The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-05-21


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 want?"
81 want you to listen; there's some
thin in the house." she breathlessly an
swered.
"Poohl Jest your imaginin'! Quit
your fussin' bout snakes an things, er
you'll be rassl'n' with more'n hev. Go
to sleep an don't punch me any more"
but there is! I heard it. Some
thin droppin'," she persisted. But MIR.
! Peak had taken his own advice and had
dropped again 20 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 Shonc in through the narrow
windows on either side of the door at its
end and threw its pale light within, so
that, us Mrs. Peak pccred down into the
open space, it was easy to see all there
was to be seen. And what she did see
curdled the blood in her veins.
"Zek'l"
1t was an uncarthly shrek which
aroused the long suffering man this time.
"What on airth is it now, Naucy!' he
exclaimed, half-dazcd by the sudden
awakening.
80, 'Zekl Peak! 1 said so, an it's
happened. It's down there"
"What's- -;fown-wherel" he de-
maadod, testify.
"That-'s -'scaped-boa! Down in
our-front halt--this blessed minute!
she managed to articulate. "Git right
up. Mebbe it's climbin' the stairs right
now. Hurry on your clothes; here they
be.
'I didn't knows they clumb," he re-
piled, nervously, reaching for the gar
ments she excitedly flung upon the bed.
"Clumb! They can do anything, l
tell you. Don't get out there! she
screamed, as she started for the door.
''I've got to see were it's"
He flung open the door and stepped
to the railing, followed closely by his
vile, clinging to his suspender. There,
below him, partially llnotted in graceful
coils, certainly lay a long black object.
'Don't you stir a step down there,
'Zek'l Peak, lcss'n you want to see me
worse'n a widder fore your face an eyes"
she exclaimed, and seized him by the
arm, as he took one step downward.
"Git the Neighbours.
'sHow'm goin' to git neighbus less'n
lido 60 down there, I'd like to know"
he returned, hesitating.
"Git out O. the winder. Oh, who'd
"a thought it! Jest as expected!' she
moaned, inconsistently, the next mo-
ment.
"'Pears TO me it's mitey still. Sure
it's thet snake, Nancy9'
"Sure! Aint it plain to be seen2 Do
you want it to ketch you fore you'll
b'leeve it? Thet's the way they do
play they're asleep an grab you up with
their tail-an' see where that tail is, she
added, convincingly.
Sure enough, behind the coils trailed
tail in close proximity to the lowest stair;
and Mr.. Peck prudently allowed his
wife's counsel to prevail.
Outside the chamber window was the
woodshed roof, which sloped down to a
long board, which in turn ended in the
big rain-barrel. Down this he cautious
ly crept. Narrowly escaping a plunge
in the water he managed to reach the
ground, and stood undecided.
" 'Taint so late but there's folks at the
grocery. Call fer help an don't you
leave me here alone,' she directed, from
the window above.
"Hullo!" he finally called out.
"Nobody'll nevcr'll hear that in all
creation. Louder! Hoo, there! Help!
helpm
"Why, Nancy, folks'll surely think
you're on the p'nit of bein' murdered" "
can aint we? What's the difference
tween bein' cut to pieces an bein' swal-
Tered hull, I'd like to know3 Don't you
60, Zek'll," she implored.
There was no need of his going. Mrs.
Peaks shrill cries had reached the near
grocery, and a group of men and boys
issued 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 as to the danger of the situation.
"Git club" advised one.
ssIt may take q gun," said another.
"Lasso it an take it alivc-there'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.
eLandy sakes! how be I goin' to,
'thout goin' right inter the jaws-er tail
of death, I should say2 You'll haf to
git at it through the hall winders-ev'ry
door an winder's fast but them"
"How'd the thing git in, then?" asked
the shoemaker.
"Now, Nate Smiley" replied Mrs.
Peak, "don't you go to wastin' time ar
gyfyin' at this criticize minute how it got
in. It's in, an It's wonder VIC aint in
it, too, an mebbe I shall be if you don't
hurry"
"'Taint stirred" said Mr.. Peak, as the
windows were reached and raised.