Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-09-24

Only once, thank goodness, and
you'll never get me there again." an
swered Poe. after the well.nigh inim-
table manner Of your typical Ameri-
can business man who abhors q vaca-
ton and loathes a change OF scene, be
1t outside of his own country. First
time made big stake. took my wife.
She liked 1t. 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.
1t 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. 81
came all the way from Atlantic City
to look up a troupe, and It's been an
awfully hot day. Haven't you got a
few to spare--a juggler or q snake
charmer?"
''oh, might spare one or two. rye
quite q 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
in 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 II
you knock 'em down once day"
Indeed" smiled Horton, that's
about right But Tin interested. |
have friends in the government en-
ploy over there. Perhaps know this
chap you speak of; you say he's In
the British engraving-departmentT'
Printing or something like that,
i answered Poe. His name Is GerEer.
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 OF abruptly
in his interruption as Horton stirred
in his chair and gave him strange
look, at the same time the forefinger
of his right hand twltched and crook
ed up convulsively.
Whats the matter? One bite You
too?" queried Poe, calling attention
to the others uneasiness.
Moves" said Horton. confused.
Then he smiled quickly, as though re-
assuring himself, showed his right fore.
finger beneath Poe'a gaze and cried:
Look! There's where one got me,
III never forget it," Two small white
scars showed on tho finger, close to-
gether, sunk like pock-marks beneath
heavy callouses. The grooves in the
lower part of Poe's face showed deep
for moment; he took the finger, and
examined the scars carefully.
so that's the sign the cobra's
fangs leavel" he exclaimed. How'd
you get out of 1t alive?"
HOh, he was a tame one, Belonging
TO one of my snahe-charmers. Had
had his poison sacks removed. But
It threw a bally scare into me all the
same"
Funny thing1'' exclaimed Poe, jerk.
ing a card from his vest-pocket, and
pressing the SCARED finger on the pre-
pared surface before Horton half real
ized what was going on. In an in
slant Poe had returned the paper bear
ing the flnger-print and drawn out the
fiVe-dollar bin he had separated from
the original lot of counterfeits, hold
ing it so that Horton could plainly see
the fnger-mark upon 1t, which had
first attracted Poe'a attention.
Funny thingl'' continued Poe. az
Horton stared at him blankly, jerlkine
away mis- finger and reaching for q
| rear pocket You must have fingered
this bill. Here's mark exactly like
yours, scars the same; callous from
handling the graHar and all. sup
4 pose"
Horton had leaped to his feet and
was glaring at Christopher Poe, eyes
starting horribly. Poe only smiled, sat
tight. and waited.
"You-you-" Horton endeavored ID
oontrdl himself Then he ponnceC
like an animal toward his desk, touch
ed button beneath 1t, and swunI
hack. stopping with a thnottled cry
revolver half drawn from his hip
pocket.
Waltz cried Ppe. He had drawn
his revolver IN the instant Horton iaa
pressed ahe bnttoa. and was covering
him.
Horton stood mptionless except 60
q tremOr which shot Tough his tall
tam FORM; his eyeb ginning as he sAs0
ratliks Chances froin Poe to tie door.
There's no use!' cried Poe, RAIN
slowly. from his chair and approaching
the other. 1--we SOt the proofs. Bel
: ter"
Poe gave : sudden agoniSed leap q
the air. clatched at his throat, and hi
:. revolver dropped from his neryeles
hand. He twisted his burning necl
with one desperate effort, and peere,
into the grim-set face of the seryan
who had let him in: the East Indiai
had garrOted Poe, even now the sill
cord WAS cutting closer into Poe
neck. He saw 1t all In the dizzy seG
ond that be reeIed before all grey
black. Then he felt himself falling
| falling through the trap-dOor in tn
/ wall that had slid back silently be
hind him when Horton had signale.
/ | for assistance. and enabled the cal
4