"The snake instantly scurried away through the
grass, and left no trail behind him. Before the girl could recover from
her swoon, the deadly poison had done its work. The venom of some of
these India snakes is horribly rapid in its action."
"That's true," cried Chick. "I saw one at the theater that evening, the
venom of which would kill a man in ten seconds. A wee bit of a cuss at
that."
"Probably this was one of the same breed," said Nick, grimly. "At all
events, I am sure that murder was the crime, and a snake the means."
"And Sanetta Cervera the criminal."
"Beyond the shadow of a doubt," declared Nick.
"And what do you expect to learn from the Hindoo?"
"I wish to know, in corroboration of my suspicions, whether Pandu Singe
has missed any of his infernal reptiles."
"Ah, I see."
"If he has, my theory is surely correct, and we next must fix the guilt
upon the guilty," said Nick, firmly. "I shall arrest Cervera this very
night, providing the Hindoo informs me that-- Ah, here we are at his
door. Come into the house with me, Chick, and we'll see what he has to
say."
They had stopped before an ordinary brick house on the East Side, and
Nick quickly mounted the steps and rang the bell.
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