The Huttig news., 1912-05-18

Look cried Fitch. That is the unmistakable sign of cobra, the dead ly hooded snake of India It is like no other member of the serpent family. When you see that hood commence to come out-don't wait to see the rest"
 About how ong do you think it will stay there, doctor?" asked the detec- tive
 Until it either gets Us CT for@ets us, answered the physician. "'r,s dis tension of the skin about the neck in that way means that the beast is au- gry. Once it is thoroughly aroused, it never gives up until it strikes it's vic tim, or is killed-unless something more startling happens to distract it's attention
 Rather locks as If we were trap ped. Rritz said
 Somewhat" ;" reioinad Fitch. "We're here to stay unless that reptile goes.
 Gan we kill it. do you think" asked the q, tective.
 We might if we had machine gun have you got pistol"
 'I brought one into the room" /" an swered Fritz. feeling in his pockets. but I laid it on that table when was going through those drawers Pretty careless. eh?'
 Fitch nodded. He was racking his wits for some means ef escaae which meant, SO far as he could see. meth cd of killing the snake II seemed use less to expect help from outside the house. The door between the hall and the room in which they Were was closed, and before it hung portieres heavy enough to mnfFe their loudest shouts. Their onty probable chance of relief lay in the hope that the blue coat would become snffie entlY anxious at their failure to return and would enter the house in quest of them. Even in that rather remote contin <ency, however. if was far from eer tain they could #afn him before the cobra could glide across the room and strike him to death. No. they were 1 thrown utterly upon their own re- sources. Britz agreed with the doctor on that point. as in low tones. so that they might not further infiame the ser pent. they discussed their situation
 Guess there's nothing accidental about this little sunshine being in the room." said Britz musingly Those Oriental strong-armers probably fig ured 1t out that one or both of us would come here. and so they arranged i this pleasing lltt!e surprise party. I think it is worthy place in the society columns as one of the successes of the season.
 He made light of the danger because 1 that was his way when he was in a particularly tight place but he req. lized the peril by this time as fully as did the doctor There was nothing hu- morous in the fact that all the time they were held prisoners atop the chf- fonier by the gray death before them. the HindOos were doubtless making Inc most of the time thus gained for es- cane. True. he had asked that all the ordinary avenues of escape from the city be watched, and although he took it for granted Chief Manning would carry out the request eonscientiously he was not at all confident the men sent from the Central Office and from the various precinct headquarters would be proof against the adroitness | of Indian noblemen. adopts. and thugs Moreover it was as good as certain that the Swami. the Prince. and their followers would not seek 10 flee the city hy any ordinary route. Rritz him self. had he been free to continue the pursuit, would have looked first to the most extraordinary modes of flight compatible with practical conditions From what he knew of the men. by this time it would net amaze him greatly to find they had Jeff the city by airship or submarine. slightly i'm probable as either means of transit might have been few years be fore
 Bottled up. doc." he exclaimed gloomily.
 That's what Ii looks Ike assented Fitch
 Unless Britz continued. I've can get that gun
 And use 1t effectively" put in Fitch
 I'm something of a shot the detec- tive yentured. meditatfvcly Maybe I could hit it. and maybe could get that gun
 His eyes, ranging the room in the immediate nGghborhood of the chif fonter. had aighted upon the water pipe. The long flexible rubber stem of the narghieh was stretched across the table and the mouthpiece hung over the back of chair within few feet of the top of the ehiffonier.
 I'll try It." said the detective decls- lively. Give a hand here, doc!" Fitch hooked one arm about the or namenta knob at the hack of the chf- fonier, and with his free hand gripped the detectives left wrist Rritz his left hand clutching the doctors sleeve, the toe of his left boot thrust hetween 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 plided swiftly across tha room then