Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
CHAPTER xxiI.-contlnued.

True enough. The fifth bullet hac
passed between the gaping jaws Of
the reptile and taken on the greater
part Of that darting scarlet thread
IS neatly as a sharp instrument could
SNUFF a candle. While the wound
doubtless caused agony to the snake
It did not lessen its anger. The pol
son-charged fangs remained in Its
mouth. and the cutting OF OF Its
tongue swelled Its fury to the ultimate
degree.
Britz dropped the pistol on the chif-
fonier and thrust both hands In his
pockets.
up a tree for fair" he said. Moth
ing more doing in the artillery line
That was you last cartridge"
Britz bent his head afflrmatively.
An expression Of slow wrath gathered
force in the Headquarters mans face.
- he stared at the swaying serpent
such a 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 it by the neck,
seeking to throttle 1t. The instinct of
MISREPRESENTATION, 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 q nghting 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 on the ORR
entails. In that very moment they
might be beyond the city's limits,
bearing the booty he had pursued for
weeks. It was more than his self
poise could stand. He gave rein to
his anger. and for the first time in all
the Doctors acquaintance with him he
swore hard and fast and long. His
now Of profanity stopped as suddenly
rs It had commenced. He drew one
hand from his pocket, and slowly, as
if he hardly dared to trust his senses,
held up his fingers and looked at what
they clasped. Then he held the OBJ
ject out triumphantly for the physi-
clan to 9 9 It was a loaded cartridge
forgotten when last he emptied his
pockets Of their supply of extra am
munition!
Well make no miss with this one"
said the sleuth. Don't you think you
can use It better. doc?"
mo" said Fitch, Il am not in YOU
class when It comes to snuf1ing out
serpents' tongues. You may fire when
you are ready, lieutenant"
Brits grinned. shook the empty
shells out Of the revolver. slipped the
full cartridge Into one Of the cham
hers and twirled 1t until It p~aralleled
the barrel. Then, once more using
his arm a. = rest, he took careful aim,
and was about to pull the trigger,
when the door was fung open and the
uniformed policeman stood on the
threshold.
well" said the bluecoat, excuse
me for butting in. but / thought some
thing might have
Fitch checked him with an appraised
hand. and the patrolman's eyes al
most burst In their sockets as, lower
Ing his gaze. he saw the up-reaching
death covered by the Headquarters
mans pistol. For . seconds space,
none Of the three men moved. Then a
metallic click broke the
only to leave 1t In another instant
more taut than ever az all three re-