The Green Forest tribune., 1915-04-23

"The Hut, Professor! 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 entW1ned with rushes. The only apol- ! ogy for window was a queer little hole set quite close to the roof. l There was rudelooking door, but l 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 scuffiing sounds. Lenoras cheeks grew paler.
 | Must we stay?" she murmured. q don't think 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 window, and at that mo- ment it 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 l ward.
 She followed him silently. A few | turns of the wrist and the door yield ed. Keeping Lenora little behind him, Quest gazed around eagerly Ex- l actly in front of him, clad only in a loin cloth, with hunched-up shoulders, necklace around it's neck, with blaz- ing eyes and ugly, gleaming teeth, cTouched some unrecognizable crea- I tdre, human, yet inhuman, monkey, and yet man. There were a couple of monkeys swinging by their tails from bar, and leopard chained to a staple in the ground, walking round and round in the far corner, snapping and snarling every time he glanced towards the newcom- CTS. The creature in front of him stretched out hairy hand towards a club, and gripped it. Quest drew a long breath. His eyes were set hard.
 Drop that club" he ordered.
 The creature suddenly s2rang 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 crept to where he had been ordered and sat there with dull, non-compre- hending stare. It was new force, this, a 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.
 q 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 it's side with the opening turned to the wall.
 "This is where the brute sleeps, l suppose" Quest remarked. Well turn 1t around, anyway They dragged it few feet away from the wall, so that the opening faced them. Then Lenora gave little cry and Quest stood suddenly still.
 'The skeleton!" Lenora shrieked It's the skeleton!"
 It was a skeleton so old that the bones had turned a dull gray. Quest glanced towards the hands.
 Little fingers both missing" he muttered.
 Remember the message?" she ex- claimed. Where the skeleton is, the necklace may be also.'
 Quest nodded shortly
 We'll search"
 They turned over everything in the place fruitlessly. There was no sign of the necklace.
 "You get outside, Lenora," Quest di- rQctad "T'1l iuct hripp this hpa st 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 its frame seemed to grow more virile and natural