WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.040 --> 00:00:05.280 The Adventures of Christopher Wells program formerly scheduled at this time, 2 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:08.080 is now broadcast at a new time on Tuesday evenings 3 00:00:08.519 --> 00:00:11.240 Tunion for the Adventures of Christopher Wells Next Tuesday and 4 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:14.519 every Tuesday at nine thirty p m. Eastern Standard Time. 5 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:30.879 You were standing at the doorway of a cabin on 6 00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:35.240 Cashier Creek, upon the ridge the bloodhounds of cottcher scent, 7 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:39.399 and between you and the fortune, between you and escape 8 00:00:40.520 --> 00:00:48.479 on the white jaws of a deadly cotton mouth. 9 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:59.359 Escape reduced and directed by William N. Robeson, and carefully 10 00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:01.759 contrived to for you from the four walls of today 11 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:03.920 for a half hour of high adventure. 12 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:11.719 Tonight we escaped to the worn out acres of a 13 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:16.159 poor white trash farmer somewhere in the southern mountains. In 14 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:28.400 urbanesque Cub's great tale of vengeance, Snake Doctor. This story 15 00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:33.079 is about snakes and two men. One man was afraid 16 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:34.840 of snakes and the other wasn't. 17 00:01:35.319 --> 00:01:38.560 The one who wasn't was known along Cashier Creek as 18 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:42.760 Snake Doctor. His cabin was near the creek bottom land, 19 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:46.359 where there's a powerful lot of cotton mouths, and he 20 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:50.400 earned his meager living by rendering down their soft fats, 21 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:54.439 bottling the oil and selling it for Everyone knew there 22 00:01:54.480 --> 00:01:59.079 was no remedy for rheumatism like snake oil. Snake Doctor 23 00:01:59.239 --> 00:02:03.480 was harmless. But there were folks who honestly believed that 24 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:06.879 he was a colleague of Bielzebub just because he wasn't 25 00:02:06.920 --> 00:02:07.959 afraid of snakes. 26 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:09.400 And that's not. 27 00:02:09.400 --> 00:02:20.639 All they believed about him. 28 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:25.319 Now, the man who was afraid of snakes was Jaf Mourner, 29 00:02:25.360 --> 00:02:29.199 who was Snake Doctor's nearest neighbor. Jaffe was the kind 30 00:02:29.240 --> 00:02:33.680 of man we all know who suspected, feared, and hated 31 00:02:34.199 --> 00:02:38.759 anything he didn't understand, and he understood neither cotton mouths 32 00:02:38.840 --> 00:02:42.479 nor the snake Doctor. In short, Jaff was on her, 33 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:47.000 ignorant and shiftless. He'd rather shoot squirrels and chopped cotton. 34 00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:50.759 He'd rather fished and whole corn. And that's just what 35 00:02:50.840 --> 00:02:54.039 he's doing now, fishing down the big hole with his 36 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:58.360 son and heir. Finney, who's old enough but not quite 37 00:02:58.520 --> 00:02:59.919 bright enough to handle a. 38 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:01.960 Missed him. 39 00:03:02.039 --> 00:03:06.280 Dobby, Benny, you play pool, gets in the creek, the 40 00:03:06.360 --> 00:03:08.639 cotton mouth tramp on him in front of it. 41 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:14.039 You got him, He caught him. Keep your foot on 42 00:03:14.120 --> 00:03:16.879 him while I finish the stick. You don't need to son. 43 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:22.159 Hey, he's dead, now come here. 44 00:03:23.319 --> 00:03:25.000 How can you hear anything of that rifle? 45 00:03:25.080 --> 00:03:25.280 Paul? 46 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:27.639 I had to be draught on him riding I. 47 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:32.680 Could turn fool flame snake whilst I'm a fishing Heck, you. 48 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:34.759 Were, sonny itself? Not more than to there from you? 49 00:03:35.360 --> 00:03:36.520 How'd you like to get yourself? 50 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:36.759 Bit? 51 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:41.960 Won't be no fish roundhead of funderation after all that record. Well, 52 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:44.719 come on, let's go home and get us some fiddles. 53 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:55.960 Jeef Mourner tossed his bait can into the creek and 54 00:03:56.159 --> 00:03:59.639 threw a stick after it. He stood there watching. 55 00:03:59.319 --> 00:04:01.719 The stick slowly taught the big. 56 00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:05.240 Hole where the creek widened behind a jam of drift wood. 57 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:08.800 Jake watched as the edd he caught the stick and 58 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:13.759 sucked it beneath the dam. Jeff was curious. He moved 59 00:04:13.800 --> 00:04:16.920 downstream a rod or two and waited, watching the water 60 00:04:17.079 --> 00:04:20.319 boil up from under the drift wood. But the stick 61 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:21.160 didn't come up. 62 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:23.040 That was strange. 63 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:26.480 Matched cord under there, in a tangle of water, soap, 64 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:31.639 and sunken logs, probably had stayed there for months. Maybe 65 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:37.839 stay there always, Jee considered this, and an idea began 66 00:04:37.959 --> 00:04:40.800 to form in his slow mind as he and finished 67 00:04:40.839 --> 00:04:41.399 out at home. 68 00:04:42.120 --> 00:04:46.800 Hey, Paul, how much joy you reckons? And this one? Paul? 69 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:48.199 Paul? 70 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:49.680 What you join about? 71 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:50.120 Son? 72 00:04:50.360 --> 00:04:54.800 It's old cotton man? How much ore it down? Go down? 73 00:04:54.920 --> 00:04:58.560 Why go down? Like I say, I'll make your wish. 74 00:04:58.759 --> 00:05:01.160 I was even on rindom you cotton mouse fat like 75 00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:04.079 the snake doctor. Doesn't. Maybe sell it and make myself 76 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:04.600 some money. 77 00:05:04.600 --> 00:05:07.160 I don't like a squirming things around me, but it's dead. 78 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:11.279 Leave it word dropped. I've come on home. 79 00:05:14.279 --> 00:05:15.879 You were scared on cotton mouse? 80 00:05:15.959 --> 00:05:16.160 Paul? 81 00:05:17.639 --> 00:05:20.199 I know better than to get myself bit by him? 82 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:21.120 Tip Bailey. 83 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:23.720 Know the fella got hisself fit once and there weren't 84 00:05:23.720 --> 00:05:26.000 a drop of liquor for myus. So he goes to 85 00:05:26.040 --> 00:05:28.560 work and cuts open the live chicken and puts it 86 00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:35.160 by his leg where the bite was, and fella lived too. Reckon, 87 00:05:35.240 --> 00:05:38.759 Mister Rives, ever gets yourself bit, Paul handling cotton mouths 88 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:39.399 like he does? 89 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:41.399 Who mister Rives? 90 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:42.000 Who? 91 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:43.399 Mister Rives? 92 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:46.800 That's old snake Doctor's real name, Mar says, I oughtn't 93 00:05:46.839 --> 00:05:47.839 to call him snake doctor. 94 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:50.480 Never mind what Jr. Mar says, nobody in my family's 95 00:05:50.519 --> 00:05:52.519 calling nose snake loving scum. Mister ride. 96 00:05:52.600 --> 00:05:53.800 Heck, that's what I say. 97 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:55.279 Wanna see what you do? 98 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:59.839 Sure, Paul, you know I could have made myself some 99 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:02.800 honey renting that cotton mouse fat down into oil. 100 00:06:05.160 --> 00:06:07.560 How much you reckon Old snake Doctor makes out in all? 101 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:09.000 He says, I don't know. 102 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:12.560 Tip Bailey says, Old snake Doctor's got more than a 103 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:15.000 thousand dollars hit away somewhere as in his cabin. 104 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:19.279 More night, most likely cut it, Old miser, don't spend nothing. 105 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:22.240 I ain't got nothing say about old rack of bones. 106 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:25.480 Man dip Bailey says, whenever Old snake Doctor sets foot 107 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:28.199 out in his place, he's got the granddaddy of all 108 00:06:28.600 --> 00:06:30.680 cotton mouse that he leaves out in the cabin to 109 00:06:30.759 --> 00:06:34.079 stand god on his money. M dip Bailey says he 110 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:36.279 see the old snake Doctor put him in his pocket, 111 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:37.839 live cotton mouse. 112 00:06:37.959 --> 00:06:40.680 Snake Doctor ain't fitting a belive itself. 113 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:43.720 Or mar says he ain't bad, says he don't mean nobody. 114 00:06:43.800 --> 00:06:46.600 Hih, you mall better be careful who she's so satan with. 115 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:48.600 She says he don't have good sense. 116 00:06:49.079 --> 00:06:53.240 Had the fever too much, He says, you ever been 117 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:54.720 the snake Doctor's cabin. 118 00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:56.360 Paul, I don't have nothing more I have to to 119 00:06:56.399 --> 00:06:57.959 do with that snake loving hodoo. 120 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:01.000 Tip Bailey says he bet wouldn't be no task all 121 00:07:01.079 --> 00:07:03.720 for something no good. Poke around in the snake doctor 122 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:06.360 shack and find all the money and make off with it. 123 00:07:08.279 --> 00:07:10.000 Hm. 124 00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:14.600 Oh, this blames and durnire, rendering me down. Look in 125 00:07:14.680 --> 00:07:18.399 my head full of sweat, Paul, here, look here, Mmm 126 00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:22.560 see durn there, God full of sweat, Come off me? 127 00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:25.600 Why it turned down that way? 128 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:28.040 Paul? It's come on noon dinner, be most ready. 129 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:30.199 I'm gonna tell a snake love and hoodoos that there's 130 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:33.000 some of them cotton miles on the criickside of deadn't. 131 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:34.120 Oh here kenos. 132 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:36.040 Then I'm gonna tell him he's got my leave to 133 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:38.399 catch him. You don't need to come along if you 134 00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:38.879 don't want it. 135 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:41.600 Well, if you're going over to his place, I'd kind 136 00:07:41.639 --> 00:07:43.040 of like to see it my own set. 137 00:07:56.519 --> 00:07:57.480 Going in, Paul. 138 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:00.319 He ain't to whom else? He to showed himself now, 139 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:03.160 I reckon, So can you see any of the snakes? 140 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:04.879 I told you to keep an eye out for him. 141 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:07.439 I bets in one of them chinks, Paul, I bet 142 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:07.839 the money. 143 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:13.160 I ain't a looking for no money. Huh, must be 144 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:16.839 a dang snake itself living in a place like you, Paul. 145 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:19.959 I know you ain't looking for any money, But if 146 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:22.000 in you was, wouldn't you're looking at chink. 147 00:08:21.959 --> 00:08:22.519 Right up there? 148 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:24.399 Oh where sir? 149 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:27.720 Right there? Second dog by the fireplace on the right. 150 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:29.040 You see that the hole? 151 00:08:29.959 --> 00:08:33.159 Yeah, I reckon, I would look up there. Well, since 152 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:35.720 we're here, might as well see for myself. 153 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:38.200 Oh, I wouldn't be a much surprised if old snake 154 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:44.840 doctor somebody's out on the porch. It's a snake doctor. 155 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:48.440 You're looking for something, Jae morning. 156 00:08:48.679 --> 00:08:52.120 Eh, yeah, I was looking for you? 157 00:08:52.919 --> 00:08:53.639 What yeah? 158 00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:55.360 Yeah? 159 00:08:55.440 --> 00:08:56.759 Yeah? 160 00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:59.240 Look here you'll holdo what side there snaking up on 161 00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:00.919 folks who took a trouble to come all the way 162 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:02.240 down here to do you a favor? 163 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:16.840 Well, sirl Like it's not that old snake doctor. I 164 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:20.159 had a dang moccasin swretching around in his pocket. We'll 165 00:09:20.200 --> 00:09:24.120 still's talking to your Paul. Did you mind how his 166 00:09:24.200 --> 00:09:27.759 eyes was when he come in? M dang, if it 167 00:09:27.799 --> 00:09:30.120 wasn't blazing like like when you run across a little 168 00:09:30.200 --> 00:09:32.799 rabbit or cat in the dars giving me out of 169 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:33.679 ten years gross? 170 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:36.440 Dang if you didn't and did you mind? 171 00:09:36.519 --> 00:09:38.039 I kept looking up at the war where I said, 172 00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:40.840 I bet he had the money between the chinks out it. Huh? 173 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:43.720 Then they don't you say nothing to your more about 174 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:45.919 us being at the snake Doctor's. Please you understand? 175 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:48.399 Why should I just don't? Andy? 176 00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:52.279 Don't you go night again? Because old vomit? You'd have 177 00:09:52.279 --> 00:09:54.120 thought we was prowlers the way he acted? 178 00:09:56.840 --> 00:10:00.320 Yup, mom? Then about riding? 179 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:00.960 Come? 180 00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:03.960 Yeah? Have I time enough for dinner? To go down 181 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:06.600 the spring? Get me some more cold water? And even 182 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:09.919 you tell you some hurry up? Son, I'm hungry. 183 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:14.519 Mm can'tch anything? 184 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:14.879 Jay? 185 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:17.840 How you think I can catch fish with finny? Fine? 186 00:10:17.879 --> 00:10:19.840 Off my gun at cock miles all the time. 187 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:23.519 He's this heat on the body, can bear? 188 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:25.000 Oh? 189 00:10:25.399 --> 00:10:30.159 Any cooler of the creek. Now they poured on his rids. 190 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:33.159 Come by here, spare to go? My knife shook the 191 00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:34.320 pieces with a chill. 192 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:36.120 Oh he come by? 193 00:10:36.279 --> 00:10:36.519 Did he? 194 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:37.399 What? 195 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:41.360 Did he come in just for a minute, just for minyity? 196 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:45.000 What do he want he wanted? Could I gave him 197 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:46.120 something for his ailman. 198 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:49.759 He just buy a drag one side foot for the 199 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:51.639 other barely could make it. 200 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:54.399 Up here from his place. I reckon he must be 201 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:55.559 down bed with the fever. 202 00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:58.360 But now I tell her by the touch was rising 203 00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:01.639 anyone that left here and started back home again. I'll 204 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:04.240 give him my dogs out in now butler's aggre drops. 205 00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:07.480 I would have give him a little smidge and liquor. 206 00:11:07.480 --> 00:11:12.399 Oh you would, please don't jake, don't don't want me 207 00:11:13.200 --> 00:11:20.039 for fries, mister Rives, mister Ves. 208 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:22.120 How many times I gotta tell you that the old 209 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:23.480 hoodle's name is snake doctor. 210 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:26.279 You don't mean nobody. 211 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:29.360 Know emitted skin of loss for its hide and teller. 212 00:11:29.399 --> 00:11:33.919 And you calling him mister Rives, you'll be calling him 213 00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:40.279 honey and sugar next well without I learn you please 214 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:47.120 please paid names? Huh tell brother that could you? Well? 215 00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:48.799 I am to love. 216 00:11:51.320 --> 00:11:59.679 What's his name? Now? Well? What's ship for? Mister Rives? 217 00:11:59.799 --> 00:11:59.840 Me? 218 00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:01.000 Now? 219 00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:02.960 Nay? 220 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:12.639 Dogged kiss him on her, rubbed the ugly red welt 221 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:15.960 on her scrawny arm, and gave the frying panful of 222 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:20.519 sizzling side made a hopeless nudge. She prayed that the 223 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:23.480 weight of the victuals might take theirge off Jaff's temper. 224 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:27.440 Phini slouched in from the spring, saw the mark on 225 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:27.919 her arm. 226 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:29.960 Poppy wamping you again, mam. 227 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:34.480 She didn't answer, what you do this time? She silently 228 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:37.600 dished up the hog back and corn bread for two men, 229 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:41.600 and while they sat at table, she ate on her feet, 230 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:44.759 serving them between bites, as was the custom in the 231 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:57.279 morning household. After dinner, Phinish stretched out under the china 232 00:12:57.320 --> 00:13:01.240 berry tree, and Kissy sat on the porch, fanning herself 233 00:13:01.240 --> 00:13:04.440 and dipping snuff with a peach twig, scouring it back 234 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:08.039 and forth on her gums. Jeff took his ees on 235 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:11.279 the floor of the back room, but he didn't sleep. 236 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:15.679 One thing he'd seen that day and another thing he 237 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:20.440 had heard. He was adding them together. That stick that 238 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:24.759 had disappeared under the log jam, and the snake ducked 239 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:28.759 his money. It was four o'clock before any of them stirred, 240 00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:31.679 And then Jeff spoke to his wife for the first 241 00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:32.679 time since noon. 242 00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:34.519 Where's that the violet drinking liquor? 243 00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:37.600 Because he by the wind and took it out in 244 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:39.440 here parking after he laid down. 245 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:42.759 I ought to carry a violet drinking liquor with me, mam, 246 00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:46.120 I might just bit by no marcus as through's Paul. 247 00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:49.600 Wood ain't been all. Let me catch you if I 248 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:50.279 find a jay. 249 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:53.080 I just remembered, i'mon't be needing to toe no splits 250 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:54.200 along with me while I'm going. 251 00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:58.960 I wouldn't take no chance. Just one cotton half bike. 252 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:02.120 Cotton mouse aw down slashes else along a creek. Well, 253 00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:04.240 I'll be this evening's up on Bailey's Ridge in the 254 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:07.080 high ground is vixing the girl shooting. I aimed to 255 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:10.120 gun me a chance of young squalls between non dust. 256 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:12.080 Time reckon, I'll come along. Paul. 257 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:13.519 You're staying here, son? 258 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:17.080 Oh dang, it be steaming in the place when the 259 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:20.720 rain comes down. Paul, you might be needing you stay here? 260 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:25.279 Oh, Paul and Kizzy set me up a snack of 261 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:27.440 cold sup on a shelf. Likely I won't get back 262 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:28.279 to his plumped u. 263 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:39.000 Jeff Marner turned north through his struggling corn rows, and 264 00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:42.159 in a minute he was lost from side. He kept 265 00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:44.440 on for nearly a mile until he came to a 266 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:49.159 wild red mulberry tree. Where mullberrys are, they're bound to 267 00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:54.360 be squalled. Very neatly, he shot two young grays through 268 00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:58.919 the head. But Jeefe was a master marksman and UH 269 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:03.279 unsuspected by any who knew him. Chief had another quality 270 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:08.679 denied most of his kind. He had an imagination today 271 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:11.919 it was an excellent working on her. He tied the 272 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:16.039 brain squirrels together and swung him over his shoulder. If needed, 273 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:20.120 they would be his alibi. Then he sat down under 274 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:20.519 a tree. 275 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:25.399 Awhile, yeah, I got plenty of time. Don't need to 276 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:27.960 get down the snake Doctor's place about dusk when he 277 00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:34.120 comes out to feed that sweep back Mary his mist dive. 278 00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:46.200 He sat out two brisk thundershowers and the intervals between them. 279 00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:50.679 Then he started off in a wide arc down Bailey's Branch, 280 00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:53.600 along the skirts, a little cypers slash to the sunken 281 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:57.200 flat's edge and cash Hare Creek. Took more than an 282 00:15:57.240 --> 00:16:01.279 hour careful traveling before he came to his destiny. UH 283 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:05.120 screening of hall bushers less than fifty yards behind the 284 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:06.399 snake Doctor's cabin. 285 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:11.000 No matter how hellen he is, he'll get up and 286 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:13.000 come out to feed that rack of bones. 287 00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:13.279 Mare. 288 00:16:14.879 --> 00:16:19.039 Miss the rimes, UH learn him to go colleaking around 289 00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:20.039 another man's woman. 290 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:23.559 James Marner let his jealousy heat him to a white hatred. 291 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:26.159 At this moment, he was a venge in his honor, 292 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:29.679 and thus was spared the embarrassment of admitting to himself 293 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:32.240 that the real reason he was here was a snake 294 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:35.879 doctor's money hiding behind the log by the fireplace. 295 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:40.480 The homewreck in snake love and vomit. Ten minutes from now, I'll 296 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:42.799 chuck him down the big hole in a creek like 297 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:45.240 I did a stick this morning, and he'll go down 298 00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:49.279 and never come out, and nobody will miss him. Nobody'll 299 00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:51.279 know he's gone for least by his a week, maybe 300 00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:55.279 a month. And maybe if I get around to it, 301 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:59.919 might come back this way some day. Poke around that cabining. 302 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:07.799 Jaff Mourner's speculations were cut short. The cabin door opened 303 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:10.480 and a figure stepped out into the grown dusk and 304 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:14.039 walked toward the stable. He saw the snake doctor's lop, 305 00:17:14.119 --> 00:17:17.079 the old straw hat, and his dark coat drawn over 306 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:20.400 a pair of hunched, narrow shoulders. At this distance he 307 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:25.160 couldn't miss, and he didn't. The figure jerked backward and 308 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:28.160 then went face forward. Jeff started for him, and then 309 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:31.400 it stopped. His eyes bugged, his mouth formed a scream 310 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:34.000 that he couldn't utter. His rifle dropped to the ground. 311 00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:38.640 He had just killed the snake Doctor, killed him dead 312 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:41.240 with the thirty two caliber slugs through the head, and 313 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:43.559 there on his doorsill stood snake dot the. 314 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:47.279 Hole and sound and staring at him. Jaif Murny, what 315 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:47.920 you doing? 316 00:17:49.160 --> 00:17:51.839 The scream came at last for jaf Murner had seen 317 00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:55.119 the devil. His snake Doctor arose alive from his bullet 318 00:17:55.200 --> 00:18:06.440 riddled body. Chath whirled and ran into the deep, darkening woods, 319 00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:09.160 whimpering like a whipped puppy as he tore through the brush. 320 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:09.920 Escape. 321 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:12.519 He must escape, He must get under the shelter of 322 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:15.680 a sound roof, have the protection of four walls around him. 323 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:24.240 So he ran and ran falls. It was close to 324 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:26.599 midnight when he came out on a dirt road to 325 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:30.759 short this in southeast of his deadman. Beyond the next bend, 326 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:34.519 he'd be inside of home. Then it stopped. Around the bend. 327 00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:37.279 Coming toward him was a joggling light, a lantern hanging 328 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:39.799 on a buggy. Jake flattened himself in a clump of 329 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:43.039 brush to hide until the traveler passed, and then just 330 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:45.279 as the rig was opposite him, he heard a call 331 00:18:45.400 --> 00:18:46.480 coming from the other direction. 332 00:18:46.599 --> 00:18:50.319 Jug high hard out there he hurt me and David Ware, 333 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:53.680 Thank you, Kip Billy Yep, opening it out from the junction, 334 00:18:53.880 --> 00:18:54.720 tolerable tide. 335 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:57.559 If anyone should ask you what brings you out this 336 00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:00.759 time a night, David, somebody say, cettin up and there's. 337 00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:03.240 Ben hella popping in these hair bottoms tonight. Teddy boy 338 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:05.960 asked that, now what you mean killing? That's what I mean, 339 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:09.200 our dirty, cold blooded killing. If ever was wanting on shy, 340 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:12.880 who's gotten kidded? I'm fixing the teniu. It happened just 341 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:15.119 around dust time at Old Snake Doctor's play. 342 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:17.519 Him was kid, I just give me time. 343 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:20.920 Many It seems like Snake Doctor's been a chilling late. 344 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.359 Uh huh. 345 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:24.119 It's pretty bad off today, Yeah, I mean yesterday and 346 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:26.640 so long. About five o'clock when the rain was a 347 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:29.839 lotting a little bit, why miss Kiddy warning see she 348 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:31.720 she flooted it down from her place to his and 349 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:33.720 fetching some physic wear her. He had to play the 350 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:36.160 hot vettal. Miss Morning's a mighty as hearty one for 351 00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:38.200 doing things for folks. Don't you want to hear this 352 00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:40.720 go ahead, go ahead. Well, it seems like she she 353 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:42.920 wasn't the fear of the snake Doctor's play. Well, I'd 354 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:45.200 have been all over that well. Pretty soon after she 355 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:47.559 got there, seems like he tried to get up out 356 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:49.599 of his bed to go feed that old crow bait niaga. 357 00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:51.759 His uh huh rain has started in again. But then 358 00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:54.440 it's pouring down hard. So she she made him stay 359 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:56.039 where he was at, and she put on his old 360 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:58.240 hat and throat his old coat around her to keep 361 00:19:58.279 --> 00:20:00.359 off the worst of the wetting. Then she he started 362 00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:02.119 out the back door to do the feeding. His sound 363 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:05.039 and no more. She got outside and a shot come 364 00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:07.240 from the edge of the woods, and down she went 365 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:09.240 with a bullet through her brain. Killed it, dead as 366 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:09.640 a dog. 367 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:11.440 But who doneies? 368 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:14.200 Went that little flung husband heard done it? That's who 369 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:16.960 He must have followed her down to snake Doctor's and 370 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:19.319 then just laid in wait for they certain twash him. Then, 371 00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:22.319 why sure thing snake doctor jumped up when he heard 372 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:24.599 the shot, and he catched a quick looking Jeff over 373 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:25.000 the fence. 374 00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:25.319 Dead. 375 00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:27.839 Yeah, there was a long streak on Ki's arm where 376 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:29.640 he must have whooped her out during the day. Well, 377 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:31.720 hanging his sight too good for him to catch it all, 378 00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:34.480 but they will. Some thinks that he's made for the 379 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:37.960 slashesn't hit out there tracks, let off that away, uh huh, 380 00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:39.839 or they'd be a line of men throat all the 381 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:42.680 way around little Cypress for son Sheriff. Got tell you yet, No, 382 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:44.960 but he's doing any minute where there's pack of dogs. 383 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:47.759 They telephoned in from Gallop Mills that he's on his way. 384 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:50.720 That trail oughts lay good ground being damped like it is, 385 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:53.960 so should old snake doctor. He's crying on and raving 386 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:56.359 around it with Mourner's pleas that the lord's gonna strike 387 00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:59.920 the murder down his track. I'm putting my incompass in 388 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:02.880 bloodhounds on them first, and then maybe on a stout 389 00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:04.200 plow line and limb betray. 390 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:05.319 Yeah that's more certain. 391 00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:07.440 Yeah, I'm just putting that for my place to fetch 392 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:10.359 Molder's boy. I wouldn't want him to miss a lyncheon. 393 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:13.079 It's a good side crowded for already. I go up 394 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:13.640 and join him. 395 00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.759 I got officially here on a. 396 00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:16.440 Hip pocket for miss Morning. 397 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:21.480 She always watched she's dead a shot, Kesy said, you hear. 398 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:24.559 Something just then I can't say I did. Probably a 399 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:29.000 rabbit breaking through the bri Listen, listen, sheriffs are coming. 400 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:31.319 You can hear them, hounds of hells. Not got to hurry, 401 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:33.000