Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-03-28

his great bulk towards Miller.
Miller raised his fists. He tried to
hold the figure off, but his strength
was nothing against this giant He
went TO the floor. A knee was on his
chest. Like a child he was rolled frori
side to side while the cord was faslen-
ed around his arms and legs.
What are YOU going to do?' Miller
sasped
The fisherman arose and walked to
the wall. He kicked a portion of the
brushwood away, disclosing a square
pine box, lie turned to the corner. III
lifted Il long slender pole which stood
there. Miller saw a cora ran down the
pole and made loop at the lower
end.
Tho fisherman returned to the box,
and, using the end of the pole, raised
the lid An angry rafting came from
he box, The fisherman thrust The pole
inside.
What are you going to do Miller
repeated,
The fisherman did not turn Careful
~, Systematically he moved the end Of
III" pole with the loop backwards and
forwards in the box One hand clutchcd
the cord near the top of the pole, aftcr
a moment drew it tight, then slowly
raised the pole until the end with the
loop was above the edge of the box.
The flat head Of snake was caught
in the loop. Its bead like eyes sleam-
ed in the lantern light. They found
Miller's eyes and rested there, The
'oriad tongue dartcd in and out Of the
revolving and venomous mouth.
Miller strained at his bonds. He
could not move his hands or his feet
che TRACTION of an inch.
let me up. What are you going to
do he asked with dry lips.
The fisherman continued to raise
he pole until the snakes circular,
shining body curled and flapped about
his lagS Miller watched fascinated.
While the body thrashed, the head,
caught in the loop, remained stu. The
evil eyes did not leave his.
The fisherman turned and stepped
towards Miller. He lowered the pole
until the snakes body was beating the
floor with soft. abhorrent strokes un-
til the head almost rested on the
IaCked earth.
With a deliberate slowness the fish.
crman brought the snake closer 30
Miller 1t tried to get its head free to
coil When this sly snail.like march
was arrested close TO Miller's bound
and helpless body the the fisherman
would slip the loop and spring back.
Then the snake would coil In its an.
ger it would strike at what was near.
est.
Inch by inch this slow death, whose
every step he could foresee, approach
cd. The tiny eyes held him. Ii seemed
impossible that the reasoness fury be.
hind them could project 10 him the SUI
IRENE Inconsistencies. He shudGere !.
Man. You cant do this"
He wet his lips.
Or--then--fasler' Faster
For the first time the mask like face
Of tic fisherman altered. The tight
lips parted They stretched in dis.
torted smile. lie took another Step
forward. The snake was very near.
The evil of the smile aroused Miller,
He forced his eyes from the snakes,
The girl, whom he would never see
again il this torturing execution was
carried out flashed through his mind.
lie saw her as she had been that first
morning on the beach, in her white
robe bent to the wind. gazing oul to
sea. He remembered her just now in
he coQuina house, hiding her bleedin
wrists, cryingout that they must not
let him 90. She had known then that
he would risk death. Did she know it
would come to him here and in this
fashion? Hope was born. He could not
qnalyse her attitude, her refusal to
tell what she knew of these horrors o'
the island, of her own connection with
them. but she could not, after that
warning. after that abandonment Oh
the steps, let him end like this. She
must have conquered whatever forces
had held her from speaking. She mus
have indicated to Anderson, Tony and
Molly what he faced If she had done
mat. those friends, he knew, would
not take The road to the river and the
boat. And The fisherman probably die
not guess that she had been to the 90
auina house. SO he smiled back, ano
he cried out at the top of his lungs;
ANDY Tony"
If they came even after the snake
mad struck there might be time for
tourniuuet. for some aniidote. AT least
he would have a chance.
The trayesty of a smile left the fish
orman's face He paused lie glance.
towards the half open door. Mile
looked too. expeclantly, and he saw
Morgan rum in, There was no hnnoG