Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-02-03

inc HlI, FEOtSSSOfs
far as the hedge. which they skirtet
for a few yards until they found ar
opening. Then Quest gave Vent to 6
little exclamation. Immediately III
front OF them was 4 small hut. bull
apparently OF sticks and bamboos
with 4 stronger framework behind
The sloping roof was grass-srown ant
entwined with rushes. The only apol
ogy for a window was a queer llttl.
hole set quite close to the roof.
There was a rude.looking door. bu'
Quest. on trying it. found it locked
They walked around the place. bu'
found no other opening. All the time
from inside they could hear Quee'
scutiing sounds. l.enora's cheek!
grew paler.
Must We stay" she muruured. I"
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 1t suddenly framed the face O
a creature. human in features. diabo!i
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
ward.
She followed him silently. A few
turns Of the wrist and the door Yield
ed. Keeping Lenora a little behint
him, Quest gazed around eagerly. Eek
actly in front Of him, clad only in {
loin cloth. with hunched-up shoulders
a necklace around it's neck, with blaz
ing eyes and ugly, cleaning teeth
crouched some unrecognizable crea
ture. human. yet inhuman. 4 monkey
and yet a man. There were a couple
Of monkeys swinging by their tail;
from a bar, and a leopard chained II
a staple in the ground, walking
round and round in the far corner
swapping and snarling every TIM
he glanced towards the newcom
ers. The creature in front OF hin
stretched out a hairy hand towards
a club, and gripped it. Quest drew
long breath. His eyes were set hard.
drop that club" he ordered.
The creature suddenly sprans up
The club was waved around his head
Drop it," Quest repeated firmly
You will sit down in your corne 70,
will sleep"
The club slipped from the hairy fin
gers. The tense frame. which hat
been already crouched for the spring
was suddenly relaxed. The knee
trembled.
Back to that corner" Quest OF
dered, pointing.
Slowly and dejectedly, the ape-mal
crept to where he had been ordere'
and sat there with dull, non-comprt
hending stare. 1t was 4 new force
this, a note Of which he had felt-th
superman raising the voice OF author
ity. Quest touched his forehead an
found it damp. The strain OF thos
few seconds had been intolerable.
81 don't think these other animal
will hurt" he said. Let's have
look around the place"
The search took only q fe" M
ments. The monkeys ran and junipo
around them. gibber!ng as though wit
pleasure. The Leopard watched Their
always with a snarl and an evil lish
in his eye.
They found nothing unusual unit
they came to the distant corner, whcr
a huge piano box lay on its side Wit
the opening turned to the wall.
This is where the brute sleeps.
suppose" Quest remarked. I'VE.
turn 1t around, anyway"
they dragged it a few feet ava
from the wall, so that the openin
faced them. Then Lenora gave a it'll
cry and Quest stood suddenly still.
The skeleton" Lenora shrieket
Its the skeleton"
It was a skeleton so old that tn
bones had turned a dull gray. Cues
glanced towards the hands.
Little fingers both missing" h
muttered.
"Remember the message" she e.
claimed. Where the skeleton is, tn
necklace may be also"
Quest nodded shortly.
We'll search"
They turned ver everything in tn
place fruitlrssly. There was no sig
Of the necklace.
"You get outside. Lenora." Quest d
rected. "IIl just bring this beas
round again and then We'll tackle tn
professor"
Quest turned towards the creature
which crouched still huddled up in II
corner.
Look at me-" he ordered.
The creature obeyed. Once more !,
frame seemed to grow more virile an
natural.