Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-11-21
+. 81 r. III. n. r.. Fr.1
: Love Qld The CQpeNQ. !
i 8
j By ". A Fraser. f
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By ". A Fraser.
copyh1onr, 800, ur w. A. FRASER.

i copvh1onr, 800, TT W. A. FRASER. +
Fl. II. !
HE lights from the Gymknana
club were streaming across Hal-
pin road, and the drone Of the
band came lazily across the open, filter
ing itself through the octopus limbs Of
the big banyans and over the lake of
roses the professor had filed the COM
pound with. That was the professors
hobby--roses. That and snakes-only
the snakes We're real business, the
roses were for pleasure. But both
thrived equally well in Rangun, jacQue-
ininot and the capello.
1t was paradise, this land where the
roses grew even as cabbages, and the
hooded devils came up out of the jun
gle of their own accord to be dissected
So thought Professor Cont.
But the professor was over at the
gym now, and the drowsy music, ,el-
/, bowling and jostling, the struggling
lights rs they crowded through the
Kush-Kush tatties, mingled with the
soft patter of small talk with which
Minora Cont was beguiling the min
utes as they sat there, she and the
major, waiting the return Of the pro-
fessor.
"Of course, the majors pony, Nat
Thue, would win the Tharawady
plate" she was saying, when she stop
| ped suddenly and steadied herself as
one does when ten foot ditch sudden
~ opens its yawning nav under the
fore feet of ones mount.
The light which streamed out from
the drawing room and offered battle to
the glimmer Of the Gymkhana showed
the sudden paling of her cheek. Parian
marble was not more white than that
set face.
do not move, major" she said; edo
not move your lips even, IL you value
your life"
Herlomer looked straight into the
great, strong eyes Of the girl, and they
told him more Of the danger, more OF
the horror, than even her words hai
done.
Keep perfectly STILL" she continued
"and do not interfere with me in any
way"
SIS it q snake?" asked the major, dis
regarding her injunction to remain 81
lent.
Eyes, cobraw' the lips whispered
"Do not move"
From the direction Of Minora's eye
Herkomer knew that the hooded
demon was on the high back of hi
chair.
Surely it was the light of inspiration
which came into the eyes of thi
strange girl, as she broke into q Low
r Italian chant, weaving her slende
arms back and forth, back and forth
Herkomer could feel that the cobr
y was following her movements. Grea
I beads Of perspiration stood out on hi
q forehead-not so much ut his own proS
unity to the hated thing, but becaus
n of the grand, cool courage Minora wa
S showing, and the risk she was running
), in drawing the attention of tile viper 4
herself.
S "She's going to hypnotic the beast,
/. he thought. He knew she could do II
too; the face told him that. 1t SCENE,
: cowardly to sit there and allow won
an to face the snake, but her comman,
J to keep perfectly still had been a
much entreaty as command, and b
felt that by moving he would only in
; crease the danger of both.
With the same sinuous movement
Minora had risen from her seat. and
gently swaying her body as the sof
cadences Of the chant rose and fell
glided toward the cobra.
my God, keep back!" Herkomel
groaned, scarcely moving his lips
Stand back and wait till he goe
away"
But the chant continued, and Their
were the interjected two Englisl
words Keep still!'
Before Herkomer could move or re
monstrate further there was the iasl
of a white arm, rustic of the sof