Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-11-28

! scarcely had the boat containing the
boy and the old woman started for the
shore than COnlon hailed a canoe on
| the other side of the ship and after
bargaining with its owner finally low
cred his baggage and himself aboard.
once ashore he kept out of sight of
the two story atrOcity that bore the
legend "hotel" to lure unsuspecting
wayfarers to its many discomforts.
1t was quite dark before he ventured
to enter and arrange for accommoda-
tons.
In back room upon the second floor
the lad was explaining not without
considerable difficulty to his grand
mother that he had decided to return
to England upon the next steamer. He
! was endeavoring to make 1t plain TO
| the old lady that she might remain in
Africa if she wished, but that for his
part his conscience demanded that he
return 10 his father and mother, who
doubtless were even now suffering I'M
told sorrow because of his absence,
! from which 1t may be assumed that
his parents had not been acquainted
with the plans that he and the old lady
had made for their adventure into
African wilds.
Having come to decision, the lad
felt a sense of relief from the worry
that had haunted him for many sleep
less nights. When he closed his eyes
in sleep it was to dream of a happy
reunion with those at home, and as he
dreamed, Fate. cruel and inexorable,
crept stealthily upon him through the
! dark corridor of the squalid building
in which he slept-Fate in the form of
the American crook ConlOn.
Cautiously the man approached the
! door of the lads room. There he
crouched listening, until assured by
the regular breathing of those within
that both slept.
Quietly he inserted a slim skeleton
/ key in the lock Of the door. With deft
fingers, long accustomed TO the silent
manipulation of the bars and bolts that
| guarded other mems property, ConlOn
! turned the key and the knob simulta-
neously. Gentle pressure upon the door
swung it slowly inward upon its
hinges. The man entered the room.
| closing the door behind him.
The moon was temporarily overcast
| by heavy clouds. The interior of the
apartment was shrOuded in gloom.
| Conlon CROPPED his way to;gard the bed.
| In the far corner of the room some
thing moved-moved with silent
stealthiness which transcribed even
the trained silence of the burglar.
Conlon heard nothing. His attention
was riveted upon the bed, In which he
thought to find young boy and his
helpless, invalid grandmother.
The American sought only the bank
roll. If he could possess himself of
this without detection, we'll and good,
but were he to meet resistance he was
! prepared for that too. The lads
! clothes lay across q chair beside the
| bed.
The Americans fingers felt swiftly
| through them-the pockets contained
no roll of crisp, new notes. Doubtless
! they were beneath the pillows of the
bed.
err: his hand was already halfway be-
meath the pillow when the thick cloud
that had obscured the moon rolled
aside and the room was flooded with
light. At the same instant the boy
opened his eyes and looked straight
into those of ConlOn. The man was
suddenly conscious that the boy was
81 II, no.
for his victims throat.
AS tire lad rose to meet him Conlon
heard low growl at his back. then
he felt his wrists seized by the boy and
realized that beneath those tapering
white fingers played muscles of steel.
He felt other hands at his throat.
rough, hairy hands that reached over
his shoulders from behind. He cast
terrified glance backward, and the
hairs of his head stiffened at the sight
his eyes revealed, for grasping him
from the rear was huge, manlike ape
The barred fighting fangs of the an
| thrCpoid were close to his throat. The
lad pinioned his wrists. Neither ut
| tered sound.
Where was the grandmother Con-
Ions eyes swept the room In a single
| all Inclusive glance. His eyes bulged
in horror at the realization of the
truth which that glance revealed. In
the power of what creatures of hldeous
| mystery had he placed himself?
Frantically he fought to beat off the
boy so he could turn upon the fear
some thing at his back. Freeing one
hand, he struck savage blow at the
lads face.
His act seemed to unloose a thou-
sand devils in the hairy creature.
] clinging to his throat Conlon heard
! low and savage snarl. II was the last
thing that the American ever heard in
this life. Then he was dragged back
ward upon the floor, a heavy body fell
( upon him. powerful teeth fastened
/ themselves in his tugular, his head
I whirled in the sudden blackness which
rims eternity.
! A moment later the ape rose from
I his PROSTATE form. But COnlon did
( not know-he was quite dead.
The lad. Mortified. sprang from the
I bed to lean low over the body of the