Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-05-20

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 stronger framework behind.
The sloping roof was grass-grown and
entwined with PUSHES. The only apol-
ogy for a window was queer little
hole set quite close to the roof
There was rude-looking door, but
Quest, on trying 1t. found 1t locked.
They walked around the place, but
found no other opening. All the time
from inside they could hear queer
scuffling sounds. Lenora's cheeks
| grew paler.
Must We stay?" she murmured. Il
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 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 ii 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. Elk
actly in front of him. clad only in a
| loin cloth. with hunched-up shoulders,
| a necklace around it's neck, with blaz-
ing eyes and ugly, cleaning teeth,
crouched some unacceptable crea-
ture, human. yet inhuman, a monkey,
and yet a man. There were a couple
of monkeys swinging by their tails
from a 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
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 new force,
this, a note of which he had fe4t-the
superman raising the voice of author
ity. Quest touched his forehead and
found 1t damp. The strain Of those
few seconds had been intolerahle.
Il don't think these other animals
will hurt" he said Let's have a
look around the place"
The search took only 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
huge piano box lay ON its side with
| the opening turned to the wall.
This is where the brute sleeps,
suppose" Quest remarked. We'll
turn 1t around, anyway"
They dragged 1t 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
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 message?" she ex
claimed Where the skeleton is. the
necklace may be also"
/ Quest nodded shortly.
| well search"
They turned over everything in the
place fruitlessly. There was no sigr
Of the necklace.
"You get outside. Lenora," Quest di
rected. ''Ill Just bring this beast
round again and then wen tackle the
professor"
Quest turned towards the creature
which crouched still huddled up in 1T
corner.
Look at me-" he ordered.
The creature obeyed. Once more III
frame seemed to grow more virile ant
natural.