating for herself. Quietly
slipping out of bed, she opened the
chamber door and. tiptoed to the stair
railing which overlooked the long, old
fashioned hall below.
The moon shone in through the narrow
windows on either side of the door at its
end aud threw its pale light within, so
that, us Mrs. Peak peered down into the
open space, it was easy to see all there
was to be seen. And what she did see
curdlcd the blood in her VEINS.
"Zekn"
1t was an unearthly shrek which
aroused the long-suifering man this time.
What on airth is it now, Nancy!" he
exclaimed, half-dazed by the sudden
awakening.
so, 'zek'l Peak 1 said SO, an it's
happened. It's down thercl"
Whats -down-where?" he de-
handed, testify.
"That-'scaped-boal Down in
our-front hali-this blessed minute"
she managed to articulate. "Git right
up. Mcbbe it's climbin' the stairs right
now. Hurry on your clothes; here they
be.
~ didn't knows they clumb," he re-
piled, ncrvously, reaching for the gar
ments she escitedly flung upon the bed.
"Ciumb! They can do anything, l
tell you. Don't get out therc!" she
screamed, as she started for the door.
1--WE got TO see were It's"
He flung open the door and steprrd
to the rniling, followed closely by his
wife, clinging to his suspcndcr. There,
below him, partially knotted in graceful
coils, certainly lay long black object.
Don't you stir n step down there,
'Zekl Peak, lcss'n you want to see me
worse'n widder fore your face an eyes ~
she exclaimed, and seized him by the
arm, as he took one step downward.
"Git the neighbours"
"Howm gon' to git ncighbus less'n
| do go down there, I'd like to knowl"
he returned, hcstating.
"Git out O. the winder. Oh, who'd
a thought It'll Jest rs / cxpectedl" she
moancd, inconsistency, the next mo-
mcnt.
"'Pears to me it's mitcy still. Sure
it's tibet snake, Nancy9"
''Sure! Aint it plain TO be scen2 Do
you want it to ketch you fore you'll
b'lecve ita Thct's the way they do
play they're asleep nm grab you up with
their tail-an' see where that tail is, she
added, convinciugly.
Sure enough, behind the coils trailed
tail in close proximity to the lowest stair;
and Mr.. Peck prudently allowed his
wi!e's counsel to prevail.
Outside the chamber window was the
woodshed roof, which sloped down to Il
long board, which in turn ended in the
big rain-barrel. Down this he cautious
~ crept. Narrowly escaping plunge
in the water he managed to reach the
ground, and stood undecided.
- "Taint SO late but there's folks ut the
grocery. Call fer help an don't you
leave me here Alone she directed, from
the window above.
"Hulo!' he finally called out.
"Nobody'll nevcr'l hear that in all
creation. Louder Hoo, there! Help,
/ help"
why, Nancy, folks'll surely think
you're on the pint of bein' murdered
"An' amt wel What's the difference
tween bein cut to pieces an bein swal-
Tered hull, I'd like to know2 Don't you
go, Zek'll, she implored.
There was no need of his going. Mrs.
Peaks shrill cries had reached the near
grocery, aud group of men and boys
isHued forth in response to them and
rushed to the house. A few deprecatory
words from Mr.. Peak, interspersed with
, explanation from Mrs. Peak, enlightened
them rs to the danger of the situation.
"Git a club, advised one.
at may take u gum" said another.
"Lasso it an take it alive-therc's the
reward" a third thriftily suggested,
while Mrs. Peak urged them to ''do
something right Off"
In short time collection of articles
with which the boa was either to be cap
tured or killed was at the back door.
Let us in, Nancy" shouted her hus-
band.
'Landy sakes how be 1 goin' to,
'thout goin' right inter the jaws-er tail
of death, l should say! You'll hat to
Git at it through the hall winders-cv'ry
door an winder's fast but them"
"lIow'd the thing git in, them" asked
the shoemaker.
"Now, Nate Smiley" replied Mrs.
Peak, "don't you 60 TO wastin' time ar
gyfyin' at this criticize minute how it got
in. It's in, an it's wonder we amt in
it, too, an mebbc shall be if you don't
hurry"
''Taint stirred" said Mr. Peak, as the
windows were reached and raised.