Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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TEe BLA< ittjr E.:PHF%LIP ? J'.l r. . . ? if- I ?rihotofTh* Afoclng Nowlfoe ?me na Manufac tograpba mm (Copyright. ISits ] SYNOPSIS. Banfora Quest rn&ter crtailnologld.? ot the world, nn?u that\in bri?a?n? lc ?set ttce Macdcugal. tho murderer of Lord Ashleigh's daughter, ho Uss but Juut be gun ? Hfe-and-death strugglo with a. myaterlous master criminal. In a hidden hut tn Professor Ashleigh's garden he has seer? an anthropoid upo skelston and a living Inhuman croat ure, half monkey, half man, destroyed by fire. In his rooms have appeared from nowhere black boxes containing Sarcastic, notes, signed by a pair of armleaa hantln. LoUra -and Lenora, nts aialstahts. suspect Craig, tho pro fessor's servant, or & double murder. Tho black boxes contine to appear tn uncan ny fashion. Craig ?s trapped by Qecst, but escapes to JCngiand, where Quest Le nora, and th? professor follow him. tord Ashleigh ls murdered by the Hands. Le nora ls abducted In I-otwSon and rescued. Craig la captured and escapes to Port Bald, where Quest nod bis party ateo go. and beyond into the desert EL?VENTHINSTALLMENT CHAPTER XXIII. IN THE DESERT. Quest was the first the next morn ing to open his ey ?s, to grope hts we; [through tho tent -pening and stand for a moment a) -e, watching the alabaster skies. He turned las tly around, meaning?' to summon the Arab who bad volunteered to take Haasan'a place. His arms-he had been in the act of stretching-fell to his aides. He stared at the spot where the camels had been tethered. Incredulously. There were no cam els, no drivers, no Arabs. There waa not a soul BOT an object In sight ex cept the stark body of Hassan, which they had dragged half out of sight behind a slight knoll. High up In the oky above weje two IP j?e black specks, wheeling loajer an J lower. Quest shivered ns be suddenly realised that for the first kimo IS his life ho wai looking upoajthe winged ghouls of the desert Loser and lower they came. He turned away with a shiver. Th? prottBor waa stfll sleeping waga iRueatfre^tercd the tent Ha Vo?e Mm *r l?a beckoneA Mffi !? come outslil. Quest pcttitcd to the little sandy knoll with flt sparse covering of grass, deserted-sith scarcely a sigh, even, that lt hoi Leen th o resting, placo of tho little ofavan. The professor gavo vent to s (little exclamation. The Psftssor" hurried off towards the spot mere the encampment ha ? been mau Suddenly he stood still and pola* with hlB finger. In the clearer, avost crystalline light ot the coming dfl they saw the track Ot the camels klone long, unbroken line atretchhfliway northwards. He glajed around a little helpless ly- Quel ?ooh a cigar from his caso and Uta "No all worrying," Quest, sighed. "The qtftion ia how best to get out ot the ws. ghat's the next move, anyway? The afessor glanced towards the son anHook a small compass from his poom He pointed across the des- j art I "Thea exactly our route," he said, I "but iflckon we still must oe two days fjm the Mongan, and how we are gol to get there ourselves, much more m the women there, without camels don't know. There are no wells Ad I don't believe those fel lows m* left us a single tin of wa ter." I Lao put her head out ot tho tent In ww tno two women had slept "Sm where's breakfastV she ex olalrm "I can't smell the coffee." TIS turned and approached her si lent? The two girls, fully dressed, camfimt of the tent aa.they ap* proejtd. "ling ladles," the professor an nouwd, "I regret to say that a mia forte has befallen us, a mia fort? which we shall he able, with out jubt, to surmount, but which will meia day of hardship and much lc conpionce." "kera ara the camels?" Lenora asa! breathlessly. .fm*!" Quest replied. .md the Arabs?" ?rae with them-we are left high anfdry," Quest explained. Ind what Is worse," the professor adfcd, with a groin, "they have taken . wi them all cu-stores, our rift** and oiiwater." How far are w% from the Hongar CSBP?" Lenora asked.. lAbout a day'e *.ramp," Quest ra pid quickly. "We may : :ach there bfnightfall." iThen let's atan wa?kUg at once, blore it gets any hotter," Lenora sug buest patted her on tho back. They nada a elope search of the tenta, hut dunc thst the Arabo had taken every I lng In the way ot food and drink, ex < ?pt ai singlo halMUied tin of drink : ?b?smiled bravely enough, but hy joldday their little stock of water waa lone, their feet were sorely blistered. No Ono complained, however, and th? professor ?lld bia beat to revive their spirits, "Wa have ooma farther than I had dared to hope, m the time,' he as Boanebd, "Fortunately. I know the exact direction we must t?Va. Keep up ?our spirits, yokw ladles. At any.Jg?. tra may see signs of our deiTilnatSon. ll BOX S OPPENHEIM rnn nr -?? ' T . . T_ d from the motion picture drama of tho me produced by the Universal Film turing Company. Illustrated with oho from the motion picture production. >y Otis P. Wood.) They struggled on once more. Nigh t came and brought with lt a half-sootl - lng, half-torturing coolness. Tnt t vain straining of tb? ?veo upon ti a '?orison'at any rate was spared ti them. They slept in . a fashion, bi t soon after dawn they were, on the r feet again. Suddenly Quest, who hu I ?one a little out of his way to motu t a low range ot sand hills,' waved h s j arm furiously. He waa holding b B field-glasses to his eyes. It was wo i i derful how that ray of hope tran i I formed them. They hurried to whei s > be waa. ' He passed the glasses to tl e professor. "A caravan!" he exclaimed. "I ci a see the camels, and horses!'* The professor almost snatched tl e glasses. "It is quito.true/? he agreed. "It s a caravan crossing at right angles o our direction. Come! They will s e tis before long." Presently Uiree or four horsem n detached themselves from the mn n body and came galloping towar Is them. The eyes of the little pa; y glistened as they saw that the foi 3 most had a water-bot?,'.e slung aroui d his neck. He came dashing up, wt ir ing his arms. "You lost, people?" he asked. "Wa it water?" They almost snatched the bot le from bim. It was Uko pouring 1 te Into their veins. They all, at the p 0 fessor's instigation, drank sparing y. Quest, with a great sigh ot relief, it a cigar. "Some adventure, this!" he e clared. The professor, who had been talki ig to the men in their own Iangua e, turned back towards the two girla "It is a caravan," he explained, of peaceful merchants on their way to Jaffa. They are halting for us, a id we anal! be at'*, without a doubt, to I I arrange for .water and. .food, andi aJ h?a??Mt ni twti Inn B??,-Jhx>mon asks if the ladles will take the horses and ride?" They started off gayly to where the caravan had come to a standstill. They had scarcely traversed a hundred yards, howover, before the Arab who was leading Lenora's boree came to a sudden standstill. He pointed With his arm and commenced to talk in an excited fashion to his two companions. From across the desert, facing them, came a little company of horsemen, galloping fast and with the sunlight flashing upon their rifles. "The Mongars!" the Arab cried, pointing wildly. "They attack the j caravan!" The three Arabs talked together for a moment in an excited fashion. Then, without excuro or warning, they swung the two won cn to the ground, leaped "Iff You Valus Your Lives, You Will Do aa You Are Bidden." on their horses, and, turning north* wards, galloped away. The professor looked on anxiously. "I am not at all sure," ho said ht [ an undertone to Quest, "about our po sition with the Moneara. Craig has a peculiar hold upon thom, but as ? nile they hate white men, and their blood wttl be up. . . . See! the fight ls all over. Those fellows wore no match for the Mongars. Moat of them have fled and left the caravan." The fight wns Indeed over. Four of Mongars had galloped away in ^itrsuit bf the Arabs who had been the temporary escort ot Quest and his I companions. They passed, about a hundred yards hway. waving their arms and shouting furiously. One of them even fired a shot, wh? th missed f Quest by only a few inches. "They say they are coming back,' tbe professor muttered. "Who* this! Ifs the chief and-" "Our search is over, at any rat*,"] Quest interrupted. "It's Craig!" They came goSopinff up, Craig in! white linea clothe Sad an Arab's AtJu tho chief by' his aide-a fine, ?labt man with long;, gray beard; be nd, three Mongan, their rifles al rfcdy to their shoulders. The chief Aeeted up his horse aa he came with Ut twenty paces of the little party. JrWhite! English!" he shouted. *yr'hy do you seek death here?" pie waited for no reply, but turned tv his men. Three of them dashed for vMrd. their rifles, which were fitted tjth an odd sort of bayonet, drawn bfck for the lunge. Suddenly Craig, .Mo had been a little in the rear, gal* r&ed, shouting, into the line ot fire. ?"Stop!" ho ordered. "Chief, these Pypie are my friends. Chief, the lybe chief raised his arni promptly. TSB men lowered meir rifles. Craig ?loped buck to his host's side. The' cfief listened to him and nodded gmyely. Presently he rode up tu the linio party. He saluted the professor gravely and talked to him in hts own language. Tho professor turned to the ?fters. . jfThe chief apologizes for not recog nising me." he announced. "It seems tMt Craig had told him that he hall cojne to the desert for shelter, and be imagined at once, when he gave the omer for the attack upon us, that we wire his enemies. He says that we are welcome to go with him to his encampment." Craig turned slowly towards them. It was a strange meeting. mt ls necessary," ho told them, "that you should pretend to be my frwnds. The chief has ordered two of his men to dismount Their ponies are fof, the young ladles. There will be hones for you among the captured onSs from the caravan yonder." ?hey all turned towards the chief, wft remained a little on the outside of&the circle. The professor raised hi? hat and spoke a few words in the Mangar language, then he turned to tbft others. n have accepted the invitation ol thl chief," he announced. "We had better start" JJThis may not be Delmonlco's," Laira remarked, a few hours later, wBn a little sigh of contentment "tait believe me that goat-stew and sTArbet tasted better than any 'chyken and champagne I ever tasted.' whey moved to the opening of th? teM and sat looking out across thc stint desert. Laura took the flap ol Out canvas itf her hand. ?What do all these marks mean?* ||P asked. 'ji*They are cabalistic signs," th? professor replied, "part of the lan guage of the tribe. They indicat< that this ls the guest,tent, and then are a few little maxims traced upot lt, extolling the virtues of hospitality.' Lenora leaned forward to where r little group of Mongars were talkln; together. "I wish that beautiful girl wooli come and let us see her again," sh? murmured. "She," the professor explained, "i the chief's daughter, Feerda, whosi life Craig saved." . "And from the way oho looks a bim," Laura observed, "I should sa; she hadn't forgotten it, either.' The professor held up a warnln finger. The girl herself had glide to their side out of tho shadows. Sh faced the professor. Tho rest of tb party she seemed to ignore. Sh spoke slowly and in halting Englist "My father wishes to know ths yon are satisfied?" she said. "Yo have no further wants?" "None," the professor assured hei "We are very grateful for his hoi pltallty, Feerda,'* "Won't you talk to us for a Ititi time?" Lenora pegged, leaning foi ward. The girl turned suddenly to th professor and Bpbke to him In he own language She pointed to tb signs upon the tent, drew ber finge along on J of the sentences, flashed fierce gianca at them all and dlsa] peered, "Scents to me that we are not e: actty popular with the young lady, Quest remarked. "What was she sa1 lng. professor?" "She suspects ns," the profess? said slowly, "ot vrUMng to bring ev to Craig. She pointed to a sentent upon the tent. Roughly it means 'Ora itude ls the debt of hospitality/ I ai very much afraid that the young lad must have been listening to our co ver-Mion." The professor suddenly leanne] fo ward. There waa a queer change i his face. From somewhere on tt other side of that soft bank of viol: darkness came what seetne.0 to be tl clear, low cry of acme animal. "It f 3 the Mongar cry of warning, " 1 said hoarsely. "Something is going i happen." . The whole encampment was sq dooly in a state of activity. Tl Mongars ran- hither and thither, gt ting together their horses. The chit with CT'Ug by his side, waa standti on the outskirts of the camp. "Seems to me there's a move 02 truest muttered, as they rose to the feet "I wonder If we are in it." A moment or two later Craig a preached them. "Word has been brought to ti chief," ho announced, "that the Ari who escaped from the caravan h fallen ta with an outpost of Brttli soldiers. They haye already start? in pursuit of us. The Mongars w take refuge in tho Jungle* where th have prepared hiding-places, t start at once." "What about uar the professor i quired. JSa?? "I endcAvotecV" Ctal* continued, ^ persuada the chief to allow 5 > ma?n fs?re. when the . would "tfevoKe upon the * l&gtlsVf coan. He and Feerda. however/na Captured by absolutely rofused my request. Feerda has overheard some of your conversa tion, and the chief believes that you will betray us. You will have to come, too." They all rose at once to their feot, and a few moments later horses were brought The little procession was already be ing formed in line. Craig approached them once more, "You will Mount now and ride in the middle of our caravan," he directed. "The chlof does not trust you. If you value your lives, you will do aa you are bidden." _, r CHAPTER XXIV. "You can call this fairyland, if you want," Laura remarked, gazing around her: "I call it a nasty, damp, oozy spot" Quest motioned them to sit a little nearer. "I had a moments talk with Craig this morning, and from what he says I fancy they mean to make a move a little farther in before long. It'll be all the more difficult to escape them." "Yon think we could get away?" Lenora whispered, eagerly. Quest glanced cautiously around. They were surrounded by thick vege tation, but they were only a very short distance from the camp. "Seems to me," he continued, "we shall have to try lt some day or other and I'm all far. trying it soon.. Even if they caught us, I don't believe they'd dare to kill us, with the Eng lish soldiers so close behind. I am going to get hold of two or three rifles and some ammunition. That's easy, because they leave thom about all the time. And what you girls want to do ia to hide some food a id get a bot tle of water." "What about Craig?" the professor asked. "We axe going to take him along," Quest declared, grimly. "He's had the devil's own luck so far but lt can't last forever. I'll see to that part of the business, if you others get ready, and wait for me to give the signal." The/ dispersed in various directions. It waa not until late in the evening, when the Mongan had withdnwn a little to indulge in their customary orgy of crooning songs, that they were absolutely alane. Quest looked out of the tent in which they had been sit ting and came back again. "Well?" . Laura lifted her skirt and showed an unusual projection underneath. "Leuora and I have pinned up our petticoats/' P*WJ announced. "We've got plenty nt food and a bottle ot wajer." Quest threw open the white Arab cloak which he had been wearing. He had three rifles strapped around him. "Tho professor's got the ammuni tion," he said, "and we've five hones tethered a hundred paces along the track we came. by. Just behind the second tree turning to the left I want you all to go there now at once ?nd take the rifles. There isn't a soul In the camp and yon can carry them wrapped in this cloak. IH join you In ten minutes." "What about Cmlg?" the professor inquired. "I am seeing to him," Quest replied. Lenora hesitated. . "Isn't it rather a risk?" abe whis pered fearfully. Quest's face was suddenly stern. "Craig is going back with us," ho said. "Ill be careful. Lenora. Don't worry." He strolled out of the tent and came < back: again. "The coast's clear," be announced. "Off you gd. . . . One moment" he added, "then are some papen In thu. little box of mine which one ot you might take can ot" Ha bent hastily over the little wallet, I which never left him. Suddenly a lit : tie exclamation broke from hts lips. I "What la ltr Quest never said, a word- From one of the spaces of the wallet he drew out ; a small black box, removed the lid and held out the card. They read lt to gether; Fool?, all of youl Tba cunning of the agaa defeats your puny efforts at ?vary turn.-The Hands. Even tho professor's Ups blanched a Itttie ns' he read. Quest however. ' seemed suddenly furious. He ton the ''cardona the box to pieces, flung them j tho -Mongan. ^ Into a corner of the tent andidrew a revolver from his pocket. / "This time," he exclalmedj/"we dre going to make an end of Tb? Hauds! Out you go now, girls. You can leave mo to finish things up."' One by one they stolotatong the path. Quest came out and watched them dis appear. Then he gripped his revolver firmly in his hand and /tuned towards Craig's tent. Then, (from the thick growth by the side of'the clearing, he saw a dark shape steal out and vanish in the direction of Craigs tent. He came to a standstill, puzzled. Then had been rumors ot Hons all day, but tho professor had been incredulous. Then tho still, heavy air was suddenly rent by a wild scream of horror. Across tho narrow opening the creature bad reappeared, carrying something In its mouth, something which gavo vent all the time to tho most awful yells. Quest fired his revolver on chance and broke into a run. Already the Mon gan, disturbed in their evening amuse ment, wen breaking into the under growth in chase. Quest came to a standstill. It was from Craig's tent that the beast hat, issued! When he reached the meeting place, he found the professor standing at the corner with the rest. "From the commotion," he an nounced, "I believe that, after all, a lion has viaiteisa^he camp. The cries which we have neard were distinctly the cries .of a native." Quest shook his head. "A llon'e been hen all right," he said, "and he has finished our little job for ?B. That was Craig. 1 aw him come out. of Craig's tent" Tb j professor was dubious. "You see that tree that looks like a'dwarfed aloe?" "What about it?" "Craig was lying then ten minut?e ago. Ho sprang up when he hearc the yells from the encampment but I believe he is there now." "Got the hones all right''* Queel inquired. "Everything ls waiting," the profes sor replied. 'Til have one moro try, then,' Quest declared. He made his wa' slowly through tin undergrowth to the spot which th? processor had 1'idlcated. Close to th< trunk of a tree Cnig was standing Feerda was on her knees before him She was speaking in broken English. "Dear master, you shall listen tc your slave. These people are youl enemies. It would bo all over in a fev minutes. You have but to say ' th< word. My father ls eager for lt Nc one would ever know." Craig patted her head. His tom waa filled with the deepest despon deney. "It ls impossible, Feerda," he uald "You do not understand. I cannot tel you everything. Sometimes I almos think that the best thing i could d< would be to rotura with them to th? countries you know nothing of." "That's what you are going to do anyway," Quest declared, suddenly making hie reappeannce. "Uandi np!" He covered.'Jraig with Lia revolver but bis arm waa scarcely extended be fore Feerda sprang at him like a Utth wildcat Hesgripped her with his let arm and beld her away with dim cnlty. "Craig," be continued, "you're com lng with ns. Yon know the way tc Port Said and we want you-you knov why. Untie that sash from your waist Quickly!" Craig obeyed. "Tia it to the tree," Qusst ordered "Leay? room enough." Craig did as he waa told. Then lu turned and held th? loose ends up Quest lowered bis revolver for a mc ment ais he pushed Feerda towarri it Craig, with a wonderful spring, reach od bia sid? and kicked the revolve away. Before Quest could even stooj to recover lt he saw the glitter of th? other's knife pressed against bis titest "Listen," Craig declared. "I've madi np my mind. I won't go back to Amer faa. rve had enough of being hunt? all over the world. This time I thin! TU rid myself of one ot yon, at an: rata." * "Will your The interruption waa so unexpected that Craig los'? his nerve. Through ai opening tn the trees, only a few fee away. Lenora had suddenly appeared ?ne, too, held a revolver, her bam wag as steady aa a rook, 1 ?Drop your IK i\|fe," the ordered Craig. He obeyed wit /lout hesitation. "Now, tie tho f sash around the girl." Ho obeyed n *>ehanlcally. Quest took Craig by tho ? collar and led him to the Bpot win jtv tho others wore walt ing. They J joisted bim on to a horse. Already be'Alnd them they could Bee the flare r fi the torches from tho re turning M angara. "You \ jaow tho way to Port Said." Oi'cst w Alspoied. "Seo that you lead na ther j. There will ho trouble, mind, lt you yion't." Cra'? made no reply. He rode off In front j of the littlu troop, covered all the time by Quest's revolver. Very 800'j they were out of tho jungle and in thc open desert. Quest looked be hind him uneasily. ^'To judgo by the row those fellows reu making," ho remurked. "I should fhlnk that thoy'vo found Feerda al ready." "In that case," tho professor said gravely, "lot mo recommend you to push on as fast as possible. We have had ono cBcapo from tboso fellows, but nothing in the world can savo us now that you havo laid hands upon Feerda. The chief would never forgive that." They galloped steadily on. Tho moon rose higher and higher until it becamo as light as day. Quest fell a little behind the n o fessor's side, although ho never left off watching Craig. "Lec*.t behind you, professor," he .r-iilBpertd. In tho far distance wero a munbee of little black specks, growing every moment larger. Even at that moment they heard tho low, long call of tho Mongars. ? "They are/ gaining on us," Quest muttered. They Tated on for another mlle or more, 'A bullet whistled over their heads. Quest tightened bis reins. "No-good," he sighed. "We'd botter stay anil fight it out, professor. Stick close to me, Lc norn." They drew np and hastily dismount ed. The Mongars closed In around them. A cloud had drifted in front Of the moon, and in tho darkness it was almost Impossible to see their whereabouts. They heard tho chiefs volco. "Shoot Asst that dog of a ?raig! There was a shriek. Suddenly Feerda. breaking loose from the oth ers, raced across the little division. Sbo flung herself from her horse. "Tel! M y fainer that you were* not faithless," sbo pleaded. "They shall not?kill you!" She clung to Craig's neck. The bul lets were beginning to whistle around "i'll'Be Careful, Lenora." them now. - All of ?^sudden she threw np her arma.. Craig, In a fury, turned around and JW??'i^to the darkness. Then suddenly, as though on the bid ding of some unspoken word, thcro was a queer alienee. Everyone wa.: distinctly concious of an allen sound -tho soft th td of many horses'1 feet galloping from tho right; then a sharp, English voice of command. "Hold your fire, men. Close tn to the left there. Steady!" The cloud suddenly rolled away from the moon. A long lino of horse men were immediately visible. The nfflcer in front rode forward. "Drop your arms and surrender," he ordered, sternly. The Mongars, who were outnum bered by twenty to one, obeyed with mt hesitation. Their chief seemed incense iou?, even, of what had hap pened. Ho was on his knees, bending >ver the body of Feerda, halt support id tn Craig's arma. The officer turned o Quest "Are yon the party who le.'t Fort Said for the Monger campt" he asked. Quest nodded. "They took us into tho jungle-Just ?caped. They'd caught us here, hough, and i'm afraid we were about faithed it yon hadn't come along. Wa ure not English-we're American." "Bain*) thing," the officer replied, as te held out his hand. (TO HE CONT??TOi?X). Don't Fail To See Great T\ . _ ^_ lumire 99 Every day