The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-05-24
The RED SERPENT
BY KATE gpMoNDs
~ ~~~~0oo o0<


care In his keen face. scattered
threads Of silver In his dark hair and
an anxious look In his eye.
He took Estelle's small hands In his
big ones.and looked down into her ex-
pectant face. "Failed. dear" was all
he said.
"Failed7" the color drained out OF
her cheeks. "You poor old DEAR" she
added, patting his broad shoulder.
1--WE will begin over again. Just think
how young we are!"
Listen. dearest of girls" he sat
down and drew her to a seat beside
him. II had excellent chances out
there-senior clerk In the Dets0n bank
with q fine chance of being sent to
the New York house. And lost the
chance. This Is the way 1t happened:
I took short vacation last summer
Just few miles up the Huang-pu riv-
er--good fishing and did my own cook
Ing. Along came a rich Chinese mer-
chant with his train of servants;
somehow he managed to tumble into
the river and would have been drown
ed, only fished him out. His terrified
servants scattered and by the time
they got back the old man had been
dried out by yours truly, but somehow
took a beastly cold-couldn't get rid
of 1t. Had pneumonia, and have been
In the hospital for months-with the
result that I'll have to live In the
open air for several years and-whats
the use? It's the end Of the world for
mel" His stony face turned away
from her timid caresses.
"And the man whose life you savedi
Did he know the result TO your she
asked after q while.
He nodded. Game to the hospital
to see me and made q long speech Of
thanks. Also recited a poem he had
composed on my heroism." He smiled
wanly and the girl was alarmed at the
change In him. He put hand In his
pocket and drew out q package wrap
ped In soft tissue paper. THE old beg
gar gave me this as a keepsake. IL Is
just a bauble; let me put II on your
wrist" He opened q lacquered box
and took from II bracelet elaborate
ly carved from red coral. II was In
the form Of q serpent. and the open
mouth and the deadly forked tongue
were delieately carved with the fairy
touch of master carver The clasp
was of solid gold and there were CHI
nese ideographs scatched upon 1t.
1T Is quite wonderful, Donald. Did
he tell you the meaning Of these char
acters?"
Lawrence shrugged his shoulders.
Something about seven years-and
gratitude. l skipped all the rest.
was pretty bitter about the future"
You are not sorry you saved his
life. are you DonaldT
'Of course not" he declared, and she
knew that he spoke the truth. There
was an echo OF the old confident ring
In his tone. But Estelle-we've got
TO go away into the mountains some
where's dry climate. and work my
way out again. may be an old man
by the time l earn enough to support
US both"
Then | shall go with you and we
will work together" she said. and he
could not turn her from this purpose
so at last he gave In to her pleading
and they were married and went into
the Adirondacks together. Lawrence
took charge of the palatial camp" OF
q millionaire and there were many
months of idleness when he bemoaned
their exile. You should be nearer
your friends-nearer civilization" he
often said. You have buried yourself
alive with mel"
She smiled bravely. "f you were
In my place wouldn't you count the
balance on your slider
He could not be gloomy after that
and she could see that he was getting
better. Another year might restore
him to full health. One day he came
upon her sewing on the doorstep In
the pale spring sunshine. why do you
always wear the red serpentr' he
asked. looking down at the bracelet.
He took 1t and sat down beside her.
The gold clasp was loose and sud.
denly came on In his fingers. He
looked stupidity at the exposed end of
the bauble-the bracelet was hollow
coral tube and from It poured a little
stream Of blazing diamonds. seven in
all. Further search revealed soft paper
with Chinese characters brushed upon
1t. Lawrence slowly read the hidden
message: "The gods have decreed that
am to live seven years longer
you have given me back these preci-
Gus seven years and give TO you sew
EN- precious stones. one for each year
OF the life you saved"
You are sure that there 10 no mis-
take about itT asked Estelle, still
unbeIieving that this good fortune
could be theirs.
I'VE will write to the old fellow"
declared Donald. and he went In and
sat down at his desk. Months after
ward came an answer from the Chl-