The Huttig news., 1912-05-18

his narrow escape from the cobra 10 shoot straight. His shot-the fourth was wider miss than any of the de tective's had been. He handed the pistol hack to the He eadouarter's man and shock his head
 You're the man to stay on the fir ing line. he said
 Fritz eyed the revolver erimly. Tn it's hme-stee chamber were fonr empty cartridges and only one that held the poten'iaity of release from their dangerously uncertain refuge on the chifonief Crookins his le1t arm. he used the angle made by his eltow as rest and leveled the 'ong hue barrel of the b;g.calihered 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, traveling in cir eies all over the space between the chiffonier and the table whence Rritz had lassoed the pistol. Plainly the reptile was hit-mortally wounded. he thought but as he started 10 descend impatiently, Fitch seized him and It. erally flung him back on the chiffon ier's smooth top
 Not yet said the doctor. nervous Iy. Lets wait minute"
 It was profitable patience For after proha bly, minute of terrible struggle, the cobra returned to it's ceil and once more reared Its head The gray body threbbed fercely but closer scrutiny showed the man the snake had not been hit with fatal resrlt. Suddenly the physician seized Britz' arm in a nervous grasp
 By ]upftert" he exclaimed. "You've shot out Its torgne'"
 True enough The fifth bullet had passed between the gaping jaws of the reptile and taken of the greater rsrt of that darting scarlet thread as neatly as sharr instrument COT snuff a candle. While the wonnd doubtless caused agony 10 the snake. 1t did not lessen It's anger. The poi son charged fsngs remained in It's mouth. and the cutting of of its tongue swelled its fury to the ultimate degree
 Rritz dropped the pistol on the eh'f- fonier and thrust hoth hands In his pockets.
 Up tree for fair" he said Moth ing more doing in the artillery Inc.
 That was your last cartridge
 Rrftz bent his head af'rmative'v An expression of slow wrath gathered force In the Headquarters mans face. as he stared at the swaying serpent such short distance .helow. 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 bis heels. or. failing that. seizine it by the neck, seeking 10 throttle it The instinct of f-preservatfon. however. was stronger than rage Rritz was willing enough to risk his life In the fulfill. l ing of his duty. so long AS the risk meant A fighting chance to him IIe l was too sensible abs olutely to throw 1 his life away. and something told him that in spite ef all the courage In the world. no man would have an apprtci= able percentage of opportunity In battle at close quarters with so ven omons serpent Yet he must get out of that house He felt he was the only man on the police force who could he sure of heading off the 0ri= cntals Tn that very moment they might he 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 10 his anger, and for the first time in all the doctors acquaintance with him he swore hard and fast and long His flow of profanity stopped as suddenly as 1t 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 eb feet out triurphantly for the physi- elan to see. It was loaded cartridge forgotten when last he emptied his pockets of their supply of extra ann muntion,
 Well make no miss with this one" said the sleuth Don't you think you can use it better. doc?"
 "No.'' said Fitch. T am not in your class when it comes to snuffins ont serpents' tongues. You may fire when you are ready. lieutenant
 Rritz grinned. shook the empty shells ont of the revolver. slipped the ful cartridge into one of the cham hers and twirled it until it paralleled the barrel Then. once more using his arm as rest, he took careful ann. and was about to pull the trigger, when the door was flung open and the uniformed policeman stood on the threshold
 Well" said the bluecoat. excuse me for putting in, but l thought some thing might have"
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