Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-16

tOucn OF hand upon his shoulder.
With n start he sat up to see huge
anthropoid ape squatting at his side,
inspecting him intently.
The Russian was thoroughly fright
ened. He glanced toward the sailors
they were couple Of hundred yards
away.
Again the ape plucked at his Shout
ders, jabbering plaintively. Paulvitch
saw no menace In the inquiring gaze
or In the attitude of the beast. He got
slowly to his feet. The ape rose at his
side.
Half doubled, the man shuffled eau
tiously away toward the sailors. The
ape moved with him, taking one of his
arms. They had come almost to the
little knot OF men before they were
seen, and by this time Paulvitch had
become assured that the beast meant
him no harm. The animal evidently
was accustomed to the association of
human beings.
1t occurred to the Russian that the
ape represented considerable and GER
tain money value, and before they
reached the sailors he had decided that
he should be the one to profit by it.
When the men looked up and saw
the oddly paired couple shuffiing to-
ward them they were filled with amaze
ment and started on a run toward the
two. The ape showed no sign Of fear.
Instead, he grasped each sailor by the
shoulder and peered long and earnestly
into his face. Having inspected them
: all, he returned to Paulvitch's side, dis
appointment written strongly upon his
countenance and in his carriage.
b. The men were delighted with him.
They gathered about, asking Paulvitch
many questions and examining his COM
panion. The Russian told them that
the ape was his. Nothing further would
he offer. but kept harping continually
upon the same theme: THE ape Is
mine. The ape is mine"
firing of Paulvitch, one Of the men
behind the ape, he prodded the anthro-
poid in the back with pin.
Like a flash the beast wheeled upon
its tormentor, end in the brief instant
OF turning the placid, friendly animal
was metamorphosed to a frenzied de-
mon Of rage.
The broad grin that had set upon the
sailors face as he perpetrated his little
Joke frOze to an expression of terror.
He attempted to dodge the long arms
that reached for him, but, failing, drew
a long knife that hung at his belt.
The ape tore the weapon from the
mans grasp with single wrench and
flung it to one side; then his yellow
fangs were buried in the sailors shout.
der.
With sticks and knives the mans
companions fell upon the beast, while
Paulvitch danced around the cursing
snarling pack, mumbling and scream
ing pleas and threats. He saw his vi
sions of wealth rapidly dissipating be
fore the weapons of the sailors.
The ape, however, proved no easy
victim to the superior numbers that
seemed fated to overwhelm him. Ris
! ing from the sailor who had precipi
| tated the battle, he shook his gian,
| shoulders, freeing himself from two OF
| the men that were clinging to his bach
and with mighty blows Of his oper
| palms felled one after another Of his
attackers, leaping hither and ththe,
| with the agility of small monkey
The fight had been witnessed by the
captain and mate, who were just land
| Ing from the Marjorie W., and Paul
! witch saw these two now running for
ward with drawn revolvers, while the
| two sailors who had brought then
ashore trailed ut their heels. The ape
| stood looking about him at the havoc
| he had wrought, but whether he was
| awaiting renewal of the attack OF
| was celebrating which of his foes he
should exterminate first, Paulvitcl
could not guess.
What he could guess, however, was
! that the moment the two officers came
within firing distance Of the beast they
would put an end to him in short order
| unless something were done, and done
quickly, to prevent.
The ape had made no move to attach
! the Russian, but even SO, the man wa.
none too sure Of what might happier
were he to interfere with the savage
| beast, now thoroughly aroused to rag,
| and with the smell of new spilled BLOOD
| fresh In Its nOstrlls. For an instant HI
hesitated. and then again there rose be
! fore him the dreams of affluence which
this great anthropoid would doubles.
turn TO realities once Paulyitch hat
landed him safely in some great me
tropolis like London.
The captain was shouting TO him nov
TO stand aside so he might have sho'
at the animal, but instead Paulvitcn
| shuffled to the apes side and, though
the mans hair quiyered at Its roots, nc
| mastered his fear and laid hold or the
animals arm.
"Come % he commanded, and tugged
to pull the beast from among the sail
ors. MANY of whom were now sitting
| up In wide-eyed fright or Crawling
| away from their conqueror upon hand,
| and knees.
Slowly the ape permitted itself to DC
led to one side, nor did II show the
slightest indication Of desire TO harm