The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-15
Stories OF StungeCa in Secretly
Banker Detective


Hasn't been there long.
'Gerver, GervcT," repeated the other,
mo. can say I've heard OF him. Per-
bupS he s.
Got bit b. a cobra once. had the
wound cAutouzcu-
CHRISTOPHER roe broke off abruptly in
his interruption as Horton stirred IN me
chair and gave nim u strange iook, at
the time the ioreilneer OF hlS ngpt nand
twitched and crooked UP convulslvcly.
What's the natter One bite you
too?'' qucried Poe. calling attention 20
the others uneagIness.
"No--yes, sand Horton, confused. Then
he smiled quickly. as though reassuring
himself, showed ms right iorennger be-
meath Poe's gaze ana cried: Look!
There's where one got me. Iii never for
get il Two small white scars showed
On the hnger. close together, sunk like
pock- rlts beneath heavy callouScs. The
grooves In the lower part OF Poe's face
showed deep FOR d moment; he took the
finger. and examined the scars carefully.
80 that's the sign the cobras fangs
leave! no exclaimed, How'd you get
out OF 1t aliye?"
'Oh, he was a tame one. belonging to
one OF my snake -Charmers. Had had his
poison sacks removed. But II threw a
pany scare Into me all the same"
Funny thngn exclaimed Poe, jerking
a card from his vest pocket, and press
Ing the SCARED finger on the prepared
surface before Horton half realized what
was going on. In an Instant Poe had re-
and drawn out the fivc-dollar bill he had
separated from the original lot of coun-
terfeits. holding il so that Horton could
plainly see the linger-mark upon II, which
had first attracted Poes attention.
Funny thing continued Poe, as Hor-
ton stared at him blankly, perking away
his ingcr and reaching Tor a rear pocket
"lou must have fingered this bill Here's
a mark exactly like yours, scars the same
callous from handling the graver and all
| suppose
Horton had eaped TO bis feet and was
slaring at Christopher Foe, eyes starting
horribly. Poe only smiled. sat tight, anc
waited.
"You-yuu-" Horton endeavored Il
control himself. Then he pounced like
an animal toward his desk, touched {
| button beneath ii. and swung back, stop
| ping with throttled cry, a revolver hal
drawn from his hip pocket
'Waiti' cried Poe. He had drawn hiS
| revolver in the instant Horton had prcsser
| the button and was covering him.
Horton stood motionless except for {
| tremor which shot through his tall. THU
| form his eyes elintinS as Inc shot ratlils.
| glanccs from Poe To tho door,
| slowly from his chair and approaching
| the other. I've got the proofs. Bet
ter
| Poe save a sudden aGonized leap in TIN
| air. rClutched al his throat. and his revolv
| or dropped from his ncrvclcss hand, III
| twisted his burning neck with one desper
ate effort. and peered into sthe grim-sc
| face oC the servant who had let him In
| the East Indian had garroted Poe: ever
| now the silk cord was cutting closer int
Poe's neck. He saw 1t all In the dzz,
| second that he reeled before all grew
black Then he felt himself falling. fall
| had slid back silently behind him whel
| Horton had slgnsled for assistance. an
] enabled the cat-lille servant with hi
ready cord 10 take him unaware,
| With the first ray of light that cam
with returning consciousness Christophe
| Poe dimly saw Burns's face anXiousl
peering into his own. He couldn't re
member what had happened, ne coudn'
| place himself. All that became eviden
to him in the following five minutes, a
he lay with eyelIds trembling open, tryin
| to remember, was the fact that he wa
| lying on heavy silk rug and somebod
strange was working over him. Bu
| Burns was present.
Suddenly a wiry black form skullie
| through the room. a blue-coated office
clutchinS the thin black neck, Then Po
to make certain that he was still in tn
strange apartment belonging 10 Horton.
He moistened his throat with a srea
effort. and managed to articulate;
| We'll? Did you get
Yes, we got him" Burns's voice cam
| clearly, as he kneeled beside the silk rug
I'VE got him right. Inst in time, toe
| FIo and his black minion were trying [
|
| managed TO break through that hcav
| front door. We got him with the goods
he was Just jumping through the window
| but we had n man below, Hes con
ffessed il aIl-bully for you. Horton use
! 10 be an engrayer on bonds for the Brit
ish government he was located in Cal
| cutta."
| 80 they found the plates and"
| Better not talk put in voice stranS
to Poe, and he suddenly realized tn
| stranger was physician
4 strained silence ensued. In ten min
! utes time Christopher Poe had becom
| quite himself. though he still passed hi
| hand over his bruised neck mocha nicaly
a curious half-smc illuminating his 9th
| crwse drawn face.
| lie finally reached into his vest pockci
and brought out the bit OF prepared pa
| per ,cvidently overlooked by iIorton) con
! tanning the countorfeitcr'S right forefn