The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1911-10-27

Only three loaded cartridges re-
manned in the revolver, and as Britt
found no extra ones In any of bis
rockets, he knew he must make the
most of those he had. A third time
the pistol cracked. The bullet grazed
the serpent's flesh. 1t did not injure
the spine. Quickly the appraised part
of the body sank upon the COLL but it
reared it-elf 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 a crack at 1t. doc?"
asked the detective, handing the
weapon to the physician.
Fitch had no poor idea of himself
as a fancy shot. but he found his
muscular. control too sadly shaken by
his narrow escape from the cobra to
shoot straight His shot-the fourth
was a wider miss than any of the de-
tective's had been. He handed the
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-steel 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 leveied the long blue
barrel of the big-calibered weapon
steadily. Pausing until the swaying
of the serpent diminished as much as
it apparently was going to do, he
fired.
writhing, twisting snarl was the
result. The cobra coiled and uncoiled
with electric rapidity. travelling in cir
cles all over the space between the
chiffonier and the table whence Britt
had lassoed the pistol. Plainly the
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.
Not yet" said the doctor. nervous
ly. Let's wait a minute"
It was profitable patience. For after
probably minute OF terrible struggle.
the cobra returned to its coil and
once more reared its head. The gray
body throbbed fercely. but closer
scrutiny showed the man the snake
had not been hit with fatal result
Suddenly the physician seized Britt
arm in a nervous grasp.
BY Jupiter" he exclaimed
You've shot out its tongue,"
True enough. The fifth bullet had
poceod hof tho GAMING 40 NJ
the reptile and taken OF the greater
part OF that darting scarlet thread
rs neatly as a sharp instrument could
snuff a candle. While the wound
It did not lessen its anger The pol
son-charged fangs remained in Its
mouth. and the cutting on OF it's
tongue swelled its fury to the ultimate
degree.
Britt dropped the pistol on the chif-
fonier and thrust both hands in his
pockets.
up tree for fair" he said. Moth
ing more doing in the artillery line.
THAT was your last cartridge?"
Britt bent his head affirmatively.
An expression OF slow wrath gathered
force in the Headquarters mans face.
as he stared at the swaying serpent
such 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 the neck.
seeking to throttle It. The instinct OF
self-preservation, however. was
stronger than rage. Britt was willing
enough to risk his life In the fulfill
ing of his duty. so long as the risk
meant a fighting 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
battle at close quarters with SO ven
omous 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 of the ORR
entails In that very moment they
might be beyond the city's limits
bearing the booty he had pursued for
weeks. II was more than his self
poise could stand. He gave rein tc
his anger, and for the first time in al
the doctors acquaintance with him he
swore hard and fast and long. His
flow OF profanity stopped as suddenl,
as Il had commenced. He drew one
hand from his pocket. and slowly, al
II he hardly dared to trust his senses
held UP his fingers and looked at wha
Than he hold tho oh
feet out triumphantly for the physi
clan to see. 1t was loaded cartridge
forgotten when last he emptied hi
pockets OF their supply OF extra am
munition!
We'll make no miss with this one,
| said the sleuth. Don't you think you