With Links of Steel, Or, The Peril of the Unknown

Cervera was indeed in league with the Kilgore gang, and in any way responsibl

y probable that this brilliant Spanish girl, whose extraordinary grace and whirlwind dances had made her the talk of the town, could be iden

visit the theater in which she was performing, and Nick decided to have a look at the audience that eveni

ufus Venner, and a part of that work he confided to Chick. With himself in the front of th

eville attraction, and the theater was densely crowded. Though Nick watched the lobbies and the smoking room,

orchestra, and settled himself to have a look at Ce

ade his first pertinent discovery-that Rufus Venner, clad in immaculate evening

ing him. "Evidently he has some kind of a pull with the manager, or he could no

ed her turn upon the stage. She was rather simply clad, but was strikingly pretty and modest appearing; and upon consulting a program

with her songs, though he decided that the girl herself was a beauty. "And by hi

ed a voice at his elbow. "

en involuntarily recoiled from the

ll in progress. Meantime, several of the stage hands were wheeling to the center of the stage, back

and having a broad front of plate glass. Inside of this den were several w

den, were fully fifty serpents of various sizes, many being onl

r experienced, and the stage hand who had asked him to m

after a jamboree?" he

n. "If I were to go on a drunk and see anything

scheme

uld sa

y look," added the stage hand, while he helped

quired Chick, still gi

iz

nom

dn't touch one of them for

of them still have thei

wn there in the corner, not more'n a foot long? If

s no nip at me," declared Chick, with a grin. "

made harmless by pulling out their fangs?" demanded the stage hand. "It would be like a dog figh

d Chick, glancing at t

here he is now, just coming from his dressin

ed curiously at the

nsely black and piercing eyes. Their glitter was indeed like that in the eyes of a snake, yet the Hindoo, appr

d his waist, reached nearly to his ankles. With a gesture he signed the sever

heard the low voice of Busby near by, the friend

ere she i

rve

lectric switchboard. Slip in back of this woo

't you pay too much attention to me, or it may be

ack of the scenery mentioned, through a portion o

as as dark as night, and her eyes were as radiant as the night stars. Her rich, o

e costume, which combined all the bright hues of the rainbow,

hless figure, however, and Chick was fain to admit

ewel-bedecked figure. "Yet she has a bad eye, despite her beauty, and a cruel mouth. She certainly would put up

Sanetta Cervera was gazing steadfastly across t

er curved brows had drooped and knit, until they formed a straight line

lay of feeling, the performance in front of the set scene c

again obliged to change his position, and for a time he lost

full stage was given her for the marvelously graceful and impassioned dances of

ty was indescribably accentuated. She appeared like a being ablaze with diamonds. Her every attitu

, and then Chick saw her hastening toward her dressin

alted and her

toward one of the wing scenes,

but she frowned and hesitated before accepting it; and Chick made a quick mov

wever, of which he could make nothing bearing upon

," Venner was expostulating, with voice

gh her teeth, with a hi

I know what I see!" she fiercely answe

Cervera," protes

! I see-a

ut

say you shal

you wish it. Am I

I wish it-and

, Sanetta," replied Ven

ve changed my suit. Then we will go-we

," said Venner, bluntly. "I w

quickly away. "Evidently there is something a

eet attire, when Venner quickly gave her his arm, and

ck's instructions-that the co