10-Story Book, July 1931 — page 43: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

10-STORY BEGINS ITS 30TH SUCCESSFUL YEAR! 41 gate where he stood he also saw the light when it was turned on when she was ad- mitted to the castle. The current had been cut off long before. His curiosity was whetted. There was evidently a local plant of some kind in operation there. Probably his anonymous friend was on hand. Mr. Colby decided to in- vestigate even if Miss Dorris Graydon did object. He would know the truth. Higher and higher the water climbed around the helpless Dorris. She could no longer scream—she only gasped! A dim light came slowly into the room. The girl could not detect its source. It became just bright enough so that she could see the glass door to one side, opening— slowly, but steadily opening! A water- moccasin dropped into her room. A tur- tle followed; then the monster himself swam up to the opening and trust his nose in, rooting at it—hoglike! Dorris heard a commotion outside the door and the lights went on. Curses, blows and other fighting sounds followed. The glass door opened a little farther ; the monster got his head in! Outside, the fighting sounds grew louder. The monster wriggled through the opening and reared to its hind legs; then it came, swaying, ape-like, arms out- stretched, mouth agape, eyes blinking rapidly—toward the girl! The door was jerked violently open and the water poured through between the bars of Dorris’ prison out into the hallway. There she saw Colby in the throes of a death struggle with the man who had imprisoned her. “Colby! — Milan! — Dearest!” she wailed. “Dorris—darling!” he choked. The girl twisted madly at the iron bars, but without avail. She heard a gutteral croak-snarl behind her. The monstrosity was upon her! With an ear-splitting shriek she tried to pass the man-beast, but he reached out and caught her in his great crushing arms! Fighting desperately, the girl soon went beyond endurance and once more fell limp and lifeless. The foul reptile gloated lustfully over her fair neck and breasts, then carried her to a corner and began tearing away at her clothing! With a_ well-directed blow, Colby floored the “scientist’” and secured the key to Dorris’ prison. On seeing the door open, the Terror dropped his uncon- scious burden and came on Colby. Mad- dened at this sudden interference with his expected prey, the atrocious libel on both man and beast first crouched, its teeth began crunching, foam flew from its massive Jaws, its claw-hooked fingers curved—and it leaped! One of Colby’s feet—shod with long, sharp-pointed shoes—flashed out with all the force of his University football career. It caught the created fiend squarely in the pit of the stomach and it doubled up! Dorris’ side being reached, Colby picked her up and wildly kissed her cheeks, lips and hair until she opened her eyes and saw love there. An inarticulate cry was heard. Out- side, the hell-born mongrel had attacked the “scientist,” its Creator, who had re- vived. Fighting to the death, the latter managed to secure his revolver and fired. He missed his horrid -assailant—the bullet striking instead, a Diablo machine which he had prepared especially for immediate mailing to Colby in the event of his refusal to surrender the Castle. The whole mountain-side was torn away by the force of the explosion which followed, and the Castle was utterly demolished! The “Scientist” and his Frankenstein were lit- erally blown to atoms! Colby and Miss Graydon, together with one water-moccasin miraculously escaped. The snake was promptly killed and their Eden was complete. CORMICOOOKS.E© m