Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-09-09

look, and reached mechanically Tor !
tlyspecked bottle ON ! ahelf behind
her, handing II to him with the re-
mark.
= guess you'll do. You're jolly
one for the drink yourself--or tho
woman wouldn't have rumpled your
hair I'll over your head like that. Four
marks ID the price. and better drink
amt to be had In Hell's Quarter
Christopher Poe gave her . knowing
wink. took the bottle. and paid her;
etill holding out his hand after she
had taken the money.
what do you want now!" she
growled. expressing the gruif good.nAr
.ture OF her kind. more drink r
No. The key!"
Ehe looked at him for calculating
second Evidently he passed muster.
She handed him the heavy iron key
and indicated the rickety stairs At the
end Of the room Way IN the back.
right;hand side, last door, she told
him.
Al Poe rolled out toward the stairs.
Fran Klittenlein suddenly leaned FAR
over the bar. and had I good look Il
his back The American cut TO hss
clothes could not DO mistaken. Fool Il
German on clcthesi Her nose twitched
In establishment. He was q rum one!
She hurried ont from behind the bar
the moment Poe had begun clumping
up tho stairs. Her finger WAS on her
hard. colorless lips an she approached
the tableful OF loungers. and said some
thing In q hoarse whisper; whereupon
three OF her loutish guests lurched
from their seats. and sneaked silently
UP the stairs after the man with tho
seafaring manner and thu American
clothes.
Christopher Poe turned the key
noiselessly In the door to which he had
been directed. stepped into the bare
room. and as quickly and silently re-
placed the key and locked the door on
tho inside. All the time his eyes were
watchful. Tho room was black: Poo
succeeded In igniting his cigAr.lighter.
and transferring the light 10 4 candle
his cropping fingers had sought out on
| . rude stand near BY.
A low cultural cry burst forth u
the Hight shone out. A mass of white
clothes upheayed. and an ugly black
face with drawn HIPS showing cleaning
teeth. and terror-rollinE white eyebalii
bursting out above, stared at Poe III
though he were the devil himself
There came 4 startling humping and
clawing from the little closet close be-
side the bed. The black man tremhled
reached covertly along the wall, and
had his hand In the catch TO tho closet
door when Poe walked quietly toward
him and said In French; .
Don't open that door and let your
daughter. Babo. oua. Let her stay
there safely. I noticed the nice little
hood and shawl on the foot OF the bed
there as entered
There came d grooming cry from
within the closet.
Flows your. foot?" inquired Poe. %
the black man cringed back among
the coarse bed-clothes, and glared with
CLASSY eyes, teeth chattering
'fWho are you? What you wantf
cried the man In French. very broken
French.
Il am from Haggerup q Co. I Just
came to get Babo back. We miss her"
"You don't know what you're talk
Ing about. / never"
But tell me about that foot, Jockis
Poe insisted. AT the same time he
took from his pocket the object he had
removed from the dead crocodile's
mouth. The handkerchiefs were
bloody; the black man watched with
glowing, fascinated eyes. az Poe
opened out the linen on his palm, and
suddenly revealed to the horrified eyes
or tho man on the bed two mangled
toes and snapped-off footbonc. What
skin showed was black, matching
| Jocks.
Poe dropped the disgusting exhibit.
II had..seryed Its purpose The black
man went gray and screamed; at the
same time he shot back the bolt to
L SuC CiObGJuQOt, auu I'D IoS-1pAhHA A0k
his throat, he received full In the
stomach vicious searnan's kick which
sent him bounding back against the
outer door. breath-sapped.
There came snarl and sudden
scream; q piercing animal cry; the
room rcyolyed In dimly outlined
mass of kicking, struggling legs and
arms.
A maze OF curses burst forth. The
clatter and din. was hideous. Poe had
lurched to his feet, and stood for q
moment staring ffxedIy at. the scene
Of jumblsd confusion within the small
room. Yes, there 1t was-rat last.
He saw It.. Through the dim light
those gripping teeth cleaned, tina,
hairy, horrid-eyed head arose. Babo
the huge ape, was loose. Babo clune
there tense to. the bedstead, protect
ingly above his master, and his huge
hairy fist shot out like steel spring
and grasped the foremost OF the
sailors.
Another. agonized scream! A wild
animal cry!
"Babo! Babol" yelled Jock In a
throaty rattle above the din "Sacre
Hipftf n djahIaf 100,ran