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The BLA By E. PHILLIP Author of "Mr. Ctorlo." "tte 1 engcr." "tteLt at NovelUed from UM modo a picture dn Cai var ul Pilot Msautscturlag pfcpwtjwefct no- UM rx (Copyright, 1SI6. 8YN0P3I3. Sanford Quest, master criminologist of tb? world, ands that tn bringing to Jus tis* Macdougal. th? murderer of Lord Ashleigh's daughter, he has but Juat be ean a life-and-death struggle with a mys terious master criminal. In a hidden hut In Professor Ashleigh's garden he has Magi an anthropoid ap? skeleton and a living inhuman creature, half monkey, half man, destroyed by nra. In his rooms hava appeared from nowhero black boxes containing diamonda that had been torn from the owner's throat by a pair of arm less, threatening banda and sarcastic, threatening notes signad by the Inscruta ble hands. Laura and Lenora, his assis tants, suspect Craig, the professor's valet, of th? double murder of Ros? Brown, Queers valet, and a Miss Qulgg. Quest traps Craig, but he escapes to England on a tramp steamer. Tnt blaeV boxes continue to appear In uncanny fashion. Notified of Craig's recapture bv Scotland Yard men Quest and the professor go to Harnbun house. Lord Ashleigh's hom? In England, only to find that Craig has ?..Tain .soaped. NINTH INSTALLMENT CHAPTER XX. LOST IN LONDON. Quest, notwithstanding the unusual natura of his surroundings, slept that night aa only a tirad and healthy man can. He waa awakened the next morn ing by the quiet movements of ? man servant who had brought hack his clothes carefully brushed and pressed. "Breakfast ia served at nine o'clock, slr. It is now half-past sight." "I'll be right thara." The man withdrew and Quest mada ' a brisk toilet. The nameless fears of the previous night had altogether dis appeared. At the last moment be stretched out hie hand to take a hand kerchief from hui satchel. A sodden exclamation broke from, his lipa. He stood for a moment as though turned to stone. Before him, on the top of the little pile of white cambric, waa a small black box! With a movement of the fingers which waa almost sae* chanlcal, he removed ths lld and drew out the customary little scrap of pa par. He smoothed lt out before him on the dressing caae and read the mes sage: "You will fsil here as you have failed before. Better go hack. There ls mors danger tor you in thia country than yon dream of," . His teeth came fiercely together and his hands ware clenched. Hia thoughts bad gona like a flash to Lenora. Waa lt possible that harm was intended for ber? Ha put the idea away from him almost as aeon as conceived. Ths thing waa unimaginable. Craig was here, must he hara in the close vi cinity of the house. The atmosphere of the pleasant breakfast room to which in dus coursa he descended, waa cheerful enough.. Lady Ashleigh had already taken har place at the head ot the table. Sha touched an electric ball under her foot and a moment or two later the butler appeared. "Go np and sae how lons your mas ter wUl be?" Lady Ashleigh directed. "Very good? your ladyship." The man waa backing through the doorway in hia usual dignified manner when he was suddenly pushed on one side. The valet who had waited upon Quest, ead who waa Lord Ashleigh's own servant, rushed tato tit? room. He almost shouted to Lady Ashleigh: "Your ladyship-the master'. Some thing has happened! He won't morel He-fci-" They all trooped out of the room ?ad vp the stairs, the professor lead lac the way. They puihed open the door ot LsWd Ashleigh's bedchamber. Ia the far corner et 'the large room waa the four-poster, and underneath the clothes a silent figure. The pro fessor turned down the sheets. Then a? held out his hand. His face, too, was blanched. "Julia, doa'?, come," he begged. "I most know," she almost shrieked. X most know!" "George ls dead," the professor said slowly. ? There was a moment's awful silence, broken by a piercing aoraam from Lady . Aahlelgh. She sank, down upon the aofa, and the professor leaned car 'hat. Que,?}, turned to tho little group ct frighten #d servants who were gath ered rouf*d the doorway. "Telephone for a doctor," be or dered; "also to .the local police sta tion. "He, too, approached th* had ead ' reverently fitted the covering. Lord Aablsigfc waa lying thora, his body a little doubled ?9, bia anna wide oat* stretched. Ott bia throat were two black marks. They had led lady Aahlelgh from the room. The professor and Quast stood fae? to face. Tba former's ex pr?salo*, however, bad lost eil his amiable serenity. Hu face waa white and pinch sd "Qoest! Quest!" ha almost sobbed. "My brother!-<*oorgo, whom I loved like nobody ewe ea earth ! Is he real . If dead?" "Absolutely!" The professor gripped the oak pillar of the bedstead He seemed on the point of collapse. "The mark of the Hands ls ?poa hts throat." Quest pointa* oat. "The Hands! Oh, soy God!" ?he professor grose ed. GK BOX S OPPENHEIM , Gr ex of Monta Vanished Mess lghtedWqy**tc ima of tb? br OUs F. Wood.) "We munt not eat or drink or sleep," Quest declared, fiercely, "until we have brought this matter to an end. Craig (.must be found. This ls the supremo horror of a'l." The butler made an apologetic ap pearance. He spoke la a hushed whis per. "You are wanted downstairs, gentle men. Middleton, the head keeper, is there.' Aa though inspired with a common idea, both Quest and the professor hur ried out of the vooin and down the broad stairs. Their inspiration was a true one. Tbe gamekeeper wel comed them with a smile or triumph. By his side, the picture of abject mis ery, his clothes torn and muddy, was Craig! "I've Imagined this little J jb, sir," Middleton announced, with a smile of slow triumph. "How did you get him?" Quest de manded. "Little Idea of my own." the game keeper continued. "I J S sed pretty well what he'd be up to. He'd tumbled to lt that th? usual way off the moor was pretty well guarded, and he'd doubled back through th? thin Une of woods cloe? to the nous?. I dug on? of my poachers' pits, ?ir, and cov ered lt over with a lot of loos? stuff. That got him ail right. When I went to look this morning I saw where he'd fallen through, and there he was, walk ing round and round at the bottom like a caged animal. Your servants hare telephoned for the police, Mr. Ash leigh." Quest suddenly whispered Jo the pro fessor. Then he turned to the keeper. "Bring him upstairs. Middleton, for a moment," he directed. "Follow us, | please." They passed into the bedchamber, j Qvast signed to th? keefer to bring Craig to tk? si?e of the four-poster. Then he drew down the sheet. "Is that your work?" he asked, sternly. Craig, np till then, had spoken no word. He had shambled to the bed side, a broken, yet, In a sense, a stolid figure. Th? sight of the dead man. however, seemed to galvanize him Into sudden and awful vitality. He threw up bis arme. Hui eyes were horrible aa they glared at those small black marks. His Ups moved backwards and forwards, helplessly at first. Then at last he spoke. "Stranglad!" he cried. "One more!" "That ls your work," the criminolo gist said, firmly. Craig collapsed. He would have fallen bodily to the ground if Middle ton's grip had not kept him up. Quest bent over him. It waa- clear that he had fainted. They led him from the room. "We'd batter lock him up until the police arrive," Quest suggested. "I suppose there is a sai? place some where?" The professor awoke fro.. his stupor. . "Let me show you," he begged. "I know the way. We've a subterranean hiding pla?a which no criminal on this earth could escape from." They led him down to the back part of the house into a dry cellar which ' had. the appearance ot a prison cell. "ThU place baa been used before now, in the old day?, for malefactors," the professor remarked. "He'll be safe there. Craig," he added, his Tole? trembling, "Craig-I-I can't .peak te yam. How could you!" There wi? no answer. Craig's face waa hurled la hi? hands. They left kia there a?d turne?, tko key. CHAPTER XXL Quest ?toed, frowning, ape? tte pavement, anani At tko ohvteaaty empty kt'ese. He looria ?wea ?sar? at th? sil} of pane- ?risica Lenora ked civ ea him Ta?*? was no possibility of ?/ay anfjtak?: Mr?. V'illst, 167 Bl?ei?re Read* Hampstead. This waa 1(7 and the house was tmpty. After a moment's hesitation be rang th? bell at th? adjoining door. A woman, who had keen watching kim from th? front room, ?aawereu th? summon? at once. "Can you tell me." k? inquired, "what ha? become of th? lady who u?ed ta Uv? at 167- Mr?. Willst ?" "She's moved," was the uncompro mising reply. "Do you know where to?" Quest asked, eagerly. "West Kensington-No. 17 Princess Court road. There was a young lady hare yesterday afternoon inquiring for her. Quest raised his hat. It wa? a relief, at any rate, to have news of Lenora. . **I ea* vary much obliged to you. "You're welcome!M waa the terse re ply. Qrest gav? a new address to th? taxi driver and wa? scarcely able to restrain his impatience during the long drive. They pulled up al last befo.*? a somewhat dingy-looking house. H? rang the ball, which wa? answered by a trim-looking little maidservant "Is Mrs. Wlu?t ia?" ke moulted. , i Th? maidservant stood on one side ! to let him pasB. Almost at the same moment the door of the front foom opened and a plcasunt-looking cider- ; ly lady appeared. "I am Mrs. Willet," she announced. "I am Mr. Quest," tho criminologist told her quickly. "You may have heard your niece, Lenora, speak of ma." "Then perhaps you can tell me what has become of her: ' Mrs. Willet ob served. "Isn't she here?" Mrs. Willet shook her head. "I had a telegram from her from Plymouth to say that Bhe was comiug, but I've seen nothing of her us yet." ' "You've changed your address, you know," Quest reminded her, after a inonu nt'i; reflection. "I wrote and told her," Mrs. Willet began. "After all, though," she went on thoughtfully, "I am not Bure wheth er she could have had the letter. Hut if she went up to Hampstead, anyone would tell her where I had moved to. There's no Beeret ubout me?' "Lenora did go up to 157 Elsmere oad yesterday,*' Quest told lier. ' They ave her your address here, as they ave Just givou it to me." j "Then what's become of the child?" '.MrB. Willet demanded. .-, Quest, whose bruin was working quickly, scribbled upon one of his 'cards tte address of the hotel whero tie bad taken rooms and passed it fever. ? I "Why Lenora didn't come on to you Tiere I can't imagine," bo said. "How ever, I'll go back to the hotel where she was to spend the nlpht after she arrived. She may have gone back there. That's my address, Mrs. Willet. If you hear anything I wish you'd let me know. Lenora's quite a particular friend of mine and I am a little aux? lous." Quest bad already opened the front door for .himself and passed out. He sprang Into the taxi, which be had kept wslting. "Clifford's hotel in Payne street.',' he told the man. Ha Ht a cigar and smoked furiously all the way, throwing lt on to the pave ment as he hurried into the quiet pri vate hq^el which a fellow passenger on the steamer bad recommended as bemg suitable for Lenora's one night alone in town. "Can you tell me if Miss Lenora Macdougal is staying hore?" be asked at the oSlce. The woman shook her head. "Miss Macdougal atcyed her-? the night before last," she said, "and her luggage ls waiting for orders. She left bere yesterday afternoon to go to her aunt's, and promised to send tor her things later on during the day. There they stand, all ready tor her." "What time did she go?" , "Directly after an early hinch. It must have been about two o'clock." Quest hurried away. So ofter all Hero was some foundation for this qi.eer eecse of depression which had bf en hovering about him for the last ff.w days! "Scotland Yard." he told the taxi driver. - He thrust another cigar between his teeth, but forgot to light it. He was a? w^i 4 i ll % Craig Evcapes From th? Cellar. amazed at his own sensations, con scious of fears and emotions of which he would neve" have believed himself capable. He gave in his ca*.", and after a few moments' delay he wa? shown into the presence of one of th ? chiefs , of tho detective department, who greeted him warmly. "My -.jim? ls Har da way." thu latter announced. "My assistant, a young lady. Mia? Lenora Macdougal. ha? disappeared! She ?ad I and PiO'sssor Ashleigh left th? steamer at Plymouth aid traveled up lu the boat train. It waa .stopped at Hamelin road for the professor and myself, and Miss Macdougal esme on to i-ondor. She was staying at Clif ford "fc hotel in Payne street for the night, and then going on to the nant. Well. I've found that aunt. Sh? waa expecting the girl, hut the girl never appeared. "Whew did this aunt Ure?" Harda way inquired. "No. 17, Princess Court road, Weat Kensington," Quest replied. "She had just mored there from Elsmere road. Hampstead. I went first to Hampstead. Lenora had been there and learned her aunt's correct address in West Kensington. I followed on to "West Kensington and found that th? aunt wa? ?till awaiting har." w?.-i^-g^wtirinw^Aagr^B^ Til Give a Ten-Pound Note to Anyon* fore *Sh A new Interest seemed suddenly to have crept into liurdaway's mauner. "Let nie see," he said, "if f>he left Clifford's hotel about two, ?ho would have been at Hampstead about half past two- She would waste a few min- | utes tn making Inquiries, then shu probably 'left Hampstead for West i Kensington, say. at a quarter to three. I Give me at once a description of the ; young lady." he demanded. Quest drew a photograph from bia pocket and passed it silently over. "Mr. Quest," ha said, "lt is just por. Bible that your visit here has boen a i exceedingly opportune ona." "Come along with me," he con tinued. "We'll talk BB we go." They entered a taxi and drove oft westwards. "Mr. Quest," he want on, "for two months we have been on the track of a man and a woman whom we strong ly suspect of having decoyed half a dozen perfectly respectable young women', and shipped them out to South America." "The white slave traffic!" Quest gasped. "Something of the sort," Hardaway admitted. "Well, we've been closing the' net around this Interesting couple, and laat night I had. information brought to rae upon which we are act ing-'this afternoon. We've bad them watched and it seems that they wero sitting in a tea place about three o'clock yesterday afternoon when a yoong woman entered who waa ob viously a stranger to Ixmdon. Tou see, the time fits in exactly, If yonr as sistant decided to stop on her way to Kensington and get some tea. She asked the woman at the desk the best means of getting to West Kensington without taking a taxicab. Her'de scription tallies exactly with the pho tograph you have shown me. The wom an whom my men were watching ad dressed her and offered to show her the way. They left the place together. My men followed them. The houso has been watched ever since and we ara raiding it this afternoon. You and I will Just be in time." He stopped the cab and they got -'out. A man who seemed to bb stroll ing aimlessly along reading a newspa per suddenly Joined them. "Well, Dixon?" his chief exclaimed. The man glanced around. "I've got three men round at the back, Mr. Hardaway," be said. "It's impossible for anyone to leave the place." Hardaway paused to consider a mo ment. "Look hero," Quest suggested, "they know all of you, of course, and they'll never let you in until 'they're forced to. I'm a stranger. Let me go. lil get lb all right.'" "All right," he assented. "We shall folio* you wp pretty closely, though. ' Q?sst st?ppsd back lato tba fast ead gare the driver a direction. Whoa be emerged in front of tba handsome gray stons house he seemed to have be come completely transformed. There , waa a fatuous emile upon his lipa. He ^crosse*' the pavement with difficulty, stumbling up the stepa, and held on the knocker with ona hand while bs consulted a slip of paper. He had scarcely rung the bell before a slightly parted curtain in the fro it room fell together and a moment later the door waa opened hy a maa in the livery ot a butler, but with the fae* and phy sique of a prise-fighter. "Lady of the house," Quest demand ed. "Want tc see th* lady of th* house." Almost immediately he was cop . 'iclous of a woman standlag in the hall before bim. "You had better come tn," aha in vited. "Piesse do not stand In the doorway." * Quest, however, who had heard the footsteps of the others behind bim, loi tered there for a moment "You're the lady whose name ls on this piece of paper?" he demanded. "This plsce ts all right, eh?" "I really do not know what you mean." the woman replied coldly;"hut if you will come inside I will talk with you tn' the drawing room." Queat, aa though stumbling against the front door, had lt now wide open, and la a moment the ball seemed full. Who Gets Mo Out to the Barten Be e Sails." The woman shrieked. The butler sud deuly mirani; upon the last man to en ter and neut him spinning down the steps. AlmoHt ut that instant there, waa a scream from upstairs. Quest took a running Jump and went up tho stairs four at u time. The butler, who I lind so fur defied arrest, suddenly snatched the revolver from Hard-, away's hand and fired blindly in front of him, uilssiug Quest only by an Inch or two. I "llon't bo n fool, Karl!" the woman cr: ll ed out "The game's up. Take lt quietly." j OJ ( o mero tha chrlok rang through j tho bouse. Quest rushed to tho door j of tho room from whence it came, tried i the handle, and found lt locked. Ho i ran back a little way and charged lt. I From inside he could hear a turmoil of ! voices. White with rage uno passion, he pushed and kicked madly. There was a Bhot from Inside, a bullet came through the door within an inch of his licad, then the crash of broken crock ery and a man's groan. With a final effort Quest dashed the door in and staggered Into the room. Lenora was standing in the far corner, the front of her dress torn and blood ur n her lips. She held a revolver in her hand, nnd was coverlnj? a man whose head and hands were bleeding. Around him were the debris of a broken jug. "Mr. Quest!" she screamed. "Don't go near him-I've got him covered. I'm all right." Quest drew a long breath. The man who stool glaring ut him was well dressed und Btlll young. He was un armed, however, and Quest secured him In a moment. "The girl's mad!" he 6ald sullenly. "No one wanted to do her any barm.* Hardaway and bis men came troop ing up tho stairs. Quest relinquished his prisoner and went over to Lenora. "I've been BO frightened," she sobbed. "They got mo in here-they told me that this was tho Btreet In which my aunt lived-and they wouldn't let me go. The woman was horrible. And this afternoon this man came. The brute!" Quest turned to Hardaway. "I'll take tho young lady away," he said. "You know where to find us." Lenora had almost recovered when they reached the hotel. Walking up and down they found tho professor. "My friend!" ho exclaimed-"Mr. Quest! It is tho devil Incarnate against whom wo fight!" "What do you mean?" Quest de manded. The professor wrung h's hands. "I put him In our James ll pris on," he declared. "Why should 1 think of tho secret passage? No ono has UBed lt for a hundred years. He found lt, learned the trick-" "You mean," Quest cried "He has escaped!" the professor broke In. "Crate has escaped again! They are searching for bim high and low, but he har. gone!" Quest's arm tightened for a moment in Lenora's. It was curious how ho seemed to have lost at that moment all sense of proportion. Lenora was safe . . . the rollef ot that ono thought overshadowed everything else In the world. "Tho fellow can't get far," he mut tered. "Who knows?" th? professor re plied, dolefully. They bad been standing together In a little recess of the hall. Suddenly Lenora, whose faco was turned to ward the entrance doors, gave a littlo cry. She took a quick Btcp forward. "Laura!" she exclaimed, wonder ingly. "Why. lt's Laura!" They all turned around. A young woman had Just entered the howl, followed hy a porter carrying somo luggage. Her arm was In a sling und there was a bandage around her fore head. She walked, too, with the help of a stick. She recognized them at once and waved lt gayly. . "Hullo, you people!" she cried. "Soon run you to earth, eh?" They were for a moment dum founded. Lenora was the first to find words. "But whee did you start, Laura?" she asked. "I thought you were too 111 to move for w^eks." The girl s-nilod contemptuously. "I lett three daya after you, on the Kalsor Frederic." .she replied. "There wa? somo trouble at Plymouth, and ?*5t^tC^?>4<nvv #-.r.\?t! we came Into Southampton early thin morning, and here I am. Say, before we go uny further, tell me ubout Crnlg." . We've had him." Quent confessed, "und.-lost him again. Ile escaped last night." "Where from?" Laura asked. "Mumblin house." "Say, is that anywhere near the south coast?'' the girl demanded ex citedly. "It's not far away," Quest replied, quickly. "Why?" "lil tell you why," Laura explained "I uns au nura of it ns anyone could be. t'raii; passed mo in Southampton water this morning, being rowed out to n steamer. Not only that, but ho recognized nie. I saw him draw back and hide his face, but somehow I couldn't believe that lt was really he. I was just coining down the gangway and I nearly fell into the sea, I was so surprised." Quest was already turning over the pages of ?he timetable. "What wnp the steamer?" he de manded. "I found out," Laura told him. "I tell you, I was so sure of H'H being Craig that I made no end of Inquir ies. It was the Harton, humid for India, first stop Port Said." " When dues she snil?" Quest asked. "Tonight - somewhere about reven." Laura replied. Quest glanced at the clock and threw down tho timetable. Me turned toward the door. They all followed him. "I'm for Southampton," he an nounced. "I'm going to try to got on board thnt steamer before she salin, lenora, you'd better go upstairs and [ Ho down. They'll glvo you a room here. Don't you stir out till I como back. -Professor, what about you?" "I shall accompany you," tho pro fOBSor declared. "And nothing," Lenora declared; firmly, nu she caught at Quest's arm, "vouhl keep me away." "I'll telephone to Scotland Yard, In caso they care to send a man down," Quest decided. They caught a train to Southamp ton, where they were Joined by a man from Scotland Yard. Tho llttlo party 1 drove as quickly as posslblo to the I docks. "Where does the Barton start I from?" QucKt asked tho plermastcr. . Tho mob pointed out a little way down the water. "She's not in dock, slr," he said. "She's lying out yonder. You'll bare ly catch hert I'm afraid," he added, glancing at the clock. They hurried to tho edgo of the quay. "Look here." Quest cried, raising his voice, "I'll give a ten-pound noto to anyone who gets me out t the Barton before she sails." The little-party were aknonUthrown Into a tug, and In a few minutes they were skimming across the smooth water. Just SB they reached th?? steamer, however, sh? began to move. "Run up alongside," Quest ordered. Tho captain came down from the bridge, where ho had been conferring with the pilot. "Keep away from tho side there." he shouted. "Who are you?" "We are In search of a desperate criminal whom we believe to be on Quest Secures Him In a Moment. board your steamer," Quest explained. "Please take un on board." Tho captain shook his bead. "Are you from Scotland Yard?" he asked. "Have you got your warrant?" . "We are from America," Quest an swered, "but we've got a Scotland Yard mon with us and a warrant, right enough." ? The captain shook his head. . "I am over an hour late," he said, ''and lt's costing me fifty pounds a minute. If I take you on board, you'll have to come right along with me, un less you lind thc fellow before we're left your tub behlud." Quest turned around. "Will you risk lt?" ho asked.'* "Yes!" they nil replied. "We're coming, captain," Quost de cided. A rope ladder was let down. The atcamer began to slow down. The captain spoke, once more to ? b; pilot and came down from tho bridge. 'Tm forced to go full speed ahead to cross the har," he told Quest. "Pm sorry, bot tide's Just on thc turn." They looked at, one another a llttlo bianbi-. The professor, however, beamed upon thom all. "I have ni ways understood." Le) said, "..int Port Sa'.U ls a most tuter eating placo." '? ITO BE CONTINUED^ -*f";?%?ii*???yi ililli-'mVf?.mm'+? Be Sure To See The Black Box" Today At The This is one of the greatest Serial Pictures a ever