LGDI - (HSG Synd.#038) - The Hand in the Coconut

Personal notice, dangerous my stockin' trade. If the job's too tough for you to handle, you got a job for me, George Valentine. Right full details. You know something? I'd love to be a detective. You meet so many interesting monsters.

Tech the Fellow is about to get in touch with George Valentine. He's a big game hunter with a cargo of hungry wildcats, boar constrictors, and other charming playmates. Now what this old codger wants with our George, I don't know, but I do know this.

Our let George do an adventure is called the Hand and the Coconut. And just in case you don't care for jungle stories, you should pay attention anyway. Because you'll learn a dandy new way to keep Juniors mid out of the cookie jar.

My dear Mr. Valentine, this is a letter about monkeys. My name is Derek Stang, the same Derek Stang who's exploits in the jungle, And you know, Dark Red is a boy. Yes, I am still, as alive as an old battleground of scars and fevers can be alive.

Today I am writing my letter on the deck of a sweltering ship of South African freighter tied up at the port in your town. There is a little capuchin monkey trying to untime my shoelaces at the present moment.

Monkeys are strange animals, greedy like human beings. I have trapped them many times by the simple expedient of placing the shiny, desirable object inside a hollowed-out coconut to which there is only a single small opening.

An opening just big enough for a monkey's hand. Of course, the monkey reaches in to grasp the object. Inside the coconut he grasps it, his hand makes a fist. But then Mr. Valentine he can't pull his hand out.