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The BLA By E. PHILLIPA Author of "Mr. Carlo/' "Thc | . enger." "TheLi? NorelUed from ?be motton picture drai Universal Min? Manufacturing ( photograph* from UM mc 8YN0P8I8. I Sanford Quent, master rrtmlnoloirtiit of ,the world, finds that In bringing to Jus tice Macdougal. the murderer uf Loni i Ashleigh's daughter, he has but Just be gun a ilfc-and-deuth struggle with a mys itetioOs master rrlmtnnl. In a hidden hut In Professor Ashleigh's garden he haa seen an anthropoid ape skeleton and a liv ing Inhuman creature, half monkey, half mon. destroyed by fire. In his room have appeared from nowhere, bjaek boxen, ono containing diamonds torn from a lovely throat by a pair of armless, threatening hands, both with sarcastic, threatening notes signed by th? Incrutable hands. On his return from finding the body of Mac doujrat, who had escaped on his way to prison, he ls arrested for the murder of his valet. Ross Brown, and a Miss Qulgg, In hts rooms. Laura and Lenora, lils as sistants, suspect Craig the professor's vale!, trap Craig and rescue Quest from the Tombs lo hypnotize Craig Into confes sion, but when Quest arrives he finds that Craig and Lenora have both disappeared. He ?lodges Police Inspector French, who has discovered his escape. SIXTH INSTALLMENT THE UNSEEN TERROR. CHAPTER XIV. With a little gesturp of despair Quest turned away from the Instru ment which seemed suddenly to have become so terribly unresponsive, and looked acroBB the vista of square roofs n_<l tangled masses of telephone wires ft) where the lights of larger New York flared up against the sky. From his attic chamber the roar of the city a few blocks away was al ways in his ears. He bsd forgotten in those hours of frenzied solitude to .fear for his own safety. He thought only of Lenora. (Ie paused once more before tho little instrument. "Lenora, where are you?" he sig naled. "I have taken a lodging in the Servants' club. I am still in hiding, hoping that Craig may come here. I am very anxious about you." ? Still no reply! Quest drew a chair .up to the window and sat there v 1th folded arms looking down into the street. Suddenly he sprang to bis feet The Instrument quivered-there was a message at last! He took lt '.down with a little choke of relief. ."I don't know where I am. I am ter> j rifled. I was outside the garage when .I was seized from behind. The 'Hands' helu me. I was unconscious ?Stil I .found myself here. I am now in an attic room with no window except the skylight, which I cannot reach. I can see nothing-hear nothing. No one has hurt me, no ono comeB near me. Food 1B pushed through a door, which ls locked again Immediately. The house Beems empty, yet I fancy that I am being watched all the time. I am terrified!" Quest drew the instrument towards him. "I have your message," he signaled. "Be brave! I am watching for Craig, i Through bim I shall reach you before long. Send me a mesage every now and then." Quest again took up his'vigil In front of the window. Once more his eyes swept the narrow street with its constant stream of passers-by. Then suddenly he found, himself gripping the window sill In a momentary thrill of rare excitement. His vigil was rewarded at last. The man for whom he was waiting was there! Quest watched him cross the street, glance furtively to the right and to the left, then enter the club. He turned back to the little wireless and his fingers Worked as though inspired. "I am on Craig's track," he signaled. "Be brave." Re waited for.no reply, but opened ._ the door and, stealing softly out of the room, suddenly confronted Craig In the deserted hallway. Before he could utter a cry Quest's left hand was over bis mouth, and the oeU m?sala of an ant emails pistol was pi es sed to his libs. "Torn ropnd and mount those stairs. Craig," Quest Orden it. Craig turned slowly round nnd obeyed. He mounted the steps with reluctant footsteps, followed by Quest "Through the door to your right" th? letter directed.. "That's right! Now sit down in that chair facing "^If?uest closed the door carefully. Craig sat' where he had been ordered, nts fingers gripping the arms of the chair. In bis eyes shone the furtive, terrified light of the trapped crim inal. "What do you want with mer* Craig asked doggedly. "First of all," Quest replied. "I want to know what you have done with my assistant, the girl wbon you carried oft from the professor.. sar aga." Craig ?hook his head. "I know nothing about her." "She locked yon in the garage." Quest continued, "and sent for me. When I arrived I found the garage door - open, Lenora gone and you a fugitive." -Bewilderment struggled for a mo ment with blank terror tn Craig's ex pression. "How do you know that shs locked stn in the garage?" Quasi smiled, stretched out hip right arm sud his long fingere played soft ly with tho pocket nlroiwss. CK BOX > OPPENHEIM Grtx of Monta 'anished Mess lhtcdWqy,"etc tl the ??mc mm? produced by th? .oKipiny. Illustrated with picture production fy OU? F. Wood.) "In just the same way," he ex* || plained, "that I am scuding her this j ossage at the present moment-a message which Bho will receive and ndcrstand wherever she is hidden. Would you like to know what I am telling her?" The man shivered. His eyes, as though fascinated, watched the little instrument. "I am saying this, Craig." Quest continued. "Craig 1B here and in my power. He 1B sitting within a few feet of me and will not leave this room until ho has told mo your where abcts. Keep up your courage, Le noia. You shall bo free in an hour." Tho trapped man looked away from the instrument into Quest's face. There was a momentary flicker of something that might have passed for courage in his tone. "Mr. Quest," he Bald, "you are a onderful man, but there aro limits to our power. You can tear my tongue out from my mouth, but you cannot force mo to speak." Quest leaned a little farther for ward in his chair, his gaze became more concentrated. 'That is where you are wrong, Craig. That is where you make a mis take. In a very few minutes you will be telling me all the secrets of your ? heart." Craig shivered, drew back a little in his chair, tried to rise and fell backagain helpless. "My God!" ho cried. "Leave me alone!" * "When you have told me tho truth," Quest answered swiftly, "and you will tell me all I want to know in a few minutes. . . . Your eyelids are get ting a little heavy, Craig. Don't re sist. Something which is like sleep is coming over you. You see my will has yours by tho thrci." Craig shook his bead. A very weak smile of triumph flickered for a mo ment at the corners of his lips. "Your torture chamber trick won't work on me!" he exclaimed. "You can never-" The whole gamut of emotions Seemed already to have spent them selves in the man's face, but at that mom .nt there was a new element, an element of terrified curiosity in the expression of his eyes as he stared towards the door. "Is this another trick of yours?" he muttered. Quest, too, turned his hoad and sprang instantly to his feet. From un derneath thc door came a little puff (_ of smoke. There wan a queer sense ? of heat of which both men were si- \ multaneouEly conscious. Down In tho street arose a chorus of warn ing shouts, increasing momentarily In "Mount These Stairs, Craig." volume. Quest threw open Uta door and closed ft again at once. "The place la oa Ure," he announced briefly. "Pull yourself together, maa. >We shall nave all wa can do to gat out cf ti.;*.* Cralg turned to the door, hut stag gered back almost immediately. The stairs ara going!" he shrieked. "It ls tho kitchen that is on fire. Wa aro cut off! We cannot get down!" Quest waa on his hands and ?neee. fumbling nnder his trncklsbed. Ho pulled ont a crude form of nra es cape, a rough sort ot civJle with a rope ' attached. "Know , bow to use this?" he asked BCralg quickly. "Here, catch bold. Put mrlfnr arma inside this strep." Tard by yard, swinging a little In the air. Craig made his descent When he arrived In tho street there Wera a hundred willing hands to release bim. Quest drew up the rope quickly, warned by a roar of anxious rotees. Then he commenced to descend, let ting himself down hi id over hand, al ways with one eye upon that length of rope that swung below. Suddenly, as he reached the second floor a lit tle cry from tho crowd warned him of what had happened. Tongues ot flame curling out from the blazing building bad caught the rope, which was being burned through not a dosen feet away from him. He descended a little farther and paused in mid air. A shout from the crowd reached him. "The cables! Try the cables !" Me glanced round. Seven or eight feet away, and almost level with bim, was a double row of telegraph wires. Almost as he saw (.bern the rope below him burned through and fell to the ground. He swung a little towards the side of the house, pushed himself vigorously away from it with his feet, and at the farthest point of the out ward swing jumped. His hands grap-1 pied the telegraph wires safely. Even j In that tense moment he heard a little sob of relief from tbe people below. Hand over hand he made his way to the nearest polo and slipped easily to the ground. The crowd immediate ly surged around him. . "Where is the man who came down before me?" he asked a bystander. "Talking to thc police in the car over yonder," waa the hoarse reply. "Say, guv'nor, you. only-Just made :that!" Craig pushed his way through the crowd to where Craig was speaking eagerly to French. He stopped short and stooped down. He was near enough to hear tho former's words. "Mr. French, you saw the man come .down the ropes and swing on the ca bles? That was Quest, Sanford Quest, .the man who escaped from the Tombs prison. He can't bave got away yet." Quest drew off his coat, turned lt in side out and replaced it swiftly. He coolly picked up a hat someone bad lost In the crowd and pulled lt over hla eyes. He paBscd within a few feet of where Craig and the inspector were talking. "Say, boys, Sanford Quest is in the crowd somewhere. He's the man who Jumped on the cable lines. A hun dred dollars for his arrest!" Quest turned reluctantly away. Men were rushing about In all directions for him. CHAPTER XV. The professor swung round in his chair and greeted Quest with some surprise, but also a little disappoint ment. "No news of Craig?" he asked. "I got Craig, All right." he replied. "He carno to the Servants' club, where I was waiting for him. My luck's out. though. The place was burned to the ground last night. I saved his life and then the brute gave me away to the police. I had to make my es cape as best I could." Tho professor tapped the table pee vishly. "This is Insufferable," he declared. "I have bad no shaving water; my coffee was undrinkable; I van find nothing. I v a most important lec ture to pre? e and I cannot find any of the not s I made upon the sub ject." Quest smoked in silence for a mo ment "Any malt for me, professor?** ho asked abruptly. The professor opened a drawer ahd banded him a telegram. "Only this!" Quest opened lt and read lt through. It was from the sheriff of a email town in Connecticut: "The men you inquired for are both j here. They have sold an automobile ', and seem to be spending the proceeds. Shall I arrest?" j Quest studied the message for a moment. "Soy, this is rather; interesting, pro fessor." he remarked. . "These are the two thugs who set upon me at the section house. They killed the signal man. who could have been my alibi, and swiped my car. In Which, aa lt cannot ba found, French supposes that i returned to Now York. With their arrest the " case against me collapses. I tell you frankly, pro fessor." Quest continued frowning. "I nate to leave the city without having found that girl; but I am not sure that the quickest way to set things right would not be to go down, arrest these men and bring them back here, clear myself, and then go tooth and nail for Craig." . "I agree with yon most. heartily," tin professor declared. "I recommend any course which will Insure the re turn ot my man Craig!" "I cannot promise yon that you will over have Craig here again." Quest observed grimly. '1 rather fancy 8lng Bing will bo his next home." Quest stepped off the cars at.Bethel a li? Me before noon that morning. The abet iff met him at the depot and greet ed him cordially but with obvious sur prise. "Say. Mr. Quest." he exclaimed, aa they turned away, "I know these men ara wanted on yonr charge, but I thought-you'll excuse ma for aaytng so-that yon were ia some trouble yourself." - Que>. nodded. "I's i out of ?hat--cama out yester day. The moment roy car'ls identi fied and Red Gallagher and his mate arrested every scrap of evidence against me goes." "Welt here's the garage end the tran who bought th? car." the sheriff ivmar'.ed, "aud there's Uio cur Itaelt "Put lt Away; You Kno lin the road. It's for you to say wheth er lt can he Identified." Quest drew a sigh of relief. "That's min?, right enough," be de :clared. "Now for the men." "Say, I want to tell you some- i ?thing," the sheriff began dubiously.! ! "These two are real thugs. They ain't i going to take lt lying1 down." "Where are they?" Quest de manded, "In the worst saloon here," the sher iff replied. "They've been there pret ty well all night, drinking, and they're ! there again this morning, bard at lt. I They've got firearms, and though I ?ain't exactly a nervous man. Mr. QueBt-" "You leave It to mo," Quest inter ?rupted. "This is my Job and I want ito take the men myself." j "You'll never do it," tho sheriff de clared. "Look here," Quest explained, "if I let you and your men go in, there will be a free fight, and as likely as not yr u will kill one, if not both of the men. I want them alive." "Well, it's your show," the sheriff tadmltted, stopping before a disrepu table looking building. "This is the i saloon." ! "Well," Quest decided, "I'm going In, and I'm going in unarmed. - You can bring your men in later, if I call for help or If you hoar any shoot ing." "You're asking for trouble," the sheriff warned him. "I've got to do this my own way," QueBt InsiBted. "Stand by now." He pushed open the door of the sa loon. There were a dozen men drink ing around the-bar and in the cen ter ot them Red Gallagher and his ?mate. Quest walked right up to tho .two men. I "Gallagher," ho said, "you're my ?prisoner. Are you coming Quietly?" ' Gallagher's mate, who was half ?drunk, swung round Sud fired a wild jshot in Quest's direction. Tho result ?waa a general 'stampede. Red Galla gher alone remained motionless. Grim land dangerously silent, he held a pis tol within a few inches of Quest's forehead. "If my number's up," he exclaimed ferociously, "lt won't be you to take me." > , "I think lt will," Quest answered. ."Put that away." '. Gallagher hesitated. Quest's influ ence over him was indomitable. ' "Put lt away," Quest repeated firm ly. "You know you daren't use IC ?Your account's pretty full up, as lt Is." ! Gallagher's Band wavered. From out side came the shouts of the sheriff and his men, struggling to fight their way in through the little crowd who were rushing for safety. Suddenly Quest 'backed, Jerked the pistol up with his xlght elbow, end with almost the same tmovement struck Red Gallagher un* !der the Jaw. The man went over ?with a crash. His mate, who had ?been staggering about, cursing vicious ly, fired another wild shot at Quest, ?wno swayed and fell forward. ; "I've done him!" the man shouted. "Get np, Redl I've done him. all right! Finish your drink. Well get ?out of this!" ; He bent unsteadily over Quest Sud? denly the latter sprang up, seised him by tiie leg and sent him sprawling. The gun fell from his hand. Quest picked it np and held lt firmly ont cor? .erlog both men. Gallagher was on his knees, groping for hui own weapon. "Get the handcuffs on them," Quest dlrected the sheriff, who with his men had at hut succeeded In forcing his way Into the saloon. e : Crouching in her chair, her 'pale, terror-stricken face supported be tween her bands, Lenora, her eyes >fllled with hopeless misery, gazed at .the dumb instrument upon the table. Her last gleam ot hope teemed to be pasting Her little friend waa silent Once more her weary fingers spelled ont a final, despairin-;" message, r "What has baproned to you? I am .[walting to hear all the Mme. TTf - ?n'e told yon where I am? I am afraid!" ; There was still no reply. Her head sank a little lowe.- on her folded arma. Even the luxury of tears seemed ; denied her. Fear, the fear which dwelt wita her day and night, had her in its grip* Suddenly she leaped, scream, lng, from her place. Splinters of glass fell all around ber. Her first wild thought waa ot release; abe gated upwards at the broken pane. Then very faintly from Ute street be low the heard the shout of a boy's angry voles: "YOU'TS done H now, Jimmy! You're . fine pitcher, ain't you? ?-oat lt tiiat'e what you've gone and donal", w You Daren't Use lt" The thoughts formed themselves mechanically in her mind. H pr eyes sought the hall which had come crash ing into tho room. There was life once more In her pulses. She found a scrap of paper and a pencil In her pocket. With trembling fingers sho wrote a few words: "Police headquarters. I am Sanford Quest's assistant, abducted and Im prisoned hero in the room where the ball baa fallen. Help! I am going mad!" Sho tviatcd the paper, looked around tho rcora vainly for string, and finally tore a thin piece of ribbon from her bosom. She tied tho moB Bage round the ball, act ber teeth and threw lt at tho empty skylight. The first time* she waa not successful and the ball came back. The second time lt passed through tho center of the opening. Sho heard lt strike tho sound portion of the glaBS outside, heard lt rumble down tho roof. A few seconds of breathless silence! Her heart al moBt stopped beating. Had it reBted in some ledgo or fallen Into the street below? Then she heard the boy's voice: "Gee! Here's tho ball come back again!" A new light shone into the room. Sho Eccraod to be breathing a different atmosph?re-tho atmosphere of hopo. Sbo listened no longer with horror for a creaking upon the stairs. Bho walked backwards and forwards until Rho was exhausted. . . . Curiously enough, when the end came she was asleep, crouched upon tbe bed and dreaming wildly. She sprang up to find Inspector French, with a police man behind him, standing upon the threshold. "Inspector!" Bho cried, rushing to wards him. "Mr. French! Oh, thank Godi ller feelings carried her away. She threw herself at his feet. She was laughing and crying and talking Inco herently, all at the same time. The Inspector assisted her to a chair. "Say. what's all thia mean?" he de manded. Sho told bim her story. Incoherent ly, in broken phrases. French listened with puzzled frown. Then he realized that she was on tho point of a nervous breakdown and in no condition for interrogations. 'That'll do." he said. "I'll take care of you for a time, young lady, and lil ask you a few questions later on. My men are searching tho house. You and I will be getting on, if you can tear yourself away." . . . . . . . The plainclothes man, wbo was lounging In Quest's most comfortable easy chair and smoking one of his best cigars, suddenly laid down his paper. He moved to the window. A large, empty automobile stood in the street outside, from which the occu pants had presumably just descend ed. He hastened towards the door, which was opened, however, before he was halfway across the room. The cigar slipped from his fingers. It was Sanford Quest, who stood there, fol lowed by the sheriff of Bothel, two country policemen and Red Gallagher and his mate, hrivlly handcuffed. "Soy, aren't you wanted down yon der. Mr. Quest?" the man Inquired. "That's all right now," Quest told him. "I'm ringing up Inspector French myself. You'd better stand by the other fellows there and keep your eye on Red Gallagher and bis mate." ! "I guess Mr. Quest Is all right," the sheriff Intervened. "We'ro ringing up headquarters ourselves, anyway." The plain-clothes man did as he waa told. 'Quest took up the receiver from his telephone instrument and arranged .tho phototelesmc. "Pollen station Na 1, central," ho said-"through to Mr. French's of 'flee, it you please. Mr. Qnest wanta to apeak to him. Yes, San ford Quest. No need to get excited! ... AU right I'm through, am I? ;. . . Hello, Inspector?" A rare expression of joy suddenly transfigured Quest's face. He waa .Sexing downward Into the little mir .or. " . [ "You've found Lenora, tjien, In spector?" ho exclaimed. "Bully for you! . . . What do I mean? What I say! You forget that I am a sci entific man. French. No end of ap pliances here you haven't had time to look at. I can aaa you sitting there, and Lenora and Laura looking aa though you had them on the rack. You can drop that, French. I've got Red .Gallagher and his mate, got them her? with the sheriff of Bethel. They went off with my auto and sold lt We've got that Also, in less than five mlntn?s my chauffeur will be Bara, He's been lying In a farmhouse ; -*??-?? it. ?. ?.?mini mm Ml?ll m n t, ' nacoasriou?, ?Ince that scrap. He eau toll you what time he enw me last. Uri UR the girls along, French and hurry!" Quest hung np the receiver. Inspector French was as good, even better than his word. In a surpris ingly B'iort time ho entered the room, followed by Laura and Lenora. Quest guvo then a hand each, but it was into Lenora's eyos that he looked. "I mustn't stop to bear your story, Lenora." Quest said. "You're sufo that's tho great thing." "Found her in nu empty house," French reported, "out GrnyBon avenue way. Now. Mr. Quest, I don't want to come the ofucinl over you too much, but If you'll kindly remember you're an escaped prisoner-" Thero WBB a knock at tho door. A young man entered in chauffeur's liv ery, with his bead Btlll bandaged. Quest motioned him to come in. "I'll Just repeat my story ot that morning. Mr. French," Quest said. "We went out to And Macdougai, and suc ceeded, ns you know. Just as I was starting for homo those two thugs set ii] on mo. You know how I made my eBcapo. They went off In my au tomobilo and sold it In Bethel. I ar restcd-them there myself this morn ing. Here's the sheriff who will bear out what I say, also that they arrived at the placo lu my automobile." Inspector French beld out bis hard "Mr. Quest," he said, "I reckon we'll have io withdraw the case against you. No bard feelings, I hopo?" "Nono ut all," Quest replied prompt ly, taking lils band. Quest stood upon the threshold watching the sheriff and his prison ers leavo tho house. The former turned round to wavo his adieus. "Thero'B an elderly guy out here," bo shouted, "seems to want to come In." Quest loaned forward and saw the professor. "My desr Quest," he exclaimed, as bo wrung his hand, "my heartiest con gratulations! As you know, I always believed your innocence. I am delight ed that it bas been proved." The professor sank wearily into an easy chair. "I will take a litt'? whisky and one of your excellent cigars. Quest," he said. "I muBt ask you to bear wltb j mo If I seem upset. After more than I twenty years' service from one whom I have always treated ns a friend this sudden separation, to a man of my 1 "Inspector!" Bbs Cried, Rushing To wards Him. age, ii somewhat trying. I do pot al lude, BS you perceive, Mr. Quest, to the horrible suspicion you seem to have formed of Craig." "All the same," the Inspector re marked thoughtfully, "someone who ls still at large committed those murders and stole those jewels. What ls your theory shout the jewels, Mr. Quest?" ."I haven't had time to frame one yet," the criminologist replied. "You've been keeping me too busy looking after myself. Howe ve*-,** Lo added, "lt's time something was done." He took a magnifying glass from his pocket end examined very closely the whole of the front of the safe. "No i'lgn of Anger print*," he mut. tered. "Tho person who opened it probably wore gloves." He fitted the combinrAloo and swung open the door. He stood there for a moment speechless. Sometutng tn his attitude attracted the inspector's at tention. "What Is lt, Mr. Quest?" he asked eagerlr Quest drew a little breath. Exactly facing him, in the spot where the Jew els bad been, was a small black box. Me brought It to the table and re moved the lld. Inside was a sheet of paper, which he Quickly unfolded. They ali three read the few lines to gether: "Pitted against the inherited cun ning of the ages, yon hare no chance. I will take compassion upon yon. Look In the right-hand drawer ot your desk." Underneath appeared the signature of the "Hands." Quest-moved like one in a dream to bis cabinet and pulled open the right-hand drawer. He turned around and faced tbs other two men. In hla bald was Mrs. Rheinholdt's necklace! t ITO BB CONTINUgrr?? r m Be Sure To The "Black Today At The This is one of the greatest ever