The Ordway new era., 1914-04-10

plaster, and consented. Merritt
spent most OF the night decorating
that python, and in the morning 1t
looked like the pennant of a man-o'-
war. had to sit up and watch him.
for he had the artistic temperament,
and he was so carried away by his
enthusiasm that II hadn't restrain.
ed him he would have put on the
coat.of-arms Of the United States.
eagle, motto and all.
"Now,' says he. when he had fin
ished and stepped back to admire his
work, II that blame snakes own
mother would know him II she met
him on the street, I'm Dutchman.
II this don't make 'em sit up and take
notice, then I'll go to night school to
learn the show business
'How did the scheme work." asked
the proprietor. as the press agent
paused to make the grand hailing
sign of distress to the waiter.
Work." he answered. How does a
fake always work In New York?
The python was SO stuck on its new
colors that 1t nearly broke its neck
turning around to admire itself and
everything went lovely. OF course.
there was the usual howl from the
snakeologists who knew 1t all, and old
Subscriber Citizen Pro Bono Pub
lico' and the rest of the bunch wrote
columns, denouncing US as frauds.
you know how those things work:
everybody puts up an argument and
then it's up to the fellow who Is max
ing the blum to back 1t up with an Of
fer to donate . sum Of money to some
charitable institution II he can't de-
liver the goods. We were well ahead
of the game a. q result Of the adver-
tising and had about two thousand to
the good and Merritt got awful ches-
ty. He had lied about that snake 80
much that he believed In it himself
and It made me little nervous one
night when he offered to donate two
thousand dollars to the Home for
Decrepit Side Show Fakers' II any
one could produce another specimen
like this one, short Of the head waters
Of the Amazon. wasn't scared 80
much by that as by what I feared he
might say. for knew they couldn't
get another II they raked the universe
with a fine-toothed comb, and sure
enough, he was carried away by his
enthusiasm and offered to bet our en-
tire bank roll that the snake was
genuine American fag.' such as had
never been exhibited In any country.
1T was Just our luck that there was
a half-loaded tin.horn gambler In the
audience that night; one OF the kind
that wears . yellow diamond and
checked suit with a white stove-pipe
hat; and the only part Of the speech
that he understood was that somebody
wanted to make . bet. That raised
his sporting blood. and he climbed up
to the platform and pulled out a roll
Of yellow boys that would choke q
dog and peeled on twenty centuries.
"T don't know much about snakes
which bromide won't make chase
themselves back to the woods says
he az he plunked 'em down on the
table. I amt got your gift OF gab'
but money talks and I've got this pile
to say that you can't tell the truth to
save your neck. Just stack up your
pile alongside Of that and then trot
out your snakelet-' was feeling
pretty sore on Merritt for making
such a bluR. but, Of course. we had
to make good and between US we
covered the bet. We had glass cages
full of snakes all around the platform.
but old Glory was in a big chest
covered with gilt figures and brass
chains and fastened with a paddock.
Merritt was mad clear through at
having his veracity questioned. but
he looked pretty confident as he stuck
the key in the lock.
"Tt's q shame to take the money.
says he. as he eyed the gambler. but
there's an old saying about the men
tai capacity Of q man that is speedily
separated from his bank roll, and
reckon you were away from home
the last time the fool killer called
The gambler Just smiled and kept
his eye on the stakes.
SNOW says he. turning to the au-
dience, If you'll kindly give me your
attention I'll show you one OF the
most marvellous mysteries Of nature.
1t was procured by one Of our special
agents at the head waters Of the
Amazon at tremendous expense. 1t Is
a unique representative OF the rep
tilian family and the sight Of It should
arouse pride in the hearts Of all patri-
otic Americans; for as he unwinds
his sinuous coils you will observe
that while his head and neck are
blue. the body. down to the tip OF the
tail. is marked with thirteen alternate
stripes Of red and white. giving this
marvellous creature the appearance OF
being wrapped in that glorious en-
blsm Of liberty which waves over
the land Of the brave and the home
of the free' Merritt stops then.
throwing out his chest and sticking
his hand into the bosom of his coat
to wait for the customary applause
from the gallery to subside; but IN
stead Of the usual glad hands he was
49, nRa@