Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-03-18

with horror.
Cod" cried Blake He dropped his
club, and rushed to the girl. In mo-
ment he had knelt before and flung
up her leopardskin skirt. Her stock
ings ripped to shreds In his frantic
grasp. There, a little below her right
knee, was tiny, red wound Blake
put his lips TO It, and sucked with
fierce energy.
Then the girl found her voice.
Go away-go away, How dare
youl" she cried, as her face flushed
scarlet.
Blake turned, spat, and burst out
with a loud demand of Winthrope:
quick! the little knife-I'll have to
slash IT. Ten times worse than rat
tlesnake- Lord! you're slow-Pll use
mine"
let go OF me--let go! What do you
mean. SIR" cried the girl, struggling
TO free herself.
: Hold still, you little fool" he
shouted TITS death-sure death, il
I don't get the poison from that bite!"
I'm not bitten Let go, say! 1t
struck in the fold of my skirt"
For Gods sake, Jenny, don't lie!
It's certain death! saw the mark"
"That was thorn. / drew 1t out
an hour ago.
Blake looked up into her hazel eyes.
They were blazing with indignant
scorn He freed her, and rose with
clumsy slowness. Again he glanced
at her quivering, scarlet face, only to
look away with a sheepish expression.
II guess you think I'm just a
damned meddlesome idiot" he mum
bled.
She did not answer. He stood for
a little rubbing a finger across his
sun-blstered lips. Suddenly he
stopped and looked at the finger 1t
was streaked with blood.
"Whew," he exclaimed. Didn't
stop to think of that It's just as well
for me, Miss Jenny, that wasn't an ad-
der bite A little poison on my sore
lip would have done for me. Ten to
toes at the same time. OF course,
though. that'd be nothing to you
Miss Leslie put her hands before
her face and burst into hysterical
weeping.
Blake looked around, far more
alarmed than when facing the adder.
Here, you blooming lud!" he shout
ed take the lady away, and be quick
about It, She'll go dotty II she sees
any more snake stunts. Clear out with
her, while | smash the wriggler."
Winthrope, who had been staring
f1xedly at the beautiful coloring and
loathsome form of the writing adder,
started at Blake's harsh command as
though struck.
"T-er-to be sure" he stammered,
and darling around to the hysterical
girl, he took her arm and hurried her
away up the glade.
They had gone several PAGES when
Blake came running up behind them.
Winthrope looked back with a glance
OF inquiry. Blake shook his head.
mot yet he said. Give me your
cigarette case. I've thought of some
thing Hold on; take out the cigar
cites. Smoke 'em, if you like"
Case in hand, Blake returned to the
wounded adder, and picked up his
club. second smashing blow would
have ended the matter at once; but
Blake did not strike. Instead, he
Tented with his club until he managed
70 pin down the venomous head. ThA
club lay across the monsters neck,
and he held it fast with the pressure
CT his foot
When, half an hour later, he wiped
his knife on wisp of grass and stood
up, the cigarette case contained over
a tablespoonful of a crystalline liquid.
He peered in at it, his heavy jaw
thrust out, his eyes glowing with saw
age citation.
Talk about your meat trusts and
Winchesters, he eXulted; "here's a
whole carload of beef in this little box
enough dope to morgue herd OF
steers. Good God though, that was a
close shave for her!"
His face sobcred. and he stood for
several moments staring thoughtfully
into space Then his gaze CHANGED
to fall upon the great crimson blossom
which had so nearly lured the girl tC
her death.
'Hellol" he exclaimed; that's al
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