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I E.I Novelized from the Photo Play of the I Film Manufac 8YN0PSIS. Banfoi.i Quest, master criminologist ol the world. linds that In bringing to Jus tice Macdeugal, the murderer of l?r?J Ashleigh's daughter, he has but just be gun a Ufe-nnd-deutu struggle with a mys terious master criminal. In a hidden hui in Professor Ashleigh's garden he hus seer an apo skeleton and a living creature, hall monkey, half man, destroyed by fire. Ir. Ma rooms havo appeared black boxe< con taining notes, signed by a pair of arm less hands. I.mir:', and I>-noru. his assis tants, suspect Craig, the professor's ?orv ant. of a doubl? murder. The Mark boxet continue to nppear In uncanny fashion. Craig,. trapped, escapes to England. Quest, Lenora and tho professor follow him. Lord Ashleigh Is murdered by the hands. Craig, cnplurcd. escapes to Port Said. Quest and his party follow, and be yond into the desert. They are captured by Mongan?, escape with Craig aa their captive, and turn him over to Inspector French in San Francisco. Ho escapes In a train wreck, outgenerals his pursuers, and starts back to New Tork. FOURTEENTH INSTALLMENT A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. CHAPTER XXXI. There was a peculiar, almost fore boding silence about the camp that morning when Laura returned from her early ride. The only living person to be seen was the Chinaman, sitting on a stool In front of the wagon with a dish of potatoes between his knees. "Say, where's everyone?" Laura sang ont, after she had looked into Le nora's tent and found it empty. The Chinaman looked up at her malevolently. "All gone," he announced. "Cow boys gone workec. Mlsseo gone hurry up And Mr. Quest." Laura hesitated, puzzled. Just then the professor came cantering In with a bundle of grass In his hand. He glanced down at tho Chinaman. "Good morning, Miss Laura!" he aald. "You don't seem to be getting on with our friend here," he added in an undertone. "PBhaw!" she answered. "Who cares what a chink thinks! Tho fel low's an idiot. I'm worried, professor. Lenora's gone out after Mr. Quest and the Inspector. She wasn't fit to ride a horse. I can't make out why she's attempted it" The professor unslung some field glasses from blp^shoulder .and gazed steadily southward. "It ls Just possible," he said, softly, "that she may have received a warn ing of that." He pointed with his forefinger. Laura peered forward. There was something which seemed to be just a faint cloud upon the horizon. The professor banded her bis glasses. "Why, lt's a fire!" she cried. \ The professor nodded. "Just a prairie fire." he replied "very dangerous, though, these dry seasons. The flames move so quickly that If you happen to be In a certain position you might easily be cut off." Laura turned her horse round. "Come on, professor!" Bhe ex - claimed. "That's what it 1B. Lenora's gone to try and warn the others." They rode to the very edge of the tract of country which was temporar ily enveloped in smoke and Hame. Here they pulled in their horses and the professor looked thoughtfully through his field glasses. Laura gave a little cry and pointed with her riding whip. About twenty yards farther on, by the side of the road, was a small white object. She cantered on, swung herself from her boree and picked1 lt up. "Lenora's handkerchief!" she cried. The professor waved his arm west-'] ward, "Here come Quest and the Inspec tor. They are making a circuit to avoid the fire. The cowboy with them mast have shown them the way. We'd better hurry up abd find out If they've seen anything of Miss Lenora." They galloped across the rough country towards the little party, who were now clearly in sight. From the center of one of the bum ing patches they saw a riderless horse gallop out, stop lor a moment with bbl head almost between his forelegs, shake himself furiously, an? gallop blindly on again. Laura would have turned her horse, but the professor checked har. "Let as wait for Qr est," he adv I???* The cowboy, riding'a little behind the two others, hr d unlimbered bis lariat, swung lt over his head and se cured the runaway. Quest galloped np to where Laura and the professor were waving frantically. "Say, that's some fire!" Quest ex claimed. "Did you people come out to aaottr "No. we came to find Lenoral" Laura answered, breathlessly. ."That's har Horse. She started to meet you . She must be somewhere-" "Lenora?" Quest Interrupted, fierce ly. "What do you meant" "When I got back to camp," Laura continued, rapidly, "there wasn't aoul there except the Chinaman. He told me that Lenora had ridden off a few minutes before to find you. We earae to look for her. We found ht? handkerchief on tba road ?hera, and that's her horse." 3ame Name. Produced by tito Universal rturlns Company. ? ' , Quest did not wait for another word He jumped a rough bush of scrub on the right-hand side, galloped over thc ground, which was already hot witt the coming lire, and followed along down the road which Lenora nae passed. When he came to the first bend, he could hear tue roar of flautet in the trees. A volume of smoke al moBt blinded him; his horse became wholly unmanageable. He slipped from the saddle and ran on, staggering from right to left like a drunken enan. About forty yards along the road, Le nora was lying in tho dust. A volume of smoke rushed over her. The tree under which she had collapsed was ! already afire. A twig fell from it aa j Quest staggered' up, and her skirt be gan to smoulder. He tore off his coat, wrapped it around ber, beat out the fire which was already blazing at her feet and snatched ber into his arms. She opened her eyes for a moment. "Where aro we?" she whispered. "The fire!" "That's all right." Qnest ehouted. "We'll be out of it in a moment Hold tight to my neck." "Say, that was a close shave," he faltered, as he laid Lenora upon the ground. "Another Ave minutes-well, we won't talk about lt. Let's lift ber on to your horse, Laura, and get back to the camp." CHAPTER XXXII. " j The professor laid down, his book and gazed with an amiable smile to wards Quest and Lenora. - "I fear," he remarked, dolefully, "that my little treatise on the fauna ot the northern Orinoco scarcely appeals to you. Mr. Quest." Quest, whose arm was in a sling, but who wan otherwise none the worse for his recent adventure, ."pointed out of the tent. "Don't you believo it, professor," he begged. "I've been? listening to every word. But soy. Lenora, Just look at Laura and French!" They all three, peered anxiously out of the opening of tho tent. Laura and the inspector wero very slowly ap proaching tho cook wagon. Laura was carrying a large bunch of wild flowers, one of which she waa in the act ot fastening In French's button hole. "That fellow French has got grit," Quest declared. "He sticke to it all the time. Hell win out with Laura in the end, you mark my words." * "We've wired for them to meet Craig," Quest said, after a short si lence. "I only hope they don't let him slip through theil fingers. I haven't much ir Uh in his promise to turn up at the professor's. Let's see what Laura and French have to say:" . . . "Can't see any sense in staying on here any longer," was French's imme diate decision, "so long as you two invalids feel that you can atlck the journey. Besides, we're using up these fellows' hospitality." They busied themselves for the neal hour or two, making preparations. After their evening meal the two men walked with Lenora and Laura to I their tent. "I think you girls had better go to bed," Quest suggested. "Try and get a long night's sleep." \ That's all very well," French re marked, "but lt's only eight o'clock. What about a stroll, Miss Laura, just np to the ridge?" Lauro hesitated for a moment and glanced towards Lenora. "Please go," the latter begged. "I really don't feel like rotng to sleep Just yet." Til look after Lenora." Quest prom ised. "You have your walk. There's the professor Bitting outside his tent Wouldn't yon Ilka to take him wiib you?" Laura glanced lndigm ntl y at aim; as they strolled ont. and Lenora laughed softly. 9 - "How dared yon suggest such a thing!" she murmured to Quest "Do look at thebk The Inspector wanta her to take AB watch and abe can't quito make up her mind about it Why, Laura's gettmgH>r?lttvely frivolous." , When the inspector returned Quest handed him a telegram: To Inspector '/ranch. Allouer, N. M.: Very sorry. Craig gave us ?Hp after leaving dopot Niece disappeared from address given. Na cl uss at pr?sent. When are you returning?, French swore softly for a moment Then he dropped Into a chair. "Thia," he declared, "ts our unlucky evening." CHAPTER XXXIII. The woman who had Jost laid tba cloth ter a homely evening meal smiled across at the girl who stool at tho window. TVs ali ready now directly >\ror uncle comea home," she announced. Mrs. Melony came to Ute &tl]f aide. "Tour poor uncle looks as though a little peace would do kim good," abe remarked. The girl sighed. /?. ?r ' ?W ?.'III wi III t i O? i in wi I III .a? "If ou?r T could do something foi sim'" she murmured. "He's in some kind of trouble, i think,' Mrs. Mainny ?h?<?rved. is not what you might cs.ll a commu uicsttve person, but it's easy to se? that bo ls far from being happy ii himself. You'll ring when you'n ready, Miss Mary?" The door waa suddenly opened uni Craig entered. "Look across the road," he begged "Teil me if there is a man i i a biu< .serge suit and a bowler bat, smok lng a cigar looking across here. ' Mrs. Malony and the girl bott -obeyed. The girl was the first t< speak. "Yes," she answered. "He is looklnj straight at these windows." Craig groaned and sank down upoi a chair. "Leave us, if you please, Mrs. Ma lony," be ordered. "I'll rinr when I'n ready." .-? The landlady loft the room silents The girl came over to her uncle anc threw lier arm around bis neck. Ile patted her head, felt in his pock ?ta and drew out - littlo paper hag from whit*, bo shook a bunch of rio lets, "How kind you aro to me!" she ex claimed. "You think of everything!' He sighed. ) , "If I had had you for a little longer Mary," he said, "perhaps 1 should have been a better man. Go to the window, please, and tell mo if that man ll still there." Sho crossed tho room with light footsteps. Presently she returned. "He ia just crossing the street," she announced. "I think that bo seems to bo coming here." Craig took tho girl for a minute Into bia arms. "Good-by, dear," he said. "I want you to tako this paper and keep it carefully. You will bo cared for al ways, but I must go." "But where must you go?" she asked, bewildered. "I have an appointment at Profes sor Ashleigh's," be told her. "I cannot tell you anything more than that Good-by." Ile kissed her for a moment pas sionately. Then suddenly he tore him self away. She heard him run lightly down the stairs. Some instinct led her to tho back window. She saw him emerge from the house and pass down the yard. Then she went to the front. The man in the blue serge was talking to the landlady below. She sank Into a chair, puzzled and unhappy. Then Bhe heard heavy footsteps. The door waa opened. The man In the blue serge suit entered, followed by the protest ing landlady. "There's no sense in coming here to worry the young lady," Mrs. Malony declared, irritably. "As for Mr. Craig, I told you that he'd gone out." "Gone out, ?h?" tho mrvn repeated, speaking In a thick, disagreeable tone. "Why, I watched him in here not ten minutes ago. Now then, young ladyi "I Cannot Tell You Anything More. Good-By." guess you'd better cough up the truth. Where's this precious uncle of yours?" "My uncle has gon? opt," tfc?> girl replied, drawing herself up. "He left fire minutes ago." "What's that in your hand?" he de* mended. "Something my uucle gare me be fore he went out," the girl replied. "I haven't looked at lt yet myself." "Give lt here," he ordered. She sp-ead lt out UDon the table. "You may look at it If you choose," abe agreed. "My uncle did not tell me ' ot te show lt to anyone." Tbuy read lt together. The few linea seemed to be written with great care- They took, indeed, the form of a legal document, to which waa af fixed tao seal ot a notary and the name of a witness: "3, John Craig, being about to re ceive the Just punishment for all my alna, hereby bequeath ta my niece, Mary Carlton, all. moneys and prop erty belonging to me, a Hat of which aha will find at thia address. I make ona condition only of my bequest? and I beg my nlsea to fervei 'ly respect lt. lt ls that sha never of her own con sent or knowledge apeak to anyone of the nama of Ashleigh, er associate with any of that nama. JOHN C?AIGL Tho man folded up the paper. "I'll take care pf thia." ho said. "It's youro, right enough. We'll Just need to borrow lt for a time. Go and get 7our hat and coat ea, miss." "He Fought Too Hard," Que? T shall not," the girl objected. "My uncle told me, if anything happened to him, that I was to remain here." "And remain hore she shall, aa long as she likes," Mrs. Melony insisted. "I've given my promise, too. to look after" her, and Mr. Craig knowe ?Lat I am au honest woman." "You may bo that," tho man re plied, "but lt's just as well for you both to understand thia. I'm from thc police and what I say goes. No harm will come to the girl, Mrs. Malony, and Bhe shall come back here, but for thc present Bhe is going to accompany me to headquarters. If you make any trouble, I only have to blow my whis tle and I can HU your house with po licemen." *T11 go," tho girl whispered. In silence she put on her hat and coat, in silence she dr .ne with him to the police station, where she was shown i . once into the inspector's of fice. Thu man who had brought her whispered for a moment or two with his chief and handed him the paper. Inspector French read it and whis tled softly. He took up the telephone by his side. "Say, you've something of a find here," ho remarked to thc plain clothes man. "Put mo through to Mr. Quest, please," ho added, speaking Into tho receiver. Tho two men whispered together. The girl- stole from her placo and turned over rapidly tho pages,of a di rectory which was on the round table beforo her. She found the "A's" quick ly. ' Her ey? fell upon tho name of Ashleigh. 'She repeated the address to herself and glanced around. Thc two men were still .whispering. For the moment she was forgotten. Sho stole on tip too across tho room, ran down tho stone steps and hastened into tho street CHAPTER XXXIV. .The professor, who~ was comfort ably seated in Quest's favorite easy chair, glanced at his watch and shook his head. "I am afraid, my friend," he said, "that Craig's nerve has failed him. A voluntary surrender was perhaps too mitch to hopo for." Quest smoked for a moment in al ienee. His servant entered bearing a note. "This was left a tew minutes ago, slr," he announced, "by a messenger boy. There was no snswer required." The man retired. Quest unfolded the sheet of paper. His expression suddenly changed. "Listen!" he exclaimed. To Sanford Quest:' Gather your people In Professor Ashleigh's library at ten o'clock to night I will be there and tell you my whole story. JOHN CRAIG. . The professor sat for a moment speechless. "Then he meant lt. after all!" he exclaimed at last "Seems like lt." Quest admitted. "Ill Just telephone to French." The professor rose to his feet knocked the ash from hts cigar, rtrug gled luto his coat and took up his hat. Then be waited until Quest had com pleted bis conversation. The latter's face had grown grave and puezled. It was obvious, that be was receiving in formation cf some importance. He j put down the instrument at last with a curt word of farewell. The professor moved towards the door. "If only this may prove to be the end!" he sighed. Quest spent the next hour or so in restless deliberations. There were still many things which puttied him. At about a quarter past niuo Lenora and Laura arrived, dressed for their expedition. "I'm afraid we are fa for a bad thunderstorm, girls." Quest remarked. Laura laughed. "Who cares? The automobile's there. Mr. Que rt." "Let's go, then/' be replied. They descended into the street and drove to tho professor's house In si lence. Even Laura was feeling the Btrain of these last boura of anxiety. On tho way they picked up French and a plain-clothes man and the whole paity arrived at their destination Just aa the storm broke. The professor rr rl_ ?",-~ * J sn^s^B^WW'aiS^f^'tl^ri^lk. ^^?^???w'Mlwai; it Said Gravely. "He ls Dead!" met them in the hstl. He, too, seemed to have lost to somo extent his cu?, tomary equanimity. "Come this way, my friends," he in vlted. "If Craig keeps his word, he will be here now within a fow min utes. This way." Tiiey followed him Into tho library Chairs were arranged around the table In the middle of the room and they nil sat down. The professor took oui his watch. It was flvo minutes tc ten. "In a few minutes." he continued solemnly, "this weight is to be lifted from the minds of all of us. I have come to tho conclusion that on this occa sion Craig will keep his word. I an not sure, mind, but I believe that he is in the houBc at this present moment I have heard movements in tho roon which belonged to him. I have noi interfered. I have been content te walt." "He has at least not tried escape,* Quest remarked. "French hore brought news of bini. Ho haB been living wltl bis niece very quietly, but wlthou any particular attempt at concealmen or any signs of wishing to leave Un city." "I had that girl brought to my office' French remarked, "barely an hour ago but she slipped away whilo wo won talking. Say, what's that?" They all roso quickly to their feet In a momentary lull ot tho storm the; could hoar distinctly a girl's shrll calling from outside, followed by th clamor ot angry voices. "Gee! I bet that's the girl," Frene! exclaimed. "She\> been looking u; tho professor's address in a directory. They all hurried out; Into the hall The plainclothes man whom they hw left on guard was standing there wltl his hand upon Craig's collar. Th girl, sobbing bitterly, was clinging V his arm. Craig was making desperat eCorts to escape. Directly ho saw tb little party lssuo from the library, hov ever, the strength seemed to pass fror his limbs. He remained in the clutche of his captor, Ump and helplese. "I caught the girl trying to make he way Into the house,'* the latter es plained. "She called out and this mai came running downstairs, right int my arms." "It is quite all right," the professo said, in a dignified tone. "You ma release them both. Craig was on hi way to keep an anointment hero s ten o'clock. Quest, will you and th inspector bring him in? Let us rt sumo our places at the table." The little procession made Its wa down the hall. The girl was stil clinging to her uncle. "What are they going to do to yoi these people?" sho sobbed. "The sha'n't hurt you. Thoy sha'n'tl" 'Lenora passed her arm around th girl. "Of course not, dear," she salt soothingly. "Your uncle has come c hie own free will to answer a fe1 questions, only I think lt would b better If you would let me-" Lenora never finished her sentence They had reached the entrance now t the library. The professor was s tam lng in the doorway with extends hand, motioning them to take the! places at the table. Then, with n form of warning, the room seo me suddenly filled with a blaze of bia light. It came at first In a thin fias from tba window to the table, beean) immediately multiplied a thousan times, plsyed round the table 1 sparks, which suddenly expanded t sheets of leaping, curling flame. Th roar of thunder shook the very (om dations of the house-and then silenci For several Seconds not on? of thei seemed to have tho power of speed An amazing thing had happened. Tb oak table in the middle of the rooi waa a charred. fragment, tho chal? were every one blackened-remnants. "A thunderbolt!'' French gasped * last Quest waa the first to cross th room. From the table to the outsld window waa ona charred, black Un which had burnt ita way through th carpet He threw open the wlndov Tho wire whose course he had fo lowed ended here with a little lum of queer substance. Ho broke lt o from the end of the wire, which wa absolutely brittle and naturales?, aa brought lt into tba room. "What la UT Lenora faltered. "Say, what have you got there?" French echoed. Quast examined the st range-looking lump of metal steadily. Thc moat cu rloua thing about lt deemed tn be that lt waa absolutely sound and showed no signs of damage. Ile turned to the professor. "I think you uro tho only ono who will bc ablo to appreciate this, profes sor," he remarked. "Look!" lt is a fragment of opotan-a distinct and wonderful rpecimen of opotan." Everyone looked puzzled. , "Hut what." leonora inquired, "is opotan?" "It IB a new metal," Quest explained, gravely, "towurda which scientists have been directing a great deal of at tention lately. It baa the power of col lecting all the electricity from the air around us. There are a dozen j people, at the present moment, con ducting experiments with tt for the purpose of cheapening electric lights. If wc bcd been lu thc room ten sec onds sooner-" 9 Ile pause i significantly. Then he j swung round on his heel. Craig, a now pitiful object, his banda nervous ly twitching, his face ghastly, was j cowering in tho background. "Your laBt littlo effort, Craig?" he ! demanded, sternly. Craig made no reply. The profes sor, who had disappeared for a mo ment, carno back to them. "Thcro is a smaller room across the hull," ho mild, "which will do for our p^Tose." Craig suddenly turned and faced them. "I have changed my mind," ho said. "I hovo nothing to tell you. Do what you will with me. Toke mo to the Tombs, deal with mo any way you choose but 1 linvo nothing to say." ' Quest pointed a threatening finger at him. "Your last voluntary word, perhaps," ho said, "but DC.m.co la still your mas ter, Craig. Science has brought many criminals to their dc-om. It shall tako its turn with you. tiring him along, French, to my study. There is a way Of dealing with him." Quest felt hts forehead and found it damp. Thcro were dark rims under bia eyes. Before him waa Craig, with a little band around his forehead and the mirror where they could all see It The professor stood a little in the background. Laura nnd French were sl?o by side, grazing with distended eyes at the blank mirror, and Lenora was doing her bt?st to soothe tho ter rified girl. Twice Quoat's teeth came together and once ho almost reeled. "It's tho fight o? bis life;" bo mut tered at lust, "butT.e got him.' Almost as he spoko they -ovid soe Craig's roui**.'; nco begin to weaken. Tho tenseness of .!?a fer tia relaxed, Quest's will was tompkins*. Slow- j ly in tho mirror they saw ? little pic ture creeping from the outline into definite form, a picture ot the profes sor's library. CraJjt himself was there with mortar and trowel, and a black box In bis hand. ' "It's coming!" Lenora moaned. "I Caught the Qlrl Trying to Maka Her Way Into th? House," clearness. - They saw Craig's features with almost lifelike detail. From the comer of that room where the profes sor waa standing, came a smothered groan. It was a terrifying, a paraly sing moment. Even the silence Seemed changed with awful things. Then sud denly, without any warning, the pic ture faded completely away. A cry, which was almost a howl of anger, broke from Quest's lips. Craig bad fallen sideways from his chair, .here ?was an ominous change in his face. Something seemed to have passed from tho atmosphere of the room, rome tense and nameless quality. Quest moved forward and laid hts hand on Craig's heart Tba girl waa on her knees, screaming. "Take ber away," Quest whispered to Lenora. "What about him?" French demand ed, aa Lenora led the girl from tba room. "(To fought too hard," Quest said, gravely, "Ho ia dead. Professor- " They all looked around. The spot where &e had been standing waa ??mpty. The professor had gone. (TO BB CONTINUED.) Don't Fail To See The Great Serial Picture 'Black 99 Today mtm?mm?m????t??W?W??wm and every Thurs day .V . " .. . ; ; . r ,:. ; -v ' .'.:"') ... -j| . :- . .) At The . # OU