Venom House. Arthur W. Upfield

he shook the flex loosely over the floor revealing that the other end had been bound into a small loop. Running the now free end through the loop Morris had his lasso.

      Standing away from the mantel, he lassoed the cloisonné vase, and, the woodwork about the vase being discoloured, Bony approached to observe that it was actually caused by the incessant blows of the lasso.

      The tops of the side posts of the throne chair had also lost their veneer and the carved wood was worn by the continuous thrashing they had been given by the lasso before the thrower had become proficient.

      With extraordinary and apparent carelessness, Morris lassoed the chair from every angle, including backward over his head.

      There was a plaster bust of George Washington on top of the bookcase. This he lassoed about the neck and flicked it towards him, catching it that it might not smash on the floor. He set his train in motion on its circular track and lassoed the engine. Did it twice to prove the first cast was not a fluke. And as he worked, his face was lit by enthusiasm as though he were, indeed, the great Clarry himself.

      Bony applauded, one hand behind him grasping the door handle. Morris Answerth recoiled his lasso and came forward. Now he was smiling.

      “You try,” he urged.

      Softly laughing, Bony told him he would have to go.

      “Another time I’d like to very much,” he said. “You will have to teach me. Now I must be going, but I’ll come again. Would you like me to?”