Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-11-23

ness Of a prestidigitat0r was pressed
under the metal band. $685." he
repeated-"depart! AS to your bust
ness here" he began again, as the rep
tile. as II 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 disap-
peared after the vanishing reptile.
The man left in my charge -tarted
up with a stormy face and clustering
mien. Marvel had instructed me to 60
armed always when in his company on
a professional case. / was prepared
on the present occasion. ! male 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 its significance He
settled back on the divan and scowled
Then he asked sullenly:
rs 1t the police?"
You can call 1t that" l responded
with forced calmness that, abetted
by my possession Of the weapon.
seemed 10 enforce wariness and his
respect.
About the checks?"
From the bank" I nodded
l hoped there would be no irksome
wait. ! was not built to sustain long
the part of stern gaolor. Besides
that. | doubted II my weapon was
loaded. The man wac thinking furi-
ously. Everything had happened so
quietly. SO rapidly. SO respectfully
might say. that his shallow mind could
not rouse to the occasion. And then
bang. bang twice-a third explo-
sion, not far away woman's pierre
ing. echoing shrek. and then a 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 seri-
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
other than
| was 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 a
drapery covering the door OF the rear
entrance. and there was Marvel
There. too, writing on the floor. was
an immense cobra, and bending over
it, fondling il as though it were some
cherished, beloved comrade, was a
woman set off with all the gewsaws OF
cheap mysticism.
1T is not murder. them" ! heard
my guide gasp out in tone of i'm
me- Sc 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 weapon
held at his side.
vi .hlSo, III
cisively, you guessed my mission and
set your deadly cobra friend kissing
and darling at me. Defense was
natural, although all l want Of you is
the 5000 you have swindled the Atlas
N-tiona. bank out of. 1t Is a quiet
and speedy return Of the funds, or a
plain blue prison garb for Eve years
as you choose"
"You would risk II :" reviled the Pro-
file Scratcher. II warned you that for
every shrewd crook there is cleverer
man somewhere along the line told
yoI. further. to start our journey last
night Now it's leave perforce. with a
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. its contents
spilled out upon the floor-bank notes
Pay him." she said. and flung her
self PROSTATE once more beside THY
dying creature that had but one hu
man friend