The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1920-02-17

vi llltli fililiFtN ~ '." Us Va fAVJNts'-c
cleats which serycd rs ladders to reach
n vast system g. smaller platforms
built wherever the natural disposition
of The branches afforded adequate sup
port. These lesser rooms were used
MS storehauses for merchandise, pro
visions and ivory and few Of them,
near the very top of The tree, were
fitted out as guest chonbers especially
adopted TO the safe-keeplng OF doubt
ful strangers as also FOR the effective
hiding of chattel, human and other
isc, which for one reason or another
Manchester desired TO keep out of
sight.
Into one OF the latter Andrea was
finally ushered, breathless from her
climb. On It's floor was fresh grass
mat a clean blanket, II clay pot Of
drinking water with q dippcr made out
Of coconut shell and square box
filed with sand, evidently intended for
the bed of a cooklng-fre The only
light came from cotton wick laid in
an open vessel flied with oil from the
castor bean.
There you are, Sissie," said Mac.
Closter. in his new oily voice, every
thing you can possibly need and when
ever you want 10 go out, all you have
TO do is TO climb down and 90 through
my room. You won't have TO do your
own cooking for day or two; III send
your scoff up"
Andrea's heart sank 70 depths that
II had never reached before her lower
zip trembled and drew down at he
corners.
"Now, don't look so elum," said Mac
Closter, leering ut her. Just remem-
Der that you couldn't be safer In III
than YOU are herep
He turned and left her with laugh
at his own Joke. Tho measured "I1a
IIai IIa lii! ia, Ha r. reverberat-
ed through the interminable mazes of
the entombeh Tree. More than ever II
seemed the mocking laugh Of thirty
voices, chanting In unison. She threw
herself full length, face-down, on the
grass mat and covered her ears with
her HAMS. Presently bodily exhaus-
ton came TO her aid and she merci-
fully slept.
Hours later she awokc to a feeling
that she had been definitely summoned
by her subconscious self 10 face an I'M.
minent danger. Night had fallen and
Its peace had settled on the craal In
general, but there was no peace in the
great Gala. Out of MacCloster's room
arose through the whispering stiffness
a series Of monstrous sounds, mon.
strously Notwithstanding, rumbling
curses, mutterings, the occasional
crash of shattered empty bottle.
Then came silence more Ominous
than the noises. for II was alive, a
creeping thing with tentacles that
seemed to be wrlthlnE up the limbs Of
the Tree.
II 1lled Andrea with u premonitlop
and brought her a desperate courage.
She took on her 'high-heeied slippers
and climbed down several rungs Of the
ladder that led to her platform then
seating herself and getting good
knee-grip ON the limb. she leaned down
and gradually worked loose the cleat
below her. After that she took the next
above and then the next, depositlng
each cleat as she removed II In her
room.
No sooner had she finished. leaving
herself. cut on from easy access to the
outside world but In compensation
having established a substantial OBJ.
stacle to sudden assault from below.
than she was aware of the whispering,
wheezy sound OF heavy breathing. I'm
mediately afterward came to her dis
tended nostrils an overpowerlng odor
" gin, nauseatingly sweet and sour at
the same time. She looked down into
the shadowy gloom and saw MacClos-
ter's bulk moving slowly upward, rung
by rung, each movement as deliberate
and repulslve ms that Of giant sloth.
Gripping one Of the loosened cleats
In her right hand, she knelt ON the
edge OF the platform and watched
breathlessly his progress. When he
came 10 the break In the ladder his
hairy paws CROPPED helplessly for mo-
ment only; then they embraced the
tree-trunk and he began to swarm up
the easy slant. Waiting up for me,
dearler' he whispered
Andrea suppressed an instructive
impulse 10 fly before his advance. all
the more terrifying because it was so
deliberate. Her face went white, her
eyes narrowed, but her lips set In
straight line as she waited, trying her
best 10 quiet her excited breathing lest
It betray her pitlful agitation. She
measured the distance between the
edge of the platform and those slowly
sliding hands. Only when they got so
close that she could see the mist of
fine yellow hair on them did she strike
first az one and then at the other, and
not with the edge of the cleat, but
with the three Jagged nails that pro.
truded from its fiat side.
With II below OF rage Manchester
snatched back his pierced hands, trust
Ing to the grip of his knees. Andrea