Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-02-17

nNEofhis Enthusiastically sent Smith,
~ of Brooklyn, a fine specimen of
the diamond-back rattlesnake. 1t was
a dead rattlesnake, though it didn't look
1T; in fact, it was only the skin of the
reptile with the head attached. but all
the diabolism of the live creature was
expressed in the thick, fat head with
tive ghttering black pinheads doing
duty for the eyes. 1t was really q very
fine skin, and Smith thought with
pleasure how well it would look on the
wall of his study, but upon taking it
home he found that his household re-
garded itwith mingled emotions. When
he appeared with it in his hands Mrs.
Smith ramped around the room as if it
were mouse that was confronting her
and threatened alternately Mysteries
and a return TO the home of her ances-
tors. Bridget, the maid, who had come
upstairs on the run upon hearing the
excitement, retired via the front door
10 the middle of the street, where she
Uniformed an interested public that Mr..
Smith had come home to dinner and
brought the devil with him; while the
family cat, after one casual glance at
the deceased reptile, Skinned up the
back yard grape arbor in a perfect
abandonment of horror, and spit till
her whiskers whistled.
This snakes all right in It's way"
said Smith, ''butrd rather have my hap
Ply home, and it don't look as if the two
were compatible. I'll give 1t house room
for day or two, and then present 1T to
some bachelor apartment"
With some difficulty and after repeat
ed assurances that the object of her ter
rors was quite dead, Smith persuaded
Bridget to return to the house and her
duties. Mrs. Smith was somewhat rec
onsiled by learning that at any time
the serpent could be turned into hand
some belt for herself, If she so desired,
and consented to try 1T first as a wall
oraament for time. The cat refused
to come back. but that night sat on the
back fence and told all the other cats
about it until the neighborhood quelled
Their comments and interjections with
handy bric-a-brac.
Bpon arriving at his Office the next
morning Smith found a note from his
friend Bixby. setting forth a sad case,
to-wit, himself. Bixby had recently re-
turned from the arid south, whence he
had brought a large fund of informal
tisA regarding the noxious insect and
rePSlian life of the region, reputation
for leaning toward revolver practice,
ana an Astounding thirst which all the
strong waters in New York couldn't
queach-he hadn't tried the other kind
BixSy wrote:
'pear Smith: I've been going 1t for the
last week or year or something. Been try
ing 60 put the Raines Law out of business
by drinking all the booze before Sunday.
Tn pretty much on the aboriginal bum In
Consequence. They haven't got me yet,
but saw one of 'em last night. 1t had
long. pink. wriggly ears and thought IT
was an eel till / saw the hoofs on It. It's
been lowering around all this morning and
I've been trying to chase II with ammonia
cocktails, for know If IL ever gets near
enough to say Tag I'm 1t. II you've got
room In your place for a head like q barrel
wish you'd take me to Brooklyn tonight
need change of air Oh, my boy; I've
been OR foot that would make the Angel
CARRIERS trumpet feel like q busted penny
whistle. I'll be at your office at five, with
or without assistance. as the case may be.
Yours hurriedly, RIXRY"
At the appointed hour Bixby arrived
In cab, and when he saw him Smith
seat word home to Mrs. Smith that she
had better invent and accept an invita-
tiOa to dine and spend the night at her
aunt's. Not that Bixby was intoxicated.
He was sober and sorry for it. After
dinner. Smith judged, there might be
trouble. Upon their arrival he ex-
planned Mrs, Smiths absence and Blk
By suggested cocktails as starter be-
fore dinner. His friend persuaded him
to tackle the bathtub instead Of a
e<scer, and after a cold bath and some
fresh clothes Bixby said he thought he
could eat something, with a little help.
An the help that Smith allowed him
was one long whisky and seltzer, where
upon Bixby looked unutterable re-
proaeh ct the dispenser OF sparse hos
pitahty, but was too polite to protest.
After dinner Bixby was nervous. Smith
suggested club. They went, One game
OF Billiards there showed up Bixby's
condition in its true light. He tore two
Ehoies IA the cloth and nearly put out
the markers eye in trying to score three
ON the play. Then he demanded drink
not loudly, but so fervently that his
host knew there was nothing else for q
An hour passed and Bixby was&eeliI
better, at least he said he was kzaS
goa him to start home and 81
d0roY1rtn0 in zee n