Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-04-28


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 hu.. built
apparently OF sticks and bamboos
with a stronger framework behind
The sloping roof was grass grown and
entwined with rushes. The only apol
ogy for a window was a queer little
hole set quite close to the roof
There was a rIde-looking door. but
Quest, on trying It. found it locked
They walked around tie place. but
found no other opening All the time
from inside they could hear queer
scuffling sounds Lenoras cheeks
grew paler
Must VIC stay?" she murmured Il
don't think want to see what's in.
side Mr. Quest Mr. Quest"
She chung to his arm They were
opposite the little aperture which
served as window, and a; that mo
ment it suddenly framed the face OF
/ a creature, human in features. diaboli.
cal in expression.
Say that's some facet" he re
marked I'D hate to spoil il"
Even as he spoke it disappeared.
We've got TO get inside there
Lenora,' he announc' j. 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. Eek.
actly in front of him. clad only in d
loin cloth. with hunched-up shoulders
a necklace around its deck. with blaz
| ing eyes and ugly. cleaning teeth
crouched some unrecognizable crea
ture, human. yet inhuman, a monkey
and yet a man. There we're a couple
of monkeys swinging by their tails
from a bar. and a leopard chained &c
/ a staple in the ground. walking
| round and round in the far corner
| swapping and snarling every time
he glanced towards the newcom
| ers. The creature in front OF hin
stretched out a hairy hand towards
a club. and gripped it Quest drew Z
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-ma1
crept to where he had been ordered
and sat there with dull, non-compre
hending stare. 1t was a new force
this, note of which he had felt-thC
superman raising the voice of author
ity. Quest touched his forehead anC
found it damp. The strain OF those
few seconds mad been intolerable
Il dent thinL these other animals
] Will ANils lC OSlkAs LII nave {
look around the place.
The search took only a few mo
ments. The monkeys ran and jumped
around them. gibbering as though viii
| pleasure The leopard watched then
always with a snarl and an evil light
in his eye.
They found nothing unusual unit
they came to the distant corner, where
huge piano box lay on its side witt
the opening turned to the wall.
This is where the brute sleeps,
suppose" Quest remarked. Wen
turn it around, anyway"
They dragged it a few feet away
/ from the wall. so that the opening
faced them. Then Lenora gave little
cry and Quest stood suddenly still.
1.-THE skeleton!" Lenora shrieked
IT'S the skeleton!"
1t was skeleton so old that the
bones had turned dull gray. Quest
glanced towards the hands
Little fingers both missing" he
muttered.
Remember the messageg she ex
claimed. Where the skeleton is. the
necklace may be also"
Quest nodded shortly.
Wen search"
They turned over everything in the
place fruitlessly There was no sign
of the necklace.
"You get outside, Lenora," Quest di
rected "Tll just bring this beast
round again and then wen tackle the
professor"
Quest turned towards the creature
which crouched still huddled up in its
corner.
Look at me-" he ordered.
The creature obeyed. Once more fits
frame seemed to grow more virile and
natural.
~~~~~-~~~>~~~~O~~
e 1p4arnrisipg American and fba l,ira.