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Show V THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, SUNDAY MORNING, JUNE The Jungle forget-me-not- Indian rains had held oS past their Peb Vanishs little motion picture outfit from the States was still In the Jungle near Kowhaddln, but ready te move Into an old dakbungalow as soon aa the monsoon struck. Tom Milliard, who painted wild animals tor a living, had recently joined the outfit On a certain night of still heat his cot and that of young Vanish were dose together under the stars, with little covering but their Insect curtains. In the thick lower dark these two chatted. Spook Powell. Pebe assistant had not yet turned In." They could see him In the candle light through the open flap of the mess tent his doeecropped .white bead bent over an American magazine just In today with an installment of a story he had been talking about for weeks. How old is Spook?" Hilliard asked. Not thirty yet" Peb answered. fve been waiting for you to tell me what ' turned his hair white." It happened in the Mojave desert, but I cant tell you what. Something that f . laughed TH s " In tbs Mojavt? Peb asked In a casual ' way. No, Peb; that was hack In Ioway. where you have colds In the head. I went to a literature class every day, just aa regular aa we go to the water hole now. VTe were studying one day Bean, the teacher, told us to bring In a quotation from that poet and say It aloud In class. Only I had forgotten to do this little thing, and I couldn't say It aloud If I had one. A girl with her neck wrapped up was cajlsd on first, and along she rides with; Silently, one by one. in the Infinite meadows At heaven, blossom the bloomin' stars, the of the angels. " forget " Peb Im not feeling very well his head turned Hilliard's w ay. M-s- a me-not- . nr- ' s Mad just now they heard a muffled remark of disgust from tha mess tent. Spook blew out the candle and joined them a moment later muttering that he pad to wait another month or six weeks for the rest of tha story? Hilliard could see bis uncovered head ehadowed against the whitish blur of the stare and beard Spook's Ups add vaguely: " The are thick tonight." Neither answered. Speck stretched out on his cot and with slow, grave care adjusted his Insect canopy. "You wouldn't think It," he went on In a curious muffled tone, " but I studied Eerie Cries in the Mojave Desert Had Turned, Spook's Hear White; Again in the Wildest Brush of India the Weird Something Pursued th Camera Hunter . Laughter ' -- - Lanoe-MeNo- - t) v isfe ... - now, realized that It was less his delicacy than the fear of betraying his own tear that .vt? knew him, but not dose. One day he came Into Skyline, California, where I was with an outfit on location. That was the day I saw bis hair was white. Also, he was Jerky and nervous. Eight months before, his hair was brown and we had called him Henry. It waa a long tuna befora I ventured to ask what happened out there In the desert to hum up the roots of his hair. Ail he said was Ik, Ikl waving his hand In front of his note." " I've heard Spook aay that tha farther he got from the Mojave the healthier he felt. HHHsrd reflected. Also, I recall his remark to the effect that ha wouldnt croea the Mojave again In a Pullman train. What did you eay about laughing? " ' By Will Levihgton Comfort A while afterward Peb wae breathing as way off over the picket fine, simultaneously the scream of a hors and Mike Lindsay's - on In restful sleep, but there was no sound from Spook Powells cot. homely H. S. voice: . , . Some one laughed. Some erne had That scenery lovin son of a vampire " bat strayed Into the jungle, gone mad, and started to laugh! Hilliard saw Spook Powell's The rest was lost in the uprooting of picket hands lift queeriy and maks motions under pins, the thud of hoofs, and a loose pony the Insect net. Then the artist realized that crashed by, not five f feet from 'where the his own hands had corns up to his taos that three cots were placed. Fiends of fear rode that pony, and against the white gleam of they were tallowy and chilled like monkeys flesh. This was a different fear. Above and stars Hilliard saw a long, low bump on the beasts with era His scalp prickled, a tightseparate from the rest of the jungles din, the hair. lifted the of skin that laughter was marking his own mind As a slightly ening violet ray marks a negative It was loose The pony went tearing Into the Jungle and and Mixurely, bat bad the patience of runthe sounds died out. Peb joined them pres" ently. ning waters. It was hungry, hungry for Looked like a goijUa riding that bay everything cinder the stars, but It could wait. Peb Vanish slept on like a child. The fizzer," Spook said In a husky tona f Peb didnt afiswer, but stood looking sway picket line had quieted down.. Into the dark toward jthe Jungle where the Every fiber In Hilliards body strained for the laughter again, yet he knew It would pony had vanished. wither the soul of him when It esms, and say there werent any gorillas this far north?" Spook inquired. constantly ha kept thinking of whitened hair, No answer. of whitened bones, and the white glare of Before we change the subject, Peb," desert wastes. The laughter vomited forth without Inconvenience; it lifted to shrill Spook drawled on tirelessly, Id like to aek the relation of gorillas to gents' saddls horses . mirth; It went through the jungle like a In this mans India. Just that little ques call to partake of Ineffable sins. Feb slept on. The horses sniffed a little, , tjon I That was a leopard. Spook, or a panther, but were not overrestless. Mr.- Pip, the which Is leopard fattened up. He was making the camp's fox terrier, and eyes at our little pig from the top boards of young hoar, found no cause for alarm. the pen. but Lancles squealing drove him Hilliard faced the fact that this thing was I took it for granted that you two knew , all about each other." the artist said. " No. Spook and I werent thick until after bis hair had turned," Peb went on. " I Spook's whits hair has got something to do with that." Peb added softly. On the day we landed in Calcutta we saw 'an Englishman in a billiard room who got started laughing and couldnt atop. What struck me more was how the laughing got on Spook's nerves Ha looked aa if hed like to put a bullet through the stranger. Tou know how up and dressed Spook Is when good hard nerve is required. Dont it make yqu wonder what laughed out there in the Mojave? " Hilliard had always been Interested In wild animals. He had come to Ifidla a second time to paint them In their own habitat. Week ago, at Dalkangra, h first heard of the remarkable picture sets Vanish's outfit was getting in tbs virgin hunting grounds near Kowhaddln. He had journeyed thither, and presently he realized he was In danger ct forg&Ung his Ufework In his intense and growing Interest in two bipeds. The overused word ace" waa all he could think of In relation to Peb Vanish. Merely a lighthearted boy; a re&cheeked. exasperating, high school coolness; no strain about the incredible things Peb pulled off; no roughneck characnothing square-jaweteristics, yet Pebs courage began where the old order of courage ended. Spook's nerve was different Spook used will power. He bad never faileda a pinch, but there was the feeling about him, for Hilliard at leaft, that be had been shocked to the soul somehow and that he might fail one day. Once it had been considered a brave thing to shoot tiger. Not so many years ago Hilliard had accompanied an English hunt, log party Into one of .the lower jungles, and had felt that he was taking his life In his hands with an arsenal of guns to draw from and a small army of natives to carry extra places. And here, In a new jungle, these two had spent hours each day exposed to every possible vjplence of the wild, hot a rifle between them, their rarely drew. Thsy had shot" tiger, all , . tight Hilliard had seen the pictures, male and female, down by the spring, and a marvelous flashlight which had caught the female In the act of charging the camera. The artist hsartl it hinted that Sjfeok had half drawn bia that day-athe big lady cat' stalked his companion a most delicate point In the minds of the camera men, apparently, just when to spoil a picture te save a life. 24. 1923. - . v tl it I A If t . - . ZS.J n . fx - 1 ,v W AV taw tha ItoparJ jamp tht pony from tht tree. Another girl rung a reSpook resumed: off. He mads the Ah of a tree from the pen without startling the horses and dove down peat on that quote," he went on. " Then a on to the nearest for a ride tough guy in front of her was called upon, and he growls his way through same. I was That pony was sure doing his part aa he " using up my young nerve by this time memVent by here, said Spook. orizing the verse as It went around the class-rooThey were back under the nets and silent for some time, when Spook said: apparently the only quotation Mr. Longfellow ever screened. Only, when my I could weep, name was called. I was too honest to s 5V hat's the matter? " it straight, and a panic hit me." It was so homey. I thought I was back on the banks of the Colorado, down Yuma Spook paused. How did you spring it? Hilliard aaitul way, Yessir, for a minute Mike Lindsay had me home again In the desert ofi the Arizona Dont know. Genius like that hasn't border. A child in arms, I was, by th old worked since. Long about the third "tryout Colorado Maduro when Mike raised his that classful was hurriedly dismissed and I voice like that, 'rhen the'i&rrent stopped-- " was" a stranger In the school from then on. Mike saw th leopard Jump the pony from Just the same, thoee lines hit into me like a the tree. Leijs get some sleeppopular song. I used myself saying An IH never hear the rqat of Mikes dear em in the desert when it was extra dull language." Spook complained. That wasnt Say, what a " declarative sentence simple Piercing squeals had begun from the pen " Wen be out after that pony bright and of a young Jungle pig abruptly as one would early. Peb suggested sleepily. open a steam cock. J'm your mournin dove'."' Sounds as If Lands had swallowed a The Jungle dinned as sever before. , The scorpion, Peb said, sitting up, Whole blood drinking world of th dark Ain't ht sloquent Just? " Sppk drawled. seemed electrically connected with the fate of Tht whole camp wax tow astir, especially , the pony. Hilliard figured that at least three MJte Lindsay, the pack boss, on of the origjackal packs had converged at a point within inal party from the States. Peb left hU cot half a thousand yards from camp. That saying ho would go gml turn Lands off. H bunched, shadowy rider persistently poised made good his word apparently, for the wee before the eye of the artist's mind. Hs "boar merely grunted now. ' caught himself wishing th pavements of A Spook yawned audibly- - and Hilliard was town were between him and th terrors of smiling up at the " forget when the eafth; walls of granite and brick between the crack of a strong branch sounded a httls him and. the phantoms of the dark. . 1 Peb" st In" -- " me-no- -- when It Perhape youll know when sounds again. But tha laughter waa slow In sounding again. Hilliard was distracted by his effort at listening. He wanted to justify himself before Peb. He studied this dirty motive In his own mind, unable to root it out in th moral paralysis from the laughter. It seemed more Important to conceal his own condition from Peb than to locate their ' ' mining companion. He cant have gone tar," Peb muttered. He cant have gone far They were both In their clothes now and turned Into the jungle at tha point where the trail of the pony had torn Its way. "I dont hear any laughter," Peb remarked, ,after a moment. Hilliard didn't answer. Feb added: It was laughing, you know, or something like that that put Spook In wrong with th Mojave." Yes, you said so. A shivery chill played along Hilliard's nerves He kept stretching bis lip because there was a twitch In it, like a man who needs a drink. He didn't want young Vanish to see his mouth working like this. They were among the thinned jungle growth now.. Th stars were paler, as if dawn bad dimmed them. You dont suppose he was hypnotized, do you, or walking in his sleep? " I thought of that of both." said Hilliard. Funny I didnt wake np. Hello " Peb's voice ended In a chuckle. A shadowy figure had slid Ilk a part of the dark across ths divided density of foliage In front. Its twisted head rocked sideways. Hilliard s tortured mind was shot back nearly thirty years, when as a child on Christmas morning he was frightened by on of his a toy donkey of papier mache, present the heed of which rocked at him. If Peb knew what this was that had crossed their path shy didnt he say something? Th thing crossed again ambng th leaves or another Ilk It. ' it had a hunch on Its back. . . . Because a pony went by hours befors with a hunched cat on Its withers (Hilliard's mind Inquired In the eilenoe) must everything have a rider henceforward? It seem to be geftlng even darker," Peb said In a whisper. I smell rain. I bats te us th flashlight. It makes your eyes nd good without it, Hs cant be much far- ' n fy , v W' had kept him alien t. Even now Seconds were passing as he struggled to get his vole ta hand before, calling Peb. The name was on his Ups when sounded again. X white and utterly weary smile formed and hung around Hilliard s mouth the smile of a man who has accepted his own , StUl his mind tried to put failure. . off caning Peb Vanish a score of objections. He even found himself trying to figure what day of th month this was. He saw himself lying out there In th Jungle, curiously like a figure he had once helped to take out of a smashed airplane a man, changed to something else, but etOl wearing tha earn coat and helmej. He forced out the harsh ton at last: Peb? q? Ye, hello." hui throat. "Pardon- Now Hilliard-cleare- d me tor calling you Its the laughter, jou know." Th what? " Either Ive been dreaming or there's a sort of laughter from the Jungle Can t be Im mistaken. Feel over In Spook's cot and " see If hes Spooks gone" Peh said quietly. " Thought I couldnt be mistaken "How long ago? . . , Why, Spook . didn't, get Into his boots He went In yonder th way the pony " dashed What do you 'epos laughed, Mr. aa ordeal for him alone. Then suddenly he knew better. Though thee bed not been a sound or a croak from Spook Powell's cot, Hilliard knew the d one was awake and sharing his fear. Mqre and mors craftily sleep eluded the artist. After a longer silence th laughter, bubbled forth again Its psychic effect uglier than before. A low, light, swift sentence from Spook a light, un centered utterance, from one only partly conscious; then th creak of his cot. Spook waa slowly raising himself, elowly lifting his netting; as slowly he crawled out. He stood barefooted, bareheaded. face white aa his hair a kind of ashen light from th stars around alL New he walked stiffly toward the Jungle. Hilliard saw, or fancied he saw, the eyes of a in whom th drive of will power. Is lost. Was this Spooks old enemy of th Mejav that had oaugbt up with him tonight? If so. It was the enemy of one Hilliard also. Tbs artist did not stir. He was th last man, anywhere to be found molesting .anothers private affairs, and this had to do with something that Spook 'had not even told great friend, Peh. Per hap everything was decfptiv In in ashen starlight. Perhaps the face that h saw was not a white sublimation of horror. Hilliard let him go, without a can. As moments passed and Spook did not re-- , turn, th ugly sense of failure awoke In th artist's mind. On quiet word might have restored the one to himself. That quiet word had not been spoken. Hilliard white-haire- ij hion white-haire- ther." Hilliards thought now wae that there hd been no laughter. He had been hoaxed by disease to the extent of ImaginSpook . . ing It. If Feb wanted Spook Powell so badly why didn't bs call? "Why didnt heAsy some- .. ... thing? On of th creatures seemed mov. fng along beside them, keeping pace behind th leaves. Probably there wasnt anything to it Just part of tha hoax, like the laughter. Yet Peb had chuckled at something. It surely looked like an animal ahead of them now no cat. twice as big aa a jcv.i not a wolf exactly. It was up higher from the ground stiff legged, as no cat moves. "Water splashed upon Hilliard face, and th smell that came to his nostrils now waa that of a filthy cage Th creature vanished then Up out of the ground, as It seemed, came the bubble end puke of soft laughter, "Oh, Spook! Peb bad called at best. From th right of them among th leave cam a loos answan " Huh." Laughter was In that also, Jtiut no mirth. Now Peb shot hie flashlight In among th leave. There waa a quickening of pads. T i A r and Hilliard, following the ray, saw a object, which, proved to be th carcass of the dead pony before he eaw the Spook was sitting yea, upon the ground-rock- ing back and forth, his hare toot held In both hen What what are you doing there? Peb , spoke quickly. There was a sick gulp. Th white haired one turned his face away from th ray. I'm weavin' dandelions, Peb. I got an early start." " Whats the matter. Spook? Why dont you get up? " Sprained my ankle" " Let me Th other made no effort to rise. Say, " Peb " ' Yes." " Say, Peb,", the voice trailed, " did you happen to hear some laughter?" Sure." "You did?" Sure, and I beard you giggling back at It. Didnt Ilk It. .ther." "I was practicin. That stuffs hard to get just right. What do thsy do laugh with their humps?" 'Com on. Spook Its going to rain. Hilliards hers. WYU carry you Theres one now!" Peb made a spiteful ff ft f f" with his lips and waved his hands. Ths creature vanished. Do you mean to tall me you e dont know hyenas when you see em of a cage?" he Inquired. Hyenas? Spook repeatedly softly. They wont attack a man. Spook They only follow. They scatter like chickens If you throw a rock at them. Do they wear humps this year? cam In the slow, soft voice. Peb turned sideways, to Hilliard with a gesture for help. They started, to lift the other between ' them, but Spook pushed their hands away. Let me get this straight," be said. Hyenas what are they doing here? Theyre keeping the jackals off that dead pony until It get rip. They cant aat it Lot of em around. green, you know. Thought I might get some flashes of em If the rain holds off, .but It wont" So . tbtyre th parties that do the laughing? " T' Sure, back" out-aid- Spook" Hilliard knew that Spooks hair would be turning now If it hadn't been white already. The fee In th flashlight told him that much. Hyena, eh? " Spook mumbled. I never heard of hyena In th Mojave" Oh, Im beginning to see," said Peb quietly. No, there arent any hyenas In the Mojave," he added, but Ive heard that If a man stays too long out there th desert get his goat and then give him the Hilliard waa beginning to understand also. They were walking rapidly' now. Spook teemed to have forgotten w hat hs said about a sprained ankle. They reached th Open. The starless sky seethed with storm. Spook didnt eat. but went to bed In the dakbungalow where th servants had carried th cots. Hilliard and Peb moved drearily around under cover for hours, very few words between them. 'You can talk Mr. Hilliard you go to him," Peb eald pleadingly at last. "Talk to him. Tell him anything to get that look off his face. I never saw him Ilk this It must be a mark about that laughing. Any kid would know they were hyenas." ( Hilliard was facing an ordeal of his own. Hs let th moment pass without speaking; of himself. Apparently Peb had missed all sign of his funk A little later Hilliard sat down alone with Spook , It might happen any time! th white haired- - one moaned suddenly ebovq the drum of the rain on th roof. I didn't know I was out there In the jungle until I came up with th pony. X didnt know enough to know it was I didnt, either . eald Hilliard quietly. Spook didn't appear to hear. They seem to get you like a snake gets a rabbit make you part of them yrlth their laugh" "... hyena" poison' I didnt know they were hyena, either Hilliard repeated in a louder tona You what? you didnt?" I took .on A No," the artist went on. new kind of paralysis from that giggling. It stirred up every yellow streak I've got. I x watched you leave your cot and go In there barefooted, and I couldnt call to you for fear, If. I let my voice go onca X couldn't " atop bawling Hilliard aaw Spooks sick face rise from the cot and push toward his light of heaven In the eyea that had been hopeless a moment i befora v It got you got you. too?. And youre not naturally a Th white and weary smS wae back upon Hilliard' faca Im afraid X am. Spook he said ear It got ma Ita got me yet so much fully. so that Ed like to pull out of hera But theres no good in that. It's myself Id hk to run away from sot hyenas or th rainy season In an Indian jungla I gotto live with myself. That th trouhla Bather, Ive got to Him with oomethtog I've found-fo- und wanting in myself? And the worst of It all is, Ive got to tell Peb." t Spook sank back with a smfla "I fee as it I wag going to hva" bs said. cop" x Conrrifki: 1823, Bjr Will Leviaftoa CoabrtJ |