Tombstone epitaph., 1915-09-05

 ant little reception room with several | heavy chairs and . deepnapped car pet. Poe was ushered into large | square room. quite plain; a representa- tive ofice cf busy America.
 A gray-haired. thin faced n an -f in- | determinate age sat in large square | chair before a roll-top desk. He was l alone. and looked up with a quick. en- | gazing smile as Poe entered.
 Mir. Hardy!" he said interrogative- ly, with an English intonation. 50 glad to see you. Beastly hot tonight. isn't it? I'd die if 1t weren't for the electric fans"
 You've got fine place here" an- swered Christopher Poe, assuming the rough good.fellowship Of the Aneri- can show-manager. It's as cool as beer and as quiet as Rajputana."
 "Oh, 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, swered Poe. after the wellnigh inim- itable manner of your typical Ameri- can business man who abhors a vaca- tion and loathes a change of scene. be it outside of his own country. First time made 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-arent 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. T 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 a snake | charmer?"
 "Oh. I might spare one or two. I've quite a number of them, but I 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 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 if you knock 'em down once a day" | Indeed" smiled Horton, that's about right. But I'm interested. | have friends in the government em- ploy over 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 ofY 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-marks 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. So 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 it threw a bally scare into me all the | same"
 l Funny thing" exclaimed Poe. jerk. | ing a card from his vest-pocket. and | | pared surface before Horton half real | ized what was going on. In an in- stant Poe had returned the paper bear I ing the finger-print and drawn out the five-dollar bill he had separated from the original lot of commercials. 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. I sup | 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 to control himself Then he bounced like an animal toward his desk, touch