Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1919-07-11

The task OF lowering the boys
grandmother over the side to waiting
canoe was rather difficult. The lad in
sisted on being always Mt her side,
and when ut 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 as he assisted
in lowering the sling that contained
the old woman over the steamers side,
nor did he notice 1t even MS 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 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 "hotel" to lure unsuspecting
wayfarers to Its many discemforts.
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 his grand
mother that he had decided to return
to England upon the next steamer. He
was endeavoring to make 1t 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.
Having come to a decision, the lad
felt sense OF relief from the worry
that had haunted him for many sleep
less nights. When he closed his eyes
in sleep 1t was to dream of a happy
reunion with those at home, and as he
dreamed, Fate. cruel and inexoruble
crept stealthily upon him through the
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 be inserted slim skeleton
key in the lock of the door. With def
fingers, long accustomed to the silent
manipulation of the bars and bolts tina,
guarded other mems property. ConloI
+, turned the key and the knob simulta
neously. Gentle pressure upon the dool
swung it slowly inward upon 1t:
hinges. The man entered the room
closing the door behind him.
! The moon was temporarily overcast
by heavy clouds. The interior of the
I apartment was shrouded in gloom
e Conlon CROPPED his way toward the bed
In the fur corner of the room some
thing moved-moved with slen
stealthiness which transcribed ever
4 the trained silence of the burglar
Conlon heard nothing. His attention
was riveted upon the bed, in which h,
thought to find a yong boy and hi
helpless invalid grandmother.
: The American sought only the bank
t roll. If he could possess himself O.
e this without detection, well and good
$ but were he to meet resistance he wa
2 prepared for that too. The lad!
e clothes lay across a chair beside tn,
: bed.
i The Americans fingers felt swift,
I through them-the pockets contained
l no roll Of crisp. new notes. Doubtless
they were beneath the pillows Of tn,
: bed.
a He stepped closer toward the sleep
r err; his hand was already halfway be
q meath the pillow when the thick clou,
I that had obscured the moon role,
: aside and the room was flooded witt
z light. At the same instant the DO,
. opened his eyes and looked straigh
r into those of Conlon. The man wa
h suddenly conscious that the boy wa
d alone in the bed. Then he ciutche,
$ for his victims throat.
: AS the lad rose to meet him Conlol
heard low growl at his back, thel
S he felt his wrists seized by the boy an,
!, realized that beneath those taperin
: white fingers played muscles of steel
s He felt other hands at his throat
/, rough, hairy hands that reached owe
o his shoulders from behind. He cas-
e q terrified glance backward, and tn
: hairs of his head stiffened at the sigh
h his eyes revealed, for grasping hin
S from the rear was huge, manlike ape
d The barred fighting fangs of the an
thropoid were close - his throat. Tn