The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-03-15

the major at once recognized DIR. Lang
ton Hesselton.
All at once the men made a brisk
movement. which had the effect Of inn
medately taking them some feet from
the table. Take care sir!" cried one
or them. for heavens sake, take
care. on night like this the creature
cannot be safely handled"
A contemptuous smile passed over
the livid face of the doctor. "You do
not know what you are talking Of"
answered he. "Bhoot 0he ghosO.
knows me perfectly well, and would
not harm me for the world If YOU
are afraid. you can leave me, my work
will be over in few moments" As ne
spoke. he then raised the I'd OF deal
box, which had been placed upon the
table. and in another instant the fiat
head and dark. shining body OF a CO.
bra, some three feet in length, appear
ed above the edge. The reptile. Ike
the rest of the creatures. seemed excited
and uneasy, but made no attempt to
strike its fangs into the hand which
the doctor drew softly down its back.
Gently. gently, my beautiful Bhoot,"
murmered the doctor, spealling in the
soft accents OF the Hindustani lam
tectly conversant. "There Is no oc-
casion for rritability, the pang will be
nut a transient one. and the service |
require tonight the last I shall ask OF
you. Come then. destroyer OF the king
~ race of Oranipore. Aha. when l
caught you beneath the Mango tree in
tho garden and placed you in the bed
or my noble master, the Rajah of Dram
lpore, you little thought that you would
also cause the death of his daughter
Heera and raise me to the rank of
ruler OF vast and fertile land. The
same poison, chosen from the sfrne
source which sent the tYrant out OF the
world, stopped Ike stroke Of
ne thunderholt the beatings of Hes-
/ IA irresolute heart. The same hand
! Whlch placed You beneath the silk n
! qulit OF the father pricked the arm
OF the daughter and sent your poison
dancing and fostering through her
/ VEINS. one more service, my beauty,
ana you are free to enjoy the rest
or your reptile existence in peace All
seems bright at present. Every oh
stacle is removed from my path, and
all have to do is to return to ths
East and claim the throne of Orani-
pore; and yet, at times. have strange.
uneasy feelings, sometimes a dark
shadow seems to drive away the fair
ness OF the prospect. l cannot tell
where II may come from. but there
are moments when the gibbet looms
before me, and | feel the hangman's
cord tighten around my throat You
can save me from that; drop of your
subtle poison which turks in your VEN
omous fang, will render me- should ths
! occasion arrive. as free es the air
breathe. These poor fools believe that
come here for scientific experiment.,
but they little know that | come to pre-
serve the means of solving the mighty
secret. which has puzzled the wise
men Of every age. the Secret of
! Death"
His voice. soft as II was, plainly au-
| dible above the strange sounds with
which the place was filled, and not
| syllable escaped the listening ear OF
! ManVers.
cd be. queen of the jungle, con-
| tinued the doctor. "one little twinge
and all will be over. and remember
beauty, the poisonous gland will grow
again, and you will be as deadly and
venomous as ever"
The reptile had wound its tail round
The doctors arm, and was gazing up
into his face with the bright eyes
which glittered like diamonds. The
doctors right hand stole into his
pocket. and reappeared again holding
minute pair of silver forceps, whilst
his left he began TO glide down to the
creatures neck.
But the moment had now come. when
Manvers who had been spellbound
by the strange scene and the terrible
confession which had dropped from
the murderer's lips, could no longer
restrain himself. With bound he
spran8 forward and grasping the doc
tor by the shoulder exclaimed in a voice
which quvered with emotion. "Treach-
ei'ous assassin have | hunted you
down at last? Men, seize him, the viii
lain has just confessed to two mur-
ders OF the vilest description. l have
heard every word he said, and a viler
monster never tr1d this earth
The start which Lanston Hesselton
gave. and the sudden approach OF a
stranger irritated the cobra; in an in
stant her hood was inflated and with
a sharp hiss, she darted her fangs into
the hand which grasped the silver for
ceps spasm of pain passed over the
ilNlu features anu Win sudden I'M
pulse OF fury, he tore the snake from
his arm, and throwing 1t upon the
floor. trampled her 10 death. regard
less of the many bites which the crea-
ture inflicted upon him In her death
agony. 1T is enough said he, re-
covering his calmness mo mortal
skill can save me. l do not know who
you are" he continued addressing Man
vers. Though your face seems familiar
to me. At any rata had 1t not been
for my dead friend here. your evidence
would have fixed the cord around my
throat, as it is, l escape the hangman
and he gibbet. even II lose the rich
land and palaces of Oranipore"
DIR. Langton Hesselton was a true
prophet; in three hours he was dead
man, for the poison which had de-
stroyed father and daughter proved
equally fatal to their murderer
After Manvers had given his deposit
tion at the inquest, he was no longer
visited by the gloomy thoughts and
strange visions, which had since Heera's
death marred his repose, and when at
the end of his furlough he rejoined
his regiment, which had returned from
the East. he discovered the govern
ment finding that there were no heirs
to the throne Of Oranipors had taken
possession Of the country, which now
formed one OF the numerous states
which had been grasped by the iison
hand OF annexatlon-Sir Gilbert r
Campbell Bart