The Huttig news., 1915-06-05


 "The Hut, Professor! 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 entwined with rushes. The only apol- ogy for window was a 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 scuffling sounds. Lenora's cheeks grew paler.
 Must we stay?" she murmured. "I don't think I want to see what's in side. MT. Quest! MT. Quest!"
 She clung to his arm. They were opposite the little aperture which served as a window. and at that mo ment ,t suddenly framed the face of creature, human in features. diaboli- cal in expression.
 Say, that's some face!" 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 ed Keeping Lenora a little behind him, Quest gazed around eagerly. Ex- actly in front of him, clad only in a loin cloth with hunchedup shoulders, a necklace around it's neck. with blaz- ing eyes and ugly. gleaming teeth crouched some unrecognizable crea 1 ture, human, yet inhuman, monkey and yet man. There were couple of monkeys swinging by their tail. from a bar, and leopard chained t round and round in the far corner snapping and snarling every time | he glanced towards the newcom- 1 CTS The creature in front of him stretched out hairy hand towards club and gripped it. 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 dejeetedly, the ape-man crept to where he had been ordered and sat there with dull, non-eompre- hending stare. It was new force, this, note of which he had felt-the superman raising the voice of author ity Quest touched his forehead and found it damp The strain of those few seconds had been intolerable.
 T don't think these other animals will hurt" he said, Let's have a look around the place"
 The search took only few mo- ments. The monkeys ran and jumped around them, gibbering as though with pleasure. The leopard watched them always with 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 to the wall
 This is where the brute sleeps, I suppose" Quest remarked. Well turn it around, anyway"
 They dragged it few feet away from the wall, so that the opening faced them. Then Lenora gave a little cry and Quest stood suddenly still. The skeleton," Lenora shrieked. It's the skeleton!%
 It was skeleton so old that the bones had turned dull gray. Quest glanced towards the hands.
 little fingers both missing" he muttereQ.
 "Remember the message?" she ex- claimed. Where the skeleton is, the necklace may be also"
 Guest nodded shortly.
 Well search"
 They turned over everything in the place fruitlessly. There was no sign of the necklace.
 You get outside. Lenora." Quest di- rected. I'll just bring this beast round again and then we'll tackle the professor.
 Quest turned towards the creature. which crouched still huddled up in it's corner
 Look at me-" he ordered.
 The creature obeyed. Once more it's frame seemed to grow more yirile and natural.