The Republican journal., 1915-09-02
his interestedly. as he dismissed the
servant with a nod.

SWere0 Foe, after the Well-nigh inim
table manner Of your typical Ameri
can business man who abhors a vaca
ton and loathes change of scene. be
it outside Of his own country First
time I made big stake, took my wife
She liked it. Well. 1t 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. "a
came all the way from Atlantic City
to look up troupe, and it's been an
awfully hot day. Haven't you got a
few to spare-a juggler or a snake
charmer?"
oh, l might spare one or two I've
quite number of them, but l could
only lease them to you; might need
them next season, you know"
oh, certainly, I understand that
They don't care who they work for,
guess replied Poe in the same
brusque manner I've go. friend
in the British Government service in
Calcutta. He says you've got to treat
the natives as though they were dogs
He has bunch of them working for
him, running printing-presses OF
something; says they're all right il
you knock 'em down once a day"
Indeed" smiled Horton, that's
about right. But I'm interested.
have friends in the government EN-
ploy over there. Perhaps | know this
chap you speak of; you say he's in
the British ving-department?"
Printing or something like that,
answered Poe. His name is Gerver
Hasn't been there long"
"Gerver, Gerver.' repeated the
other, no, 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 forefins~r
of his right hand twitched and crook
ed up convulsively.
What's the matter? One bite you
too?' queried Poe, calling attention
to the others uneasiness.
'No-yes," said Horton, confused
Then he smiled quickly, as though re-
assuring himself, showed his right fore
finger beneath Poes gaze and cried
Look! There's where one got me
I'll never forget it." Two small white
scars showed on the finger, close to-
gether, sunk like pock-marks beneath
heavy callouses. The grooves in the
lower part of Poes face showed deep
for a moment; he took the finger, and
examined the scars carefully.
SO that's the sign the COBRA
fangs leave!" he exclaimed How d
you get out of it alive?"
"Oh, he was a tame one, belonging
to one of my snake-charmers. Had
had his poison sacks removed. But
it threw 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 1t so that Horton could plainly see
the flnger-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 l sup
pose"
Horton had leaped to his feet and
was glazing at Christopher Poe, eyes
starting horribly Poe only smiled, sat
tight, and waited
"You-you-" Horton endeavored to
control himself. Then he bounced
like an animal toward his desk, touch
ed button beneath it, and swung
back, stopping with a throttled cry,
a revolver half drawn from his hip
pocket.
Wait" cried Poe. He had drawn
his revolver in the instant Horton had
pressed the button, and was covering
him
Horton stood motionless except for
tremor which shot through his tall.
thin form; his eyes glinting as he shot
ratlike glances from Poe to the door
There's no use!" cried Poe, rising
slowly from his chair and approaching
the other. I've got the proofs. Bet
ter"
Poe gave sudden agonized leap in
the air, clutched at his throat, and his
revolver dropped from his nerveless
hand. He twisted his burning neck
with one desperate effort, and peered
into the grim-set face of the servant
who had let him in; the East Indian
had garroted Poe; even now the silk
cord was cutting closer into Poe 8
neck. He saw it all in the dizzy sec
ond that he reeled before all grew
black. Then he felt himself falling,
falling through the trap-door in the
wall that had slid back silently be-
hind him when Horton had signaIed
for assistance, and enabled the cat