m BLA< Br E. PHILLIP Author of" The Moving Finger, " "The Prince af Sinnen." "Anna, the Adcentureu, " cfc Novelize same tu Manuia< tographs {Copyright. 1315, SYNOPGI8. Sanford Quest, mnstcr criminologist of ttiu world, lh.ds that In ? ritu'intn justice Stttcdougnl. tho murderer <>f Lord Ash IcEm'l daughter, ho h.is but Just begun a rJfo-:iiicl-(li Tth striiKnW' will? a niystorl nitt master criminal. In ii hidden but In Professor Ashleigh's garden be lina seen \ an ape skeleton and a living creature, half monkey, half man. destroyed fire, j In bis rooina have, appeared black boxen containing noten, lien ed by a pair of urmless hunrtV. Illira and llenera, bis as sistants, suspect Craig, the nrof??Mor*S servant, of a double murder. Tin- black boxes continuo to appear in uncunny fashion Craig, captured escapes to Port Bald. Quest and bis party follow, and be yond Into the desert, They are enpturcd by Mongnrs. escarie with Craig aa thalr captive, and turn bim over to Iimpectnr French In San Prnnciyo. jto escape? in a train wreck, outgenerals bis pursuern. and ROOS back to New York, where be dlr-K wiill<> Quest ls attempting to hypno tise him into confession. FIFTEENTH INSTALLMENT CHAPTER XXXV. The first shock was over. Craig's body had been removed, and thc girls had taken Mary, half stunned with grief, -to their room. French and Quest were left alone. "That ls some disappointment," the former remarked, gloomily. "It is a disappointment," Quest said, elowly, "which incy clear the way to bigger things." "What's In your mind now?" French Inquired. - Que3t shook bis head. "A turmoil. First of all, where ls the professor?" "Must havo scooted right away home," French euggestcd. "He was looking pretty sick all tho time. Guess it must have r.ecn a powerful shock for him, end he Isn't so young as he used to be." "Give me that paper of Crals'e again," Quest asked Tho inspector produced tho docu ment from his inner pocket, and Quest, stretching it out upon his knee, read it word for word. "Never to communicate or to havo anything to do with anyone of the nome of Ashleigh, eh?" he remarked, as he handed it back again. "Rather a queer provision, that, French." "I've been thinking that myself," the inspector ndmitted. Quest glanced at the clock. "Well," bo said, "if you're ready, inspector, we'll be getting along." The two mon drove to tho outskirts of the city almost In silence. The professor's house seemed moro than ever deserted as they drew up at the front door. They entered without ringing and crossed tho hall towards the library. On tho threshold Quest paused and held up his finger. "Someone ls in there." he whispered, stepping quickly forward. "Como!" He threw open the door. The room waB empty, yet both Quest and French were conscious of a curious convic tion that lt had been occupied with in the last few seconds. "Queer, but it seemed to mo I heard Bomeono," French muttered. "I was sure of it," Quest replied. They stood stilt for a moment and listened. Tho slU-te-o in the empty house was almost unnatural. Quest turned away with a shrug of the shoulders. "At any rate." ho said. "(?raig's dy ing thoughts must have been truth ful. Come." Ho led the way to tho fireplace, , went down on his knees and passed biB hands over tho brick- The third ono he touched, shook. Ho tapped lt-without a doubt it was hollow. With his penknife ho loosened the . mortar a little and drew it out eanl.y. The back was open Inside was tho black box. "Craig's secret at last!" French muttered, hoarsely. "Bring lt to the light, quick!" They were unemotional men, but the moment wns supremo. The key to tho mystery or those tragical weeks .was there' in their hands! Their eyes ?almost devoured those few hastily . scrawled words burled with so much care: See Page 62, January Number, American Medical Journal, 1905. ' They looked at one another. They repeated vaguely thia moat common place ot messages. As the final result ot their strenuous enterprise, these cryptic words seemed pitifully inade quate. Quest's face darkened. He crumpled the paper In his fingers. "There must bo spine meaning in this," he muttered. "It can't be alt - aether a fool's game we're on. Wait.' Ho moved towards a -table which usually - stood against - the wall, bat which had obviously been dragged ont recently into tho ro'ddle of the room. It was cpvored with bound volumes. Quest glanced at one and exclaimed softly: "American Medical Journal, 1905!. drench, there's something In this mas sage, aft or an." He turned over the pages ra pk .Then he came to a stop. Page ,was there; page 6? bad been neat removed with a pt Cir of scissors,. "Tho profossor!" he cried. '-The professor's been at work here!" The ,wa men stood > looking at eao another across the table. Strange Ii BOX S OPPENHEIM -:-? :d from the motion picture drama of the ime produced by th? Universal Film rturing Company. Illustrated with pho I from the motion picture production. by Olia P. Wood.? i thoughts were framing themselves in the bra!us of both of them. Then there came a startling and in Its way ti dramatic interlude. Through the empty bouse came the ringing of tho electric bell from the front door, shrill and innistent. Without a moment's hesitation, Quest hurried out and French followed him. On the doorstep waa another surprise. Lenora and Laura were there, tho former carry ing a small, black-bound volume. "Don't be crosn," she begged, quickly. "We Just had to come. Look! Wo picked this up underneath the chair where Craig was Bitting. It must have slipped from his pocket. You see what ls written on it? Dlnry of John Craig." Quest took it iu bis hand. "Say. this ought to bo interesting," bo remarked. "Come along." They passed Into _the library. French lingered behind for a moment and caught thora up JUBt as they were opening tbe book underneath the elec tric lamp. ."Seo here what I've found'." he ex claimed. "It was Just by the Bide bf the wall there. Where's that maga zine?" He spread out the piece of paper-lt fitted exactly into the empty apace. They all read together: Professor Ashleigh, after being bit ten by the anthropoid, rapidly devel oped hydrophobia of a serious nature. ? After treatment with a new serum the I patient was relieved of the hydropho bic symptoms, but to my horror thia mild-mannered, humane man seems possessed at times of all the charac teristics o' the brutal anthropoid cunning, thievery, brutality. I do not know what may como of this. I hesi tate to put even these words on to paper. I am doubtful as to what course, in the Interests of humanity, I ought to take. . (Signed) JAMES MERRILL, M. D. Editor's Note-Just as w: go to press, a cable announces the terrible' death of Doctor Merrill, the writer of the above notes. He was attacked by wild animals, whilst alone In a South American jungle, and torn to pieces. There was a queer little silence among the company. No one seemed inclined for speech. They looked at one another In dumb, wondering hor ror. Then Quest drew a penknife from his pocket and with a turn of his wrist forced the lock of the diary. Tlicy all watched him with fascinated eyes. It was something. to escape from their thoughts. They loaned over as he spread the book out be fore him. Those first two sentcnce3 were almost In the nature of a dedica tion: For ten years I have protected my master, Prof. Edgar Ashleigh, at the cost of my peace of mind, my happi ness, my reputation. This book, even though lt be too late to help me, shall clear my reputation. Quest closed the volume, i 7 "French," he decided, "wo must find the professor. Will you have your men search the house and grounds im mediately?" The Inspector left tho room like a dazed man. They could hear him giv ing orders outside. "The next page," Lenora begged. "JuBt one page more!" Quest hesitated for a moment. Then he turned lt over. All three read ngami Ton years of horror, struggling ell the while to keep him from that other soif, that thing of bestiality, to keep his horrible secret from the world, td rover up hla crimes,' even though their shadow should rest upon me. Now Sanford Quest baa come. Will this mean discovery? "Another page," Quest said. "Don't you see where lt ls leading us? We have tfc? trath hero. WSlt!" He strode nastily to tho door. French and one of the plain-clothes men were descending the stairs. "Well?" Quest asked, breathlessly. "The professor is not in the house," French reported. "We are going to search the grounds." Quest returned . to the library. Lenora clung to hla arm. The diary lay still upon the table. Quest opened tho volume slowly. Again they all read together: The evil nature ls growing stronger every day. He is developing a sort cf ferocious cunning to help him fa his crimes. He wander* about In the dark, wearing t black velvet suit with hole* for his eyes, and leaving only bis bando exposed. I have watched him come into a half-dark-*] ened room and one -an see nothing but the hands and the *ye*; some times If he Cooes his eyes, only the hands. "Mrs. Rheinholdt!" Quest muttered. The door was suddenly opened.and French entered. "Bes*ten'." he exclaimed, tersely. "You haven't found him?" Que?; asked. French shook his head. "We've searched every room, every cupboard, every scrap of the cellar in the p!aco." he eunounced- "We'vo been Into every corner of the grounds, searched lt all lack warda and for warda. There's no sign of the profes sor." Quest pocketed the diary. "You're perfectly certain that he ls n' ' n this house or anywhere upon the premises?" "Certain sure!" French replied. Quest shrugged his shoulden}. "Well, we'd better get back," be said. They were on the point of starting, the chauffeur with his hand upon the starting handle, French with the steering wheel of the police car al ready in his hand. And then tho little party seemed suddenly turned to stone. For a few breathless seconds not one of them moved. Out into the clammy night a?r came the echoes of a hideous, inhuman, blood-curdling scream. Quest was the first to re cover himself. He leaped from his scat and rushed back across thc emp ty hall into the study, followed a lit tle way behind by French and tho others. An unsuspected panel door which led into the garden stood slight ly aiar. The professor, with Iii? hand ( on the back of a chair, was staring at tho fireplace, shaking ae though with Borne horrible ague, his ince dis torted, his body curiously hunched up. Me seemed suddenly to have dropped his humanity, to have fallen back into thc world of some strange creatures. He heard their footsteps, : but he did not turn his bead. His j hands were stretched out In front of him as though to keep away from his sight come hateful object. "Stop him!" he cried. "Take bim a .y! It's Craig-bis spirit! Ho como to mo in the garage, ho followed mo through the grounds, ho mocked at me when I hld In the tree. He's there now, kneeling beforo the fire place. Why can't I kill him! He ls coming! Stop bim, someone!" No one spoke or moved; no ono, In deed, had the power. Then at last Quest found words. "There ls no one In the room, pro fessor." he said, "except us." The s<3und of a huronn voice Bcemed to produce a strr.nge effect. The pro fessor straightened himself, shook his head, bis hands dropped to bis side, ghastly palo, but his Bmilo was once more the smile of the amiable natu ralist "My friends," ho said, "forgive me. I nm very old, and the events of these last few hours have unnerved me. Forgive me." He groped for a moment and sank Into a chair. Quest fetched a decan ter and a glass from tho sideboard, poured out some wine and bela it to his Ups. The professor drank it eag erly. "My dear friend." be exclaimed, "you have saved me. I nave some thing to tell you, something I muBt toll you at once, but not beroi Ploathe this place. Let me come with you to your rooms." "Ag you pleaBe," Quest answered, calmly. He gripped Quest's arm. In silence they passed fren* the room, In alienee they took their places once more in the automobiles, In silence they drove without a pauso to Quest's rooms. The professor made lils way at onco to his favorite easy chair, threw off his overcoat an 1 leaned back. "Que?t," he pronounced, "you aro the best friend I bavo in my life! It is you who havo rid mo of my great burden. Tell me-help me a little with my story-havo you read that page from tho Medical Journal which En j____^____j___r^ Hf The Professor 8at There Like a Fig fi ure of Stone. Craig nas kopt locked up all these years?" "We have sll read lt," Quest re plied. "lt waa forged,"'the professor de c?s: ed. firmly, "forged by Craig. All tho years since he has blackmailed me. I have been his servant and his tool. I have been afraid.to speak. At last I sm free of him. Thanh God!" "Craig, after all," French muttered. Lenora stood a little apart with n faint frown upon her forehead, j She touehed Quest on the shoulder. "Ur, Quest," she murmured, "he is lying!" Quest turned his head. His lips ? scarcely moved. "What do you mean?" he whispered. I "He la lying!" Lenora Insisted. "I tell you there's another creature there, something we don't understand. f Let- me bring the electro-thought transference apparatus; let us read his mind. It I am, wrong, I will go ! dow u on my" knees and beg for for giveness." Quest nodded. * Lenora hastened to th? farther end ot the room, snatched [ the cloth from the Instrument and wheeled down tho little mirror with ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ! "Ho la Dead!" Ita COIIB and levers. The professor watched tier; Slowly lila face changed. Tho benevolence faded away, his teeth for a moment showed In something which was almost a snarl. "You believe me?" ho cried, turn ing to Quest. "You aro not going to try that horrible thing on me-Pro fessor Lord Ashleigh? I am all broken ?P. I am not flt for it. Look at my hands, how thoy shake." "Professor," Quest said, sternly, "we are surrounded by the shadow of some terrible deeds for which as yet there ia no explanation. I do not say that we mistrust you, but I ask you to submit to this test." "I refu?e!" the professor replied, harshly. "And I insist," Quest muttered. Tho professor drew a little breath. Ho sat back in bia chair. His face becume still, I1I3 lips were drawn closely together. Lenora wheeled up the machino and willi deft fingers t-d justed the fittings on ono side. Quest himself connected it up on tho other. The professor .eat there Uko a figure of stone. The Bileuce in tho room was eo intense that tho ticking of the small clack upon the mantel piece was clearly audible. Tho very ntmos phere seemod charged with tho thrill and won der ? or? it. ? Ncvor beforo had Quest met with resistance so com plcto and Immovable. Sternly ho con ccntrated the whole uf his will powoi upon his task. Almoot at once there was a change. Tho professor fol! back in the chair. Tho tonso Bclf-cou trol had passed from his features his Ups twitched. Simultaneously the mirror for a- moment waa clouded -then slowly a picture upon lt gath ered outline and aubstanco. There was a jungle, strange, tull trees, ant brushwood so thick that it reachec to tho waists of thc two men wlu were slowly making their way througt it. One was tho .professor, clearlj recognizable under his white sun bel met; tho other a stranger lo all o them. Suddenly they stoppod. Tin latter had crept a yard or so ahead his gun raised to bia shoulder, bli eyes Axed upon tome possible objec Of pursuit. There was a BUddet change In the professor. They sav him seize his sun by the barrel ant whirl lt above his head. Ho seemet suddenly to lose his wholo identity 'Ho crouched on his haun' bea, almos like an animal, and sprang nt thc otb er*8 throat. Thoy could almost bea the snarl from his Ups as tho tw< men went down together Into tho un dergrowth. The picture faded awaj "Doctor Merrill!" Lenora faltered "Then it was not wild beasts whlcl killed him." Almost Immediately fii.ures agc li appeared in tho mirror. . There was ; small passage which seemed to lea from tl a back, entrance of a house the professor, with a black ma nth Craig followed him. pleading, exposti tating. They saw .' tho conservator for a minute, and then blackness. Th professor was leaning against a mat ble basin. There was nothing to b seen of bim but his eyes and handi They raw him , listen for a moinee or two in cold; unresponsive sllenci then stretch out hi* hand and pus Craig away. Tho picture glowed an fp.ded and glowed again. Then the saw through the gloom tho figure c a woman approach, a diamond neel wee around ber neck. They saw th hands steal out and encircle he throat-and then mbva darkness, t lenee, obscurity. The mirror wa empty once mere. "Mrs. Rheinholdt's jewels!" Lenox j cited. "What next? Oh! my Go? J what next?" Their eyes ached with the strati 1 but there was not 'one of them wi could even glance away from the mi ror. It was Quest's study which slot ly appeared then. The Salvstk Army girl was thar*, talking to tl professor. They ?aw him leave he . th*.y saw him look hack from tt \ door, a strange, evil glance. Then tt j secretary entered and spoke to he I Once more thc door opened. Tl , handi. were there, stretching at i reaching, a paperweight gripped 1 ' the right-band Angers. They saw raised above the secretary's head, .Un ssw the other hand take the girt 1 tb? throat and?pkah her towards ? table. A wlld-?s?r?Rm broke fi? Lenora's Ups- Quest wavered for ??wvr>i| wu a matt l*??%J* ?^^^SI_IHIIVJISR? SM H^H^^ft . aBH__________________H Quast Declared. moment. Thc picture faded out. "Oh. stop it!" Lenora begged. "Haven't we seen enough? We know tho truth now. Stop lt or I ?hall die!" The criminologist made rte reply. Ills eyes were still Used upon thc pro fessor, who showed some signs of re turning consciousness. Ho was grip ping at lila collar. Ho seemed to have dij?culty with his breathing. QucHt suddenly braced himself. He pushed Lenora back. "Ono more," he muttered. "Thero's Bomethlug growing in blu ruiud. I can feel it. Wait!" Again thoy ull turned towards the mirror. They saw the hallway of Ash' leigh house, tho pictures upon thc walls, they could almoct foci the quiet Silence of night. They saw thc pro fcasor como stealing down tho stairs, Ho wau wearing tho black velvet sull with tho cowl in hl3 bund. The} watched him pauBc before a certain door, draw on thc cowl and disappear Through tho Opening they could sec Lord Ashleigh asleep in bed, the mopn light streaming through tho open win dow ncrcas tho counterpane. Tbej saw tho professor turn with a Btrangc horrible look in bis face und close thc door. Lenora burst into ?obs. "No more!" she shrieked. "Nc more, or I shall go mad!" Quest leaned forward and release* their victim. Tho wholo atmosphere of tho j; lace seemed i ni med lat el y t< chango. Lenora drew a long, couvul BIVO breath and Bank into a chair. Th? professor sat up cud gazed at thoa all with tho air of a mau who hat just awakened from u dream. "Have I, by any chance, slept?" bi asked. "Ot-" Ho never llnlshed his sentence. Hi eyes fell upon the mirror, tho mota band lying by his Bldu. He read th1 truth lu tho faces still turned toward [him. He rose to bis feot. There wa [ uuothor and equally sudden change ii his demeanor und toni. He carrie* himself with the calm dignity of th scientist. "Tho end of our struggle, I. prc sumo?" ho said to Quest, pointing i tho metal band. "You will at least ai mit that I have chown you fino sport. No ono answered him. Even Que? had barely yet recovered himself. Th professor shrugged his shoulders. "I" recognize, of course," he Bali gravely, "that this ls. the end. A pei son in extremis has prlvtlog?w. Wi! you allow me to write just a ff attcr c twenty lines at your desk?" Silently Quest assented. Tho profei sor scated himself In tho swing chat drew a sheet of paper towards hin dipped the pen id the ink and bega to write Then he turned around an reached for his own small black bp which lay upon the table. Quet caught him by the wrist. "What do you want out of tiiat, pri fe?sor?" h? inquired. "Merely.my own pen and ink." th professor expostulated, "lt there 1 a ay th In g I detest in the world, it ! violet ink. And your pen, too, is e ecrablo. Au they are to be the lei wrrds I shall leave to a sorrowlu world, I should like to write them I my own fashion. Open. the bag tc yourself, n bis chair as French entered thc room and held out his left hand. "Glad to see you, French. Help yourself to n cigar." "J, don't know ns 1 want to Bmoko this morning Just nt present, thunk you," French replied. "Nothing wrong, ch?" "Tho fact of it is," French explained, "I should like a few words with MISB Laura." Quest laughed shortly. "Why on earth couldn't you Bay so?" ho observed. "Never knew you bashful before, inopector. Sho's up*in the laboratory, i'll ring for someone to show you tho way." Quest tom hot, tho bel! and his now secretary entered almost nt once. "Take Inspoctor French up Into tho laboratory," Quest directed. Seo you later, French." "Vos-perhaps-I boro EO," the in spector replied nervously. Qnost watched him dlsc.pp'ear with n puzzled stnilo. Thon ho sat down" at his desk, drew a sheet of. paper to wards him and began-to write: My Dear Inspector: I am taking thia opportunity of let ting you know that out of deference to the wishes of .thc woman t hope soon to marry, I sm abandoning, the haz ardous anti nerve-racking profession of criminology for a caver ond nappier career. You will have, therefore, to find help elsewhere.in the future. With best wishes*. Yours, SANFORD QUEST. Ho loft tho sheet of paper upon tho desk and,' bringing the boll, sent 'or Lenora.. Sbo appeared in a few mo menta and caine, over ta his side. "What is it. Mr.. Quest?!' upe asked. Ho gavo her tho letter 'wfthbut r"o mark. She rend lt through aud, turn ing slowly around, looked at him ex pectantly. "How's thnt seem to you?" be asked, reaching out his hand for a ci ;ar. ..Very sensible; indeed," she replied. "It's no sort of lifo, this, for a mar ried ulan," Qnost. declared. "You The Gounci of a Human Voice SeentcJ to Produce a Strange Effect. agree With me there, don't you, Len* ora?" "Yes!" sho admitted, s little faintly. The secretary entered tho room, helped Quest on with his coat and handed him his bat. "If you are quite ready. Lenora." "Ready!" she exclaimed. "Where are we going?" Quest sighed. "Fancy having to explain all those things!" he said, taking ber arm. "I Just want you to understand, Lenora? that I've waited-quite long enough. Parkins." bo added, turning to lils secretary, "it anyone calls, Just say ?that my wife and I will bo back earty In tho afternoon. And you'd better' step upstairs to the laboratory and glvo my compliments to Inspector French, and say that I hope be. and Miss Laura will Join us. at D*..r.on leo's for luncheon at pne o'clock." "Very good, slr," the roan replied. Lenora's- face was nuddf.il> trans? formed/ She passed her erm through Quest's. He stooped and kissed her aa he ted her towards'the door. "You understand now, don't you?* he whispered, smiling down ot Mr. "I think so," sher admitted, with a little sigh of content. Ir Avie. intOJ. Don't Fail To See 1 ne Great Picture Today The Last At The ou Theatre