The ape is more manlike than any other known to science. You
shall be that ape, brought in during the night by a famous returned
explorer. There will be great interest in you now that the story of
Saret Balisle's kidnaping has broken. With the attention of New York
upon you, certainly your presence will interest Caleb Barter."

Tyler senior rummaged in a pile of papers on his desk and brought
forth the story he referred to, which also carried a picture of the
Colombian ape.

"It would be impossible for me to change your shape and add to your
size sufficiently to make you a real giant anthropoid. You'd have to
be twice as deep through the chest; you'd have to have bowed legs as
big as small tree trunks; you'd have to have a sloping forehead. No,
it's impossible, for I'd have to equip you by padding to an impossible
degree, and a scientist would only need to touch you to know you as an
imitation ape. But if you are made up as the Colombian ape--"

Bentley quickly interrupted.

"The idea is excellent. I was dubious before about my chances of
success, but as an ape of a new species I have a far better chance,
and my inevitable human behavior won't be so noticeable."

- - -

Dr. Tyler measured Bentley as carefully as a tailor, proud of his
skill, measures a particular, wealthy customer.

"You will almost suffocate," he said, keeping up a running monologue
as his inspired hands worked with forceps and scalpels, "but I can
make plenty of air vents in the ape skin which will allow the pores of
your skin to breathe. If they are hidden under the hair they will
scarcely be noticed, unless of course Barter sees what we are doing
here and suspects from the beginning."

"I can stand the discomfort for as long as may prove necessary," said
Bentley grimly, conquering a feeling of terror as he already saw
himself in the role of an ape, a role previously played in which he
had suffered the torments of the damned, "and anything is preferable
to the wholesale carnage which Barter is doing. In seventy-two hours
he has wrecked the morale of Manhattan. I shall try to get it back.
Tyler, will you make every effort to guard the other eighteen men
named on the Mind Master's original list?"

"Of course," but Tyler said it dubiously. Barter had proved it almost
impossible to outwit him. In their hearts both Bentley and Tyler knew
that Barter would make good his boast to take the eighteen men he had
named. It seemed a grim p