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
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Today
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one of
the
greatest
ever