The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-02-13

probably have done It had that quiz
ering silence endured a moment
longer.
'simmonds gave me your lantern"
said Godfrey, with an admirable CALM
ness. Lester, have your cane ready
He threw a broad band OF light upon
this carpet, n keeping carefully with
IN this path, approached the door, felt
for the electric button, and switched on
the lights.
Half bIinded for an instant we stood
staring at each other, at the floor - |"
For Gods sake" gasped Simmonds,
mopping the sweat from his face, what
| is it?"
Its a snake" said Godfrey terseiy.
The deadliest I'm the world. II you
don't believe me, ook yonder," and he
pointed to the huddled mass on the
| floor.
I did not look: I was afraid to:
/ had already seen too much. / was
grateful when Godfrey jerked down
q curtain ana threw IL over the body.
Then he gave Simmonds the lantern
n 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 the
first thing for us to do is TO find IL,
Were there two snakes, Lester?'
NO" / answered, as ~articulately as
could. Il think not: i never saw but
one"
I thought you said ceciIy DOL that
n with her.
so h ~dtd-wait; r didn't see it.
She had a cover over the cage"
Godfrey's face paled suddenly.
Good God" he murmursd.
A giddiness seized me; / clutched at
a chair for support.
II a been no accident; she had
left Fe-Fe behind to avenge her--and
what a vengeancei She had not
LAUGHED and forgotten.
Then, In a fash, / understood that
last strange scene--the change in Ce-
ely, as h stood watching US from the
deck OF the receding boat, the press
Ing againsf the rail, the frantic eff
fort to shout a message to Tremaine-
she had relented, she did not wish to
Kill him. h loved him yet. But OF
that warming he had caught only a
single word
The bed!" I cried. The bedl''
Right" agreed Godfrey incisively,
and walked to the bedroom door. In
an instant, b inner room was ablaze
with light He armed himself with one
OF Tremaine's canes, and together we
approached the bed.
Ready, now he said, and with a
sudden movement, stripped back the
covers. But there was nothing under
them.
The pillow, perhaps" he said. and
turned 1t over
There was a quick movement, a soft
Kissing, a vicious head raised itself,
TWO eyes OF orange fire glared at
I heard the swish OF Godfrey's zane
and the head fell. Fe-Fe would work
no more evil.
And then, as / looked more closely
at the coils, ! perceived something else
there--something bright. ir~ridescent,
Godfrey lifted the mangled body with
the end OF his cane and threw 1t into
the middle of the bed: Then he bent
over n picked up-the necklace.
Il was sure we would find it here
he said. But look at it--isn't 1t
beautiful"
1t was more than that, IL was su-
perb. Not dead-white, now, but warm.
full of life . was 1t the salt hath,
or was 1t that the cloud had been re-
moved forever from it's owners life?
AS l looked at 1t, there seemed to be
something unearthly in it's beauty-it
seemed to be rejoicing.
The snake bit him probably" added
Godfrey, thoughtfulIy, "tas he thrust
the necklace under the pillow. 1t was
a fitting punishment"
1T was greater than he deserved"
I protested hoarsely. HI was not the
man to meet a death like that"
"A man! He was a vampire!" said
Godfrey sternly. He lived On the lives
of others. Don't let your sentimental
ism blind you Lester.
"Oh, you don't know him." I cried.
A hot resentment OF fate vas sweeping
over me; ] realized that, down at
the bottom of my heart, I had never
really believed In Tremaine's guilt
wen now, / hardly believed In II.
Godfrey turned to Simmonds, who
stood contemplating the scene with
staring eyes, hts lantern still open in
his hand.
TITS hard luck, Simmonds," he said.
You're not going to get the glory,
after all. But who could have fore
seen a thing like this?"
shut it again, without uttering a
sound. ...N.. ....-
You'd better notify the coroner"
continued Godfrey, and, I D to
be strictly regular, I'll have to turn
this necklace over to o for the night.
Guard 1t well. Simmonds; it's worth a
hundred thousand dollars.
What" stammered Simmonds. rs
1t the--the-the
Yes, it's the Delroy necklace. You'll
have to go with us to Babylon in the
morning, to attend the inquest. I fancy
there'll be something OF a sensation
when we produce the necklace there
EN-, Lester" and ne laughed a grim lit
tie laugh OF anticpatory triumph.
Then he glanced at his watch.
Il must be going" he said. I've got
to fire this story down TO the office.
| What a scoop 1t will bel Till tomor-
row, gentlemen"
/ heard his footsteps die out along
the hall; then a sudden horror of the
| place seized me; a deadly loathing;
and I CROPPED my way blindly from the
room.