Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-03-31

came all the way from Atlantic City Il
look up troupe, and it's been an aw
fully hot day. Haven't you got a few
to spare-a juggler, or a snake
charmer?
"Oh. | might spare one or two. Nv,
| 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 a bunch Of them working for him
running printing presses or some
thing; says they're all right il you
knock EN- down once a 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." repeated the other.
no, can't say I've heard of him.
Perhaps he's"
Got bit by a cobra once, had the
wound cauterized-"
Christopher Poe broke of abruptly
in his interruption as Horton stirred
in his chair and gave him a strange
look. at the same time the fore-finger
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.
No-yes," said Horton, confused.
Then he smiled quickly, as though re-
assuring himself, showed his right
fore-finger beneath Poe's gaze and
cried: Look! There's where one got
me. III never forget it," Two small
white scars showed on the finger close
together, sunk like pock-marks beneath
heavy caliouses. The grooves In the
lower part of Poe's face showed deep
for a moment; he took the finger and
examined the scars carefully
So that's the sign the cobra's fangs
leavei 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 Il threw
a bally scare into me all the same"
Funny thing!" exclaimed Poe.
jerking a 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
bearing the fingerprint and drew out
the five-dollar bill he had separated
from the original lot of counterfeiters,
holding 1t so that Horton could plainly
see the finger mark upon 1t. 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. / sup
pose"
Horton had leaped to his feet and
was glazing at Christopher Poe. eyes
starting horribly.
Poe only smiled, sat tight and
waited.
You-you-" Horton endeayored
to control himself Then he bounced
like an animal toward his desk.
touched a button beneath 1t. and
swung back, stopping with a throttled
cry, revolver half drawn from his
hip pocket.
Wait! cried Poe. He had drawn
his revolver In the instant Horton had
pressed the button, and was covering
him.
a tremor which shot through his tall.
thin form; his eyes glinting as he shot
rat-like 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 a 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-
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 anx-
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 a wiry. black form skulked
through the room, blue-coated officer
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 moistened his throat with great |
Effort and managed to articulate:
Well? Did you get"
Yes. we got him." Burns's voice |
,ame clearly. as he kneeled beside the |
'ilk rug. . We got him right. Just in |
lime, too. He and his black minion
we're trying to destroy the counterfeit
ng plates when we managed to break
through that heavy front door We
rot him with the goods. he was Just
umping through the window, but we