The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-10-26
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN CAPT.
JOE CAPTURED A SMALL SNAKE
By w. G. Pryor.

f performance Of the Golden Dreams
moving picture shows but down near
the docks a bunch Of coons were hav-
ing a quiet little game of craps. Cap
| tain Joe knew all the darldes so he
walked up behind one OF them and
laid his arm on Mr.. Coon's shoulder
while the snake playfully tried to lick
! the fellows face. For. maybe a minute,
there was a wild mix-up OF scared mig
gers. The ace Of clubs, nickles and
coppers, the jack of diamonds loaded
dice, a pocket knife, two razors, a
| half-pint flask Of corn whiskey, nearly
empty, a badly cut-up piece Of land
where they took the first jump, and
! then silence, and nothing in sight but
two old shoes which the owner had
shed in the second jump and IN the
I distance three straw hats slowly sail
ing to the ground.
! Carefully gathering up the scattered
{ jackpot, Captain Joe sighed dolefully
remarking in confidence to the snake
that It's no safe bet to figure on
what a scared niger will do, but it's
no use leaving good money lying
around and thirty-seven cents and two
good razors are worth picking up"
With the captive still safely throt-
tied the captain now headed for the
movies. Marching up to the ticket
window he laid his snake arm across
the shelf. tossed out a dime and called
for ticket-the ticket seller handed
out the ticket and was reaching for
the dime when he saw the snake.
Snake grinned and choled as the
ticket man fell against the wall with
eyes sticking out as he besought the
captain to take his ticket and keep his
money-to take two tickets. to take
tickets for his family, and friends.
only, for the love of Mike, to go away.
So Captain Joe started for the en-
trance but the ticket taker had heard
the racket at the ticket window and
made his getaway, leaving him to
enter unhindered. He walked a little
way up the aisle and stopped Devil
dered by the darkness after the bright
light Of the lobby. Just then the reel
was out and the lights were turned on
and those nearest him saw the twisting
folds, the blood red mouth drooling sa-
Iva from distended jaws and a
smothered gasp Of fear went over the
crowd Captain Joe extended his hand,
balanced himself uncertainty and
spoke in the calm tones OF the man
who is victor over fear-'1s'h all
rhythm frens shall night-Ifectly
harmless-got m hypn'tized-eat out
of my hand-want to see I'm do it?'
greeted this offer and there were loud
cries of take him out; go away;
fire, police, Teddy" etc. But the cap
tain swayed easily on his feet and held
his ground until the uproar was past
bearing, then he raised the snake aloft
and made a motion to throw him the
ceiling.
Rain of Money.
The din stopped instantly as the
crowd dtved for safety under the seats.
Then he said in an injured tone. I'll
go, yes, I'll go, but I want my money
back; gimme my money back" il
rained nickels and dimes and quarters
for the next few minutes. and gath
ering UP the nearest, he took off his
hat with a flourish, made his best APP
alach BOW and was gone.
Outside he again conhded IN the
snake-"Seems to me nobody wants us
around Soon's we show UP everybody
else slides out. What's the use?-le's
go down to Franks and get drink"
What Happened at Franks.
Down at Franks there was a goodiy
number standing at the bar. A
stranger had blown into town that day
from the woolly west and was tank
ing up, inviting everybody to assist IN
getting a good load on.
The drinks were on the bar and the
stranger was telling how he had once
wiped out a den Of rattlesnakes, single
handed, with no weapon but his nd
ing whip, when Captain Joe and his
captive came IN and ranged up to
the bar at the end next 70 the door
Frank" he called, gimme a drink
Of the best whiskey you got and gim-
me quick"
With the quiclzness OF long practice.
the barkeeper swept the contents Of
the show shelf onto the bar and with
lips urged Joe to help him
self and keep his money-the drinks
were on the house.
The captain took generous drink
and addressed the crowd: Don't be
Harmed gents, perfectly harmless, got
m Imprinted; eat out of my hand"
And the snake, which was slowly chok-
ng to death, beat the devils tattoo on
the bar with his tall Got i'm hvp-
1'tized," continued he, "any you gents
ike to hold i'm? Here to the western
stranger-hold him for me a minute
Continued on Page TweIve)