fic safeguards. A Lathrodectus mactans with fangs large enough to
penetrate the skin of the hand, and a double or triple supply of venom,
would be, perhaps, more deadly than a cobra.

The symptoms of poisoning by this species are spasms, similar to those
of trismus, and agonizing general pains. There are no local symptoms,
except, in some cases, a circle of small pustules about the bitten spot.

Commercially, the Lathrodectus has value, in that the poison is used in
certain affections of the heart. For details, I would refer you to the
Denny Laboratories of St. Louis, Mo., which are purchasers of the venom.

The species is very susceptible to cold, and would hardly survive a
severe frost. It frequents woodpiles and outhouses. Yours truly,

L. O. HOWARD, Chief of Bureau.

"Then Ross was sneaking down here at night and putting the spiders which
he had got from Professor Moseley through my keyhole, in the hope that
sooner or later one of them would get me," said Dorr.

"A very reasonable expectation, too. Vide, the dogs," returned Average
Jones.

"And now," said Mr. Curtis Fleming, "will some one kindly explain to me
what this Ross fiend had against our friend, Mr. Dorr?"

"Nothing," replied Average Jones.

"Nothing? Was he coursing with spiders merely for sport?"

"Oh, no. You see Mr. Dorr was interfering with the machinery of one of
our ruling institutions, the Canned Meat Trust. He possessed information
which would have indicted all the officials. Therefore it was
desirable--even essential--that he should be removed from the pathway of
progress."

"Nonsense! Socialistic nonsense!" snapped Mr. Curtis Fleming. "Trusts
may be unprincipled, but they don't commit individual crimes."

"Don't they?" returned Average Jones, smiling amiably at his own
boot-tip. "Did you ever hear of Mr. Adel Meyer's little corset steel
which he invented to stick in the customs scales and rob the government
for the profit of his Syrup Trust? Or of the individual oil refineries
which mysteriously disappeared in fire and smoke at a time when they
became annoying to the Combination Oil Trust? Or of the Traction
Trust's two plots to murder Prosecutor Henry in San Francisco? I'm just
mentioning a few cases from memory. Why, when a criminal trust faces
only loss it will commit forgery, theft or arson. When it faces jail, it
will commit murder just as determinedly. Self-defense, you know. As for
the case of Mr. Dorr--" and he proceeded to d