Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-24

NSSS& SE
He REACHED o THE CREATURE WIT
HIS BARE HANDS.
had seized upon the most horrifyin
thought of all, and my whole bein
srrang to arms for revenge.
"What has he done? Where is he?
I asked, selling the doctors arm.
My own ~intenser excitement had
calming effect ON him, and he hasteney
to assure me that Patrick had reall.
done nothing worse than catch q smal
garden snake.
But, oh, the way he did itv the doc
tor shuddered. And his hideous face
Horrible, horrible!"
With a profound of relief tina
the tragedy consisted Of nothing NOR,
serious than an assault on my brother
in-law's nerves, l first became angr,
and then amused at the absurdity Of /
all.
How did he do it," l asked, sup
pressing a smile.
Il can't begin to tell you," said the
doctor. II can't make you see it as II
was. oh, what q face! What diabo
lism!'
when was ity'
"Just now. When l came home, he
was raking the lawn, and l stopped tc
speak with him. He seemed to be III
his usual calm temper until a little
green garden snake slid out from IN.
der a bush. The effect was electrical
Instantly Patrick was a;raging demon
MY dear boy said soothingly, che
vas probably Mortified, just as I should
have been. The very thought of q
snake, however harmless it may be,
gives me the shivers."
$50 it does me-" said the doctor. IL
hate a snake with all my soul, but 1
tell you honestly l would rather live
with a nest of snakes than with that
demon Patrick"
"What did he do?"
"He had the rake in his hand and
could have cut the snake down with a
stroke, but it seemed that would not
have satisfied his iendish desire. He
dropped the rake and fell upon all
tours, reaching for the creature with
his bare hands. At first he missed it,
but instantly he sprang, as a toad
might spring, or more, I fancy, as q go
rilla might do it, and caught the
squirming thing"
"Well, that's nothing" l interposed.
II used to know boys who brought live
garden snakes to school in their peck
cts and frightened the girls out Of their
wits with them"
Stop" said the doctor sternly. I'm
no schoolgirl to be frightened out of
my wits by a harmless little snake.
Had you seen Patrick's face you would
not speak SO lightly. I tell you 1t was
simply terrible, diabolical. When he
had snatched the snake from the grass,
he settled back upon his launches like
one Of those hideous heather gods
carved Of stone. Despite my commands
that he throw the thing down and let
me stamp upon it, he squatted there,
more reptile than man, and held the
writing creature close and closer to
his glittering eyes. while he Kissed such
words as: So you've come back! Hah!
But you'll not find her! Fool! She's
you'll never be. She's in heaven!
Do you hear-in heaven? Crooked, am
I? What are you? Snake, snake,
These last words grated with
unimaginable hatred, malice, loathing."
did he kill the snakes" I asked.
NO; he would not kill it. He simply
over having it in his power. For
minutes he held the struggling thing so
close to his eyes that 1t almost touched
him. he seemed to be glazing into the
soul Of that snake, IL it had such a
hing. Then suddenly he burst into a
laugh and jumped to his.
'eet. The last l saw of him he was go
ng by leaps and bounds down the alley
With the snake still writing in his
1t was not physical fear that had pre-
'ented the doctor from following Pat
lex. 1t was a soul horror Of him.
l advanced the theory. that like
'nough the gardener had some time
ost q sweetheart or sister as a result
I a poisonous snaKe BITE, ana wnIH
We were discussing this plausible
neaning OF his hateful words the doc
or's telephone bell rang.
There's a man here with the jim
ans" said a voice from the police sta
ion. "He's awful bad"
1t was DR.. Graham's duty as city
MUSICIAN to attend such cases, for in
hose days we had no public hospital in
lr city.
ITS Patrick" said the doctor. II
ont go. l won't see him.
Yes, you will. too" l said determin-
lily. You'll 80, and I'll go with you.
ONE, don't be a child"
BY appeals to his pride and to his y
II not his human interest