The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-01-11
GOING SOME
AT KRUGER'S
BY FRANK A. WARD

|
Hank looked at the monkey. perched
on the window sill, and the monkey
looked back. There matters rested
"Maybe you're real" he gasped, "but
them"
He shook his head as II, in the dim
light Of the single oil lamp, he could
not be certain. Whistling to keep up
his courage, he, let his weight fall in
| the rickety chair and picked up the
pen.
He paused, slanting an eye at the
visitor sitting there like craven Bud
dha. Never In his nine months at
Kruger's Crossing had he seen such a
phenomenon. 1t frightened him.
Meanwhile the creature shifted bit
on the roost. Instantly Hank robbed
his eyes, and sat up with Jerk; for
now two monkeys grew where one
had grown before, and swaylng
branch outside showed their means of
entrance.
For days he had been in the depths
of melnncholia, and the climax had
come that evening when he settled
down to write his letter of resigna-
tion.
AS to reasons for his leaving, there
were several.
First, ambition--not to be gratified
by fifty-fve dollars q month and post
In a signal-tower, placed where monOt-
Ony was king and a passing tramp was
an event. Second, third, fourth and
all the rest. there was Mollie Carey,
she of the frightened eyes and round
cd face. daughter of the nearest
farmer.
But It was upon monkeys that the
operators mind was busy Just now
and creeping each moment a shade
nearer the edge of masculine hys-
teria.
'"They're not real, or Ah-h-h"
A howl, slicing the silence Of the
night like knife, floated in at the
windows, and with 1t the mans sigh
was Of poignant relief.
idiot" he exclaimed. II might
have remembered !"
Three miles away and to windward
the cry Of the coyote arose once more,
even ms he had heard it on many
dreary nights, recalling the wild-anl-
NAL farm on the hill.
He knew that all kinds of queer
beasts were there, living wlre-pen-
ned existence till shipped to 200"
or private estate. So often had be
heard their nocturnal cries that they
had become part Of his lonely life.
There were now three, sitting there
with beady eyes which followed his
movements as he walked across the
little room and threw one Of the signal
levers.
A red eye down the line winked
white, and few seconds later the
monkeys huddled closer together in
fear as fast freight roared past with
IL shrek OF the locomotive whistle.
! Again the animals watched the Op-
orator as he threw the lever back to
danger. They were evidently keenly
interested, for as he sat down they
began an eager chattering that grew
louder with each minute.
Twice as he paused for reflection
he put the business end of the PEN
holder in his outraged mouth and
jumped up sputtering.
In the silence between the visitors
grew bold. There was moment of
excited whispering among them. then
the biggest dropped to the ground.
The rest followed.
"Here!" Hank yelled. "None of that
now"
But they were too quick for him.
In, rush they We're upon the nearest
signal lever, trying their best to imi-
tate the man who had thrown 1t be-
fore.
One Of thesi, hard pressed by Hank,
dnrted under the table. and In flash
was tangled with the wires which
ran from the telegraph instruments to
the batteries on the floor. Fighting,
clawing, swearing the ape went free |;
and the batteries, upset, sent blue
stained stream Of water across the
floor.
AS II at n signal batch of monkeys
Hank swears there were twenty
lenped from the branch to the window
ledge and thence among their breth-
rcn. The place was broken out with
them, like the measles. They shot
through the air and landed on the
levers; two of them found Hanks
lunch and fed, shrieklng, from his
wrath.
AT length, with Precipitation stream
ing into eyes already half blinded by
dust, Hank stood still.
A great calm descended.
"This," he painted grlmly, "is no
place for minister's son."
With one despairing glance Mt the
whirling dervishes. he darted for the
stairs and went down. three steps at
jump. At the foot he just missed
collision with woman's figure.
"Nfollie--"
"Is it-lt robbers"
"Worse," he grunted.
As her speech had fed, he sketched
the battle Of Krueger's Crossing, but
before he was half way through the
girl was laughing until her sides were
/. | achtpr