The Huttig news., 1912-05-18

ful hazard above it.
 Gee" said Britz This is getting little too close for comfort How far can that thing stretch. doctor2"
 No higher than that, answered Fitch, "at least I think not I under stand the cobra can strike only straight forward.
 Sure il cant make an upper cut ?" inquired the sleuth.
 I'm not going to say positively. I'm 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.
 bifurcated scarlet thread. the slender forked togue of the reptile. darted in and out of its gaping jaws in a frenzied way. F' was apparent to anyone-be he ltist or layman- that the serpent was in a white heat of fury. Woe hetide the human flesh that came within reach of that eager. death dealing venom.
 Britz. though he was known the length and breadth of the department as the coolest proposition under Man nines conr1and, frankly shuddered as he watched the undu ating menace of the serrent's body, and the staccato play of he tongue that seemed to mock him with the deadly humor of a fend He was willing ta risk his life, if need he to prevent the escape of the dark subtle enemies whose de. mopiacal ingenuity had caught him in such rap. for trapped he seemed to be beyond the possibility of escape That they lad matched their cunning against his cold. hard Occidental skill and common sense. only made him the more ternined to outwit. outplay outright them.
 NO. doc, said the detective firmly It was my fool earelesness that left that gun on that tahle. and ifs ur to 2ie to get Nou hold nc fast and stt
 -rt and if anHbady gets stgng, it'll 5eN
 0l"e again Britz. 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, he while his nerve was subjected to the segerest test of All his experience Al last he nippod the smooth amber of the pipestems mouthpiece between the tips of his first and second fin gers. II was the slightest of grasps; hut so steady were the nerves of the Headquarters man that although the cobra in it's swaxins seemed to ap proach eyor nearer he arm and naked wrist that shrank inyo,untarily from the fancied death-thrust of those gleaming fangs. still he did not finch. He clunC to the pipestem. his fingers steadily drawing ft toward him nntit he had a firm clutch on the rubber tube Then with powerful upward and backward heave he regained his nositlon on the chffOnier the twistinoc hose gripped in his hand The other end of the pipestem still was attached 10 the bowl of the narghileh. As the tube festooned between the table and the chiffenier, it went close 10 the l head of the cobra lightning ike. tho l head dashed toward tt. fangs hristling, and only a quick twitch of the detsc- tive's fingers snatchcd the stem he gnnd the reach of those poison fre' ght d ivory needles
 That jefE freed the other end C the tube frGal tte fire noni. and Britz quickly oo05d il in his hande. Holding hofh ends ci the tong ster, he knotted sit .:ie ioop in tie mia lie at'd flung II iiNe doah.e larlat gpon jee ,aate beside he pisjoi. s oN. y dra9glng the pipeste n Lack, he pulled |. alter several trials. about the chamber of the weapon. Then, handing one end oi the tube to the doctor, Britz took hold oi the other. explaining his purpose to Fitch in few words. The detective stretched his arm away from the chifonier at one end; the physician did the same at the other. and they stool pulling iE opposite directions. thus tightening the loop aboat the pistol. N hen the grip of the tube on the weapon was firm enough fl was onparativeiy easy to swing the revolver from the able 10 the ehiffonier BTitz gripped the gun with an intake Of breath that betokened satisfaction.
 Now, then. doc he said hriskIy. Lets see if we can't put the reverse English on that Garden oi Eden epi- sede Here's where the seed of inc woman bruises the serpent with his heel"
 T would advise you 10 do your hruising st long distance" said Fitch.
 and unless you have more cartridges about you. l wouldn't waste shot. You won't find il easy to hit him
 Rritz In moment or two realized the doctor spoke true The sHaving, neutraI-tinted body was no easy mark for the most praetieed marksman. His first shot went wide The bullet imhedded itself in leg of the tahe with rasping sound that only infuri- ated the cobra the more Britz his nerve slightly shaken by the fniss. fired again quickly. shiyered the bowl of the narghleh, and caused the snake to oscillate more and more v;o-