The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-04
 THE KING SNAKE
 OF C0BURG!
Ry cuARLEs SLOAN REID.

BY CHARLES SLOAN REID. Icogyrignt; eo2 Sy paily story Ine. co:I x far up to the left of him at the athletic figure of Duvall, just disappearing. in the distance. continued to grind his teeth.
 Three days later, Defnpsy Duvall was served by an officer In due form with legal document setting forth that he. Dempsy Duvall. had destroyed certain king snake. the property of one Amos Elderwood, and that the said Amos FL derwood had been damaged thereby In the sum of $S.650. which sum the said Dempsy Duvall was called upon to pay, or to appear before the court and show cause why he was not liable.
 Duvall smiling with amusement, ac- , cepted service, and the trial was speedily called. Elderwooi had in readiness d statement showing that the king snake in quqeston was six years of age. that his chances of life and usefulness were at leas. ten years, that he coiid destroy an average of six rats per day, that the destruction of six rats meant the saving of two bushels of corn, that two bush, els of corn were worth Sl that II saveu every day for ten years would aggregate the sum Of $3,650,. the amount ciaiineo' with costs of suit.
 Among the legal fraternity in the pit and the business men in the audiehce, there was some tittering. but the faces of the jury-twelve solid citizens selected from among the tiliecs of the soil, all knew the value of a good king snake and could appreciate MT. Elderwood s figures--lost none of their seriousness. and at the end of the trial % promptly
 Dempsy Duvalls counsel immediately entered an appeal. and the case was transferred to the higher court The de- fendant, though he had no doubt of his that it was expensive to kill a king snake. But there was a memory con nected with the cause of the suit that entirely set aside the thought of expense. though Duvall had not had glimpse Of that face since the incident.
 As Dempsy walked from the court room on the day of the trial. a boy handed him note. the superscrlption Of which was puzzling. The handwriting was unknown to him, but he hastily opened the letter and read:
 |, Dear MT. Duvall--I have just learned of the unfortunate turn a certain incl dent has taken for you. and hasten to make known to you how deeply l regret that your kind assistance in removing reptile from my path has led you into trouble; also to exuress a hope that your opponent will lose his suit. With prayers for your victory. beg to remain,
 Alicia schuler.
 At her aunt's Mrs. Vavanagh's, for fortnight"
 Dempsy felt something humping reck- leSSly against une inner Wdilo oi i.i structure as he re-read the note. At Mrs. Cavanagh's for fortnight, he repeated, and then after the second rep etition there was a very sweet taste in his mouth.
 God bless the king snake Duvall was wont to exclaim quite frequently during the next two weeks.
 "Oh, I shall regret it so much, said Alicia one evening as Duvall was taking leave If you have to pay out all that money just for killing a-a snake and she smiled at the absrdity of it.
 Would you, really?' asked Duvalf Now. just let me tell you what I've been thinking"
 What is that?'
 "Tve been thinking I would just go and pay old Elderwood his demands With out more ado
 "Oh, why?" and Alicia looked her amazement. ,,. tie nearer, and the tone of his voice dropped just a little lower. "On account of a certain great happiness which that little incident has brought me-oniy the price is far too small.
 For a moment Alicia's eyelashes droop- ed and she stood blushing deeply. Du- wall took advantage of the moment to take her hand in his,
 If I could go on removing such little obstacles from your path all through your dear hfe,' he continued, should count myself the happiest man alive. Now won't you give me the right?
 There was a moment during which the hand that Duvail held struggled nncer- tainiy for freedom Then 1t grew passive again. and tho tall girl half whispered something quite close to Duvalfs ear which caused him to exclaim fervently;
 God bless old Elderwood and the king snake"