Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-06-23

boy ana the olu Nouldn olUilt loA NhN
shore than Conlon hailed Il canoe on
the other side Of the ship and after
bargaining with its owner finally low
cred his baggage and himself aboard.
once ashore lie kept out of sight of
the two story atrocity that bore the
legend "hotel" to lure unsuspecting
wayfarers to its many discomforts.
II was quite dark before he ventured
TO enter aud arrange for accommodate
lions.
In back room upon the second floor
the lad was explaining not without
considerable difficulty TO his grand
mother that he had decided 10 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 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 lady
had made for their adventure into
African wilds.
Having come 10 a decision, the lad
that had haunted him for many sleep
less nights. When he closed his eyes
IN sleep II was to dream Of n happy
reunion with those at home. and as he
dreamed, Fate, cruel and ineXorable.
crept stealthily upon him through the
dark corridor of the squalid building
in which he Fate in the form of
the American crook Conlon.
Cautiously the man approached the
ldoor of the lads room. There he
lcrouched, 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
burned the key and the knob simulta-
Ineously. Gentle pressure upon the door
Iswung it slowly inward upon its
Hinges. The man entered the room,
CLOSING the door behind him.
The moon was temporarily overcast
lby heavy clouds. The interior of the
apartment was shrouded in gloom.
lConlon CROPPED his way toward the bed.
In tine far corner OF the room sumo
thing moved-moved with silent
lstealthiness which transcribed even
1.-The trained silence Of the burglar.
Conlon heard nothing. His attention
was riveted upon the bed, In which he
thought to find young boy and his
helpless, invalid grandmother
The American sought only the bank
roll. If 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 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
err; 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 with
light. At the same instant the boy
opened his eyes and looked straight
into those of Conlon. The man was
suddenly conscious that the boy was
n. In " n I.. .als oh
for his victims throat.
AS the lad rose TO meet him Conlon
heard a low growl at his back, then
he felt his wrists seized by the boy and
realized that beneath those tapering
white fingers played muscles of steel
He felt other hands at his throat
rough, hairy hands that reached over
his shoulders from behind. He cast
n terrified glance backward, and the
hairs Of his head stiffened at the sight
his eyes revealed, for grasping him
from the rear was huge, manlike ape.
The barred lighting fangs Of the an
thrOpOid were close TO his throat. The
lad pinioncd his wrists. Neither ut
tered q sound.
Where was the grandmother? Con-
Ions eyes swept the room in a single,
all Inclusive glance. His eyes bulged
In horror at the realization of the
truth which that glance revealed. In
the power of what creatures of hideous
mystery had he placed himself?
Frantically he fought to beat off the
boy 80 he could turn upon the fear
some thing at his back. Freeing one
hand, he struck savage blow at the
lads face.
His act seemed TO unloose thou
sand devils in the hairy creature,
cllnging TO his throat. Conlon heard
low and savage snarl. 1t was the last
thing that the American ever heard in
this life. Then he was dragged back
ward upon the floor, heavy body fell
upon him, powerful teeth fastened
themselves in his jugular, his head
whirled I'm the sudden blackness which
rims eternity.
A moment later the ape rose from
his PROSTATE form. But COnlon did
not know-he was quite dead.
The lad. Mortified sprang from the