The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-10-03
SsBACK THERE I'm THE GRASS

began to talk 20 her.
She hated me, and after Q
time ! got bored. threw a pill
low on the floor for her to sleep
on, and left her. Well. the min
ute the door was shut and locked
she began 90 sob. So I went back
and talked 10 her as nicely and
soothingly as | could.
Now | don't like little crea-
lures that snap-so when 1 pickle
her up IL was by the scruff of the
neck. She had to face me then.
and I saw that In spite of ali the
sobbing her eyes were perfectly
dry. That struck me as curious.
| examined them through a pocket
magnifytng glass. and discovered
that they had no tear-ducts. Per
haps I had squeezed the back of
her neck harder than l meant to
anyway her lips began TO draw
back and her teeth to show.
l forced Bo's mouth wide open.
and looked In. Then | reached
for a candle and held IL steadily
between her face and mine. She
struggled furiously SO that ! had
to put down the candle and catch
her legs together in my free hand.
But | had seen enough. l felt wet
and cbld all over. For If the
swollen glands at the base of the
deeply grooved CANNES meant
anything. that which l held be-
tween my hands was not a woman
but a snake.
put her in a wooden box that
had contained soap and nailed
stats over the top.
AS an extra preeaution in case
of accidents, overhauled my
medicine chest and made up a lit
tie package for the breast pocket
"a lancet, a rubber bandage and
a pill-box full of permanganate
crystals.
1t was a lovely starry night, and
1 determined to sleep ON deck.
Before turning in l went to have
a look at DO. She was gone.
The crew, warned of peril.
searched the whole schooner over,
slowly and methodically, lighted
by lanterns. We could not find
her. Well, swimming comes nat
ural to snakes.
| went ashore as quickly as |
could get a boat manned and
rowed. l took Don on a leash, a
shotgun loaded, and both pockets
of my jacket full of cartridges.
We ran swiftly along the beach,
Don and I, and then turned into
the grass to make a short cut for
Graves house. All of a sudden
Don began TO tremble with eager
ness and nuzzle and sniff among
the roots of the grass. He was
making game"
Good Don," said, good boy
hunt her up Find heri"
The moon had risen. / saw two
figures standing in the porch of
Graves house. l was about to
call to them and warn Graves that
Bio was loose and dangerous
when a scream-shrill and fright
ful--rang In my ears. saw
Graves turn to his bride and catch
her in his arms.
When | came up she had col
lected her senses and was behav-
ing splendidly. While Graves
fetched a lantern and water she
sat down on the porch. her back
against the house, and undfd her
stocking off her bitten foot. Her
instep, into which Bo's venomous
teeth had sunk. was already
swollen and discolored. / slashed
the teeth-marks this way and that
with my lancet. And Mrs. Graves
kept saying: "All right-all right
don't mind me-doi what's
best"
Don's leash had wedged be-
tween two of the porch planks,
and all the time we were working
over Mrs. Graves he whined and
struggled to get loose.
Then l turned and freed Don
and took off his leash.
Hunt close, boyi Hunt closet"
Thus hunting, we moved slowly
through the grass toward the In
terror of the island. The scent
grew hotter-suddenly Don began
to move more stiffly-as IL he had
the rheumatism-his eyes straight
ahead saw something that I could
not see. In the act of taking a
wary step he came to a dead halt.
. Steady. hoy!"
pushed Forward the safety of
my shotgun Ard stood at atten-
,.sHew Is she2|
Seems TO be pulling through.
I heard you fire both barrels.
What Iuck?"
(THE ENID