The Elbert County tribune., 1911-12-29


at the other, and they stood pulling
in opposite directions. thus Tightening
the loop about the pistol. When the
grip OF the tube on the weapon was
firm enough. It was comparatively
easy to swing the revolver from the
table to the chiffonier. Britz gripped
the gun with an intake of breath that
betokened satisfaction.
Now, then. doc.' he said briskly.
Lets see II we can't put the reverse
English on that Garden of Eden cpl
sode. Here's where the seed OF the
woman bruises tho serpent with his
heel"
Il would advise you to do your
bruising at long distance" said Fitch.
"and unless you have more cartridges
about you, wouldn't waste a shot.
You won't find It easy to hit him.
Britz In moment or two realized
the doctor spoke true. The swaying.
neutral-tinted body was no easy mark
for the most practiced marksman.
His first shot went wide. The bullet
imbedded itself in leg of the table
with a rasping sound that only infuri-
ated the cobra the more. Britz his
nerve slightly shaken by the miss.
fired again quickly. shivered the bowl
OF the narghileh. and caused the
snake to oscillate more and more vio-
lently. 1t became apparent he would
gain nothing by aiming at It's head.
''I'll have a try at him 'midships."
he said.
trfd
mained in the revolver. and as Brits
found no extra ones In any OF his
pockets. he knew he must make the
most OF those he had. A third time
the pistol cracked. The bullet grazed
the serpents flesh. 1t did not injure
the spine. Quickly the upraised part
OF the body sank upon the coil. but II
reared Itself again in an instant. and
the furious darting OF the tongue re-
vealed that the reptile was more en-
ragged than ever.
Want to take crack at It. doc?"
asked the detective, handing the
weapon to the physician.
Fitch had no poor idea of himself
as fancy shot, but he found his
muscular control too sadly shaken by
his narrow escape from the cobra 10
shoot straight His shot-the fourth
was wider miss than any OF the de-
tective's had been. He handed tho
pistol back to the Headquarters man
and shook his head.
| You're the man to stay on the FIR
ing line" he said.
Britt eyed the revolver grimly. In
Its blue-stcel chamber were four
empty cartridges and only one that
held the potentiality OF release from
their dangerously uncertain refuge on
the chiffonier Crooking his left arm.
he used the angle made by his elbow
as a rest and leveled the long blue
barrel of the bIg-caiibered weapon
steadily. Pausing until the swaying
OF the serpent diminished as much as
it apparently was going to do. he
fired.
/ A writhing. twisting snarI was tho
result. The cobra coiled and uncoiled
with electric rapidity. travelling In cir
cles all over the space between the
chiffonier and the table whence Britz
had lassoed the pistol. Plainly tho
reptile was hit-mortally wounded. he
thought, but as he started to descend
impatiently, Fitch seized him and lit
orally flung him back on the chiffon
ier's smooth top.
mot yet" said the doctor. nervous
ly. Lets walt a minute"
1t was profitable patience. For after
probably a minute Of terrible struggle.
the cobra returned to Its coil and
once more reared It's head. The gray
body throbbed fiercely. but closer
scrutiny showed the man the snake
had not been hit with fatal result.
Suddenly the physician seized Brftz'
arm In a nervous grasp.
by Jupiter!" he exclaimed.
You've shot out its tongue!"
tTO BE cONTINUED.)