Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-02-17

far as the hedge. which they skirted
| for a few yards until they found an
opening. Then Quest gave vent to a
little exclamation. Immediately in
front of them was a small hut. built
apparently of sticks and bamboos,
with a stronger framework behind,
The sloping roof was s~rass.Grown and
entwined with rushes. The only apol'
ogy for a window was a queer little
hole set quite close to the roof.
There was a r%ude.looking 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
scufling sounds. Lenora's cheeks
grew paler.
Must we stay" she murulurcd. 81
don't think | want to see what's in
side. Mr.. Quest! MIR. Quest"
She chung to his arm. They were
opposite the little aperture which
served as a window. and al that mo
ment 1t suddenly framed the face OF
a creature, human in features. d!aboli'
cal in expression.
Say. that's some face" he re-
marked. I'D hate to spoi! 1t"
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 behind
him, Quest gazed around eagerly. EN-
actly in front of him. clad only in a
loin cloth, with hunched-up shoulders,
a necklace around its neck. with blaz'
ing eyes and ugly. cleaning teeth,
crouched some unrecosnizable crea'
ture, human, yet inhuman. a monkey,
and yet a man. There vert a couple
Of monkeys swinging by their tails
from a bar, and a 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 a hairy hand towards
a club, and gripped it. Quest drew 4
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 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 ,:1ees
trembled.
Back to that corner" Quest or
dered. pointing.
Slowly and dejectedly. tho ape-man
crept to where he had been ordered
and sat there with dull. non-compre
bending stare. 1t was a new force
this, a note of which he had fe!t-the
! superman raising the voice OF author
ity. Quest touched his forehead ans
found it damp. The strain OF thost
few seconds had been intolerable.
Il don't think these other animal;
will hurt" he said. Lets have 4
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 then
| always with a snarl and an evil ligh,
in his eye.
They found nothing unusual unit
they came to the distant corner wheTt
a huge piano box lay on its side with
the opening turned to the wall.
This is where the brute sleeps.
suppose" Quest remarked. Vel
turn it around, anyway"
they dragged it a few feet away
from the wall, so that the opening
faced them. Then Lenora gave a little
cry and Quest stood suddenly still.
THE skeleton" Lenora shrieked
Its the skeleton"
It was a skeleton so old that the
bones had turned a dull gray. Quest
glanced towards the hands.
Little fingers both missing. ne
muttered.
Remember the message" 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. "I1l just bring this beast
round again and then we'll tackle the
professor"
Quest turned towards the creature
which crouched still huddled up in Its
corner.
Look at me-" he ordered.
The creature obeyed. Once more its
frame seemed to grow more virile and
natural.