Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-23
wEDNEsDAY-THE ROCK ISLAND ARGUs-JANUARY %, 1918

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 I'M
told sorrow because of his absence,
from which it may be assumed that
his parents had not been acquainted
with the plans that he and the old Indy
had made for their adventure into
African wilds.
Having come to decision, the lad
felt sense Of relief from the worry
that had haunted him for many sleep
less NIGHTS. When he closed his eyes
N s,eep 1t was to dream Of a happy
reunion with those at home, and as he
dreamed, Fate, CRUEL and MEMORABLE
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 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
i In the far corner of the room some
thing moved-moved with silen
stealthiness which transcribed ever
, the trained silence Of the burglar
Conlon heard nothing. His attention
, was riveted upon the bed, In which h
! thought to find young boy and hi
r helpless, invalid grandmother.
The American sought only the bank
! roll. II he could possess himself o
$ this without detection, well and good
: but were he to meet resistance he wa
prepared for that too. The lad
clothes lay across a chair beside tn
|. bed.
:. The Americans fingers felt swift
through them-the pockets containe
! no roll Of crisp, new notes. Doubles
a they were beneath the pillows Of tn
q bed.
:. He stepped closer toward the sleel
h er; his hand was already halfway b
6 meath the pillow when the thick clOu
A. that had Obscured the moon role
aside 'and the room was flooded wit
$ light. At the same instant the be
j, opened his eyes and looked straigl
\. into those of Conion. The man VIZ
q suddenly conscious that the boy ,ws
!. alone in the bed. Them he clutche
At for his victims throat.
4. AS the lad rose to meet him Comic
heard a low growl at his back, thu
ar he felt his wrists seized by the boy al
IN realized that beneath those tap6ril
ID white fingers played muscles of ste'
al He felt other hands at his thrOt
al rough, hairy hands that reached ov
a his shoulders from behind. He ca
al terrified glance backward, and t
a hairs of his head stiffened At the sig
no his eyes revealed, for grasping hl
be from the rear was huge, manlike al
m The barred fighting fangs Of the 9
or thropoid were close to his throat. 7
w. lad pinioned his wrists. Neither
d tered a sound.
of Where. was the grandmother? c.
he Ions eyes swept the room in sing
no all inclusive glance. His eyes bulg
In horror at the realization Of I
cd truth which that glance revealed.
Ia the power of what creatures of hideC
mystery had he placedfhimselfi
or Frantically he fought to beat of
ut boy so he could turn upon the fe
ID some thing at his back. Freeing c