The Mena weekly star., 1909-01-14

"Told You So! See Him WriaaIel"
 winthrope swung up his stick, and dashed across the glade toward her
 What is it--a snake?" he cried.
 The girl did not seem to hear him. She had ceased screaming. and stood rigid with fright, glaring down at the ground before her. In moment Win thrope was near enough to make out the brilliant glistening body, now ex- tended full length in the grass. It was nearly five feet long and thick as his thigh. Another step, and he saw the hideous triangular head, lifted few inches on the thick neck. The cold eyes were fixed upon the girl in malignant, deadly stare.
 Snake, snake!" he yelled, and thrust his cane at the reptiles tail.
 Again came flashing leap of the beautiful ornate coil. and the stick was struck from Winthropes hand. He danced backward, wild with ex- citement
 "Snake.-Hi, Blake! monster,- Run, Miss Leslie, I'll hold him-Tll get another stick.'
 He darted aside to catch up a branch, and then ran in and struck boldly at the adder, which reared hissing to meet him. But the blow fell short. and the rotten wood shat tered on the ground. Again Win thrope ran aside for stick. There was none near, and as he paused to glance about, Blake came sprinting down the glade.
 "Where?" he shouted.
 "There-Hi look out! You'll be on him."
 Blake stopped short. barely beyond striking distance of the hissing rep tile.
 Wow" he yelled "Puff adder, I'll fix him.
 He leaped back, and thrust his bow at the snake. The challenge was met by a vicious lunge. Even where he stood winthrope heard the thud of the reptiles head upon the ground.
 Now, once more, tootsie," mocked Blake. swinging up his club.
 Again the adder struck at the bow tip, more viciously than before With the flash of the stroke, Blake's right foot thrust forward. and his club came down with all the drive of his sinewy arm behind it. The blow fell across the thickest part of the adder's outstretched body.
 Told you so, See him wiggle!" shouted Blake. Broke his back, first lick Whats the matter. Miss Jen- ny. He cant do anything now"
 Miss Leslie did not answer. She stood rigid. her face ashy-gray. her dilated eyes fixed upon the writhing, hissing adder
 "I think the snake struck her," gasped Winthrope, suddenly overcome with horror
 "God!" cried Blake He dropped his club, and rushed to the girl. In a mo- ment he had knelt before and fung up her leopard-skin skirt. Her stock ings ripped to shreds in his frantic grasp There. little below her right knee, was tiny. red wound Blake put his lips to 1t, and sucked with fierce energy
 Then the girl found her voice.
 "Go away-go away, How dare you." she cried as her face flushed scarlet.
 Blake turned. spat, and burst out with loud demand of Winthrope. Quick, the little knife-I'r have to slash 1t, Ten times worse than a rat tlesnake- Lord you're slow-rll use minel"
 Let go of me-let go, What do yon mean, sir" cried the girl, struggling to free herself.
 Hold still. you little fool!" he shouted. Tits death-sure death, if I don't get the poison from that bite,'
 I'm not bitten Let go. say, lt struck in the fold of my skirt For Gods sake, Jenny, don't lie' It's certain deathl l saw the mark"
 That was a thorn. I drew 1t out an hour ago"
 Blake looked up into her hazel eyes. They were blazing with indignant scorn, He freed her. and .ose with clumsy slowness Again he glanced at her qulvering, scarlet face, only 10 look away with a sheepish expression. 'I guess you think I'm just a damned meddlesome idiot" be mum bled
 She did not answer. He stood Cor a little, rubbing a finger across bis -blistered lips. Suddenly he stopped and looked at the Anger Il was streaked with blood. "Whew." he exclaimed Didn't stop to think of that. It's just as we'll --s11~-