Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-03-29
That's what it looks like." assentsd

That's what it looks like" assented
Fitch.
Unless" Britt continued. I'VE can
get that gun"
And use It effectively" put In Fitch.
I'm something of shot," the detec-
tive ventured, meditatively. Maybe
| could hit It. and maybe could get
that gun" Is
His eyes. ranging the room In the
immediate neighborhood of the chit
fonier. had alighted upon the watg
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.
IN try It," said the detective decis-
lively. Give a hand here. doc!"
Fitch hooked one arm about the or
namental knob at the back of the chif-
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 its 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.
"Geel" said Britt. This is getting
a little too close for comfort. How far
can that thing stretch. doctors?
mo higher than that" answered
Fitch, at least, think not l under
stand the cobra can strike only
straight forward
Sure 1t can't make an upper cutY'
inquired the sleuth.
4 III nOt SoluS W oay BOoAtANciy. 4 III
not sure OF anything with that kind of
a 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 in
a frenzied way. It was apparent to
anyone-be he scientist or layman-
that the serpent was In q white heat OF
fury. Woe betide the human flesh that
came within reach of that eager. death.
dealing venom.
Britt. though he was known the
length and breadth of the department
as the coolest proposition under Man.
ning's command, frankly shuddered as
he watched the undulating menace OF
the serpent's body, and the staccato
play of the tongue that seemed to
mock him with the deadly humor of a
fiend. He was willing to risk his life
IL need be, to prevent the escape OF
the dark. subtle enemies whose de
moniacal ingenuity had caught him in
such trap. for trapped he seemed to
be beyond the possibility of escape
That they had matched their cunning
against his cold. hard. Occidental skill
and common sense, only made him the
more determined to outwit, outplay
Outright them.
| NO, doc" said the detective firmly
TT was my fool carelesness that left
that gun on that table, and It's up e
me to get it. You hold me fast and sii
tight. and II anybody gets stung. It'll
be me-"
Once again Britt. warily watching
the snake. stretched forth his arm
stretched his fingers until he could al
most feel them crack and strained
his muscles almost beyond endurance
the while his nerve was subjected tc
the severest test of all his experience
1T last he nipped the smooth amber Of
the pipestem's mouthpiece between
the tips of his first and second I'm
gers. 1t was the slightest of grasps;
but so steady we're the nerves OF the
Headquarters man that although the
cobra in its swaying seemed to ap
proach ever nearer the arm and naked
wrist that shrank Involuntary from
the fancied death-thrust of those
cleaning fangs. still be did not finch
He Jclung to the pipestem. his fingerI
steadily drawing 1t toward him until
he had firm clutch on the rubber
tube. Then with a powerful upwart
and backward heave. he regained hi
position on the chiffonier, the twisting
hose gripped in his hand. The othel
end of the pipestem still was attached
to the bowl of the narghileh. AS thu
! tube festooned between the table ans
i, the chiffonier, It went close to thu
head of the cobra Lightning-like. thu
head dashed toward 1t. fangs bristling
and only quick twitch Of the detec
tive's fingers snatched the stem be
yond the reach of those poison-freight
ed ivory needles.
That jerk freed the other end o.
, the tube from the pipe bowl and
: Britt quickly looped It in his hands
, Holding both ends Of the long stem
, he knotted a single loop in the mid
die and flung 1t like a double laria
upon the table beside the pistol. Slow
|, ly dragging the pipestem back, n
, pulled 1t, after several trials, abou
, the chamber of the weapon. Then
handing one end Of the tube to tn
/ doctor. Britt took hold Of the other