Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-06-17

"The Hut, Professor!
far as the hedge, which they skirted
for few yards until they found an
opening. Then Quest gave vent to a
little exclamation. Immediately in
front of them was small hut, built
apparently of sticks and bamboos.
with a stronger framework behind.
The sloping roof was grass-grown and
entwned with rushes. The only apol-
ogy for window was a queer little
hole set quite close to the roof.
There was rude-looliing 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
scuiiling sounds. Lenora's cheeks
grew paler.
Must we stay?" she murmured. 81
don't think want to see what's in
side. Mr.. Quest! Mr.. Quest"
She chung to his arm. They were
opposite the little aperture which
served as a window, and at that mo-
ment it suddenly framed the face Of
a creature, human in features diaboli.
cal in expression.
Say. that's some facet" 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 little behind
him, Quest gazed around eagerly. Ex-
actly in front of him, clad only in a
loin cloth, with hunched-up shoulders,
necklace around its neck. with blaz
ing eyes and ugly, cleaning teeth,
crouched some unrecognizabe crea.
ture, human, yet inhuman, monkey,
and yet man. There We're 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.
swapping and snarling every time
he glanced towards the newcom-
ers. 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 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 dejectedly, the ape-man
crept to where he had been ordered
and sat there with dull, non-compre.
hending stare. 1t. was a 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.
81 don't think these other animals
will hurt" he said. Let's have q
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 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.
suppose" Quest remarked. Wen
turn it around, anyway"
They dragged it a few feet away
from the wall, SO that the opening
cry and Quest stood suddenly still.
The skeleton!" Lenora shrieked
Its the, skeleton!"
1t was skeleton so old that the
bones had turned a dull gray. Quest
glanced towards the hands.
Little fingers both missing" he
muttered
Remember the messenger" 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.
rected III 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 virile and
natural.
observation-disclosures,