The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-04-25

! look up a troupe, and lis Deen an aW.
/ fully hot day. Haven't you got few
to spare--a juggler, or snake
charmer?"
Oh. might spare one or two. I've
quite a number Of them, but could
only lease them to you; might need
them next season, you know"
Oh. certainly. ! understand that.
They don't care who they work for.
guess" replied Poe In the Same
brusque manner. I've got friend in
the British Government service in Cal
cutta He says you've got to treat the
natives as though they were dogs. He
has bunch OF them working for him,
running printing presses or some
thing: says they're all right IL you
knock 'em down once day."
Indeed" smiled Horton, that's
about right. But I'm interested.
have friends in the Government EN-
ploy over there. Perhaps | know this
chap you speak Of; you say he's in the
British engraving department
Printing or something like that"
answered Poe. His name is Gerver.
Hasn't been there long
Gerver, Gerver," repested the other.
no, can't say I've heard Of him.
Perhaps he's"
Got bit by cobra once, had the
wound cauterized"
Christopher Poe broke of abruptly
in his interruption as Horton stirred
in his chair and gave him strange
look. at the same time the fore-fnger
OF his right hand twitched and crooked
up convulsively.
What's the matter! One bite you,
too?" queried Poe, calling attention
to the others uneasiness.
Moves said Horton, confused.
Then he smiled quickly, as though re-
assuring himself, showed his right
fore-f1nger beneath Poe's gaze and
cried: Look! There's where one got
me- I'll never forget It" Two small
white scars showed on the finger close
together, sunk like pock-marks beneath
heavy callouses The grooves In the
lower part of Poe's face showed deep
for moment; he took the finger and
examined the scars carefully
So that's the sign the cohras fangs
leave!" he exclaimed. How'd you
get out of 1t alive?"
Oh, he was a tame one, belonging
to one of my snake-charmers. Had had
his poison sacks removed But II threw
a baliy scare into me all the same.
:. Funny thing! exclaimed Poe.
jerking card from his vest-pocket
and pressing the SCARED finger ON the
prepared surface before Horton half
realized what was going on In an
instant Poe had returned the paper
hearing the finger-print and drew out
the fiye-dollar bill he had separated
from the original lot OF counterfeiters,
holding ii so that Horton could plainly
see the finger mark upon it, which had
first attracted Poe's attention
Funny thing! continued Poe, as
Horton stared at him blankly, jerking
away his finger and reaching for a
rear pocket. You must have fingered
this bill. Here's mark exactly like
yours. scars the same; callous from
handling the engraver and all. I sup
pose"
Horton had leaped to his feet and
was glaring at Christopher Poe, eyes
starting horribly
Poe only smiled, sat tight and
| waited.
You-you- Horton endeavored
TO control himself. Then he bounced
like an animal toward his desk.
touched button beneath 1t. and
swung back. stopping with a throttled
I ~ q iCFoASci Adli uidhn IfOm HIS
hip pocket.
Wait. /" cried Poe. He had drawn
his revolver in the instant Horton had
pressed the button, and was covering
him
Horton stood motionless except for
a tremor which shot through his tall.
thin form; his eyes glinting as he shot
rat-iike glances from Poe to the door.
There's no use! cried Poe rising
slowly from his chair and approach
ing the other. I've got the proofs
Better
Poe gave sudden agonized leap In
the air. clutched at his throat, and his
revolver dropped from his nerveless
hand. He twisted his burning neck
with one desperate effort and peered
into the grin-set face of the servant
who had let him in; the East Indian
| had garroted Poe: even now the silk
cord was cutting closer into Poe's neck
/ He saw 1t all in the dizzy second that
he reeled before all grew black Then
! he felt himself falling, falling through
the trap-door in the wall that had slid
back silently behind him when Horton
/ had signalled for assistance, and en-
i abled the cat-like servant with his
ready cord to take him unaware.
With the first ray Of light that came
with returning consciousness Christie
pher Poe dimly saw Burns face an1.
4. iously peering into HIS own. He
/ couldn't remember what had happened,
he couldn't place himself. All that be-
came evident to him in the following
FIVE minutes, as he lay with eye-lids
trembling open. trying to remember.
was the fact that he was lying on a
heavy silk rug and somebody strange
was working over him. But Burns
was present.
Suddenly wiry, black form slSulked
through the room. a blue-coated officer
clutching the thin black neck. Then
Poe suddenly remembered and looked
around to make certain that he was
still in the strange apartment belong
ing to Horton.
He mostened his throat with a great
effort and managed TO articulate:
:. Well? Did you GET
Yes, we got him." Burns's voice
came clearly. as he kneeIed beside the
silk rug. . We got him right Just in
time, too. He and his black minion
were trying to destroy the counterfeit
ing plates when we managed to break