The sea coast echo., 1905-02-11

corner portion OF the ceiling hung
oown like a platform. He attacked
this with his clasp knife, feeding the
nre with bit at time, while the
growing light gradually brought out
every unwholesome detail of the de.
cay that had fastened upon the room
IL was still sullenly dark above.
however, and Beppo, who had regained
som eof his usual animation with the
growing blaze. seemed to resent the
TACT. He stepped gingerly beneath the
hole, and raising an inquisitiye nose
inhaled dubiously. Then the frptful
line along his spine erected itself
In q little ridge.
In spite Of himself Talbot experlenc-
ed feeling Of irritation. He pushed
the dog away with his foot ard look.
ed up; but the patcn Of shadow was
impenetrable. His gaze shifted toward
the wall, and suddenly remained fixed
held by a mark so suggestive that for
moment his heart tripped in Its
beating.
A patch OF some velyety fungus had
spread its fine nap over the plaster.
In the center of this was what seemed
to be the impression of a human
hand. There was the print of the ball
of the thumb and the shallow furruws
where the fingers had lain. A large.
square hand 1t had been.
Talbot eyed II moment breathless.
ly. Then he stepped nearer. The
blaze In the fireplace filclered and the
resemblance vanished. 1t was moth
ing but fancy, aftsr all. "Shol"
breathed Talbot. That had me wing
ing!"
He smiled and tossed the lath he
had been cutting into the FIRE. A sigh
of wind came through the window to
the east. A cabbage palm outside drew
its fans fingeringly along the caves.
The the first fat drops of rain struck
the roof like resonant and measured
taps on drum.
The beat OF them quickened as
drummer quickens the movement OF
his sticks until the tattoo blended into
one rolling volume of sound that flied
the ear. 1t made the rotten shell seem
coy by contrast. Talbot stretched
himself near the FIRE, his gun by his
side, and pIllowed his mead on his coat
with sense of comfort that he had
not felt moment before.
For some reason, however, he could
not sleep. The last ttick in the fire.
place snapped and threw up moment
airy point Of fame that sank to q
greenish-red spot of combustion. Al
most Immediately Beppo got up from
his place at his masters feet and
skunk toward the door.
Come here, you fool pup!" said Tai
bot.
But the slow pit-pat of the hounds
footsteps did not stop, and Talbot
heard him go out ON the verahda.
There was something there within
the four walls of the house besides
himself. AS the conviction broke In
upon him In rush. Talbot sat up
quickly and swept handful Of the
dried leaves he mad gathered for a
mattress upon the embers. AS they
caught fairly and small, ruddy blaze
illumined the room, his gaze swept 1t
instantly. 1t was as empty as before.
With an odd, premonitory feeling OF
reluctance, he raised his eyes slowly
until they stared directly at the yawn-
ing hole in the ceiling. Not muscle
fs hut to h,n
capped between his teeth in a sharp
little gasp.
A face, with its human likeness
made more terrifying by the vague,
wild-beast body farther in the shadow,
looked down at him with crafty, deep
set eyes, above which the NAKED broWs
were set in speculative furrows. 1t
was huge, circular face, with great,
fat, leathery cheeks. A broken ring OF
coarse red hair encircled it. Hair of
the same rusty hue covered the thick
arms down to the hands, which, black
and powerful, clutched the edge of
the gap.
The mutual scrutiny lasted but
moment. Then Talbot jerked his gun
to his shoulder; but as his finger
crooked on the triggtr the little fire
went out.
Although conscious that the ivory
bead was not absolutely on the mark,
he could not restrain his twitching
nerves. The gnn went off with a re-
sounding crash and squirt OF flame.
There was rattle of plaster, followed
by heavy thud. But Talbot had no
desire to investigate the result of his
shot.
He sprang forward In the darkness,
and brought up violently against a
solid shape. apparently trying, like
himself, to gain the doorway. The
shock threw them both to the floor,
the beast on top OF the man.
He felt for moment the pressure
of broad chest and two tremendously
long arms. Then the creature drew it.
self slow away. Talbot had almost
got upon his feet when handlike
paw shot out and caught his left wrist
in a grip that numbed the whole arm.
Talbot felt his hand drawn uickly
and irresistibly forward. The next
moment he uttered cry of pain and
horror, for the sharp teeth Of the
beast met on the bones Of his fingers
with savage crunch.
He dashed his free hand into the
haR-seen face Of mis- opponent. His
lSnuckles slipped from the tough,
greasy skin. He struck again as fruit
lessly. The third blow caught the
creature squarely on mis- sunken nos