The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-03-08

Unless" Britz continued, eve 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 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.
III try it," said the detective decis
lively. Give hand here, doc!"
Fitch hooked one arm about the or
namenta} knob at the back of the chit
fonier, and with his free hand gripped
the detectives left wrist Britt, his
left hand clutching the doctors sleeve.
the toe of his left boot thrust between
the chiffonier and the wall, leaned far
out in an attempt to reach the tube
of the water pipe. He withdrew his
arm 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
glided swiftly across the room, then
coiled itself once more directly under
the 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-
tening eyes seemed to shoot sparks to-
ward the man who hung at such fear
full hazard above it.
Gee" said Britt. "This is getting
a little TOO close for comfort. How far
can that thing stretch, doctor?"
mo higher than that" answered
Fitch, at least. | think not. under
stand the cobra can strike only
straight forward
Sure it can't make an upper cut?
inquired the sleuth.
I'm not going to say positively. I'm
not sure of anything with that kind Of
BRUTE" Fitch answered. "The best
way is to take no chances. Let me
have try for the gun"
A bifurcated scarlet thread, the
slender forked togue of the reptile
darted in and out Of its gaping jaws ii
frenzied way. 1t was apparent t.
anyone-be he scientist or layman-
that the serpent was in white heat o
fury. Woe betide the human flesh tina
fcame within reach OF that eager, death
dealing venom.
Britt, though he was known tn
length and breadth Of the department
j as the coolest proposition under Man
: ning's command, frankly shuddered al
he watched the undulating menace o
the serpent's body, and the staccatt
/ play of the tongue that seemed t.
mock him with the deadly humor Of {
: fend. He was willing to risk his life
, il need be, to prevent the escape o
| the dark, subtle enemies whose de
) moniacal ingenuity had caught him IL
) such a trap, for trapped he seemed tt
t be beyond the possibility of escape
That they had matched their cunning
/. against his cold, hard, Occidental skill
, and common sense, only made him thu
more determined to outwit, outplay
J. Outright them.
!. mo, doc" said the detective firmly
: ut was my fool carelesness that lef
3 that gun on that table, and it's up t
| me to get 1t. You hold me fast and 81
9 tight, and If anybody gets stung, It'll
}. be me-"
r Once again Britt, warily watchin.
the snake, stretched forth his arm
= stretched his fingers until he could al
most feel them crack and strained
l his muscles almost beyond endurance
e the while his nerve was subjected t
e the severest test Of all his experience
;. At last he nipped the smooth amber o
s the pipestem's mouthpiece between
4 the tips of his first and second I'M
! gers. 1t was the slightest OF grasps
Y but SO steady were the nerves OF tn
e Headquarters man that although tn
cobra in its swaying seemed to al
a proach eve. nearer the arm and nake'
q wrist that shrank involuntarily from
!. the fancied death-thrust OF thos
9 cleaning fangs, still he did not finch
!. He chung to the pipestem, his finger
q steadily drawing it toward him unit
:. he had a firm clutch on the rubbe
tube. Then with a powerful upwar
o and backward heave, he regained hi
:. position on the chiffonier, the twistin
e hose gripped in his hand. The othe
e end of the pipestem still was attache
X to the bowl OF the narghileh. AS tn
4 tube festooned between the table an
, the chiffonier, it went close to tn
n head of the cobra. Lightning-like. tn
~ head dashed toward 1t, fangs bristltnt
q and only a quick witch Of the dete'
- tive's fingers snatched the stem b
!. vond the reach Of those poison.freigh
n ed ivory needles.
r. That jerk freed the other end c
- the tube from the pipe bowl, an
=, Britz quickly looped it in his hands
% Holding both ends Of the long stem
~ he knotted a single loop in the nit