The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-01-17

heart leafs, ana such a death! "A death
that melts man into an abomination!
For a moment none of us dared move,
scarcely dared breathe, and saw the
band of light from Simmonds' lantern
waving uncertainty across tile. floor,
the walls, the ceiling evidently poor
Simmonds did not understand the ex-
act nature of the danger, but only that
it was terrible one. had mad i'm
pulse to jump, shrieking, for the door,
and should probably have done it had
that quivering silence endured a mo-
ment longer.
'Simmonds, give me your lantern,"
said Godfrey, with an admirable calm
ness. Lester, have your cane ready"
He threw broad band of light upon
the carpet and. keeping carefully with
In this path. approached the door, felt
for the electric button and switched
on the lights.
Half blinded for an instant, we stood
staring at each other, Mt the floor.
FOR Gods sake!' gasped Simmonds,
hopping the sweat. from his face,
'What is it?'
Its snake said Godfrey tersely,
'the deadliest in the world. Ii you
don't believe me look yonderw And he
pointed to the huddled mass on the
floor.
1 did not look; was afraid to; had
n dVyc tcr /. I otof,
when Godfrey jerked down a curtain
and threw it over the body. Then he
gave Simmonds the lantern and closed
the door, which we had left open when
we entered.
Now" he continued sharply, there's
no use in giving way to our nerves.
We're in no danger, but that snake is
hid around here somewhere and tho
FIRST thing for us to do is to find it.
Were there two snakes, Lester?"
NO" answered, as art.culately as
could, II think not. never say but
one"
81 thought you said Cecils took that
one with her.
$50 she did-wait; 1 didn't see it.
She had cover over the cage"
Godfrey's face paled suddenly.
Good God!'' he murmured "
A giddiness seized me- clutched at
a chair for support.
1t had been no accident. She had
left Fe-Fe behind to avenga her-and
what vengeance! She had not laugh,
ed and forgotten!
Then in a flash understood that last
strange scene-the change in Cecily as
she stood watching us from the deck
of the receding boat, the pressing
against the rail, the frantic effort to
shout a message to Tremaine. She
had relented, she did not wish to kill
him, she loved him yet! But of that
warning he had caught only a single
word.
1.-THE bedv' cried. "The bed!''
"Right!" agreed Godfrey incisivcly,
and walked to the bedroom door. In
an instant the inner room was ablaze
4 With light. lie armed nlmselr ''SHlrli
one of Tremaine's canes, and together
we approached the bed
Ready, now" he said, and with q
sudden movement stripped back the
covers. But there was nothing under
| them.
| "The pillow, perhaps he said, and
| turned it over.
There was quick movement, a soft
| Kissing, a vicious head raised itself
two eyes of orange fire glared atus.
heard the swish of Godfrey's cane
and the head fell. Fe-Fe would work
no more evil.
And then as looked more closely al
the coils perceived something else
there something bright, iridescent
/ glowing
Godfrey lifted the mangled body will
the end of his cane and threw i, into
the middle Of the bed. Then he bent
over and picked up-the necklace.
II was sure we should find it Lere,
he said "But look at it. Isn't it beau
tiful?"
1t was more than that-it was SUI
perb; not dead white now, but warm
full of life. Was it the salt bath, OF
was it that the cloud had been remov
ed forever from its owners life? AS
" y :