The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-05-01

Slowly and dejectedly, 1.-The ape-m. N
crept to where he had been orderh d
and sat there with dull, .uon-compke-
bending stare. It was q new foISoa.
this. a note OF whirh he had felt-tAe
superman raising bhe voice of aut!h0e-
ity. Quest touched his forehead and
found 1t damp. The strain Of those
few seconds had been antDlerable.
Il don't think these other animate
will hurt" he said. uLet's have a
look aronnd 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 ssnarl and an evil light
in his eye.
They founc nothing unusual until,
they came to the distant corner where,
huge piano box lay on it's side with
the opening turned to the wall. =
This is where the brute sleeps, j,
suppose" Quest remarked. Wen
turn 1T around, anyway"
They dragged 1t "a few feet away:
from the wall SO shat the opening
faced them. Then Lenora gave little
cry and Quest stood suddenly still.
THE iskeleton!" Lenora shrieked. =;
ITS the sRsleton!'
1t was a skeleton so old that the
bones had turned "a dull gray. Quest
glanced towards the hands.
'Little fingers sboth missing hei
mHttered. :
Remember the rmessage!" She ex-i
ckaimed Where rthe skeleton as. the
necklace may be shlso." /!
Quest nodded SHORTLY. .
WE'LL search" i
They turned over everything in tho
place fruftlessly. TThere was no ssighj
OF the necklace. {.
You get ooutsiRe, Lenora," Quest dill
rerted. iii just bring this beast
round again and tshen well tackle the
predecessor
Uuest sturned towards the creature,i
wfach oSDuched sstill huddied mp in its|
conner.
Look Mt me, The ordered. ,
Tho oxeature,6beyed. Once more its
frame saemed torg grow more wirile aAnd
natural
You lnsed ,saeep no longer" Quest
|satd. Wake upland be yourself"
The enact OF cthese words was IN
|Dtantan80us. Almost a. he apoke 1.-THE
|araatuye 0xouchsI1 for . spring. There
was wild hatred iin its closeset eyes,
Tie aAarl of something flendlke in it's
IcontOrted mouth. Quest slipped quick.
" Through the door.
~Anyone may have that for a ipet."
Pc Remarked grimly. Come, IyenoEa,
there's a wDru eoratwo to be aatd to- the
professor. THERE'S something here Will
need q little explanation"
He ht a ssgar as they struggled back
jAlong TIE pGth. Presently they Seached
HE ntedy&ooking avenue. and q few
minutes latter arrived at the house.
Quest aeBched din vain for a bell |
They walked arounx the piazza. There
were no signs of any human Life. They
came back to the front door Quest
tried the handle and found it open
They passed into the hall.
'Hospitable4 sort aof place, anyway"
he remarked. ''Welll go in and wait,
Lsnora"
They found Uheir way to the study
which seemed tso betthe only hahitable
room. Lenora .glanaed around at it's
strange contents, with; an expression al
most,of awe.
A ANAL motor" car passed the WIN
dow, aeriven by Craig. The professor
descended. A moment or two later he
entered the ropm. he gazed from
Quest t. Lenora at first in blank sun
prise Then he held out his hands.
You shave good news for me, my
friendsF The exclaimed. II am sure OF
1t. HowtAnfortunate that was not at
home to,rsceive yout Eell NEEDN'T
keep me IL suspense, If you please
you have discovered my skeleton"
I'VE have found the skeleton" Quest
announced.
For a single moment the newcomer
stood rs though turned to stone.
my skeletm!" he murmpred. "Mr.
Quest, knew it. You are the great |
est man alive. Now tell me quickly
| want to know everything. but this
FIRST of all Where did you find the
skeleton? Who was the thssf?"
I'VE found the skeleton. professor"
Quest replied, "wttfhin hundred yards
Il this house."
The professors mouth was wide
open. He looked nike a bewti6ered
child. 1t was several seconds before
he spoke.
within a hundred yards Of <his
housed Then 1t wasn't stolen by one
Of my rivalsT
Il should say not QUEST admitted.
Where? exactly did you, ind IT.
he professor insisted. ~ Il
Il found 1t in . hut" Crest said !
hidden in piano box. fosnd there, 1
also. . cresture-a human being, ,
must call him-in ststs Of cap
Eiyity."
4 .T4fdSer IN = f,iano hnx ?" thu vvo-