Evening star., 1924-04-20

| was a reptile which I recognized as
the hooded cobra of the Dekkar
Peninsula!
| Imagine" said Alpin, almost with
pleasure, "a man, unsuspicious. open
| ing that box and fumbIing blindly in
the loose paper to see what he had.
I could imagine it, and the thought
nauseated me.
Better take Mrs. Sandys over to
your wife," he said. Then hurry
back and help with the execution"
l left Mrs. Sandys, who seemed
struggling with hysteria, in the hands
of my wife, woman of stable dispo-
sitionl and much tact: after which
returned to Alpin Stone, and together
we completed the unpleasant task of
disposing of the snake.
Did you observe Mrs. Sandys close
ly?" he asked. WAS it your opinion
she acted as one would expect a
woman to act in the presence of a
wholly unexpected and frightful oc-
currence? Or was it your opinion she
showed fright without such astonish-
ment as you would expect to find?"
considered. "She was exceedingly
upset" 1 said.
Naturally" he replied shortly,
but was she astounded that anyone
should try to take her life by such
an abhorrent means?"
IT cannot say" said l.
Nor can l." he said, more to him
self than to me. TT is of first impor-
tance. If the whole affair is incom-
prehensible to her, we have one spe-
cies Of puzzle. If she had reason to
expect a murderous attack of some
kind. but was only surprised and ter
rified at the manner of it, we have
quite a different problem. What do
you know of these psople?"
Hush said, for / saw, out Of the
corner Of my eye, the figure of a man
come around the house and pause
at sight of us. I turned. 1t was Mr..
Sandys. Mr.. John Sandys was a short
gentleman with wide shoulders and thick
waist His neck was unusually short,
and his wide face habitually wore an ex-
preston which, to give it the best OF
it, was placid.
Good afternoon" said Alpin.
"Howdy dor he responded.
"A frightful thing has happened"
said I.
rs that so?" he responded in ex-
actly the tone he would have used il I
had mentioned my belief that it would
rain.
IAN attempt" said Alpin. '"has been
made to murder your wife"
Who did it?" said Mr.. Sandys.
Some one" said Alpin, sent your
wife a poisonous snake by mail"
What kind of snake?" asked Mr.
Sandys. Then, after a moments ap-
bite her, did it?'
NO"
He hesitated. as il striving to cope
with the situation. Must have kind
Of frightened her, I guess" he said.
Mr.. Sandys," Alpin said stern
ly, do you know of any reason why
your wife might fear a murderous at
tack?'
'Susan?"t He pondered it briefly.
"Why-no.'
Have you or Mrs. Sandys an enc
my?"
Il spoee,'' he said, there's folks
that don't like us. Everybody can't
like everybody. But that amt rea-
son to send snakes"
'"Hardly," said Alpin dryly.
You will notify the police at once %
said I.
What for?' he responded with the
minutest trace Of irritation. There
amt any harm done"
Because" said 1 angrily. the in
dividual who made this attempt will
try again. He must be discovered
before that can happen"
1T is a matter" said Alpin in an
odd tone, for Mr.. Sandys to- de-
eide" With which he turned his back
squarely and walked out Of the yard
Mr.. Sandys. apparently, paid no at
tention to our going. AS we crossed
the street we met Mrs. Sandys re-
turning; she walked hurriedly and
passed US without token of recog-
milton.
Jenkins" said Alpin Stone, when
we reached my piazza and dropped
itno chairs. John Sandys is either a
very good man or a very bad man. In
either event he is a remarkable man."
He impresses me as being a clGA"
said I.
4 T that moment the newsboy threw
folded paper upon the steps
I opened 1t to glance at the days
news. The first item my eyes en-
countered was a so-called feature
story in the middle of the page under
the cartoon. imagine the occurrence
Of the word SNAKE" in the headline
arrested my attention. read 1t has
tily and passed 1t to Alpin.
The item, written in jocular vein
described with much detail how some one
house at the zoo. admitting himself
by cutting the pane from the window
with a diamond. There were sur
misses as to the purpose and alcoholic
condition of the burglar: but the
telling point Of the narration was
the fact that certain snake, a cobra
recently arrived from India, was miss.
ing.
Perhaps" said Alpin, I'VE should
not have killed the reptile. Doubtless
it was valuable specimen"
He was silent moment, looking
apprehensively from time to time to.
ward his own house. His especial
worry when engaged upon some Grim.
inal problem was lest his wife should
discover his activity Mrs. A1pin
Stone regarded her husbands pen.
chant for criminal investigation as q
low habit, savoring of large feet and
broad shoes and taking of snuff