WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.200 --> 00:00:05.400 Suspense, which is usually heard at this hour on Thursday nights, 2 00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:09.640 is taking its customary summer holiday. Suspense returns to the 3 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:12.880 air two weeks from tonight on Thursday September. 4 00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:28.320 First, you are standing at the doorway of a cabin 5 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:29.600 on Cashier Creek. 6 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:30.960 Upon the ridge. 7 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:34.119 The bloodhounds have caught your scent, and between you and 8 00:00:34.200 --> 00:00:38.520 the fortune, between you and escape yon, the white jaws 9 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:40.079 of the deadly Cottonmouth. 10 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:52.679 We offer you escape, designed to free you from the 11 00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:55.200 four walls of to day for a half hour of 12 00:00:55.399 --> 00:01:09.200 high adventure. Tonight we escaped to the worn out acres 13 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:12.480 of a poor farm somewhere in the Southern Mountains with 14 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:17.120 Irvin S. COB's Great Tale of Vengeance Snake Doctor. 15 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:25.840 Far back in the Southern Mountains, it's quiet and hot 16 00:01:26.359 --> 00:01:29.480 and lonely. One Pine Scott Hill is very much like 17 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:32.959 the next, and one Winding Creek differs little from Anana. 18 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:36.480 The area through which Cashier Creek twisted was the same 19 00:01:36.519 --> 00:01:42.879 as all the rest, except for the snakes, deadly venomous 20 00:01:43.239 --> 00:01:48.040 cotton mouths moccasins. They have probably more snakes along Cashier 21 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:52.079 Creek and anywhere else. Most people lived in constant, deadly 22 00:01:52.200 --> 00:01:54.439 fear of these snakes, but there was one man who 23 00:01:54.519 --> 00:01:58.280 even seemed to like them, a man they called snake Doctor. 24 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:01.640 His cabin was the creek bottom where the cotton moles 25 00:02:01.640 --> 00:02:04.280 were the Communist and he earned his megal living by 26 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:07.319 rendering down their soft fetch, bottling the oil and selling it. 27 00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:12.400 Snake Doctor seemed harmless enough, but there was one man 28 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:15.159 who believed he was a colleague of the devil, who 29 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:23.199 hated him because he wasn't afraid of the snakes. This 30 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:27.479 man was Jaf Mourner, the snake Doctor's nearest neighbor. Jaf 31 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:30.199 was that dangerous kind of man who suspected, feared, and 32 00:02:30.360 --> 00:02:34.800 hated anything he didn't understand, and he understood neither cotton 33 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:39.439 moles nor the snake Doctor. Jaf was ornery, ignorant, and shiftless. 34 00:02:39.639 --> 00:02:42.199 He'd rather shoot squirrels in chop cotton. He'd rather fish 35 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:46.479 and whole corn. And that's what he's doing now, fishing 36 00:02:46.599 --> 00:02:49.439 down at the big hole with his son and heir. Finney, 37 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:52.560 who's old enough but not quite bright enough to handle 38 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:55.240 the gun, missed him. 39 00:02:55.159 --> 00:02:58.039 Dogging any plain fool, I told you not to touch 40 00:02:58.120 --> 00:02:58.599 my gun. 41 00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:01.479 Trump on him popper. He gets in the creeph, the 42 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:03.400 cotton mat talk found. 43 00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:10.719 In front of you, him the varmitt he gonna put 44 00:03:10.719 --> 00:03:11.680 on him with stop. 45 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:21.319 You don't eat to son. He's dead. Now, come here, Paul. 46 00:03:22.439 --> 00:03:25.000 How'd he hit anything with that rifle? I had a 47 00:03:25.039 --> 00:03:27.800 beat drawer right on him, and I don't fool that 48 00:03:27.960 --> 00:03:28.680 for Paul. 49 00:03:28.919 --> 00:03:31.639 S turn up at Filthy Snake Whilst I'm a fishing. 50 00:03:31.639 --> 00:03:34.439 Becky was sunning himself not more than two feet from you. 51 00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:35.719 He was just two feet. 52 00:03:35.879 --> 00:03:38.719 Never mind, I kind of talk. There won't be no 53 00:03:38.759 --> 00:03:45.240 fish around httle funderation after all that racket. Well, come on, 54 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:45.800 let's go. 55 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:47.479 Home and get us some viddles. 56 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:53.520 Jath Morning tossed his bait can into the creek and 57 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:56.639 threw a stick after him. He stood there, watching the 58 00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:59.400 stick drift slowly toward the big hole, where the creek 59 00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:03.439 widened by behind a jam of driftboarding. Jaf watched as 60 00:04:03.479 --> 00:04:05.960 the eddie caught the stick and sucked it beneath the dam. 61 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:11.840 Jaf was curious. He moved downstream eroded to and waited, 62 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:15.719 watching the water boil up from under the driftboard. But 63 00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:20.240 the stick didn't come up. That was strange. It must 64 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:22.439 have caught under there and a tangle of water soaked 65 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:27.120 and sunken logs. Probably he'd stayed there for months. Perhaps 66 00:04:27.160 --> 00:04:28.879 stay there always. 67 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:29.639 Let's get these. 68 00:04:29.720 --> 00:04:33.160 Paw Jay thought about this, and an idea began to 69 00:04:33.319 --> 00:04:36.240 form in his slow mind as he and Finnish started 70 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:36.680 for home. 71 00:04:38.279 --> 00:04:39.759 How much are your reckons in this? 72 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:45.680 And Paul, Daddy, what you john about this old cotton man? 73 00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:47.360 How much are you wreckon? 74 00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:48.160 Gow it down? 75 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:50.160 Go it down? Why far? 76 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:53.160 I'm go it down, like I say all. 77 00:04:54.279 --> 00:04:56.639 I was aiming on rendering the old cotton mouth's pat 78 00:04:56.759 --> 00:04:57.959 like the snake doctor does. 79 00:04:58.600 --> 00:05:00.639 I was in the ceiling make myself some money. 80 00:05:00.920 --> 00:05:03.120 I don't like a squirm of things around me, but 81 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:05.040 it's dead. Neither word dropped? 82 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:11.079 You scared on cotton mouths, Paul, I ain't. 83 00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:13.160 No better than get myself bit by him. 84 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:13.720 Dip Bailey. 85 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:16.360 Know the fella got hisself bit one who We're in 86 00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:18.879 a draft of liquor for mines. So he goes to 87 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:21.319 work and he cuts open a life chicken and he 88 00:05:21.399 --> 00:05:23.079 put on his leg where the butte was. 89 00:05:23.319 --> 00:05:24.240 Bella lived too. 90 00:05:26.160 --> 00:05:29.680 Reckon Mister rives ever gets herself bit, I mean handling 91 00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:31.079 cotton mouths like he does. 92 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:33.000 Who mister Ryves. 93 00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:38.199 Who, mister Rives, that's Old snake Doctor's real name, Mas says, 94 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:39.639 out and call him snake doctor. 95 00:05:39.800 --> 00:05:42.480 Never mind what your moss says. Nobody in my family's 96 00:05:42.519 --> 00:05:44.800 calling those snake loving scum. Mister Rives. 97 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:49.920 Heck, that's what I say, all right, But I made 98 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:53.360 myself some money renting that cotton mouth fat. 99 00:05:53.240 --> 00:05:56.959 Down in the oil. How much your reckon old snake 100 00:05:57.040 --> 00:05:58.120 Doctor makes out and all. 101 00:05:58.120 --> 00:06:01.680 He sells, I don't ut, Tip Bailey says, Old snake 102 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:04.560 Doctor's got more than a thousand dollars hit weat somewhere 103 00:06:04.600 --> 00:06:04.959 is in his. 104 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:08.600 Cabin, more than that most likely cush it, old miser, 105 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:12.040 don't spend nothing, ain't got nothing save that rack of 106 00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:14.120 bones mass Tip. 107 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:16.720 Bailey says, whenever Old snake Doctor sets foot out in 108 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:19.720 his place, he's got the granddaddy of all cotton mouths. 109 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:21.680 And he leaves out in the cabin to stand god 110 00:06:21.720 --> 00:06:25.519 over his money. Tip Bailey says, he'd eat Old snake Doctor, 111 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:27.759 put him in his pocket, live ones too. 112 00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:30.800 Snake Doctor ain't fitting a belive hisself. 113 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:34.279 Mar says he ain't so bad, says he don't mean nobody. 114 00:06:33.959 --> 00:06:36.720 Harm yr Mar better be careful who she's so shavan with. 115 00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:40.199 She says, he just don't have good sands, had the 116 00:06:40.199 --> 00:06:46.759 fever too much? Daddy, you ever been in snake doctor's place? 117 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:48.759 I don't have nothing more than I have to to 118 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:50.519 do with that snake loving hohodoo. 119 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:52.920 Dip Bailey says he bet it wouldn't be no task 120 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:55.519 at tall for some no good to poke around the 121 00:06:55.519 --> 00:06:58.720 snake doctors shack and maybe find all the money and 122 00:06:58.759 --> 00:06:59.639 make off with it. 123 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:07.199 M blame your son's durnire renting me. Now look my 124 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:09.040 head full of sweat. 125 00:07:09.800 --> 00:07:14.079 Look, daddy, huh see full of sweat, durn near God, 126 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:20.040 full of sweat? Come on, why turning down that a way? Paul, 127 00:07:20.600 --> 00:07:22.480 coming on noon dinner, be most ready. 128 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:24.959 I'm gonna tell the snake loving hoodo that there's some 129 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:27.120 of them cotton males on the quick side out, doesn't it? 130 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:28.720 Yeah, he knows that. 131 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:31.920 I'm gonna tell him. He's got my leave to catch him. 132 00:07:31.959 --> 00:07:33.040 You don't need to come. 133 00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:36.240 Along if you're going over there his place, I'd kind 134 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:55.839 of like to see it for my own, saying, go 135 00:07:55.920 --> 00:07:56.160 on in. 136 00:07:56.399 --> 00:07:59.519 Paul, he ain't a home else? Why is he to 137 00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:04.040 shoot his say? If by now I reckon, can you 138 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:05.000 see any snakes? 139 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:07.519 I told you to keep an eye out for I 140 00:08:07.560 --> 00:08:09.800 bet it's in one of them chinks, Paul, Paul, bet 141 00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:10.399 the money is in. 142 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:11.240 One of living. 143 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:14.199 Huh. 144 00:08:15.639 --> 00:08:18.920 Must be a dang snake itself living in a place 145 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:19.439 like kids. 146 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:22.240 I know you ain't looking for any money, Paul, But 147 00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:24.639 ifing you was, wouldn't you look at that the chink 148 00:08:24.759 --> 00:08:25.279 right up there? 149 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:28.959 Where right there second log brother fireplace on the right. 150 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:30.319 You see that the hole? 151 00:08:31.360 --> 00:08:34.320 Yeah, I reckon, I would look up there. 152 00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:38.759 Since we're here, it might as well see for myself, Paul. 153 00:08:39.480 --> 00:08:41.759 I wouldn't be a much surprised if old snake doctor 154 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:47.440 had him, Paul, Paul, bo was. 155 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:52.200 You looking for something, Jake mana snake doctor? 156 00:08:53.039 --> 00:09:01.200 Yeah? I was looking for you. I won't here, yeah, yeah, uh? 157 00:09:01.240 --> 00:09:03.480 Look here your hudo? What's side here? Sneaking up on folks? 158 00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:04.960 Who's took a trouble to come all the way down 159 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:05.840 here to do you a favor? 160 00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:26.639 Huh? Eh, come on, Fenny, were getting out of here, yes, 161 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:28.080 like as not. 162 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:30.840 They had a dang old Marcus and scratching around in 163 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:31.399 his pocket. 164 00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:37.200 Whils he was talking to you? Daddy? Do you mind 165 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:38.960 how his eyes was when he come in. 166 00:09:40.440 --> 00:09:41.879 Do you mind how I kept looking up at the 167 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:43.480 wall where I said, I bet he had the money 168 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:44.200 between the chinks. 169 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:48.039 Fnny, what don't you say nothing to your more about 170 00:09:48.080 --> 00:09:50.320 us being at the snake Doctor's. Please you understand why 171 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:55.399 you just don't? And don't you go night again? H 172 00:09:56.200 --> 00:09:58.919 cus old vomit. He thought we was proud of as 173 00:09:58.960 --> 00:09:59.559 way he acted. 174 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:06.759 Prowlers, mall then up already you pull in your time. 175 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:10.360 Yeah, I got time up for a dinner, got down 176 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:12.120 the spring and got me the pole. 177 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:14.759 If you tell you stumps you can. 178 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:20.480 Catch innyc and Jebb, how. 179 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:22.519 You think I can catch fish with fetty? Fine off 180 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:24.279 my gun and cut miles all the time. 181 00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:31.080 M hent his heat on the buddy can bear any 182 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:36.000 colder but the creek uh had poured on Miss Rives, 183 00:10:36.039 --> 00:10:37.559 come buy here spell of gold? 184 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:42.320 My knight shook the pieces with a chill. Uhh he 185 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:43.080 come by? 186 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:43.559 Did he? 187 00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:45.440 What did he come in? 188 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:46.799 Just from men? 189 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:48.879 Just for a minute? 190 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:49.840 What do he want? 191 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:50.879 He wanted to? 192 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:54.320 Could have given me some fir zailment, jezbe I could 193 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:57.759 drag one sord food afore the other barey could make 194 00:10:57.799 --> 00:10:59.000 it up here from his place. 195 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:00.919 My dosed out. 196 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:04.480 Now butler's acre drops wola, give him a little smidge 197 00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:05.440 and liquor. 198 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:09.519 On, h you would please? Don't Jeff don't want me? 199 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:17.480 Don't Jeff don't want me? Just poured on mister, mister. 200 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:19.720 Mister Ves. 201 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:24.080 How many times I gotta tell you that Hoodo's name 202 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:25.240 is snake doctor. 203 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:28.000 You don't mean nobody know? 204 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:28.960 Huh? 205 00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:31.000 He give made his skin of lost wits, hide and 206 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:36.240 teller and you calling him mister Rives. Mmm, you'll be 207 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:42.120 calling him honey and sugar next without I lot. 208 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:46.440 You please, Jeff please, bad names? 209 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:58.240 Eh w I aim? What's his name? Now? 210 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:01.399 Well? 211 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:04.519 What's your pull? 212 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:06.919 Missed Rives name? 213 00:12:07.320 --> 00:12:10.960 Naw sneez? 214 00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:20.480 God kiss him on and rubbed the ugly red weld 215 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:23.200 on her corny arm and gave the frying pan full 216 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:27.120 of sizzling side meat a hopeless nudge. She prayed that 217 00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:29.759 time and food might take the edge off Jafe's temper. 218 00:12:30.919 --> 00:12:33.679 Phinney slouched in from the spring, saw the mark on 219 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:35.360 her arm. 220 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:39.440 Harping, wamping you again, Ma, what'd you do this time? 221 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:43.320 She silently dished up the hog back and corn bread 222 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:46.360 for her two men. While they sat at table She 223 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:49.639 ate on her feet, serving them between bites, as was 224 00:12:49.679 --> 00:12:57.480 the custom in the morning household. After dinner, Finny stretched 225 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:00.440 out under the chinaberry tree. Kissy sat on the porch, 226 00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:03.159 fanning herself and dipping snuff with a peach twig, scarring 227 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:06.600 it back and forth on her gums. Jave took his 228 00:13:06.679 --> 00:13:09.440 ease on the floor of the back room, but he 229 00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:13.480 didn't sleep. The meanness was stirring in him, and his 230 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:16.360 hatred of the man He couldn't understand, the man who'd 231 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:20.159 got rich off a cotton mask. His mind was working 232 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:23.399 on something he'd seen that day and another thing he'd heard. 233 00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:28.679 He was adding them together. That stick could had disappeared 234 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:33.639 under the log jam and the snake doctor's money. It 235 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:36.240 was four o'clock before any of moved, and then Jave 236 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:38.559 spoke to his wife for the first time since noon 237 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:39.360 is it? 238 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:43.080 Where is that the vile drinking liquor by the wind 239 00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:46.120 and took it out in your parking before you laid down. 240 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:48.360 I ought to carry a votle of liquor with me. 241 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:51.919 How much get bit by a moccasin? Sis Paul Wood. 242 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:55.360 Better not of that ma kit you find it? 243 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:59.320 Jay, I just remembered I won't be needing the total 244 00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:01.000 special off with me while I'm going. 245 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:03.000 I wouldn't take no chance, Dave. 246 00:14:03.159 --> 00:14:04.840 There just one cotton mailed. 247 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:07.320 Bike, gotting mouse dog down the slashers e us along 248 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:10.399 a creek. I'll be all this evening's up along Bailey's 249 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:10.759 Ridge and. 250 00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:13.279 A high ground. I fixing the gold shooger. 251 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:16.799 And the gummy chances, young squalls, twich non doch time 252 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:20.639 with them, barking all ramo this morning, reckon, I come along. 253 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:24.559 You staying here? Son, Oh dang it, you'll. 254 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:27.600 Be steaming in the place when the rain comes down. Boy, 255 00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:28.480 you might be neath me. 256 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:33.120 You stay here, dang killy, you set me up a 257 00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:37.039 snack of cold set on the chef, right, Claire, I 258 00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:39.159 won't get back to this plumb dug. 259 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:55.279 In just a moment. We'll return to the second act 260 00:14:55.320 --> 00:14:59.120 of escape. But first, that wonderful variety show with a 261 00:14:59.159 --> 00:15:01.600 purpose CBS. This is one hour long program. This is 262 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:04.039 Broadway will be round again tomorrow night on most of 263 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:08.399 these same stations. Comedian Abe Boroughs, Broadway playwright George S. Kaufman, 264 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:11.759 Master of Ceremonies Clifton Fatiman will all be here playing 265 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:14.559 host to the top stars of show business. Hear these 266 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:17.840 top stars and their top acts. Then listen closely as 267 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:20.279 the expert showmen on This is Broadway helped them with 268 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:24.879 show business problems. And now we returned to the second 269 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:27.200 act of escape and tonight's story. 270 00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:37.240 Snake Doctor Jaith Mourner turned north to his struggling corn rolls, 271 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:39.840 and in a minute he was lost from sight. He 272 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:41.799 kept on for nearly a mile till he came to 273 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:45.440 a wild red mulbery tree. Where there are mulbray's, there 274 00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:53.679 are bounderby squirrels. Very neatly he shot two young grays 275 00:15:56.000 --> 00:16:01.559 right through the head. Jaffe was a massed marksman and 276 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:05.000 unsuspected by any who knew him. Jave had another quality, 277 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:07.799 one that made him more dangerous than the rest of 278 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:12.240 his kind. Jave had an imagination. Today it was an 279 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:15.559 excellent working order. He tied the brain squirrels together and 280 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:18.159 swung him over his shoulder. If needed, they'd be his alibi. 281 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:21.720 And Nanny sat down under a tree for a while. 282 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:29.799 Got plenty of time. Don't need to get on the 283 00:16:29.840 --> 00:16:33.159 snake doctor's place. Will about dust when he comes out 284 00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:41.799 to feed that sway back mare his'n mist ride. He 285 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:45.159 sat out two brisk thundershowers and the influence between them 286 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:48.840 nan He set off in a wide arc down Barey's Branch, 287 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:51.840 along the skirts a little cypress slashed down to the 288 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:55.480 sunken flats edge in Cashier Creek. It took more than 289 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:58.600 an hour, a careful traveling, for he came to his destination, 290 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:03.679 a screen of horse less than fifty yards behind the 291 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:05.079 snake Doctor's cabin. 292 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:09.119 No matter how alen he is, you get up and 293 00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:15.200 come out to feed the rackabooms, mare mysteries. We'll I 294 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:17.960 learn him to go call. He get around another man's 295 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:20.279 woman jay morning. 296 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:23.640 The ladies jealousy heat him the white hatred. At this 297 00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:26.359 moment he was a Vengeaneer's hon Eye didn't admit even 298 00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:28.680 to himself, but the real reason he was here was 299 00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:31.200 his snake doctor's money. Hit him behind the log by 300 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:32.480 the fireplace. 301 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:36.319 Home wrecking snake loving vomit. Well ten minutes from now, 302 00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:38.119 I'll chunk him down a big hole in a creek 303 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:40.960 like I did that stick this morning, and he'd go 304 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:44.920 down and never come up, and nobody will miss him. 305 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:45.440 Nobody. 306 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:48.200 You know, he's gone for leastwise a week, maybe a month, 307 00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:52.400 and maybe if I could get around to it might 308 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:55.559 come back this way some day, book around that cabin 309 00:17:55.599 --> 00:18:00.640 and his and just to see if it's true's. 310 00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:01.079 Having all that money hid away. 311 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:07.759 Jaff Mourner's speculations were cut short. The cabin door opened 312 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:09.759 and a figure stepped out into the growing dusk and 313 00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:12.640 walked toward the stable. He saw the snake Doctor's lop, 314 00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:14.799 the old straw hat, and his dog coat drawn over 315 00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:19.680 a pit. At this distance he couldn't miss, and he didn't. 316 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:22.839 The figure jerked backward and then one face forward. Jae 317 00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:25.000 started for him. Then he stopped. His eyes bugged, his 318 00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:27.119 mouth formed a scream that he couldn't utter. His rifle 319 00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:31.000 dropped to the ground. He had just killed the snake Doctor, 320 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:33.200 killed him dead with a thirty two caliber slug through 321 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:35.920 the head. And there on his door still stood snake 322 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:38.240 Doctor hole and sound staring at him. 323 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:42.440 Jaye mana, what have you done? 324 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:50.160 The scream came at last for Jaf Mourner had seen 325 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:53.160 the devil, a snake Doctor, who arose alive from his 326 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:59.839 bullet riddled body. Jeaff whirled and ran into the deep 327 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:02.799 docking and woods, whimpering like a whipped puppy as he 328 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:06.839 tore through the brush. Escape. He must escape this, this thing. 329 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:09.039 He must get under the shutter of a sound roof. 330 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:11.599 He must have the protection of four walls around him. 331 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:20.559 He ran and ran for hours. It was close to 332 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:22.680 midnight when he came out on a dirt road a 333 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:26.319 short distance southeast of his own land. Beyond the next bend, 334 00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:29.960 he'd be inside a home. And then he stopped. Around 335 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:32.599 the bend. Coming toward him was a joggling lighter landing 336 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:35.559 hanging on a buggy. Jake flattened himself in a clump 337 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:37.680 of brush to hide until the traveler passed, and then, 338 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:39.680 just as the rig was opposite him, he heard a 339 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:41.000 call coming from the other direction. 340 00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:43.079 There who dovey? 341 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.319 Oh there? 342 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:45.640 Oh, ex. 343 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:50.599 Me, Davis, ware that you tip Bailey? 344 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:57.079 Yeah from the junction tolerible tide? What brings you out 345 00:19:57.079 --> 00:20:00.480 this time of night, Davis? Somebody's sake, see nothing. 346 00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:03.359 It's been a postl of trouble of popping in these 347 00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:05.960 bottoms tonight, stiddy boy. 348 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:08.480 Stity, what do you mean a killing? 349 00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:09.680 That's what I mean. 350 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:12.799 You don't see who got killed. 351 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:16.720 I'm fixing to tell you it happened just around dusk 352 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:20.640 time at down an old snake Doctor's place. Yes, was it? 353 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:21.559 He was killed? 354 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:25.160 Give me a time tent. It seems like snake Doctor's 355 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:28.160 been a chilling lately. It was pretty bad off today. 356 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:31.599 So Miss Kissy Mourner she footed it down from her 357 00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:34.079 place to his, and fetching some physic with her and 358 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:35.319 a plate of hot bittles. 359 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:36.279 Am I have thought that? 360 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:38.240 Miss morning Mighty thought you. 361 00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:38.839 Want to hear this? 362 00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:39.039 Hey? 363 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:44.839 Oh boy, well pitty. Soon after she got there, it 364 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:48.400 seemed like he was tired, and he tried to get 365 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:50.240 up out of his bed to go and feed that 366 00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:54.240 old crowbait nagat his'm it started in again by then, 367 00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:57.359 pouring down hide. So she made him stay where he was, 368 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:59.960 and she put on his old hat and throwed his 369 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:03.519 old coat around her. And he wanted to keep out 370 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:05.839 of the wet and no more. And she got outside 371 00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:08.240 and a shot came from the age of the woods, 372 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:11.960 and down she went with a bullet through brains killed 373 00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:17.400 that this is a dog. It was that low flung 374 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:18.440 husband or hers done it. 375 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:21.079 That's who they shot it with him. 376 00:21:21.160 --> 00:21:24.359 Sure thing, oh coy, sure thing, that's certain. 377 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:27.160 Snake Doctor jumped up when he heard the shot, and 378 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:29.640 he catched a quick look at chafe over the fence 379 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:33.440 there was no long streak, and kiss his arm where 380 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:35.000 he must have walked her during the day. 381 00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:38.599 Why hanging just shot you good? Did they kitch him? 382 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:42.920 No, but they're gonna chef get they get. But he's 383 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:46.480 due any minute with his pack of hound dogs tray 384 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:49.359 a lot of lay good ground being damned the way 385 00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:52.519 it is, for sure, old snake doctor. He's just saying, 386 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:55.160 the lord's going to strike the murder down in his track. 387 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:59.519 But me, i'm'na put my main dependence on their bloodhound. 388 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:03.799 Poor miss Marna, she always was a good hearted, hard 389 00:22:03.880 --> 00:22:04.400 working woman. 390 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:09.359 Did that stunt? I shut, Kizzy? 391 00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:13.200 Did you hear something just there? 392 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.319 See I did? 393 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:15.559 Oh? 394 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:17.359 Probably a rabbit breaking through the brede. 395 00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:21.799 And listen, Yeah, the sheriffs are coming. 396 00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:23.519 You can hear them hounds of. 397 00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:24.559 His just for sure. 398 00:22:24.839 --> 00:22:25.480 I gotta hurry. 399 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:29.440 Yeah, come on, I'll see you back at the morna. 400 00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:37.160 You sure will. Jase didn't waste no time more than 401 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:40.039