The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-11-08

shore than COnlOn hailed canoe OF
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 'hoteT to lure unsuspectine
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 hi, grand
mother that he had decided to return
to England upon the next steamer. He
was endeavoring to make it 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 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
felt Il sense of relief from the worry
that had haunted HIN for many sleep
.4>s lights. When he closed his eyes
in sleep it was to dream of happy
reunion with those at home, and as he
dreamed, Fate. cruel and memorable.
crept stealthily upon him through the
dark corridor Of the squaiid building
in which he slept-Fate in the form Of
the American crook Con.on.
Cautiousl! 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 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 toward 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 a young boy and his
helpless, invalid grandmother. r
The American sought only the bank
roll. If he could possess himself of
this without detection, well and good.
but were he to meet resistance he WAS
prepared for that too. The lads
clothes lay across a chair beside Il
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.
He stepped closer toward the sleep
er; 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
alone in the bed. Then he clutchcd
for his victims throat.
AS the lad rose TO meet him Conlon
heard Il 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
u terrified glance backward, and the
hairs of his head stiffened at the sight
his 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 sound.
Where was the grandmother? Con.
Ions eyes swept the room in 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 hide0us
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 a savage blow at the
lads face.
His act seemed to unloose thou.
sand devils in the hairy creature
clinging to his throat. Conl0n heard u;
low and savage snarl. 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 heat
whirled in the sudden blackness which
rims eternity.
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