Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-10-27


part his conscience demanded that lie
return to his father and mother. who
doubtless were even now suffering un.
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
| tclt n sense of relief from the worry
| that had haunted him for many sleep
| less nights. When he closed his eyes
| Ill sleep 1t was to dream of happy
! reunion with those ut home. and as he
dreamed Fate. cruel and incxorable.
| crept stealthily upon him through the
dark corridor of the squalid building
In which he slcpt-Fatc in the form of
| the American crook Conon.
Cautiously the man approached the
| door of the lads room. There he
| crouchcd, listening. until assured by
the regular breathing Of those within
| that both slept.
I Quietly he inserted Il slim skclctor
key In the lock Of the door. With def,
| fingers, long accustomed to the silen,
! manipulation Of the bars and bolts thu
guarded other mems property. Conlon
| turned the key and the knob simulta-
| ncously. Gentle pressure upon the door
swung 1t slowly inward upon Its hinges.
! The man entered the room, closing the
| door behind him.
| Tho moon was temporarily overcast
by heavy clouds. The interior Of the
apartment was shroudcd IN gloom. Con-
Ion CROPPED his way toward tho bed.
In the far corner Of tho room some
thing moved-moved with silent
tstcalthiness which transcribed even the
trained silence Of tho burglar. Conlon
heard nothing. Ills attention was riy-
cted 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 chair beside the bed.
Tho Americans fingers felt swiftly
through thcm-thc pockets contn Ined no
roll of crisp, new notes. Doubtless they
were beneath the pillows of the bed
| lie stepped closer toward the sleeper:
his hand was already halfway beneath
the pillow when the thick cloud that
nad oDscurcd 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 Con-
Ion. The man was suddenly conscious
that the boy was alone III the bed. Then
he clutchcd for his victims throat.
! AS the lad rose to meet him Conlon
heard low growl ut his back, then he
felt his wrists seized by the boy and
realized that beneath those tapcring
white fingers played muscles of steel.
He felt other hands ut his thront,
rough, hairy hands that reached over
his shoulders from behind. He cast
terrified glance backward, and tho
nairs of his head stiffened ut the sight
MS eyes revealed, for grasping him
from the rear was a huge. manlike ape.
The barred fighting fangs OF the an
thropoid were close to his throat. The
lad pinioned his wrists. Neither ut
tered n sound
Where was the grandmother? Con.
IONS eyes swept the room in single,
all inclusive glance. Ills eyes bulged
In horror Mt the realization OF the truth
which that glance revealed. In tho
power Of what creatures OF hideous
mystery had he placed himself?
Frantically he fought to beat Off the
boy so he could turn upon the fearsome
thing Mt his back. Freeing one hand,
he struck savage blow Mt the lads
face.
Lis net seemed to unloose thou
sand devils In the hairy creature cling
Ing to his throat Conlon heard a low
and savage smart. 1t was the last
thing that the American ever heard In
this life. Then he was dragged back
ward upon the floor. heavy body fell
upon him. powerful teeth fastened
themselves in his jugular. his head
whirled In the sudden backness which
rims eternity.
a moment later the ape rOse from
his PROSTATE form But Conlon did
not know-he was quite dead.
The lad, Mortified. sprang from the
bed to lean low over the body Of the
man. y He knew Akut had killed him
In his defense, as lie had killed Paul
witch. But here In savage Africa. far
from home and friends. what would
they do to him ana his faithful ape?
The lad knew that the penalty of
murder was death. He even knew that
an accomplish might suffer the death
penalty with the principal. Who was
there here who would plead for them !?
AL would be against them. 1t was
little more than n half civilized COM
munity, and the chances were that
they would drag Akut and him forth
In the morning and hang them both to
the nearest tree. He had read Of such
things being done In America. and
Africa was worse even and wilder
than the great west of his mothers
native land.
Yes, they would both DO hanged In