Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-03-26

far as the hedge. which they skirted
/ for a few yards until they found an
opening Then Quest gave vent TO a
| little exclamation. Immediately in
front OF them was a small hut. built
/ apparently Of sticks and bamboos.
with a stronger framework behind.
The sloping roof was grass-grown and
I entwined with rushes The only apol.
( ogy for a window was a queer little
hole set quite close TO the roof
There was a rude-looking door. but
| Quest, on trying Il. found q locked.
, They walked around the place. but
found no other opening. All the time
from inside they could hear queer
scutiiing sounds. Lenora's cheeks
grew paler.
Must We stay" she murmured. Il
don't think | want TO see what's in
side. Mr.. Quest! Mr.. Quest"
She clung 10 his arm. They were
opposite the little aperture which
served as a window. and at thst mo-
ment It suddenly framed the face OF
a creature. human in features. diaboli-
cal in expression.
say. that's some face" he re-
marked I'D hate to spon H."
Even as he spoke IL disappeared.
We've get TO get inside there.
/ Lenora," he announced. stepping for
ward
She followed him silently. A few
turns OF the wrist and the door yield
ed Keeping Lenora a little behind
him. Quest gazed around eagerly. EX-
actly in front OF him. clad only in a
loin cloth. with hunched-up shoulders.
a necklace around its neck, with blaz.
ing eyes and ugly. cleaning teeth.
crouched some unrecognizable crea-
ture. human. yet inhuman, q monkey,
and yet a man. There were a couple
OF monkeys swinging by their tails
j from a bar, and a leopard chained to
a staple in the ground, walking
round and round In the far corner,
swapping and snarl.ng every time
/ he glanced towards the newcom-
ers. The creature in front Of him
stretched out a hairy hand towards
a club. and gripped IL Quest drew a
long breath. His eyes were set hard.
Drop that club" he ordered.
The creature suddenly sprang up.
The club was waved around his head.
Drop it." Quest repeated firmly.
You will sit down in your corner. You
will sleep"
The club slipped from the hairy fin
gers. The tense frame. which had
been already crouched for the spring.
was suddenly relaxed. The knees
trembled.
Back to that corner" Quest or.
dered. pointing.
Slowly and dejectedly, the ape-man
crett TO where be had been ordered
and sat there with dull. non-compre-
hending stare. 1t was a new force.
this. note OF which he had felt-the
superman raising the voice OF author.
/ ity. Quest touched his forehead and
/ found il damp. The strain OF those
few seconds had been intolerable.
4 don't think these other animals
will hurt" he said. Let's have a
look around the place"
The search took only a few mo
ments. The monkeys ran and jumped
around them, gibbering as though with
pleasure. The leopard watched them
always with a snarl and an evil light
/ in his eye.
They found nothing unusual until
they came TO the distant corner. where
a huge piano box lay on its side with
the opening turned 10 the wall.
This is where the brute sleeps.
l suppose" Quest remarked. We'll
turn il around. anyway"
They dragged it a few feet away
from the wall. sc that the opening
faced them. Then Lenora gave little
cry and Quest stood suddenly stin.
The skeleton" Lenora shrieked
It's the skeleton,"
II was a skeleton so old that the
bones had turned dull gray. Quest
glanced towards the hands.
Little fingers both missing" h'
muttered.
Remember the message?" she ex
claimed. Where the skeleton is, the
necklace may be also"
Quest nodded shortly.
~We1l search"
They turned over everything in th'
place fruitlessly. There was no sigr
OF the necklace.
you get outside. Lenora." Quest di
rected. I'm just bring this beas
round again and then wen tackle tn,
professor"
Quest turned towards the creature
which crouched still huddIed up In III
corner.
Look at me" he ordered.
The creature obeyed. Once more III
frame seemed TO grow more ylrile ant
natural
.