The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-12-02
That's what 1t looks like" assented

And use 1t effectively" put in Fitch
I'm something Of shot, the detec-
tive ventured, meditatively. Maybe
I could hit it, and maybe I could get
that gun"
His eyes, ranging the room in the
Immediate neighborhood Of the chif-
fonier, had alighted upon the water
pipe. The long, flexible rubber stem
of the narghileh was stretched across
the table and the mouthpiece hung
over the back of a chair within a few
feet Of the top of the chiffonier
'I'll try it, said the detective decis-
lively Give a hand here, doc!"
Fitch hooked one arm about the or
namental knob at the back of the chit
fonier, and with his free hand gripped
the detectives left wrist. Britt, his
left hand clutching the doctors sleeve,
the toe Of his left boot thrust between
the chiffonier and the wall, leaned far
out in an attempt to reach the tube
Of the water pipe. He withdrew his
arm quickly however, and gave little
nervous cough as the drab death that
lay coiled in the middle of the floor
Strengthened it's sinister length and
glided swiftly across the room, then
coiled itself once more directly under
the spot where the detectives stretch
ing fingers had been. Once more the
head arose with that strange, sinuous,
swaying motion, and it began to move
slowly back and forth, while the glis-
tening eyes seemed to shoot sparks to-
ward the man who hung at such fear
full hazard above 1t.
"Gee!" said Britt. This is getting
little too close for comfort. How far
can that thing stretch, doctor?"
mo higher than that" answered
Fitch, Eat least, I think not. I under
stand the cobra can strike only
straight forward"
"Sure it can't make an upper cut? ?"
inquired the sleuth.
'I'm not going to say positively. I'm
not sure Of anything with that kind Of
a BRUTE" Fitch answered. "The best
way is to take no chances. Let me
have a try for the gum
A bifurcated scarlet thread, the
slender forked togue of the reptile,
Garted in and out of its gaping jaws in
a frenzied way. 1t was apparent to
anyoDe-be he scientist or layman-
that the serpent was in white heat OF
fury. Woe betide the human flesh that
came within reach of that eager, death
dealing venom.
Britt, though he was known the
length and breadth of the department
as the coolest proposition under Man
ning's command, frankly shuddered as
he watched the undulating menace of
the serpent's body, and the staccato
play of the tongue that seemed to
mock him with the deadly humor Of a
fend. He was willing to risk his life,
IL need be, to prevent the escape Of
the dark, subtle enemies whose de-
moniacal ingenuity had caught him In
such trap, for trapped he seemed to
be beyond the possibility of escape.
That they had matched their cunning
against his cold, hard, Occidental skill
and common sense, only made him the
more determined to outWit, outplay,
Outright them.
mo, doc" said the detective firmly.
ut was my fool carelesness that left
that gun on that table, and it's up to
me to get it. You hold me fast and sit
tight, and ii anybody gets stung, it'll
be me-"
Once again Britt, warily watching
the snake, stretched forth his arm
| stretched his fingers until he could al
most feel them crack and strained
his muscles almost beyond endurance
the while his nerve was subjected tc
the severest test OF all his experience
At last he nipped the smooth amber Of
the pipestems mouthpiece between
the tips of his first and second fin
gers. It was the slightest Of grasps;
but SO steady were the nerves Of the
Headquarters man that although the
cobra in it's swaying seemed to ap
proach ever nearer the arm and naked
wrist that shrank involuntarily from
the fancied death-thrust of those
cleaning fangs, still he did not finch
He chung to the pipestem, his fingers
steadily drawing it toward him unit
he had firm clutch on the rubbe
tube. Then with a powerful upwart
and backward heave, he regained hi
position on the chiffonier, the twistin!
hose gripped in his hand. The othe
end Of the pipestem still was attaches
to the bowl of the narghileh. AS tn
tube festooned between the table AM
the chiffonier, it went close to tn
head Of the cobra. Lightning-like, tn
head dashed toward it, fangs bristling
and only a quick twitch of the detee
, tive's fingers snatched the stem be
yond the reach Of those poison-freight
ed ivory needles.
That Jerk freed the other end o
the, tube from the pipe bowl, ant
Britz quickly Topped 1t in his hands
Holding both ends OF the long stem
he knotted a single loop in the mid
! die and flung it like a double laria
unon the table beside the pistol. Slow
' " dragging the pipestem back, b
, pulled 1t, after several trials, abou