The Irish standard., 1915-10-09

guess" replied Poe In the same
brusque manner. i've got 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 fol-
Aim, 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. I
have friends in the government EN-.
ploy over there. Perhaps know this
chap you speak of; you say he's in
the British neutrality-suspicious."
Printing or something like that"
answered Poe Ellis 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 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 forefinger
of his right hand twitched and crook.
ed up convulsively.
Whats 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 Poe's 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.maFks beneath
heavy callouses. The grooves in the
lower part Of Poe's face showed deep
for a moment; he took the finger, and
examined the scars carefully.
$50 that's the sign the cobra's
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
1t threw q bally scare into me. all the
same"
Funny thing!" exclaimed Poe. Jerk.
ing 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 bin he had separated from
the original lot of counterfeits, hold.
Ing it so that Horton could plainly see
the hnger-mark upon it, which had
first attracted Poe's attention.
Funny thing!" continued Poe "A
Horton stared at him blankly, jerking
away his finger and reaching for a
rear pocket. You must have fingered
this bill. Here's mark exactly like
yours, scars the same; callous from
handling the graver and all. I SUD-
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 endeayored tn
control himself. Then he bounced
like an animal toward his desk, touch.
ed button beneath 1t. and swung
back. stopping with q throttled cry.
a revolver half drawn from his hin.
pocket.
Watt" cried Poe He had drawn
his revolver in the instant Horton had
pressed the button. and was covering
him.
Horton stood motionless except for
a 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 neckl
with one desperate effort, and peeredl
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 Poes
neck. He saw 1t all in the dizzy sec.
ond that he reelsd 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 signaled
for assistance. and enabled the cat.
like servant with his ready cord to
take him unaware.
With the first ray Of light that came
with returning consciousness Chris,
TOPPER Poe dimly saw Burns's face
anxiQhsly peering into his own. He
couldn't remember what had happened,
he couldn't place himself. All that be-
came evident to him in the following
five minutes, as he lay with eyelids
trembling open. trying to remember,
was the fact that he was lying on q
heavy silk rug and somebody strange
was working over him. But Burns was
present.
Suddenly wiry black form skulked
through the room, q blue-coated officer
clutching the thin black neck. Then
Poe suddenly remembered. and looked
around to make certain that be was
still in the strange apartment belong.
ing to Horton.
He moistened his throat with great
effort. and managed to articulats:
We'll? Did you get"
: Eyes. We got him." Burns voice
came clearly. as he kneeled beside the
silk rug. I'VE got him right Just in
time. too. He and his black minion
vera trying to desfrox thu countnn