The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-06

The Marshars lips parted to utter a sharp retort. but the words failed to Issue. Young Mrs. Fox suddenly stopped over and peered intently at several heretofore unnoticed holes at one end of the black box. These holes, about an inch in diameter. formed a horizontal row. Much to Mir. Crows alarm, the young lady pulled or her glove and stuck finger into ono of the little apertures and apparently wriggled 1t without fear or trepidation. Almost instantly there was an ominous rlstling inside the box.
 Tho unnatural Mrs. Fox promptly poked her finger through the hole and rubbed the snout of what must have been 6 full-sized boa-ccnstrtctor. fn- stantly to their horror. the black ob- struction went through a process of splitting. and several deadly fanes were revealed. Once moro the wrig- gling black tongue daxted out to caress tho lady's unprotected nngsr.
 "Oh, you dar1ingl" cried the lsdY. Please, Mfr. Locksntth, see if you can't fnd key that win it the iocixS
 Marshal Crow dragged his friend toward the door.
 'Did you sec itrr he whispered hoarsely.
 Before Mort could answer, the door Jew open and in rushed Mrs. Bioomer. bareheaded and in a great state Of agitation.
 For heavens sake. Anderson. hurry up and come with me-" she cried. Bring a pistol-and, Mort. you get couple of axes and pitchfork or two. My God. something awful Is loose in one of them rooms upstairsi The most terrible racket is going on in there. r. Oh, there you arel" She caught sight of her 1odgers. Arrest them, Andersoni Lock them up at once. They're dangerous people. They oughtn't to be running at large. Oh, that awful thingi It sounds like 1t was twenty feet long, and it's thrashing ali over the room. Oh, my Godi What q scare I've had! oh. you needn't look at me innocent like that. you two. You're in for 1t. or my name ain't Jen- | nie Bloomer. Call a. posse, Anderson, and surround the hotel. Thank Heaven. the door of that room is locked. but goodness knows how soon 1t will be crawlin' through the tran son."
 At that instant she discovered that her skirt was almost touching tho big black box on the floor. Emitting a sharp squeal, she gave an eiephantine leap to the shelter of Anderson's arms, almost bowling him over.
 God knows what she's got in tho valise." she whimpered.
 The voice of NIrA Fox, clear as a ben, assailed them.
 They're hungry. poor things.~ she cried. Perfectly ravenous." That settles 1t" said Marshal Crow. We've got to git rid of 'em if we have to set fire to your store. Mort. They're terrible when they haven't been fed fer long time. Swaller pigs an sheep and children whole. they say" MT. Fox approached. He was now very polite and ingratiating. Permit me-" he observed, "to offer solution. If you will give me a bunch l f keys, my friend. I will remove the
 ase to my room and open tiff pos tble. No harm will come to anybody nd in one hour or so, my wife and l will be on our way. My automobile is I in your local garage, Mir. Hawk, and we can be ready to start as soon as we have fed and aired the-er-shall we say contents?"
 | You arrest him. Anderson cried Mrs. Bloomer. Hold him till esti- mate the damage that's been done tc my property. He's got to pay fer that before he can get out of this town" | T guess you'd better step over tc the caiaboose with me, mister" said Anderson firmly. And you too, ma'am This here lady prefers charges agsins, you. an it's my duty to-"
 What Is the charge. madam?" de. manded Mir. Fox. lighting a cigarette. 1 Never mind" said the Marshal; we'll attend to that later."
 Mir. Fryback put in word at this point. Yes, but who's going to take charge of this here boz? It can't stay here in my place. F1rst thing you know the derned things will gnaw . hole in the side and git out"
 If 1t is not too far, Mr. oficer, ] should be happy to carry the box over to the lock-up-unless of course, some one else will volunteer. I sse quite a number of citizens looking in through the window. Doubtless some oe them might" s,
 "fiow long after . man's been on . bad spree Is he likely to think he secs snakes?" demanded Anderson. struck with an idea
 "The time varies," replied MT. Fox. rather startled.
 |. "AN ain't been tight in . good many yeara," unused the Marshal. "I guess it would be safe to lot him carry 'em. Don't you think 50. Mort7"
 Him and Newt Spratt," said Mort, 'Newt's always brnsgin about not being afraid of anything"
 I'll tell you what we'll do. gentle men." said MT. Fox, and then added with polite bow to tho corpulent Mrs Boomer, land ladieh, Mrs. Fox and had planned givinE little exhibition at tho hotel. but that now seems to be out of tho question. Kindly bear in mind that we arc not visiting your little city on pleasure bent .We are hore strictly for business. Az a rule we do not make one-night stands. But we have been attracted to your oharm- l ing city almost against our will-A- though, may add. 1t was at the earn- est invitation of one of your most im- portant denisens--i should say oitiHens' You will agree. ! am sure. that it would hardly pay us to viait place like this unless we were reasonably assured of something in the way of pscuniaEy bensfta, You may not know 1t, Rsntle- men, but we have had bcna-fde efter of one hundred dollare-and that isn't to be aneesed at, is itt"
 k~ A ~R kk a> Al ns Anderson. I'm soins to take Action at