The Tomahawk., 1917-11-08

noted the man finch. HIS usual
readv unuerturbability was balanced.
Then he shut his lips grlmly' anu ss
If mechanically played with an NIX
stand before him, scrawling upon
small fragment of paper.
81 don't see," he said, why you
come to me. I had a business trans
action with the woman you name, E!t
it was weeks ago, the deal was square,
and you'll have to look elsewhere 1or
YOUR information. $3.50, Zlbelle!
and his hand reached down into
box at his side. 1 drew back tr1ne'
for the head of a snake arose WIFI
startling suddenness above the Do1-
Il had a metal ring around its neck
AS the man caressed it, the scrap or
PAPER he had palmed with the adrolt-
ness of a prestidigitator was presseo
under the metal band. $780, ne
repeated-"depart! AS to your ousl-
ness here" he began again, as the rep
tile, as if trained to obey a word sig
nal, crept from the box and started
through the open doorway.
Watch that man, keep him here!
ordered Marvel sternly, and dlsap-
peared after the vanishing reptile
The man left in my charge started
up with a stormy face and clustering
mien. Marvel had instructed me to go :
armed always when in his company Oh
a professional case was prepared
on the present occasion. l made no
braggart nor heroic demonstration.
simply quietly transferred the weapon
from my hip pocket to my coat
pocket, keeping my hand in the latter
The man saw the movement and
seemed to accept it's significance. He
settled back on the divan and scowled.
Then he asked sullenly: q
rs it the police?'
"You can call it that" responded
with a forced calmness that, abetteo
by my possession of the weapon,
seemed to enforce wariness and hin
respect.
About the checks?"
From the bank" I nodded.
/ hoped there would be no irksoma
wait I was not built to sustain long
the part Of a stern gaolor. Besides
that, l doubted if my weapon was
loaded The man was thinking furt
ously. Everything had happened SO
quietly, SO rapidly, 50 respectahly.1
might say, that his shallow mind could
not rouse to the occasion. And they
bang! bang! twice-a third explo'
sion, not far away woman's pierre
ing, echoing shrek, and then series
of frantic mournful cries ringing out
upon the dense night air.
Il must go-there is troubled"
shouted the man on the divan hoarse'
ly, his face grown colorless. "You do
not understand, but this may be sert-
ous!"
construed the situation as indicat-
ing that the snake had taken a mes
sage under its metal collar to some
one near by. Could it be the Mystic
Lady? and was the Mystic Lady no
ether than .'...
Twas willing to explore myself. and
let my captive roam at will and fol~
lowed him. He darted across the
twenty foot space separating his own
and the adjoining booth, tore down q
drapery covering the door of the rear
entrance, and there was Marvel
There. too, writhing on the floor, waa
On immense cobra, and bending over
it, fondling it as though 1t were some
cherished, beloved comrade, was a
woman set off with all the gewgaws OF
cheap mysticism.
1T is not murder, them" heard
my guide gasp out in tone Of im1
merse relief. "Neva-Neva!'
The woman looked up with an
guished eyes. Their depths were fair
ly tragic as she glared at Marvel. He
stood steadily at bay, ready weapo4
held at his side.
Madam or Miss" he pronounced in,
cisively, you guessed my mission and
set your deadly cobra friend Kissing
and darting at me. Defense waa
natural, although all want of you is
the 5000 you have swindled the Atlas
National bank out Of. It is a quiet
and speedy return of the funds, or
plain blue prison garb for five years
AS you choose"
~"Yeu would risk II! reviled the Pro-
file Seratcher. II warned you that for
every shrewd crook there is c1everer
man somewhere along the line. told
you, further, to start our journey last
night. Now it's leave perforce, with
warning record left behind!"
The woman burst into tears. She
reached within her bosom and brought
out a bulky package contained in a
handkerchief, and flung it towards the
speaker. He missed catching it, and
the knot coming loose, it's contents
spilled out upon the floor-bank notes.
PAY him." she said, and flung her
self PROSTATE once more beside tho
dying creature that had but one hu,
man friend.