Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1911-11-03
That's what it looks like" assented

That's what it looks like" assented
Fitch.
Unless" Britt continued, 1--WE can
get that gun
And use it effectively" put in Fitch.
I'm something of a shot," the detec-
tive ventured, meditatively. Maybe
| could hit it. and maybe l 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 chair within few
feet of the top of the chiffonier.
I'll try it." said the detective decis-
lively. Give hand here, dOc!"
Fitch hooked one arm about the or
pamental knob at the back of the chif-
| fanier, and with his free hand gripped
the detectives left wrist Britt, his
LIFT hand clutching the doctors sleeve,
tee toe of his left boot thrust between
tse chiffonier and the wall, leaned far
oft in an attempt to reach the tube
or the water pipe. He withdrew his
asm 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
| g1ided swiftly across the room, then
cciled itself once more directly under
ths 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-
tering eyes seemed to shoot sparks to-
ward the man who hung at such fear
full hazard above it.
'T1ee!" said Britt. This is getting
little too close for comfort. How far
can that thing stretch, doctor?"
"No higher than that" answered
Fitch, "at least, l think not. l under
stand the cobra can strike only
straight forward
Sire it can't make an upper cut?"
inquired the sleuth.
TN not going to say positively. I'm
not sure of anything with that kind of
brlte," Fitch answered. "The best
way IS to take no chances. Let me
have q try for the gum
A bifurcated scarlet thread, the
slender forked togue of the reptile,
dartef in and out of it's gaping jaws in
frenzied way. 1t was apparent to
anyone-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.
Bri"z, though he was known the
length and breadth of the department
as tha 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
fierd. He was willing to risk his life,
if need be, to prevent the escape of
the dark, subtle enemies whose de-
moniacal ingenuity had caught him in
such a 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.
"It 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 if 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 to
the severest test of all his experience.
At last he nipped the smooth amber OF
the pipestem's mouthpiece between
the tips of his first and second fin
gers 1t 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 until
he had a firm clutch on the rubber
| tube Then with a powerful upward
and backward heave, he regained his
position on the chiffonier, the twisting
hose gripped in his hand The other
end of the pipestem still was attached
| to the bowl of the narghileh. AS the
tube festooned between the table and
! the chiffonier, it went close to the
head of the cobra. Lightning-like, the
head dashed toward it, fangs bristling,
and only a quick twitch of the detec-
tive's fingers snatched the stem be-
yond the reach of those poison-freight-
ed ivory needles.
That jerk freed the other end OF
the tube from the pipe bowl, and
Britz quickly Topped it 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 lariat
upon the table beside the pistol Slow
~ dragging the pipestem back, he
pulled it, after several trials, about
the chamber Of the weapon. Then,
I Nf he f,zh To a