The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-05
Written BY Charles Goddard
The Distinguished Playwright.

Inc O18G1ngul
Continued from Last Week.
CHAPTER XIV.
cepyrisht, 1914, BY THE star Company.
Al Foreign Rights Rsssrvsd.
4 Pauline bent over the basket Of
flowers that the gypsy girl had
4 = brought, Harry drew near. watching.
fondly. the picture.
Pauline was all in white, and the glory
Of her golden hair matched the dewy hearts
Of the daisies.
"Oh. wish she had not gone away"
cried Pauline. twas It not beautiful Of her
70 help you ind me"
Harry laughed. TT was" he said. 'but It
was rather Inconsistent Of her to give back
the bullets to the man she asked me to
kill"
"The dear child loved him: she was angry
because ne drove her away: I saw it ALL"
saia Pauline.
cor perhaps she was Jealous Of some
one." suggested Harry. smiling.
well. anyway. 1t was sweet Of her to
bring the flowers" Again Pauline bent over
the basket, pressing her face among the
blossoms.
Suddenly she sprang back with q CRY.
Harry caught her In his arms and looked
back at the basket.
From the rim of It, from among the now
ers, slowly rose the head Of the rattlesnake.
II they had known that the Gypsy Singo-
ALA was peering through the curtains OF the
open window. they would have looked to see
the smile of hate and happiness that lit her
dusky beauty with the menacing brightness
Of lightning against cloud.
But now they had no thought but Of the
fang-barbed snakes head lifted with slow.
sinister. graceful caution from the BASKET
Harry was holding Pauline's fainting form
with his left arm. With his right he reached
forward swiftly, caught the basket. hurled
II with all his might against the far wall
Of the room.
He laid Pauline gently on the floor and
sped toward the basket. Az he ran he
caught up the cover Of the divan-
From the spilled flowers glided the snake.
shiny. mottledyellow. It ooiled itself upon
the corner Of the rug.
There was some strange resemblance be.
tween it's venomous poise and the tense.
vindictive carriage Of the gypsy woman ct
the window.
Harry picked up Q chair. and the snake
struck at It as he pressed It forward.
With q swift movement he hurled the
chair aside and sprang upon the reptile.
his face shielded. his hands enveloped BY
the couch cover. He dropped to his knees
and threw the couch cover over the reptile
The face OF the gypsy girl vanished from
the window. Singoalla was fleeing into the
garden. The snake. fast In the folds Of the
heavy couch cover. fell where singoalla had
stood . moment before.
Harry had hurled the snake and the
cover out Of the window and had sprung
hack to help Pauline.
He found her IN the arms Of RAYMOND
Owen. who had rushed into the room ct
her CRY.
Harry caught her unconscious form from
the secretary az q holy man might snatch
sacred vessel from the hands Of IN un-
believer.
He laid her ON the divan. Get watsr!s
he shouted harshly at owen.
The secretary sped out OF the room with
NO sign Of resenting the rsbuke. In q mo.
ment he was back with pitcher Of water
But Pauline had already recovered con-
sciousness and was looking about her with
vague. frightened syse
"What has happonod. Mr.. Aarvinf" cried
Of ssz to sss e. s Sss ss.t'
mo, indeed. Did che enter here? Has
Miss Marvin been stabbed3
mo. no." sobbed Pauline. the tears Of her
terror streaming down her fACe. 1T was =
snake-a snake hidden among the howers"
A look Of finely feigned alarm came to
the face Of the murderous secretary.
why don't you 60 and find the girlf
What good are you doing here?" demanded
Harry.
"You are right I was 20 startled lost
80 seuseo," surrsnA6rod Owen. He hurried