The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-03-20

professor insisted
7 found it in . hut" Quest said. -hiddsa b &
piano box l found there. also. . creature-a hu-
man being. must call HMM . state Of cap
tivity."
Hidden in a piano bo1." the professor repeat
ed wonderingly. why. you mean in Hartoos
sleeping box them"
IF Mr.. Hartoo is tho gentleman who triad 10
club me. you right" Quest admitted. mi.
Ashleigh. before we 70 any further must ask you
for an explanation the presence Of that per-
The professor hesitated for moment Then he
slowly crossed the room. opened the drawer Of .
small escritoire. and drew out . letter
"Yoa have heard q Sir william RaysDeFA he |
president Of the Regal ssaisty1~ ~ ssksl
Qusst NODDED.
"Thss leessr 10 from him.. De yrsssssss con !
tinued You had %et.ee rad t."
The eriminologfst road u aloud. kaas1a 1ooAo0
over his shoulder:
To Prof. Edgar Ashleish New YoEk. =
My Dear Professor: Your communication srasnes ana
nh ses '. @
dark
1s
~ e ei iss
ai ~or Of OF I OF
length this
with h. ayasd lest the honor
WILLIAM RAYsMoRR
The professor nodded deliberately a. Quest
finished the letter.
unQ0fSt0nQ,
why it was necessary to keep Hartoo absolutely
hidden. In months time my papers will be
ready. Then shall electrify the world. shall
write not page but a new volume across tho
history of science. / shall"
The door was suddenly thrown open. Craig
sprang in, longer the self-contained. perfect
man-servant, but with the face of some wild crear
ture. His shout was one almost OF agony.
THE hut, professor! The hut Is on fre!" he
cried.
His appearance on the threshold was like q
flash. They heard his flying feet down the hall.
and without moments hesitation they all fol-
lowed. The professor led the way down a narrow
and concealed path. but when they reached the
little clearing in which the hut was situated they
were unable to approach any nearer. The place
a whirlwind Of flame. The smell Of kerosene
almost overpowering. The wild yell of tho
leopard rose above the strange. halfhuman gibber-
ing of the monkeys and the hoarse. bass calling
of another voice, at the sound of which Lenora
and even Quest shuddered. Them they came
breathless to standstill. they saw a strange
thing. One side of the hut fell in. and almost i'm
mediately the leopard with a mighty spring. leaped
from the place and ran bowling into the under.
growth. The monkeys followed but they came
straight for the professor, wringng their hands.
They fawned at his feet though trying to show
him their scorched bodies. Then for q single
moment they the form Of the apeman he
struggled to follow the others. His strength failed
him, however. He fell backwards into the burning
chasm.
The professor bade them farewell. an hour later
seemed SuoQeuJy
to have aged.
You have done your best. Mr.. Quest" he saId.
but fate has been too strong. Remember this.
though 1t is quite true that the cunning Of Hartoo
may have made it possible for him to have stolen
the skeleton and to have brought it back to its hid
ingplace, but it was jealousy-cruel, brutal. foul
jealousy which smeared the walls Of that hut with
kerosene and set light to it. The work of life
time, my dreams of scientific Immortality, have
vanished in those flames
He turned slowly away from them and TO
entered the house. Quest and LenorA made their
way down the avenue and entered tho automobile
which waiting for them. almost In silence.
The latter glanced toward his companion. N thsy
drove OF.
"say. this has been . bit tough for you" 10 n.
marked. I'll have to call somewhere and get you
q glass o: wine"
She tried to smile but her strength was almost
gone. They drove to q restaurant and sat there
for little time Lenora soon recovered her
color. She even had courage to speak Of tho
events of the afternoon when they re-entered the
automobile.
"Mr. Quest" Lenora murmured. who do you
suppose burned the hut down."
IF don't say Craig. I suppose you WILL" he re-
marked. Il wonder whether Laura's had any luck"
They were greeted they entered Quests room,
by familiar little ticking. Quest smiled with
pleasure.
It's the pocket wireless" he declared. Let
me take down the message"
He spelled it out to Lenora, who stood by his
side:
Craig frequent visitor here ten years comes now
~st ssle ~ chance .s.aa - ''' A<''' '"' '''
Good GIRL that" Quest remarked. SHES Q
rare sticker. too"
He turned away from tho instrument and was
crossing the room toward his cigar cabinet Sud
denly he stopped He looked intently towards the
sidebOard.
What is it," Lenora asked
He did not answer. She followed the direction
Ey9cflv IN fho hofo
reposed another but somewhat larger black box of
the Same shape and material the previous
Say, who put that there?" he demanded
Lenora shook her head.
II locked the door when We went out" she as.
sured him.
Quest took the box into his hands and reruoyed