Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
CHAPTER xxIi.-continued.

True enough. Inc Hill puileI udu
passed between the gaping jaws OF
the reptile and taken OF the greater
part of that darling scarlet thread
IS neatly as a sharp instrument could
SNUFF a candle. While the wound
doubtless caused agony to the snake,
Il did not lessen its anger. The poi
so~n-charged fangs remained in It's
mouth, and the cutting OF OF its
tongue swelled its fury to the ultimate
degree.
Britt dropped the pistol on the chif-
fonfer and thrust both hands in his
pockets.
up a tree for fair" he said. Moth
ing more doing in the artillery line"
THAT was your last cartridge?"
Britz bent his head afirmatively.
An expression of slow wrath gathered
force in the Headquarters mans face,
~ he stared at the swaying serpent
such a short distance below. One
could see he was angry enough to
take the desperate chance of spring
ing from his perch and trying to
strike the cobra with his heels, or,
failing that, selling 1t by he neck,
seeking to throttle 1t. The instinct of
MISREPRESENTATION, however, was
stronger than rage. Britt was wiling
enough to risk his life in the fulfill
ing OF his duty, 80 long as the risk
meant a nghting chance to him. He
was too sensible absolutely to throw
his life away. and something told him
that In spite Of all the courage In the
world. no man would have an appreci-
able percentage Of opportunity in a
hattie at close quarters with SO ven
0mous a serpent. Yet he must get
out OF that house. He felt he was the
only man on the police force who
could be sure Of heading Oh the Ori-
entails. In that very moment they
might be beyond the city's limits,
bearing the booty he had pursued for
weeks. 1t was more than his self
poise could stand. He gave rein to
his anger, and for the first time in all
the doctors acquaintance with him he
swore hard and fast and long. His
now OF profanity stopped as suddenly
Is II had commenced. He drew n
hand from his pocket, and slowly. as
n he hardly dared to trust his senses.
held up his fingers and looked at what
they clasped. Then he held the OBJ
1ect out triumphantly for the physi-
clan to see. It was a loaded cartridge
forgotten when last he emptied his
pockets Of their supply of extra am
munition!
We'll make no miss with this one"
said the sleuth. Don't you think you
can use It better, doc7"
mo" said Fitch. II am not In your
class when It comes to snufiing out
uerpents' tongues. You may fire when
you are ready. lieutenant"
Britx grinned, shook the empty
shells out Of the revolver. slipped the
full cartridge Into one Of the cham
hers and twirled 1t until It paralleled
the barrel. Then, once more using
his arm AZ . rest. he took careful aim,
ana was about to pull the trigger,
when tho door vas 1ung open and the
uniformed policeman stood on the
threshold.
we'll said the bluecoat. excuse
me for butting In. but / thought some
ching might have
Fitch checked him with an appraised
hand. and the patrolman's eyes al
most burst in their sockets as, lower
ing his gaze. he saw the approaching
death covered by the Headquarters
mans pistol. For . seconds space,
none Of the three men moved. Then q
metallic click broke the suspense.
only to leave It in another instant
more taut than ever as all three re-
allied the cartridge had missed fire.
The b~luecoat's hand reached for his
club. Panic-stricken though he had
been at irst sight Of the cobra. he had
the pluck common to the humblest
member OF the finest" and he plain
u meditated taking the serpent from
the rear He would not trust to his
revolver, lest his aim. spoiled by the
intensity Of the situation, should ny
;high ana hit one Of the two refugees
iaHop - chiRonier. But Britz saved