The Tupelo journal., 1915-08-20
Having been guided through q Meas.

llCdfy tAdlo anu q oCCPhdPPC0 Sdh
pet, Poe was ushered into a large
square room, quite plain; a representa-
tive office of busy America.
A gray-haired, thin-faced man Of in
determinate age sat in a large square
chair before a roll-top desk. He was
alone, and looked up with a quick, en-
gaging smile as Poe entered.
Mr.. Hardy?" he said interrogative-
ly, with an English intonation. 80
glad to see you. Beastly hot tonight,
isn't it? I'd die II it weren't for the
electric fans"
you've got a fine place here" an
swered Christopher Poe, assuming the
rough good-fellowship of the Ameri-
car show-manager. Its as cool as
beer and Is quiet as Rajputana."
ooh, you've been to India then
and the desert?" queried Horton, mo-
~tioning Poe to a chair, and drawing up
his ~interestedly, as he dismissed the
servant with a nod.
"Only once, thank goodness, and
you'll never get me there again." an
severed Poe, after the well-nigh inim-
liable manner of your typical Ameri-
can business man who abhors a vaca-
ton and loathes a change of scene, be
it outside of his own country. First
time l made a big stake, took my wife.
She liked it. Well, it wasn't SO bad.
Gave me lots of good ideas for shows"
Born fakirs-the natives-aren't
!they?" smiled the Englishman easily,
it being quite evident from his man
'ner that he was sure of his visitor,
and had sized him up for just what
Poe chose to be considered.
They're the best in the business"
answered Poe enthusiastically. Il
came all the way from Atlantic City
to look up a troupe, and it's been an
lawfully hot day. Haven't you got a
few to spare-a juggler or a snake
charmer?"
"Oh, l might spare n or two. I've
quite a number of them, but could
only lease them to you; might need
them next season, you know"
"Oh, certainly, / understand that.
They don't care who they work for, ]
guess" replied Poe in the same
brusque manner I've got a friend
i'm the British Government service in
Calcutta. He says you've got to treat
the natives as though they were dogs.
He has a bunch of them working for
him, running printing-presses or
something; says they're all right if
you knock EN- down once a day"
Indeed" smiled Horton, that's
about right. But I'm interested. /
have friends in the government en-.
ploy owe there. Perhaps know this
chap you speak of; you say he's in
the British engraving-department?"
Printing or something like that"
answered Poe His name is Gerver.
Hasn't been there long
"Gerver, Gerver," repeated the
other, mo, can't say I've heard of
him. Perhaps he's"
Got bit by a cobra once, had the
wound cauterized-"
Christopher Poe broke off abruptly
in his interruption as Horton stirred
in his chair and gave him a strange
look, at the same time the forefnger
of his right hand twitched and crook
ed up convulsively.
Whats the matter? One bite you
too?" queried Poe. calling attention
to the others un~easiness.
Moves" said Horton, confused.
Then he smiled quickly, as though re-
assuring himself, showed his right fore
finger beneath Poe's gaze and cried:
Look! There's where one got me.
I'll forget it" Two small white
scars showed on the finger, close to-
gether, sunk like pock-marks beneath
heavy c~allouses. The grooves in the
lower part of Poe's face showed deep
for a moment; he took the finger, and
examined the scars carefully.
so that's the sign the cobra's
fangs leave!" he exclaimed. How'd
you get out of it alive?"
ooh, he was a tame one. belonging
to one of my snake-charmers. Had
had his poison sacks removed. But
it threw a bally scare into me all the
same"
Funny thing" exclaimed Poe, jerk
ing a card from his vest-pocket, and
pressing the SCARED finger on the pre-
pared surface before Horton half real
lied what was going on. In an in
slant Poe had returned the paper bear
ing the finger-print and drawn out the
five-dollar bill he had separated from
the original lot of counterfeits, hold
ing it so that Horton could plainly see
the fnger-mark upon it, which had
first attracted Poe's attention.
Funny 'thing!" continued Poe, as
Horton stared at him blankly, jerking
away his finger and reaching for a
rear pocket. You must have fingered
this bill. Here's a mark exactly like
yours, scars the same; callous from
handling the graver and all. sup
pose"
Horton had leaped to his feet and
was glaring at Christopher Poe, eyes
starting horribly. Poe only smiled, sat