The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1903-09-24

wriggling as there was going on at
the root of that tree! I must have
touched" every one of the brood.
This seemed to anger the monster in
the tree, for she, he or, 1t began to
uncoil and when about 20 feet of the
end attached to the dog was free
from the coils, the snake went
through sort of contortion and
lunged forward-the nearly submerg-
ed dog shot out into space and land
ed in the middle of the bayou-dead
Of course, thought, but was mis-
taken. Revived by it's plunge It'll
turned several somersaults in the
water, now heads up, not tail, then
chased its tail several times around
a 5-mile track as it were, as if TAX
ing account of stock, and finally, be-
ing satisfied that he was all present
or accounted for, swan ashore, and
without stopping. to Shake" with his
tail tightly wedged between his hind
legs, disappeared from sight, headed
for the city.
Absorbed with the fortunes or
misfortunes of the dog, had forgot
ten the snake for the moment, but
was suddenly brought back to al
sense of my danger by crashing
noise in the direction of the sycamore
and looked up just in time to see the
huge monster shoot out from the
tree, as If from catapult, straight as
an arrow from a bow or bullet from
a gun, for the 2-foot square or
ground upon which rat. Anger hao
increased the size Of the monster
several times over natural; with
mouth wide open it came. l am
sure detected away back next to the
esophagus an old speckled hen laying
boiled eggs; garlands Of bologna fes-
TONED it's body the entire length ana
showers of mustard sardines fell
from its scales into. the water with
hat raised from my head and ioatec
away into space. thought quickly
of few of the things / had done in
the life expected to quickly be part
ed from, among these was whip-saw-
ed commissions on land sales, and my
oft exercised ability to cause a GUS
toner to believe land worth $50 and
up per, when really worth but $35 per,
and many smaller affairs in my line
like promised repairs never made,
wells and vaults never dug, walks
never built, and others. know l
am duly sober and am quite sure
have not been dreaming, but what be-
came of the snake and his nightmare
factory puzzles me just now-and we
will have to pay good price for the
dog. Look behind you,"-he turned
quickly expecting to see the monster,
but saw only the dog dreaming and
nervously drawing up one foot, then
another, as If being tickled on the
foot with a straw, but there was not
wet hair on him. you say you
fired both barrels OF your gun; did
you load it again." No, he did not
reload and to show me, threw out two
loaded shells. Nov, you see you've
had a bad case of nightmare and you
meant that you was going to swear
off drinking a hundred years hence;
here's the bottle, take another drink,
it will settle your nerves"
Moral.--Don't eat too much indiges-
tible food again and sit down on the
waters edge, You might fall in and
not have as good luck chasing your
self around in the water as you
thought the dog had.
Don't double-commission nor hyp-
notize your trusting customers.
Do all the things you agree to do
for those who contribute to your liv.
ing-there, you've got bite!