Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-12-13

buch this somehow doubted. GOOD
enlng, sir" he said. standing With
arm still about his wife arid gazing
me with look so sharp that found
'sclf for an instant unable to meet IT,
His wife utte.e! in his ear sell
ce so rapid that was utterly unable
catch tho words, but | suppose tick
ined the reason Of NY presence, for
turned 10 me instantly with out
etched hand.
'Cecily tells me that your presence
mind prevented general conflagra-
IN. Mr.
Lester" I said. Il am your neigh
across the hall"
Ny name is Tremaine, and I'm ex-
Fdngly glad to meet YOU" he con-
ucd. with n courtesy which charmed
from the first moment. I'VE must
II libation to honor the escape"
ocily, who had been hanging on his
s. flew to the next room and was
Fix in Il moment with dccantcr and
sses--three of them-and she Joined
with IN imperturba BILE matter of
,rse air which somewhat surprised
Only l noticed she left 4 little
be in her glass, and with it she ap-
Pached square cage Of fine gilt
sh hanging over the radiator in the
rmest corner OF the room.
49,. 1;,,,,
fmaine said. with smile that seem.
a little forced. "She's about to do
at no other woman In the world
uld dare do. and she thinks nothing
t. Come and see"
ecily had already reached the cage
4 was bending over it, humming
weird little refrain that rose and fell
4 turned upon itself, reminding me
ntly of the negro spirituals had
pe heard Mt a camp meeting in tht
sey woods. After moment I snw
movement within the cage and &
d erected itself, a broad. triangular
Id, deep orange barred with black
h eyes like Goals Of fire. 1t swaycd
and fro, to and fro, as Cecily fttel
rds to the rcfrain-queer, choppel
creole words.
OBJ, on jojolll. oui. Oh. thou ar
tty. pretty. Fe.Fe. Pa ka fai mon
do not fear her, not at all. Is
not pretty?"
radually we had drawn neare.
hmaine and I, and felt myself
lding to the fascination Of the song
IN as the serpent did. 1t was no
y large, nor seemingly very form
pie, SO | did not even think Of fea,
en- Cecily opened the little door 0,
cage and drew 1t forth. She held i
ween thumb and finger just benin,
head and by slight pressure sh'
ced Its jaws apart, Then she pouret
wine down It's throat. drop b,
~. Finally she returned it to 1t
e and shut the door.
N'hen 1t was over and she was lyin:
in on the couch, painting with ;
d of fearful exhaustion. turned t
Pmaine. who was hopping his fore
d feverishly.
I've got kind of superstitious hor
of that snake" he said apologize
as he met my eyes. I've seen
Of them, but none ever affected N,
{ as this one does"
What Is IT." / asked, astonished b,
pallor, by the trembling of hi
ID as he put away his handkerchief
reached for n cigarette. lie Hight
it before he answered, inviting M
q gesture to help myself,
is a fcr-de-lance. he said at last
of the deadlicst serpents in IT,
I'D, and this particular variety il
to be especially deadly, a sort o
PIE de Ia creme. as it were. Its BIZ,
man in three minutes II it hap
S to strike an artery. 1t does nor,
b that. 1t turns him to swollen
en- piece Of carrlon. I've seen il.
Ee leaned back to blow a ring to
I'd the ceiling.
sat, petrifed, with my clgarett
HH'ay to 'py mouth.
ITO re CONTINJED)