The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-01-09

monsieur ~ must lNhtt NAlNA AhN
stranger as he skipped back beyond
reach OF lke's whip.
Little rat" growled Ike, his face
now sobered TO grim anger as he turn
ed the stage about and returned down
the mountain. When he passed snake
corner he smote the black horses 50
savagely that they ran all the way
down the mountain side, requiring all
Of Mr.. Williams strength and nerve to
control them.
Back In Whlppoorwill lane Debby
Bovine was crying softly 10 herself
over her broken engagement TO the
blur stage driver, and at Willow Inn
the little foreigner was preparing TO
entertain the guests that evening with
sundry conjurlng tricks.
The next afternoon Ike Williams
drove his stage up the mountain road.
There was only one passenger inside,
and she was strangely silent and unre-
sponsive. So quiet was Debby Bovine
that Ike began to believe that there
was some truth in what the foreigner
had limited 10 him.
Was his engagement to Debby a
thing Of the past? He did not dare ask
her for fear of the answer.
Debby Bovine worked in the postOf.
Zee and rode home In the stage every
afternoon. 1t is not surprising that
she grew tired and annoyed mt hearing
Ike's oft repeated snake stories. which
were calculated to inspire strangers
with dreadful fear.
Only a short week ago she had told
Ike that If he ever repeated the black
snake story in her hearing their en-.
gagement would cease at once.
Now he shot glance from his merry
brown eyes at the third finger Of her
left hand.
The garnet engagement ring was
gone.
Their engagement was at an end.
Now they were turning around snake
corner.
Ike was lost in gloomy meditation on
the front seat when the Off horse SHE'D
violently.
"Whoaw shouted Ike, and with a
glance at snake rock he pulled the
trembling horses to standstill and
turned his head to stare at the great
assured rock about which he had
woven so many tales to scare the un-
wary traveller.
Coiled on the rock was an immense
serpent, scaly and glistening. with
horrid head lifted and swaying gently
to and fro.
Good heavensg breathed Ike through
his set teeth.
Debby leaned from a window and
stared terrified.
Then, stepping jauntily out of the
mountain path, came the foreign pas
senger Of the day before
He bowed politely to Ike, laid his
hat against his heart when he saw
Debby and at the same instant
glimpsed the snake on the rock.
Mon Dieu" he squeaIed shriIly.
xiii it, monsieurr
xiii it yourself!" roared Ike testify,
his muscled arm straining at the reins
as his horses plunged madly.
But has not monsieur a happy
thought in this great emergency? 1t
is true these are not backsnakes,
but he shrugged his shoulders sug-
gestively.
Get out of the wayr' shouted Ike
angrily.
perhaps monsieur would play Yam
kee Doodle on his harmonicOn!' grin
ned the amused foreigner. Thus could
he soothe the frightened serpent, even
as he did in the good story he related.
AIR
At that moment the black horses
broke away and dragged the careening
stage after them.
Debby Bovine. white Tipped and
trembling, saw Ike Williams regain
mastery of his team, turn them about
and drive back to snake rock just in
time to see the foreign conjurer stuff
ing the great serpent into an odd look
ing basket.
"Ha! Monsieur is the brave run
away" chided the joke loving French
man as he securely fastened the cover
of the basket that contained the an
cient, half stupid and entirely harm
less reptile, which was one of the
properties Of his performance.
Ike Williams grew redder and redder
as the Frenchman disappeared, and
Debby Bovine sat silently within, wit
ness of his humiliation.
Glancing out of the corner of his eye,
he discerned Debby in the act Of slip
ping the garnet ring back on its ac-
rustomed finger.
"You coming over this evening, lke?"
asked Debby softly.
Eyes. if you want me-" he said
hoarseIy.
"Of course | want you" said Debby
Bovine gently.
And Debby had part of her reward
when the very next time she rode in
the stage timid passenger asked:
''Why do they call this snake cor
ner?"
Because there amt any snakes
here" replied Ike, with a twinkle in
his eve.
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