The Kendrick gazette., 1919-07-11

The tasksso of lowering the boys
grandmother over the side to waiting
canoe was rather dificult. The lad in.
sisted on being always at her side,
and when at last she was safely en-
sconced In the bottom OF the craft that
was to bear them. shoreward her grand
SON dropped catlike after her.
!. So interested was he In seeing her
comfortably disposed that he failed to
observe the little package that had
worked from his pocket az, he assisted
in lowering the sling that contained
the old woman over tho steamer's side,
nor did he notice It even as It slipped
out entirely and dropped Into the sea.
Scarcely had the boat containing the
boy and the old woman started for the
shore than Conlon hailed canoe on
the other side Of the ship and after
bargaining with ito 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 discemforts.
It was quite dark before he ventured
to enter and arrange for accommoda-
tions.
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 it plain to
the old lady that she might remain in
Africa II 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.
4 Having come to decision. the lad
felt q sense Of relief from the worry
that had haunted him for many sleep.
Tess nights, When he closed his eyes
In sleep 1t was to dream Of q 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 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 1t 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 groped his way toward the bed.
In the far corner Of the room some
thing moved-moved with q silent
stealthiness which transcribed even
the trained silence of the burglar.
Conlon heard nothing. His attention
was riyeted upon the bed, in which he
thought to find yoAng boy and his
helpless, invalid grandmother.
The American sought. only the bank.
roll. II 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 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.
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 Will
light. At the same instant the boy
opened his eyes and looked straight
into those Of Conlon. The man wa,
suddenly conscious that the boy wa.
alone In the bed. Then he clutchet
| for his victims throat.
As the lad rose to meet him Conlo1
heard low growl at his back, ther
he felt his wrists seized BY the boy and
realized that beneath those taperini
white fingers played muscles Of steel
| He felt other hands at his throat
rough. hairy hands that reached ovel
his shoulders from behind. He cas-
a terrified glance backward, and tn,
hairs Of his head stiffened at the sigh
his eyes revealed. for grasping hin
from the rear was a huge, manlike ape
| The barred fighting fapgs of the an
thropoid were close - bis throat Tn