Middletown transcript., 1910-04-16

u
from famous biologists, drove
Reuben into a frenzy. And
when the serious, learned
stranger intimated that ia a day
or two some rich investors from
Boston were coming down, Reu-
ben rushed away to the village,
returned at nine o'clock with a
local attorney, papers Of sale
were quickly made out, and a
hundred dollars in cash was paid
down.
The sea serpent had glided be-
meath the waves just as darkness
set in, thus closely following his
program of the previous day;
but thousands had now actually
seen him. Slocomb was eager to
take possession the next day.
He was wild to be handling the
good money which was pouring
into the Golfers of the Ocean View
House. There had been some
moot question about cash pay
ment, and, in his eagerness to
hold supreme control of.Isuch a
lucrative property, the greedy
real.estate man made over stock
and bonds to cover the amount,
and eagerly assisted the Martin
family to vacate the premises.
Two or three days passed. The
marine monster did not appear,
but everybody was hopeful, ex-
pectant, confident. Then came
the eventful fourthday. Mrs.
Martin and all her family had de-
parted, but the crowds remained.
Slocomb had brought up the
tents at high price, was taking in
goodly sums. The serious, I'M
pressive college. mate had be-
come quite friendly with the
new owner.
Suddenly, late in the afternoon,
when the northwest was sending
a brisk current of air out through
the little narrow bay, great cry
arose and gathered strength:
There he is There There |!
See him /! And the crowds surged
to the front of the hotel and filled
the shore. The lordly serpent
lay prone upon the water, and
lifted his huge head and opened
and closed his mighty jaws.
he remained thus, with
jaws distended-red as good
vermilion could make them-and
eyes, of the same hue, glaring
defiantly at the assembled crowd.
Then the calm, convincing col
lege. mate went to Reuben Slo-
comb and made a suggestion, out
CT pure friendliness. You see,
the learned scholars who know
most about these gigantic reptiles
of the ocean are inclined to think
that they are of a migrating ma
ture; they may stay few days
or weeks in one place, but sooner
or later they roam again, they
disappear, and seek other feed
ing ground. So it strikes me
that if you could gather a few
boatloads of courageous men, and
go out and kill the creature-I
hardly think you could hope to
capture such monster alive
you could have him stuffed and
put him on exhibition here near
your hotel, and he would be a
permanent curiosity, which would
draw crowds OF sightseers for
years and years. Reuben saw
the wisdom of such advise. At
once news of the daring project
spread, scores Of men volunteer.
ed their services, four boats were
made ready in less than an hour;
pis tolls, shotguns, boathooks,
clubs, boathooks, clubs-all sorts
Of weapons were brandished.
Reuben himself, with a huge, slug
loaded fowling piece, led the
fotilla in q large dory.
Silence and dread fell upon
all the assembled multitude. The
dory drew nearer and nearer the
vast bulk, lying extended on the
waves. The great head still
reared itself defantly. Reuben,
trembling so that he shook the
boat, urged the rowers to pull
hard; his voice was hoarse, al
most inaudible.
Suddenly the crowd on shore
saw him slowly lower the fOwling.
piece, which he had been aiming
for nearly five minutes, to the
serious peril of his companions.
The rowers ceased, and all occu-
pants of the boats sat staring at
the boats sat staring at the SER
pent. Then a few men rowed, in
q singularly half-hearted way,
and the dory moved up to the
gaping jaws. Then Reuben was
seen to wave his arms wildly in
the air, like one who had lost all
interest in life, and to sink back
into the arms of the two men near
him