The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-17

WITH A STIFLED CRY. SPRANa HAS,
TILY BACKWARD.
room was so dark that ne could not see
the foot of the bed, and in his faulty
he had barricaded himself in the room
with the loathsome reptile which was to
work the brown mans vengeance.
For some time he lay listening in
tently. Once or twice he fancied that
he heard the rustic of the snake over the
dingy carpet, and he wondered whether
IL would attempt TO climb on to the bed.
He stood up, and. stretching his body
10 the utmost, tried to get his revolver
from tha, drawers. It was out of reach,
and as the bed crealsed beneath his
weight faint hiss sounded from the
aoor and he sat still again, hardly dar-
Ing to breathe.
The cold rawness of the room chilled
him. He cautiously drew the bed
clothes toward him and rolled himself
fo m them leav'r~ only HE head and
arms exposed. In this position he be-
gan to feel more secure, until the
thought struck him that the snake
might be inside them. He fought
against this idea and tried to force his
nerves into steadiness. Then his fears
suggested that two might have been
placed in the bed. At this his fears got
the upper hand, and il seemed to him
that something stirred in the clothes.
1Ie drew his body from them slowly and
stealthily. and, taking them in his arms,
flung them violently to the other end
of the room. On his hands and knees
he now Travelled over the bare bed, feel
ing. There was nothing there.
In this state Of suspense and dread
t1rne seemed to stop. Several times he
thought that the thing had got on the
bed, and to stay there in suspense in
the darkness was impossible. lie felt
it over and over again. At last. unable
to endure it any longer, he resolved
TO obtain the matches. and stepped eau
tiously off the bed; but no sooner had
his bare feet touched the floor than
his courage forsook him, and he sprang
tumbling back ~ his refuge again.
After that, in O spirit of dogged fatal
ism, he sat still and wnited. To his dis
ordered mind il seemed that footsteps
were moving about the house, but they
had no terrors for him. To grapple with
n man for life and death would be play;
TO Kill him, joy unspcakablc. He sat
still, listening. lie heard rats in the
wall and a babel of jeering voices on
the staircase. The whole blackness of
the room with the devilish writhinr
thing on the floor became invested with
significance. Then, dim
y at first, and hardly comprehending
-he joy Of il. he saw the window. a |
title later he saw the outlines of the
.hings in the room. The night had |
passed and he WAS alive!
Hc raised his frozen body to its full
Icfght, and, expanding his chest, plant
d his feet firmly on the bed. He
lenched his fist. and felt strong. The
'ed was unoccupied, except by him
elf. lie bent down and scrutinized
he floor for his enemy, and set his
ceth as he thought how he could ear
and mangle It. Ii was light enough,
MT first he would put on his boots. lie
eaned over cautiously, and, lifting one
o the bed, put it OH. Then he bent
own and took up the other, and. swift
s lightning, something issued from it
nd, coiling round his wrist, ran up
he sleeve of his shirt.
With starting eyeballs. he held his
rcath. and, stiffening into stone. wait
d hclplcssly. The tightness round his
rm relaxed as the snake drew the
rhole of It's body under the sleeve and
'ound round his arm. lie felt its head
loying. 1t came wriggling across his
hest, and, with n mnd cry. the wretch
iutched at the front of his shirt with
9th hands and strove 10 tear il Off.
e felt the snake IN his hands, and for
moment hoped. Then the creature
OF it's head free. and struck him
nartly in the threat .z
lis hold relaxed. and the enalSe fell
his feet. lie bent down and seized
, careless now that IL bit his hand.
nd, with bloodshot eyes, dashed il re-
,atedly on the Tuil of the bed Then he
ung il TO the floor. and. raising his
eel. smashed Eta head TO pulp.
His fury passed. lac strovc TO think,
lt his brain was In whirl. lie had
card Of sucking the wound. but one
incture WIS in his throat. and he
ughcd d'sccrtiantly. lie had heard q
lat death he'd been prevented by G
linking heavily Of spirits. lie would I
} that FIRST, and then obtain medical =
'sistancc.
lie ran 10 tho deer, and began 10
'ag tic frrakrfs Gwry. IN his haste \
'e revolver fell from the drawers to 2