The unnatural Mrs. Fox promptly poked her finger through the hole and rubbed the snout of what must have been a full-sized boa-constrictor. Instantly to their horror, the black obstruction, went through a process of splitting, and several deadly fangs were revealed. Once more the wriggling black tongue darted out to caress the lady's unprotected finger. "Oh, you darling!" cried the lady. "Please, Mr. Locksmith, see if you can't find a key that will fit the lock." Marshal Crow dragged his friend toward the door. "Did you see it?" he whispered hoarsely. Before Mort could answer, the door flew open and in rushed Mrs. Bloomer, bareheaded and in a great state of agitation. "For heaven's sake, Anderson, hurry up and come with me," she cried. "Bring a pistol--and, Mort, you get a couple of axes and a pitchfork or two. My God, something awful is loose in one of them rooms upstairs! The most terrible racket is going on in there. I--Oh, there you are!" She caught sight of her lodgers. "Arrest them, Anderson! Lock them up at once. They're dangerous people. They oughtn't to be running at large. Oh, that awful thing! It sounds like it was twenty feet long, and it's thrashing all over the room. Oh, my God! What a scare I've had! Oh, you needn't look at me innocent like that, you two. You're in for it, or my name ain't Jennie Bloomer. Call a posse, Anderson, and surround the hotel. Thank Heaven, the door of that room is locked, but goodness knows how soon it will be crawlin' through the transom." At that instant she discovered that her skirt was almost touching the big black box on the floor. Emitting a sharp squeal, she gave an elephantine leap to the shelter of Anderson's arms, almost bowling him over. "God knows what she's got in that valise," she whimpered. Mr. Fox put on an exceedingly bold front. Realizing that he was cornered, he adopted a lightly boastful air. "What we've got in this valise, as you call it, madam, is worth more than your whole blamed hotel." "Keep away from that valise," warned Anderson Crow, addressing Mr. Fox. "Give me time to think. Somethin's got to be done, and right away. I can't take any chances of these terrible things gettin' loose an' drivin' our citizens out of town." "The first thing you got to do, Anderson Crow," shouted Mrs. Bloomer, "is to capture the reptile that's loose in my hotel. That's what you got to do." She turned upon the pretty Mrs. Fox. "Snake charmer! That's a nice business for a woman to be in. Don't come near me." "I am not thinking of coming near you, you old rip!" said Mrs. Fox, losing her temper in a very womanly fashion. "None o' that, now--none o' that," warned the town marshal. "Keep a civil tongue in your head, young woman." "Why, you long-whiskered old--" began the lady, but her husband spared the Marshal a whirlwind of revelations by taking her arm and leading her to the rear of the store, where for some minutes they were in close and earnest conference.