Semi-weekly herald., 1912-01-22

rev words. The detective stretched
his arm away from the chiffonier at
one end; the physician did the same
at the other. and they stool pulling
In opposite directions. thus tightening
the loop about the pistol When the
grip OF the tube on the weapon was
nrm enough. 1t was comparatively
easy to swing the revolver from the
table to the chiffonier Britt gripped
the gun with an intake OF breath that
betokened satisfaction.
Now. then. doc" he said briskiy.
Lets see II We can't put the reverse
English on that Garden of Eden cpl.
sode. Here's where the seed OF the
woman bruises the serpent with his
heel"
i would advise you to do your
bruising at long distance" said Fitch,
and unless you have more cartridges
about you. | wouldn't waste a shot.
You won't find II easy to hit him"
Britz In moment or two realized
the doctor spoke true. The swaying,
neutral-tinted body was no easy mark
for the most practiced marksman.
His first shot went wide. The bullet
imbedded itself in a leg OF the table
with rasping sound that only infuri
ated the cobra the more. Britz his
nerve slightly shaken by the miss,
hred again quickly. shivered the bowl
OF the narghlleh. and caused the
snake to oscillate more and more VIC.
lently. II became apparent he would
gain nothing by aiming at Its head.
I'll have try at him 'midships,"
he said.
Only three loaded cartridges re-
mained In the revolver, and as Britt
found no extra ones In any OF his
pockets, 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 injurs
the spine. Quickly the upraised part
OF the body sank upon the coil. but II
reared itself 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 crack at 1t. doc7-
asked the detective. handing the
Fitch had no poor idea of himself
as 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 wider miss than any of the de-
tectivc's had been. He handed tho
pistol back to the Headquarters man
and shook his head
You're the man TO stay on the fir
ing line he said
Britz 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 Crooklng his left arm,
he used the angle made by his elbow
as a rest and leveled the long blue
barrel of the big-calibered weapon
steadily. Pausing until the swayins
of the serpent diminished as much as
1t apparently was going to do, he
fired.
A writbing, twisting snarl was the
result. The cobra coiled and uncolled
with electric rapidity travelling In cir.
cles all over the space between the
chiffonier and the table whence Britz
had lassoed the pistol Plainly the
reptile was hit-mortally wounded, he
thought, but as he started to descend
impatiently. Fitch seized him and III.
orally flung him back ON the chiffon.
ier's smooth ton
mot yet" said the doctor, nervous.
ly. Lets wait a minute"
II was profitable patience For after
probably minute of terrible struggle,
once more reared its head The gray
body throbbed ferceiy. but closer
scrutiny showed the man the snake
had not been hit with fatal result.
Suddenly the physician seized Britx'
arm in a nervous grasp.
by Jupiter!" he exclaimed,
you've shot out Its tonsuel"
True enough. The NTH bullet Aal
passed between the gaping jaws OF
the reptile and taken of the greater
part OF that darting scarlet thread
as neatly as = sharp instrument could
snuff q candle, While the wound
doubtless caused agony to the snake.
1t did not lessen its anger. The poi
soD-charged fangs remained in Its
mouth. and the cutting of OF Its
tongue swslled It's fury to the ultimate
degree.
Britz dropped the pistol on the chif-
fon.er 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 afrirmatively.
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. seizing It by the neck,
| seeking to throttle It. The instinct OF
self-preservation. however. was
I stronger than rage. Britz was willing
enough to risk his life In the fulfill
ing OF his duty. SO long as the risk
meant fighting chance to him. He
I was too sensible absolutely to throw
his life away, and something told him
that In spite Of all the courage In the