CHAPTER VI

_Puppets of Barter_

The thing that Barter then contrived was destined to remain forever in

the memory of Bentley as the most ghastly thing he had ever

experienced. Ellen hurried into the arms of that thing in the corner.

Gropingly, protectively, the white arms encompassed her. But they were

awkward, uncertain, and Bentley was minded of a female ape or monkey

holding her young against her hairy bosom.

Barter turned toward Bentley and smiled. He rubbed his hands together

with satisfaction.

"A success so far, my experiment," he said. "The human body still

answers to primal urges, which are closely enough allied to those of

our simian cousins that their outward manifestations--manual gestures,

expressions in the eyes et cetera--are much the same. When the two are

combined the action approximates humanness!"

That travesty yonder pressed its face against Ellen, and she drew

back, her eyes wide as they met those of the white figure which held

her.

"I am all right," she managed, "please don't hold me so tightly."

She tried to struggle away, but Apeman held her helpless.

"Barter," yelled Bentley, "take her away from that thing! How can you

do such a horrible thing?"

At least those were the words he intended to shout, but the sound that

came from his lips was the bellowing of a man ape. That other thing

yonder answered his bellow, bared white teeth in a bestial snarl.

Barter turned to Bentley, however.

"You want me to take her away from Bentley and give her to you?"

Bentley nodded.

His bellowing attempt at speech had sent Ellen closer into the arms of

Bentley's other self--henceforth to be known as Apeman. Bentley had

defeated his own purpose by his bellow.

* * * * *

"Miss Estabrook," said Barter softly, "nothing will happen to you if

you stand clear of your sweetheart...."

Nausea gripped Bentley as he heard Apeman referred to as Ellen's

sweetheart, but now he remembered to refrain from attempting speech.

"But," went on Barter, "Manape has taken a violent dislike to Bentley,

and may attack him if you do not stand clear. Manape likes you, you

know. You probably sensed that last evening?"

Ellen visibly shuddered. She patted the shoulder of Apeman and

stepped away, toward a chair which Barter thrust toward her.

She pressed her hands to her throbbing temples, visibly fighting to

control herself. Her whole body was trembling as with the ague.

"Professor Barter," she said at last. "I am terribly confused, and

most awfully frightened. What has happened here? What dreadful thing

has so awfully changed Lee? I talk to him and he answers nothing that

I understand. Is it some weird fever? At this moment I have the

feeling that that brute Manape understands more perfectly than Lee,

and the idea is horrible! I love Lee, Professor. See, he hears me say

it, yet I cannot tell from his expression what he thinks. Does he

despise me for so freely admitting my love? Has he any feeling about

it at all? Has his mind completely gone?"

"Yes," said Barter, with a semblance of a smile on his lips, "his mind

has completely gone. But it is only temporary, my dear. You forget

that I am perhaps the world's greatest living medical man, and that I

can do things no other man can do. I shall restore Lee wholly to

you--when the time comes. It is not well to hasten things in cases of

this kind. One never knows but that great harm may be done."

"But I can nurse him. I can care for him and love him, and help to

make him well."

* * * * *

Barter looked away from Ellen, his eyes apparently focussed on a spot

somewhere in the air between Apeman and Manape.

"Would that be satisfactory to Bentley, I wonder?" he said musingly,

yet Bentley recognized it as a question addressed to him. Bentley

looked at the girl, but her eyes were fixed--alight with love which

was still filled with questioning--on Apeman. Bentley shook his head,

and Barter laughed a little.

"You know, Miss Estabrook," he went on, "that a strange malady like

that which appears to have attacked Lee Bentley should be studied

carefully, in order that the observations of a savant may be given to

the world so that such maladies may be effectually combatted in

future. This is one reason why I do not hasten."

"But you are using a sick man as you would use a rabbit in a

laboratory experiment!" she cried. "Can't you see that there are

things not even you should do? Don't you understand that some things

should be left entirely in the hands of God?"

"I do not concede that!" retorted Barter. "God makes terrible mistakes

sometimes--as witness cretins, mongoloid idiots, criminals, and the

like. I know about these things better than you do, my dear, and you

must trust me."

"Oh, if I only knew what was right. Poor Lee. You lashed him so, and

his body is awful with the scars. Was that necessary?"

"Insane persons are not to blame for their insanity," said Barter

soothingly. "Yet sometimes they must be handled roughly to prevent

them from causing loss of life, their own or others."

* * * * *

Now the eyes of Ellen came to rest on Manape.

They were fear filled at first, especially when she discovered that

the little red eyes of Manape were upon her. But she did not turn her

eyes away, nor did Manape. She seemed dazed, unable to orient herself,

unable to distinguish the proper mode of action.

"That ape in repose is almost human," she said wearily, her brow

puckered as though she sought the answer to some unspoken question

that eluded her. "I am not afraid of him at this moment, yet I know

that in a second he can become an invincible brute, capable of tearing

us all limb from limb."

"Not so long as I have this whip," said Barter grimly. "But Manape is

docile at the moment, and it is Bentley who is ferocious."

Apeman was still snarling at Manape, lending point to Barter's

statement. Barter went on.

"You know," he said, "apes are almost human in many respects. Manape

likes you, and I doubt if he would attempt to hurt you. If he knew

that you cared for Bentley there, he would most assuredly try to be

friendly to Bentley also. Perhaps you can manage it. Apes are capable

of primitive reasoning, you know. Go to Manape. He won't injure you,

at least while I am here. Stroke him. He will like it. He is a friend

worth having, never fear, and one never knows when one may need a

friend--or what sort of friend one may need."

Ellen hesitated, and her face whitened again.

Barter went on.

"Go ahead. It is necessary that Manape and Bentley remain here

together for a time. Manape will be locked up, but if he happens to

break loose there is nothing he might not do. With Bentley in the

condition he is he would be no match for Manape. But if Manape thought

you desired his friendship for Bentley...?"

* * * * *

There he left it, while Bentley wondered what new horror Barter was

planning. He yearned for Ellen to come to him. But, if he strode

toward her now, how would Barter explain that Manape had understood

his words? No, Ellen must take the step, and each one would be

hesitant, as she fought against her natural revulsion at touching this

great shaggy creature which was Manape to her, and Bentley to himself.

Slowly, almost against her will, Ellen rose and moved across the floor

toward Bentley. Apeman growled ominously. He rose to his feet, his

arms writhing like disjoined, broken-backed snakes across his scarred

chest.

Apeman took a step forward. Barter did not notice, apparently, for he

was watching Manape as Ellen approached.

She came quite close. Slowly she put forth her hand to touch the

shaggy shoulder of Manape. Bentley, seeking some way, _any_ way, to

reassure her, put his great shaggy right arm about her waist for the

merest second.

Then Apeman charged, bellowing a shrill crescendo that was half human,

half simian.

Before Bentley could realize Apeman's intentions, Apeman had clutched

Ellen about the waist and dashed for the door of the cabin. He was

gone, racing across the clearing with swift strides, bearing the girl

with him.

Bentley whirled to pursue, but Barter had beaten him to the door and

now blocked it, whiplash writhing, twisting, curling to strike.

"Back, Bentley! Back, I say! In a moment you may follow--as part of my

experiment. But remember--the end must be here in this cabin, and you

must remember everything, so that you can tell me all--when you are

restored!"

Bentley cowered under the lash. His whole shaggy body trembled

frightfully.

From the jungle toward which Apeman was racing come the roaring

challenge of half a dozen anthropoids.