Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-09-03

far as the hedge, which they skirted
for a few yards until they found an
opening Then Quest gave vent to
little exclamation. Immediately in
front of them was a small hut, built
apparently of sticks and bamboos,
with stronger framework behind.
The sloping roof was grass-grown and
entwined with rushes. The only apol-
ogy for a window was queer little
hole set quite close to the roof.
There was a rude-looking door, but
Quest, on trying it, found it locked.
They walked around the place, but
found no other opening. All the time
from inside they could hear queer
scuff1ing sounds. Lenora's cheeks
grew paler.
Must we stay?" she murmured. 81
don't think l want to see what's in
side. Mr.. Quest! Mr.. Quest!"
She clung to his arm. They were
oppcsite the little aperture which
served as window, and at 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 it."
Even as he spoke it disappeared.
We've got to get inside there,
Lenora," he announced, stepping for.
ward.
She followed him silently. A few
| turns of the wrist and the door yield.
| II 7 ind
him, Quest gazed around eagerly. Elk
actly in front of him, clad only in a
loin cloth, with hunched-up shoulders
necklace around its neck. with blaz
ing eyes and ugly, cleaning teeth
crouched some unrecognizable crea
ture, human, yet inhuman, monkey
and yet a man. There were a conple
of monkeys swinging by their tails
from a bar, and leopard chained tt
staple in the ground, walking
! round and round in the far corner
swapping and snarling every tim'
ae glanced towards the newcom
as. The creature in front of hin
stretched, out hairy hand towards
club, and gripped it. Quest drew
long breath. His eyes were set hard.
Drop that club" he ordered.
The creature suddenly srrang vi
The club was waved around his hea(
Drop it." Quest repeated firml.
You will sit down in your corner. Yo
will Sleep"
The club slipped from the hairy fiji
gers. The tense frame, which ha
hbeen already crouched for the spring
was suddenly relaxed. The knee
trembled.
Back to that corner" Quest o
; dered, pointing.
Slowly and dejectedly, the ape-ma
y crept to where he had been ordere
n and sat there with dull, non-compr
\ hending stare. 1t was new fore
\ this, a note of which he had felt-tl
\ superman raising the voice of autho
| ity. Quest touched his forehead al
H found it damp. The strain of tho
H few seconds had been intolerable.
\ 81 don't think these other anima
II will hurt" he said. Let's have
H look around the place"
II The search took only a few n
\ ments. The monkeys ran and jump
around them, gibbering as though wi
II pleasure. The leopard watched the
II always with snarl and an evil lig
H in his eye.
II They found nothing unusual un
/ they came to the distant corner. whe
1 a huge piano box lay on its side wi
III the opening turned to the wall.
/ "This is where the brute sleeps
a suppose" Quest remarked. I'VE
turn it around, anyway
NJ They dragged it a few feet aw
from the wall, so that the openi
faced them. Then Lenora gave lit
u cry and Quest stood suddenly still.
q "The skeleton!" Lenora shrek
81 Its the skeleton!"
Fl 1t was a skeleton so old that
bones had turned dull gray. Gu
glanced towards the hands.
= Little fingers both missing"
n muttered.
Remember the message?" she
claimed Where the skeleton is,
IT necklace may be also"
no Quest nodded shortly.
Gu Wen search"
no They turned over everything in
~ place fr,litlessly. There was no s
of the necklace.
'SYou get outside, Lenora," Quest
rected. "I'Il Just bring this be
ed. round again and then we'll tackle
ok professor"
Quest turned towards the Great
he which crouched still huddled up in
ell corner.
I'm. Look at me-" he ordered.
hu- The creature obeyed. Once more
frame seemed to grow more virile
as natural.
~~>~~~~~~~>~>-~~~~~~-~~~~~~~~
oud enterprising American and the /