The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-02-13

probably nave done it had the quiz
ering silence endured a moment
longer.
"Simmonds gave me YOU lantern
said Godfrey, With an admirable calm
ness. Lester, have our ane ready"
He threw a broad band OF light upon
the carpet, and keeping carefully with
in this path, approached the door, felt
for the electric button, and switched q
the lights.
Half blinded for an instant we stood
staring at each other, at the floor q
For Gods sake" gasped Simmonds.
hopping the sweat from his face, what
is it?"
It's a snake" said Godfrey tersely.
The deadliest in the world. If you
don't believe me, look yonder," and he
pointed 60 the huddled mass on the
floor
l did not look: 1 was afraid to;
l had already seen too much. l was
grateful when Godfrey jerked down
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 the
first thing for us to do is to find it.
49, - 1917
NO" | answered, as a~rticulately as
| could. Il think not; I never saw but
one"
Il thought you said Cecily took that
one with her"
Sc she did-wa1t: I didn't see it.
she had a cover over the cage"
Godfrey's face paled suddenly.
Good God" he
"A glddiness seized me; l clutched at
q chair for support.
II had been no accident; she had
left Fe-F'e behind to avenge her-and
what a vengeance! She had not
laughed and forgotten.
Then, II Il flash, | understood that
last strange scene-the change in Ce-
ely, as she stood watching us from the
deck of the receding boat, the press
ing against the rail, the frantic eff
fort to shout a message to Tremaine-
she had ~relented, she did not wish to
XII him. she loved him yet. But Of
that warning he had caught only a
single word =
The bed!" l cried. The bed!"
Right" agreed Godfrey incisively.
and walked to the bedroom door. In
an instant, the inner room was ablaze
with light. He armed himself with n
OF Iremaine'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 it over.
There was a quick movement, a soft
Kissing, a vicious head raised itself.
TWO eyes of orange fire glared at
heard the swish Of Godfrey's cane
and the head fell. Fe-Fe would work
no more evil.
And then. as l looked more closely
at the coils, l perceived something else
tnere-something bright, irridescent,
Godfrey lifted the mangled body with
the end Of his cane aud threw it into
the middle of the bed. Then he bent
over and picked up-the necklace.
Il was sure we would find it here"
ne SAID. But look at it-lsn't 1t
beautiful
1t was more than that, it was su-
perh. Not dead-white. now. but warm,
full or life was 1T the salt bath.
or was It that the cloud had been re-
moved forever from it's owners life?
as l looked at it, there seemed to be
something nnearthly in its beauty-it
seemed to be rejoicing.
The snake bit him probably" added
Godfrey, thoughtfully, "as he thrust
the necklace under the pillow. 1t was
a fitting punishment"
1t was greater han he deserved,'
l protested hoarsely. He was not the
mar to meet a death like that"
a man! He was a vamplre!" 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 not resentment OF fate was sweeping
over me-; l realized that, down at
the bottom of my heart, 1 had never
really believed in Tremaine's guilt
even now. l hardly believed in it.
Godfrey turned to Simmonds. who
stood contemplating the scene with
staring eyes his lantern still open in
his hand.
IT'S hard luck. S~immonds," he said.
You're not going to get the glory.
after all. But who could have fore
seen a thing like this 2"
mmonds opened his mouth and
shut it again, without utterine a
sound
You'd bettcr notify the
continued Godfrey, and, l suppose to
be strictly regular. I'll have to turn
this necklace over TO you for the night.
Guard 1t well. Simmonds; it's worth a
hundred thousand dollars.
What" stammered Simmonds. "Is
1t the-the-the-"
Yes, It's the DeIroy necklace. You'u
have to go with us to Babylon in the
morning, to attend the inquest. / fancy
therell be something Of a sensation
when we produce the necklace there
Ell. Lester?' and he 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 Ere this story down to the office.
What q scoop IT will be! TIL 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.
THE END.
Tampering With Truth.