The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-03

centre Of a spinning universe and his head reeled
amons waving poys He buried ss sas ,s o hin ~
woe were barely audible 10 the listener
oh y SSqS C %H,. 81 G" % asne o IN
this L. Wsrd TO- i. 1 Wouldn't mind II could only
look up and NOT see that thing 90 oo9oh. b.h.h,
can sec my finish and It's worse IMAM 'n0ush'
/, might have been three minutes bsiote Smith
heard the sound Of long breath; he lnd dti,sD
emerged from the clothes and froze Win 3oTror;
Above his face and so near ,ha, shs WIND i5p%
ansb ~ head Stpw rap nG s'H Then began he
thing in a sorponilne dance Up SCARED the
terror 70 the ceiling, only TO sNoop down again
then began 70 coil and writhe and wtiggle and
waggle and squrm and dart and glide ana giid ,I
until the flesh slid on Binby bones ana ,ne nntes
that the thing had gone about far enough and
thinking what 10 do ,noSt when he observed tha l
BiSby was about 70 do something himself Keep.
Ing his strained gaze fixed on the rau,esna.e
which Law on chair within reach he drew
them toward him and fumDled IN lhe posse,s
was after there was q succession Of deaieninS
reports and amid cloud Of smoIe smith could
SEQ the disintegta,lng particles Of his snnke nut
himself Yelling. upon the iloor and casting his
revolver from him, scrambled on oil touts to lho
Sheltered fG Smith Tn'p GsBbns BY ' bo
a. d Mysteries. Smith seized tho setter bottle
and gave him the stream full in the lace. II
was not with that intention that he had brought
upstairs but ~ answered. admirably. uaspins
and choking Dixby came to hls senses ,..,,.,,..
Tell mo IL was tell me II was" he brokenIy
bcsougbt Smith
OF course il was, old man" said Smith. por.
query. He knew shat vas hling Bi1by,s tor
mred mind 10 the very brim at that moment
1t was stuffed snake that had abou, the place
hank God" said the other simply aud Ter.
vcntly. 'Whew II was awful"
Shooting the rest OF the setter into the pitcher
Of ice Smith handed IL TO him and he drank
ehohingly, shaking all over viii, ,he rcacuon
Of the relief. Smith wondered why his mend
wnsnt funously angry at the tnCh tai had L,,n
played On him, and felt hlns,ii s,n,,whni con.
sciencestricken but determined 10 make the b,ss
use OF the occasion
=. nigh. no, have been real Bis," he said.
lhxby grOancd.
You'd never have known the difference" said
his host
,r nSSy s,os sns again and pressed some ice
,,s whss ar, you going to do about i'' asked
"fhr" said nixbv, duly. 40? oh, NY head
You're sure that thing wrs there, Srnhy You
aren't iooline me1 lwouldntlook into that room
for a thousand"
"oh. il wes there" Smith ensured him" !
hScd il myself while you were d, I'D 10 the void
int don't you think lis time you whistled down
Smith" said BiHby after long pause I'll
buy you a new snake You give me Il al one ns
soon as feel well enough TO stand tie company
Did you teach II to nv voursclf1 III.lnean.I
guess I'm not very steady yet. ] want II ss Il
mcrento TO remind ne Of what II can do II man
goes too far. YOU know"
" oil " get II ~ soon as you prove that you ore
~ company for a sober and decent snake" SAID
Smith
Don't you fear" said BiNbv solrnnly This
II the end, Three drinks per dav after this Is
my limit And that goes. too. Th'. isn't the
common or garden variety Of neSt-rornlng never
iCnin. Bring me out my gun, old hoy. don't
feel steady enough 10 go in there after il vet
When Mrs Smith got home, which wss after
Bixhy had left, there were certain matters T. Nc
cSrlsin"d 10 her, First. there was the 81 10
Smith said thu cat did il Then there was
hulletri lied ceiling: hr couldn't say TINT tn 1T
did that but h" explained that II must b" the work
of rats Bridget had reported hearing shots
hred Smith said yes. that BRIDGET was un.
douM~tlv right he had heard them himself
and thcv seemed IN he very near at hand Mrs
smith doesn't t"ll all she knows. or even all .hc
believes, and Smith Appreciates this sririt She
now enIovs tn" possession ~ a handsome snake
akin purse and a card case to match RiSby
has the rnttesnnk" clrycriy put Together nv a
tnSid"rmist, mounted on rHrrl in his roorr
Everybody 10 satisfied c,crpt ridrrt, ho suspects
th-t she ought not to STAY in a hous" once prn-
famed bv the presence of a rcprcScn' a'ivc Of tho
Prince 81 Darkness. and the cat who never do
come back.