Evening journal., 1914-01-31

the specimen cases becanss their en-
ployer would never need them again
The heavy vine twisted upward to
the orchids now only fifteen feet shove
his head. He looked NJ them with
starting eyes because swaying above
them was the monsfrous. threatenina
head Of a boa constructor whose great
body was twisted around the vine to
which he chung
How bis keen eyes had failed 70 de-
teet the body Of the great snake as Il
twisted up and around tho large trunk
Of the giant vine he never know.
/ Death stared MIN In the face. II
he dropped into the river the monsters
tail could catch him ere he fell. and.
failing In that. the deadly water ser.
pents would put him out Of existence.
Already the body moved sluggishly,
but iis fascinated eyes ala not leave
tho hide0us head among the orchids.
The nat eyes regarded him with cold
hatred; the ugly mouth grinned
He heard the distant shouts OF his
Indians. Even " they had come to
him they could not help him.
His irst downward movement would
be tho signal for the beginning Of the
end.
Tie closed his eyes and prayed He
thought Of his mother and Of Alice
Blake. the girl he was 70 marry.
HIS grip loosened on the twisted
vine. 80 drsadfully imbuod with life;
bis feet slipped
The vine moved
He looked up and saw that the ugly
head was lowered.
Again he slipped down and again
the vine moved
4 Cold sweat broke out on his body and
HIS face dripped.
Now he bent his body and looked
= down at the tan OF the serpent II
had loosened from the vine and wax
moving 10 and fro like the pendulum
. OF a clock.
|, Death above and death below We'll.
he would die nghtlng
His hand found his revolver. and
! he wriggled around until he could see
the head again
II had flattened itself among the or
l chids and was regarding him coidly
: as before. He would wait uutil Il hft-
ed again. and when lie throat was
presented to view he would try 10
blow the head or II would be dim
cult at that distance with a Uingle
shot. aud the death agonies Of the rep
tile might involve his own death.
Goodeu cloued his eyes again and
!. muttered a prayer a. the strongest
men do IN moments Of danger. The
head was lifting again and resumed its
| swaying movement. Higher, higher It
went. until the motticd throat was re-
| vealed.
| spatl
| The bullet went over It's head His
| arm was unsteady; he muS ry sgain-
! Again be raised the automatic revolver,
n and again It sounded on the heavy jun
] gle air.
h spatl
4 The head Of the reptile wagged vio-
Iently and all outlines were lost as the
u bullet found It's mark The great body
q trembled violently. the tail lashed to
4 and fro. and the vine slipped down
ward
Charles Goodeu slipped down, his
eyes ever ON the horrid specter Of the
= descending head.
, Once he glanced below and saw that
4 the tail was lasbing the water. He
7 took cournge and slipped farther down.
The great body OF the dying reptile
came down with him.
Three feet above the river bank he
could stand the horror no longer. and
he dropped. clutching at young green
vine that swung harmlessly near.
The green vine held and broke his
fan. He swung violently TO and fro,
and when a favorable opportunity pre-
sented itself he loosened his hold and
fell upon the ground close beside bis
heap OF specimen cases. Then he faint
tie ed away for the first time In his aoVen
ze. turous life.
he He recovered consciousness almost
N Immediately. for the shots had brought
he back his frightened Indians, and they
ne gathered about him with scared looks
W, and pointing fingers.
ce He took out his emergency nask and
restored in a measure his shattered
at nerves. He sent them to the river "a
he look at the dead carcass Of the boa
iis constructor. but always they came back
~" ana gdLeu at MN AZ NhoubH ePVH
ok spirit from another world.
Looking at his watch, he found thai
zee three hours had passed since he hao
in climbed the twisted vine. II had seem
at ed like ffteen minutes. No wonder he
'th felt ike an old man under the consuni
his ing fear OF those three horrible hours.
he The continued wonder OF his guides
exc his impatence. and be drew
riil out pocket mirror snd looked at him
ne self
His face peered at him pale and has
ns ,lis gard. His abundant hair was whit
- as snow.
"a The wondering Indians now cimhe'
,,t the tree without protest, and the mauv'
,,T orchids which had blanched Goodeu'
a. hair to obtain we're packed away II
.ha the specimen cases. and the little expe
dition turned down the river.
,sit Many weeks later Charles Goodel
inc appeared in Philadelphia and delivered
Ihe his consignment Of valuable orchids t.
his his employer. But the case Of mauv
orchids came last
.ep How about theseg' demanded MI
red Clay eagerly.
ost 'eThose." said Goodell slowly. "ar
lou the price OF my nerve and a portion o