Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The BL By E. PHILL! Author of "Mr (Jarlo." "The enger," "The J Novelised from the motion picture dr Uohreraal Film Manufacturing | photograph* (rom th? - (Copyright, 1*15. 6YN0P8I8. Sanford Quest, master criminologist o the world, linda that in bringing to Justlc? Mucdougal, thu murderer of Lord Ash leigh's daughter, lie has but Just begur a life-and-death struggle with a mysterl ous master crlmlnul. In a lddden hut I? Professor Ashleigh'? garden he lias seer an ape skeleton and a living creature half monkey, half man, destroyed by fire In his rooms have appeared black boxei , containing notes, signed by a pair of arm less hands. Laura, and Lenora, his assist ants, suspect Craig, the professor's serv ant, of a double murder. The black boxet continue to appear In uncanny fashion Craig ls trapped, but escapes to England where Quest. Lenora and the professoi follow him. Loni Ashleigh ls murdered by the Hands. Craig captured, escape* to Port 8ald. Quest and his party follow and beyond into the desert. They arc captured r-/ Ttongars. escape with Orals as their raptivi and turn him over to In ppector French lr? San Francisco. He es *r.-^c* from trench tn a train wreck and If chased by the party ucross the Mexican line. THIRTEENTH INSTALLMENT T0NGUE8 OF FLAME. CHAPTER XXVIII. ? From the Bhndows of the trees on H the farther side of the river, Craig H with strained eyes watched Quest's H struggle. Ho saw. him reach Lenora, I watched him struggle to the bank I with hon waited, until he had lifted I her on to his. norse. Then he turned I slowly around and faced the one coun- H try In the world where freedom was I still possible for him. He looked into H the wall oft darkness, penetrated only H at one spot'hy a little blaze of light. I Slowly, withs his a*ui through ?he I bridle of his horse, he limped towards I it As he drew nearer and discovered Its source, ho hesitated. The light I came through the uncurtained win dows of a saloon, three long, yellow I shafts illuminating the stunted shrubs and sandy places. Craig kept In the shadow between them and drew a little nearer.. From inside he could hear the thumping of a worn plano, the twanging of a guitar, the rattle of glasses, the uproarious shout ing of men, the shrill laughter of women. The tired men and the lame horse stole reluctantly,a little nearer. Craig listened once more wearily, lt was home he longed fat so much and rest. The very thought of tho place sickened him. Everi when he reached the door, he hesitated apd in stead of entering stood back amongst the shadows. If only he could find any other sort of shelter! Inside, the scene was ordinary eftMigh. 'tTie^wgg it liing lisJyaMttfr 1 which were lounging half a dozen typical Mexican cowpunchers.. There was a small space cleared for dancing, at the farther end of which twp per formers were .tusking weird but va-, hement music. Three girls were danc ing with cowboys, not ungracefully considering the state ot the floor and the frequent discords in the music. One of them-the prettiest-stopped abruptly and pushed her partner away from her. "You have drunk too much. Jose!" ehe,exclaimed. "You cannot dance. You tread on toy feet and you lean against me. I do not like IL I willi dance with yon another night when you or,? sober. Oo away, please." Her tevallor 8 way ed for * moment ? on his feet:' Then he looked down upon nWVw?th an evil.glitter tn his eyes, its \rna tall and thin, with a bk?ck mus^fche and yellow, unpleas - ant looking teeth. I "So you wigr?jot dance any longer with Jose?" he Ottered. "Very well, yoe shall drink with him, then. We will sit tc?e^er sMb^"r^.those little tables. Listen, y?tajfca?l 'drink wine." "I do not want wBgFhab: Win? with you. All that 1 to be left alone.", tho girl Insisted, ?urtlyr. "Go and play cards. If yo? ww? to. There is Pietro over there, and Diego, per . haps you may win Borne money. They -Ay that drunkards have all the luck." Jose leered at her. "Presently I will play csjtfeAhe ?ald.r "Presently I Will win all their money and I will buy Jewelry for you, Marta-atones that look like diamonds sind will sparkle in your neck ard ta your hair." She turned disdainfully away. "I 'do not want your Jewelry, Jose," ?he declared. He c*ugb<: her suddenly by tho wrist 'Perhaps this fe what you want," he cried, as he stooped down to kiss her. She swung her riaat hand round aud struck him on the face. He stag gered back tor a moment. There waa a red flush which showed through Oie tan of hts cheek. Then fee drew a l?t tie nearer to her, ead, before she euc ld escaper had passed his long arm around her hedy. Ho drew he? to tho chair placed by the side of the va?. His len hand played with the knife ot his belt. "Marta, little sweetheart." he said, moekinjily, "you must pay for that blow. Don't be afraid,* he ^ as he drew the knife across his leath er torahes, "A little scratch across year cbeak. ?ol It I?.te? the brand ot your toaster, a tove token from Jose. Steady, now, little Maverick r The girl struggled violently, hut Joee wstft strong; such brawls were .CK BOX S OPPENHEIM . Gr ex of Mont* Vanished Mess? ighted Way," etc Luna of the same name produced hy ihm Company. Illustrated with kotioo picture production 1 Z3? by Otis F. Wood.) common and those of the company who noticed at all, merely laughed at the girl's futile struggles. Jose's .arm was already raised with the knife in his hand, when a sudden blow brought a yell of pain to his lips. The knife fell clattering to. the floor. He errang up, his eyes red with fury. A man had entered the door from behind and was standing within a few feet of him, a man with long, pale face, dark eyes, travel-Btained. and with the air of a fugitive. A flood of Incoherent abuso streamed from Jose's lips. He stooped for the knife. Marta threw herself upon him. The two cowboys who had been dancing suddenly inter vened. The girl screamed. f was Jose's fault!" she cried "Jose was mad. He would have killed me!" Craig faced them all with sudden courage. "As I came in," he explained, "that man bad bis knife rained to stab tho girl. You don't allow that sort of tblr.r, do you, herc?" The two cowboyB linked their arms through Jose's and lcd him off toward the door. "The stranger's right. Jose." one of them insisted. You can't carve a girl up in company." The girl clutched at Craig's arm "Sit down here, please," she begged. 'Wait." She disappeared for a moment and came back with a glass full of wine which she set down on the table. "Drink this," she Invited. "And thank you for saving me." Craig emptied the glass eagerly "I j'ist happened to be the first to see bim, ' he said. "They aren't quite wild enough to allow that here, are they?" "Quien sabe? The girls do not Uko me! The men do not care," abe de clared. "Jose took me by surprise, though, or ( woulu have killed him But who are you, and where did yon come from?" "I have just crossed tba border,'be replied. She nodded understandingly. "Were they after you?" "Yes! with a warrant for my ar rest!" She patted his hand. "Yon are safe now," she whispered. "We care that much for. a Ucl ted States warrant," and she snapped her slim Angers. "You shall stay with us for a time. We will take care of you." He sighed wearily. m '? nain a. . ?ei-jue-ium Back in the camp, a apirit of devilry had entered into Lons Jim and bis mates. A tactless remark on the part cf ono ot the deputies had set alight the smoldering fire of resentment which the cowboys had all the time felt against them. At a word from Long Jim they were taken hy surprise and tied to tho wagon The deputies spluttered with rage and fear. Shot rained about them and the canvas of the wagon was riddled. Suddenly they nil paused to listen. The sound of a horse's alow footfall was hekrd close at hand. Presently Quest appeared out of the rt Adowa, carrying Lenora In hie arms. Laura i rushed forward. "Lenora!" ehe cried. "Ia she hurt?" Quest laid her tenderly upon the ground. "We had a spill at the bridge," he explained.- quickly. "I dont know whether' Craig- loosened the supports. He got overall right, but It went down under Lenora, wan waa following, and 1 had to ge; her out of the river, Where's tho professor?" The professor .came ambling from the tent where he had been lying. He stooped at once over Lenora's still un conscious torin. 'Dear me!" ho exclaimed. "Dear met Come, eenie 1"'^ He passed his hand over her side and made a brief examination. ? fFour ribs broken," he pronounced. ' "It will be a week, at any rate, before we are ab.Ie to move her. Nothing nMtjs'# ailous, so far as 1 caa sen. Mr. QueaW but she'll need rast and til the comfort we can give her."' . \"Say, that'e too badi" l^ong Jin de elated, "ii you've got tb atay around for b, time, though, you can hare the tenta>y we boyh nan double up ar> ^^^Por'tJlji* on the ground. .Tht-Vs right, 'sirvt it?" be added, turning around toMhe cowboys There was a little ?runt of aotaies? cence. They carried Lenora.' to* the ctiia and made hrr as comforter^ CHAPTER XXIX. The girl drew * low stool over te j Craig's aide. He was. sittings in s rough chair tilt* ?J heck : ajakat the adobe wall of the Malo :;. "As tired aa ev-M-r*t?he aa??O/ lay ing her hand upon hi* for a taorccut. He turned his head and.loe^sd .at her. "?'ways tired." he aaswe&d.-Bet ?essiy. She mado r;little grinsii. "Sut you are co atraaj&tt ???9 tested. "Over the hin? there ..fte tb/: axe*?? ears. They would tah? : some of ocr beautiful cities, where aH ts light and gayety. You are safe | here, whatever your troubles may have been. You say that you have money, and If you are lonely," she added dropping her voice, "you need not gc | a'one." He patted her hand affectionately, but there was something a little forced I about the action. Child." he said, "it ls so hard toi make you understand. I might lose mys: : 'or a few minutes, it is true, j over ; jnder. Perhaps, even," he add 'you might help me to forget. And en there would be the awakening. That If? always the Hame. Sometimes I night I sleep, and when I sleep 1 rest, and when my eyes are opened in morning thc weight cornea back d sita upon my heart, and the strength seems to pass from my mbs and the will from my brain." Her eyes were soft and her voice I hook a little as she leaned towards Something in his helplessness had kindled the protective spirit in | her. t "Has life been so terrible fur you?" she whispered. "Have you left be hind-but no! you never could have been really wicked. You are not very old, are you? Why do you not stand up and be a man? If you have done rong, then very likely people have done wrong things to you. Why should | you brood over these memories ^ hy- What are you looking at? Who| are these people?" Tho professor, with Quest and Long | Jim, suddenly appeared round the cor ner of the building. They walked I towards Craig. He shrank back in his | place. "If these are your enemies." the girl cried, fiercely, "remember that they cannot touch you here. I'll have the bovs out In a minute, if they dare to try it." Craig struggled to his feet. Ho made no answer. His eyes were fixed upon tho professor's. The girl passed her arm through his and dragged bim Into the saloon. They passed Jose in the doorway. He scoffed at them. "Say, the boss will fire you. Marta, I if you waste all your time with that| Yankee," he muttered. Marta drew the red rose from the bosom of her dress and placed it In Craig's buttonhole. Then she led him without a word to a seat. "If these men try any tricks in| here,-' she said, "there'll be trouble." Almost at that moment they alli three entered. Long Jim nodded to Craig in friendly fashion. "It's all right, cookie," he told them. 'Don't you look so scared. Thia isl just a blt of parleyvous business,! that's all." The professor held out a piece of | paper. He banded it over to Craig. "Craig," he announced, "this ls a dispatch which I found in Aligues with my letters. It is addressed to you, put under the circumstances you will scarcely wonder that I opened it You* bad better rea'd'TE.*" " : \ Craig accepted the cable form and| read lt through slowly to himself: To John Craig, Care Prof Lord Ash-| Isl+li? Yan! irai rlrnr Y"i" Your sister died today. Her daugh ter Mary sails on Tuesday to Join you| |ln Nsw York. Please meet her. COMPTON, Solicitor, London. Craig sa* for a moment as though I I stunned. The girl leaned over towards! I him. "Are they trying to take you on el I warrant?** she whispered. "Remember,! ww ? ? ?I Have ?tinned and I Must Payl** you don't n?ed to go unless you want K Craig shook hie head. \*"Tb?B is something quite different" ? ha explained. "Leave ma for a mo ?toitnL Marta. I must talk to these ^fihe slipped regretfully away from hi?, aide and, oat mto the darkness. He sat with hid eyes fixed upon the cablegram. '/Len he turned towards "Fate seems to bo too strong for rae," big admitted. "Leave roe akoa an? L ?hmlsa yea that m go at once 'fi 't*ew York, settle Mary's- fu ture end then make a fail disclosure," ^ .iTira touched bim on the shoulder. MV member." ?IO tola him. -you ain't no cali to leave here anirss y<vu wfjtt-to, Those) deputies dos.*** f? "Four Rib* Broken," Pronounced th? for a side of tho border. You're aafe aa lons as you like to ptay." Craig nodded gratefully. "All the same," he said. I fear that I must go." The professor coughed. "I am sure, Craig," ho declared, "that you have decided wisely." Craig looked gloomily away. '.There is nothing else for me to I do.*' he Haid. ' The child must be met and looked after. Besides, I am sick of it all. You may as weil know the truth." "Why not now?" Quest suggested, softly. "In New York," Craig replied, "and not before." Quest and the professor exchanged meaning glances. "Very well," the former decided, turning away; 'in a week from today, Craig, I shall expect you to report at the professor's house." They left the room together. Long Jim lingered by Craig's side "Those guys nave been Bearing you some, I guess,'* he remarked. "For get 'em, cookie. They can't touch you here. Of course, if you go to New York it's your own show. ' "I know that," Craig replied, gloom ily. One of the girls passed her ann through Long Jim's. "Just one dance," she whispered. f?e .heBitatpd^looklng out of the window. Then he shrugged his shoul ders. .r. "I'm tired co* those* guys." ho re marked to Craig, with a grin. "Guess 111 stay here for a blt" ' 1 'flKhytatas left? alone for a few min utes. 8w[enly Marta glided In and sat by htlfflde. ( Her eyes were flash lng with* Ker. ''? "You \ ?pw what they said, those two, as t ??y passed out?" Bhe whis pered. : t irs?lyJ . T beard thom. They an -going to board tho 8:30 train ton ff row morning. The dark man tun ? I and said to the other: 'If be is t ii on that, weil walt till we find him. r Once wo get him in New York, he' *?ur man."' A little 4 xclamation of an.^er broke from Cra | s lips. The girl caught at his arm. "Don't ," she begged. "Don't go. There ar plenty of places near here where yo i can hide, where we could go togetb r and live quite simply. I'd work for jj ou. Take me away from this, som j here over the hills., Don't go to Nei j fork. They are cruel, thoso men. Tl r are hunting you-I can eeo lt inj sir faces." Craigs I ok his head sadly. "Littler j ri," he said. "I should like to go wit |you along that valley and over thc nils and forget that I had ever '?ivo in any other world. But I can't" d |lt. There's a child there now, on he ocean, nearer to New York even ?day, my sister's own child and no m l to meet her. And-there aro the t er things. I have sinned and I mu I pay. . . . My God!" The roi i suddenly rang with Mar ta's sbrh Through the open win dow hy i ich they were sitting, an arm wrap d in a serape had suddenly hovered c ir them. Craig, in starting back, had tist escaped Gie downward blow of 1 i knife, which had burled Itself in I uta's arm. She fell back, screamlnj "It's Jo !" she cried. "The brute! The Craig Long Jli sun. At saloon wi reeling der, a staggered! "Jose, cut, and There shot and feU with Jim th: belt and "Say, cr^kier They hi was un; oaly ansi rrnget Long Jim there tor make tba Lenora.* mg to hie feet, furious, pursing fiercely, drew his moment the door of the thrown open. Jose came is serape over his shoul en grin on his face. He wards them. beast!" the girl called 1 back, fainting. the sound of a revolver ne reeled backwards and ry aer?se the sanded floor, ls smoking gun into this ght Craig by the arm. d better get out of this, muttered. ed out. Apparently Jose lar, for everyone seemed to have them clear away, on into the camp quietly," ?uttered. "Youil be safer ie night. Then you can i 30 tn the morning" . .> .'.. kith her bed dragged to of the tent, greeted the a i Professor. "She Cannot Be Moved Week." little party, on their return, eagerly Quest at once came and sat by bei sido. "Where's Laura,*' he asked, "and thc inspector?" She smiled and pointed to the ris lng ground behind them. In the faint moonlight two forms were Just V?B? ble. ' Quest smiled. "French lias got it bad," ho de dared, "almost as badly as I have Lenora." She laughed at him. Her face war a little drawn with pain, but her eyet were very soft. "I wonder If you have lt vory bad ly," she murmured. He held her hand for a moment. "I think you know," he said. "As they talked they heard the coyotes barking In tho Jlstance. Pres ently Laura and tho inspector ra turned. "Nice sort of a nurso I am," thc former imimblcd. "It's all the faull of this man. Ile would keep me out there talking rubbish." They Bat round the opening before Lenora's tent till the moon was high In the heavens. Quest, who had been on thc outside of the circle for some llttlt time, suddenly rose to his feet and crossed over to the cook wagon. Long Jim, who was sitting on the steps, glanced up a little surlily. "Who's inside there?" Quest asked Long Jim removed his pipe from his teeth. "That don't sound none too civil n question for a guest," he remarked, "but if you want to know, our new Chinese cookie is there." Qin-st nodded. "Sorry if I seemed abrupt." he apologlrod. "You've been very good to IIB and I'm sure we are uncommon ly obliged to you, Jim. The only rea son I asked the question was that I saw a face in the door there and lt gave me a start. For a moment 1 thought it was Craig back again." "He's gone to New York, or going tomorrow morning," Jim replied. "1 don't think he's so powerful fend ol your company that he'd come round here looking for it." Quest strolled off again and glanced at his watch as he rejoined the little group. "Well." he said. "I think weil turn in. Seven o'clock tomorrow morning, inspector. Jim's sending one of the boys with us and we shall catch the Eastern Limited at the junction." "This open-air life makes me sleepy," be confessed. "To bed, all of us," Quost concluded, turning away. CHAPTER XXX. Quest awoke the next morning, stretched out bin hand end glanced at the watch by the side cf tho bcd. It was barely six o'clock. He turned over and dozed again, looked again at half past six, and finally, at a few minutes to seven, rose and made a hasty toilet. Then, in the act of placing bis watch in his waistcoat pocket, he gave a sudden start. By its side, half cov ered by the handkerchief which he had thrown upon the little table, stood a small black box! For a moment he waa motionless. Then he stretched out his hand, removed the lld and drew out the usual neatly folded piece of naper: Even time fights you. It loaea that you may lose.-'The Hands. Quest for a moment waa puzzled. Then he hurried into the next tent, where the professor waa sleeping peacefully. "Say, professor, what's the time by your watch?" Quest asked, shaking him gently. The professor sat up and drew his chronometer from under bis pillow. . "Seven o'clock." he replied; "five minutes past, maybe." Quent nodded. if "That seems all right," he declared. "Iii explain later, professor." Ho hurried out Into French's tent and found the Inspector Just drawing on his shoes. "French, what's the time?" he de-1 mandod. "Three minut?e peat seven, or thereabouts," French replied, yawn ing. "I'm coming right along. .We're got k>ta of time. Three-quarters of | Hf^fB^rB*s*B^*BHgi^*nf]^*^s*^rnsW?^^ an hour ought to do tt, the bo>B s*y.* They walked outside to the camp where tho cowboys were finishing their breakfast. "Say, boss," ^ae of them called out, "you're not baking that 8:30 train tt New York?" "Why not?" Quest asked, quickly. "It's only three-quarters of an hour's ride, ls it?" "Maybe not," the other replied, "but as lt's eight now, your chances aln'1 looking lively. Kind of overslept, haven't you?" Hoth men glanced once more at their watches. Then Quent thrust hit back with a little oath. "Our watches have been set back!" ho exclaimed. "Tho Hands again!" For a moment they looked at one another, dumfoundod. Then QUOBI moved towards the corral. "8ay, ls there any quicker way tc the depot?" he Inquired ot the cow bey e. They beard his question lndiffer ently. "Fifty dollars," Quest continued, "tt anyone who can take me by a qulckei route." One of them rose slowly to his feet "Waal," he observed, "fifty dol?an would come in kind of banay. Yes I reckon I can cut off a mile or two foi you." I "Fifty dallans tor you, then," Q??o .replied, as they hurried towards th? horses, "and an extra ten if wo mak the train. They galloped off Into thc distance The cowboys finished their brcakfas and went off to their work. Lauri stole out from her tent and started ol in rather a shamefaced manner for i walk. Presently Lenora opened he eyes. ?*>??, too, stretched out he hand foi ! tri watch. Suddenly sb sat up in bad .th a little exclamation On the table by her side was a smal black box. She took off the lld wit! trembling fingers, drew out a sera] of paper and read. Fools! Tongues of flame will eros Quest's path. He will never reach th depot alive. Lenora glanced at Laura's empt: bed. Then sho staggered to the opec lng of the tent. "Laura!" sho cried. There was no one there. The cow boys bad all gone to their work, Lauri had passed out of Bight across th ridge In the distance. Lenora stag gored to tho cook wagon, where th Chinese cook was sitting cleanini plates. "LlBten!" she cried. "They are li danger, the three men who have gon off to the depot! If you'll ride afto them. I will give you a hundred dol lars. Give them this," she added holding out the scrap of paper. The Chinaman shook his head. H< glanced at the slip of paper lndlffei ently and went on with his work. . No can ride, mlssee," he said. Lenora looked around helplessly The camp was empty. She stagger? across towards her own horse. "Come and help me." she ordered. The Chinaman came unwilling!] They found her saddle, but he erl; gazed at it in a stolid sort of fashioc "No can fix," he said. "Missen n can ride. Better go baok bed." Lenora pushed him on one side With a great effort she managed t reach her place in the saddle. Thei she turned and, with her face to th depot, galloped away. The pain wa ; excruciating. She could only kee] "In a Week From Todcy I Snail E> peet You to Report at the Protei ser's House." herself In the ssddle with an effort Yet all the time that one sentence wa ringing in her bead-"Tongues o flame!" She kept looking around am iously. Suddenly the road droppe from a little decline. She waa coi reloua of a wave of heat. In the dh tance she could see the smoke rolllnj across the op:-n. She touched he horse with the quirt The spot whicl she must pass to keep on the track t tho depot was scarcely a hundre yards ahead, but already the fir seemed to be running like qulcksllve across the ground, licking up the dr grease wood with indeed a flamini tongue. She glanced onco behind warned by the heat The fire wa closing In upon her. A puff of amok suddenly enveloped her. She coughed Ber head began to swim and a fit o giddiness assailed her. She rocke in her saddle and the pony came to i sudden standstill, faced by the mass o rolling smoke sud flamer "Sanford!" Lenora cried. "Sav me!" Tho nc ny reared. She slipped fron the saddle and fell across the track. (TO BE CONTINUED.) ^ i , . finn ii" Don't Fail To See I The Great Serial Picture "Black Today tm Thur? day At Theatre tm