Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

'<5fy? ? This interesting instalment of the Black Box will be shown in motion pictures at the Casino Theatre Thursday night. THIRD INSTALLMENT SYNOPSIS. In her apartment at tlio Leland Kiln, daughter of lvord Ashleigh, is murdered and the Ashleigh diamond necklace stolen. The New York police place the case j In the hands of Sanford Quest, known and feared as tlie master criminologist of the world. Ho takes I.enora, Kiln's maid, | to his own apartments and through hynotism and the use of electro-telepathic ap- j pli&nces discovers her connection with the crime, recovers the diamonds and arrests the murderer, Maedougal, Lenora's hus- i band, though nearly trapped to his death In a touph tenement house while engaged in the work, l.enora becomes one of OllPVjtVo 51 cc:icf n nl c Tbn Id onlln.1 in to investigate the theft of the skeleton of an ape, of Lord Ashleigh. Macdougal escapes white on his way to prison. A String of diamonds is mysteriously stolen from Mrs. Rheinholdt during a reception. v THE POCKET WIRELESS. , . i CHAPTER VIM. ~ Mr. Sanford Quest sat In his favorite chair, his cigar inclined toward the left-hand corner of his mouth, his at- j tention riveted upon a small instru- i ment which he was supporting upon ^hia knee. He glanced across the room .to where Lenora was bending over her desk. i^We've done it this time, young ^oman,4' he declared triumphantly, t -It's all O. K., working like a little peach." f Lenora rose and came toward him. i "Is that the pocket wireless?" He nodded. "I've had Morrison out at Harlem all the morning to test it," he told I her. "I've sent him at least half a dozen messages from this easy chair, and got the replies. How are you getting on with the code?" "Not so badly for a stupid person," j Lenora replied. I^aura, who had been busy with some papers at the farther end of the room, came over and joined them. I "Say, it's a dandy little affair, that, Mr. Quest," she exclaimed. "I had a try with it, a day or so ago. Jim spoke to me from Fifth avenue." "We've got it tuned to a shade now," Quest' declared. "Equipped with this simple little device, you can speak to me from anywhere up to ten or a dozen miles." Quest rose to his feet and moved restlessly about the room. "Say. girls." he confessed, "this is the first time in my life I have been in a fix like this. Two cases on hand and nothing doing with either of them. Criminologist, indeed! Whose -box is this?" Quest had paused suddenly in front of ail oak sideboard which stood against the wall. Occupying a position upon it of some prominence was a small black box. vhose presence there seemed to him unfamiliar. Laura came over to his side and looked at it also in puzzled fashion. "Never saw it before in my life," ahe answered. Quest grunted. "H'm! No one else has been in the room, and it hasn't been empty for more than ten minutes," he remarked. "Well, let's see what's inside, anyway." He lifted off the lid. There was nothing in the interior but a sheet of paper folded up. Quest smoothed It out with his hand. They all leaned over and read the following words, written in an obviously disguised, hand: You hnvo embarked on a new studyanthropology. What characteristic strikes you most forcibly in connection with It? Cunning? The necklace might he whero the skeleton Is. Why not begin at the beginning? The note was unsigned, but in the spot where a signature might have been there was a rough pen drawing of two hands, with fingers extended, talon fashion, menacingly, as though poised to strike at some unseen enemy. Quest, after their first moment of stupefaction, whistled softly. "The hands!" he muttered. "What hands?" Lenora asked. 'The hands that grinned Mrs. Rhein holdt by the throat," he reminded them. "Don't you remember? Hands without arms?" There was another brief, almost stupefied silence. Then Laura broke into speech. "What I want to know is," she demoded, "who brought the thing here?" "A most daring exploit, anyway," Quest declared. "If we could answer four question, Laura, we could solve the whole riddle. We are up against something, and no mistake." "The hand which placed that box there," Quest continued slowly, "is capable of even more wonderful things. We must be cautious. Hello!" The door had opened. The professor stood upon the threshold. B JACK. BOX ' <5Si SS Hps Oppcnheim u J J jpm'1%o&f "I trust that I have done right in coming up?" he inquired. "Quite right, professor," Quest assured him. "They know well enough Jownstairs that I am always at home to you. Come in." "I am so anxious to learn," the professor continued eagerly, "whether there is any news?of my skeleton." "Not yet, professor, I am sorry to say," Quest replied. "Come in and shut the door." "There is a young lady here," ho said, "who caught me up upon the landing. She, too, I believe, wishes to see you." He threw open the door and stood on one side. A young woman came a little hesitatingly into the room. Her hair was plainly brushed back, and she wore the severe dress of the Sal- 1 vation Army. "Want to see me, young lady?" ! Quest asked. She held out a book. "My name is Miss Quigg," she said. ! "I want to ask you for a subscription to our funds," Quest frowned a little. "Very well, Miss Quigg, you shall have a donation. I am busy today, but call at the same hour tomorrow and rnv secretary shall have a check ready for you." The girl smiled her gratitude. The professor laid his hand upon her arm as she passed. "Young lady," he observed, "you seem very much in earnest about your work." "It Is only the people in earnest, sir," she answered, "who can do any good in the world. My work is worth being in earnest about." "You compel my admiration. My most respectful admiration. May I, too, be permitted?" He drew out a pocketbock and j passed over toward her a little wad of notes. "it is so Kind or you," she murmured "We never have any hesita- j tion in accepting money. May I know 1 your name?" "It is not necessary," the professor , answered. "You can enter me," he added, as he held open the door for her, "as a friend?or would you prefer a pseudonym?" "A pseudonym, if you please," she begged. "We have so many who send lis sums of money as friends. Anything will <U>." The professor glanced around the room. "What pseudonym shall I adopt?" he ruminated. "Shall I say that an oak-1 sideboard gives you five hundred dollars Or a Chippendale sofa? Or," he added, his eyes resting for a moment upon the little box, "a black box?" The two girls from the other side of the table started. Even Quest swung suddenly around. The professor, as though pleased with his fancy, nodded as his fingers played with the lid. "Yes, that will do very nicely," he decided. "Put me down?'Black Box,' five hundred dollars." The girl took out her book and be- j gan to write. The professor, with a little farewell bow, crossed the room toward Quest. Lenora moved toward the door. "Let me see you out," she said to the girl pleasantly. I Lenora opened the door. Loth girls I started. Only a few feet away Craig was standing, his head a little thrust forward. For a moment the quiet selfrespect of his manner seemed to have deserted him. Mo seemed at a loss for words. "What do you want?" Lenora demanded. "I was waiting for my master," Craig explained, j "Why not downstairs?" Lenora asked suspiciously. "You did not come up with him." "I am driving the professor in his automobile," Craig explained. "It occurred to me that if he were going to be long here I should have time to go and order another tire. It is of no consequence, though. I will go down and wait in the car." Lenora stood at the top of the stairs and watched him disappear. Then she went thoughtfully back to her wofk The professor and Quest were talking at the farther end of the room. "I was in hopes, in great hopes," the professor admitted, "that you might have heard something. I promised to c?U at Mrs. Rheinholdt's this afternoon." Quest shook his head. "There is nothing to report at present, Mr. Ashleigh," he announced "Dear me," the professor murmured, "this is very disappointing. Is there no clue, Ms. Quest?no clue at all?" "Not & ghost of one," Quest acknowledged. "I am as far off solving the mystery of the disappearance of your skeleton and Mrs. Rheinholdt's necklace as 1 have ever been." The professor took a courteous leave of them all and departed. Lenora crossed the room to where Quest was seated. % THE HORRY BBS "Mr. Quest/' she asked, "do you be* lieve in inspiration?" "1 attribute a large amount of my success/' Quest replied, "to my profound belief in it." "Then let me tell you," Lenora continued. "tjiat I have one, and a very strong one. Do you know that when I went to the door a few minutes ago "Hello, French!" he exclaimed. "Anything fresh?" "Nothing much," was the answer. "One of my men, though, who has been up Mayton avenue way, brought in something I found rather interesting this morning. 1 want you to,come round and see it." "Go right ahead and tell me about it," Quest invited. "You know we've been shadowing Craig," the inspector continued. "Not much luck up till now. Fellow seems never to leave his master's side. We have had a couple of men up there, though, and one of them brought in a curious-looking object he picked up just outside the back of the professor's grounds." "What is the thing?1' Quest asked. "Well, I want you to see whether ; you agree with me," French went on. "If you can't come round, I'll come to you." "No , necessity," Quest replied. | "We've got over little diillculties of that sort. Laura, just, tack on the phototelesme," he added, holding the receiver away for a moment. "One moment, French. There that's right," lie added, as Laura, with deft fingers arranged what seemed to be a sensitized mirror to the instrument. "Now. FronHi linlrl nn tlir. - , _ _ v.? ??V?\4 V* VllVy article just in front of the receiver. There, that's right. Hold it steudy. I'vq got the focus of it now. Say, French, where did you say that was found?" "Just outside the professor's back gate," French grunted. 'But you're not kidding me?" "It's a finger from the professor's skeleton you've got there." Quest interrupted. Quest hung up the receiver. Then he turned toward his two assistants. "Another finger from the professor's skeleton." he announced, "has been found just outside his grounds. A \ + A ~ - ? *?nu.L uu juu suppose mat means7" "Craig," Lenora declared confidently. "Craig on your life," Laura echoed. "Say, Mr. Quest. I've got an idea." Quest nodded. "Go right ahead with it." "Didn't the butler at Mrs. Rheinholdt's say that Craig belonged to a servant's club up town? I know the place well. Let me go and see if 1 can't join and pick up a little information about the man. He must have a night out sometimes. Let's find out what he does? How's that?" "Capital!" Quest agreed. "Get along, Laura. And you, Lenora," he added, "put on your hat. We'll take a ride towards May ton avenue." I CHAPTER IX. The exact spot where the bones of the missing skeleton was discovered, was easily located. It was about twenty yards from a gate which led Into the back part of the professor's grounds. Quest wasted very little time before arriving at a decision. "The discovery of the bones so near the professor's home," he decided, "cannot be coincidence only. We will waste nn timA nut Viai-a T or?r>?-o ??^ n ^ ^ t * ' v. i l*. We will search the grounds. Come A__ ?? on. It was hard to know which way to turn. Every path was choked with tangled weeds and bushes. They wan' n^KllH ? Mi?TTTf'*^?' -*c^.." -;-v . 'ga^^r-ana?* ;' . In Front of Them Crouched an Unrecognizable Creature. dered about almost aimlessly for nearly half an hour. Then Quest came to a sudden standstill. Lenora gripped his arm. They had both heard the same sound?a queer, crooning cry, half plaintive, half angry. "What's that?" he exclaimed. Lenora still clung to his arm. *T hate this place." she whispered. "It terrifies me. What are we looking for, Mr. Quest?" "Can't say that I know cxa'*4*'-" 4,?? latter answered, "but I guess *ull f;r.d cut where that cry came from Eour.dc* to me uncommonly l.l.c a l>u< man effort." They had made their way up as 1 ALD, CONWAY, S. O. j the professor's servant, Craig, wac I there, listening?" "Inspector French has had his men I watching Craig ever since the night of the robbery," qyietly remarked Quest. "What's that? Answer the telephone, Lenora." ? Lenora obeyed. "It's Inspector French," she announced. "He wants to speak to you." Quest nodded and held out his hand for the receiver. "The Hut, Professorl far as the hedge, which they skirted for a few yards until they found an ! opening. Then Quest L'ave vent to a little exclamation. Immediately in front of them was a small hut, built apparently of sticks and bamboos, with a stronger framework behind. The sloping roof was grass-grown and entwined with rushes. The only apology for a window was a queer little, hole set quite close to the roof. There was a rude-looking door, but Quest, on trying it, found it locked.! | They walked around the place, but found no other opening. All the time from inside they could hear queer southing sounds. Lenora's cheeks grew paler. "Must we stay?" she murmured. "I don't think I want to see what's inside. Mr. Quest! Mr. Quest!" She clung to his arm. They were opposite the little aperture which served as a window ond Mm* merit it suddenly framed the face of a creature, human in features, diabolical in expression. "'Say, that's some face!" he remarked. "I'd hate to spoil it." Even as he spoke it disappeared. "We've got to get inside there, Lenora," he announced, stepping forward. She followed him silently. A few turns of the wrist and the door yielded. Keeping Lenora a little behind him, Quest gazed around eagerly. Exactly in front of him, clad only in a loin cloth, with hunched-up shoulders, a necklace around its neck, with blazing eyes and ugly, gleaming teeth, crouched some unrecognizable creature, human, yet inhuman, a monkey, and yet a man. There were a couple of monkeys swinging by their tails from a bar, and a leopard chained to a staple in the ground, walking round and round in the far corner, snapping and snarling every time he glanced towards the newcomers. The creature in front of him stretched out a hairy hand towards a club, and gripped it. Quest drew a long breath. His eyes were set hard. "Drop that club," he ordered. The creature suddenly sprang up. The club was waved around his head. "Drop It," Quest repeated firmly. "You will sit down in*your corner. You will sleep." The club slipped from the hairy fingers. The tense frame, which had been already crouched for the spring, was suddenly relaxed. The knees trembled. "Hack to that corner," Quest ordered, pointing. Slowly and dejectedly, the ape-man crept to where he had been ordered and sat there with dull, non-comprehending stare. It was a new force, this, a'note of which he had felt?the superman raising the voice of authority. Quest touched his forehead and found it damp. The strain of those few seconds had been intolerable. "I don't think these other animals will hurt," he said. "Let's have a look around the place." The search took only a few moments. The monkeys ran and jumped around them, gibbering as though with ; pleasure. i ne leoparu watcned tnem i always with a snarl and an evil light ; in his eye. They found nothing unusual until ! they came to the distant corner, where a huge piano box lay on its side with the opening turned to the wall. "This is where the brute sleeps, J suppose," Quest remarked. "We'll turn It around, anyway." ^ They dragged it a few feet away from the wall, so that the opening faced them. Then I.enora gave a little cry and Quest stood suddenly stilt "The skeleton!" Lenora shrieked "It's tho skeleton!" It was a skeleton so old that the < (tq had turned a dull gray. Quesl Ci>nced towards the hands. T.ittle Angers both missing," be . muttered. "Remember the message?" she ex | claimed. Where the skeleton is, the i i necklace may be also.' Quest nodded shortly. "We'll search." They turned over everything in the pl^ce fruitlessly. There was no sign of the necklace. "You get outside, Lenora," Quest directed. "I'll Just bring this beast round again and then we'll tackle the professor." Quest turned towards the creature, which crouched still huddled up in its corner. The Hut Is on Fire I" "Look at mo," he ordered. i ne creature obeyed. Unce more its \ame seemed to grow more virile and aatural. i ii "You need sleep no longer," Quest said "Wake up and be yourself." The effect of these words was instantaneous. Almost as he spoke, the ' creature crouched for a spring. There was wild hatred in its close-set eyes, i the snarl of something fiendlike in its 1 contorted mouth. Quest slipped quickly thropgh the door. "Anyone may have that for a pet!" 1 he remarked grimly. "Come, Lenora 1 there's a word or two to be said to the professor. There's something here will need a little explanation." He lit a cigar as they struggled back ' along the path. Presently they reached ! the untidy-looking avenue, and a few j minuted later arrived at the house. ' Quest searched in vain for a bell. They walked round the piazza. There were no signs of any human life. They came back to the front door. Quest tried the handle and found it open. | They passed into the hall. "Hospitable sort of place, anyway," j he remarked. "We'll go in and wait, Lenora." They found their way to the study, which seemed to be the only habitable ! room. Lenora glanced around at its I I strange contents with an expression al' most of awe. A small motor car passed the win! dow, driven by Craig. The professor descended. A moment*or two later he entered the room. He gazed from Quest to Lenora at first in blank surprise. Then he held out his hands. "You have good news for me, my friends!" he exclaimed. "I am sure of it. How unfortunate that 1 was not at home to receive you! Tell me?don't keep mo in luspense, if you please? you have discovered my skeleton?" "We have found the skeleton," Quest announced. For a single moment the newcomer stood as though turned to stone. "My skeleton!" he murmured. "Mr. 1 Quest, I knew it. You are the great' est man alive Now tell mo quickly? I want to know everything, but this lirst of all. Where did you find the 1 skeleton? Who was the thief?" 1 "We found the skeleton, professor," Quest replied, "within a hundred yards of this house." ^ The professor's mouth was wide open. He looked like a bewildered child. It was several seconds before ? he spoke. * "Within a hundred yards of this house? Then it wasn't stolen by one of my rivals?" "I should say not," Quest admitted. * "Where? exactly did you find it?" ' i the professor insisted. "I found it in a hut," Quest said, > "hidden in a piano box. I found there, also, a creature?a human being, I must call him?in a state of cap> tivitv." I """ ?' 1f "TRddcn tn n \ tana box?" the prol^vsor repeated wonderingly. "Why, you mean in Hartoo s sleeping box, l then?' If Mr. Hartoo is the gentleman who tried to club me, you are right," Quest admitted. "Mr. Ashleigh, before we go any further I must ask you for an explar.aticn as to the presence of that person in your grounds?" The professor hesitated for a moment. Then he slowly crossed the 1 room, opened the drawer of a small escritoire, and drew out a letter. "You hpve heard of Sir William Raysmore, the president of the Royal society?" he asked. Quest nodded. "This letter is from him," the professor continued. "You had better read it." The criminologist read it aloud. Lenora looked over his shoulder: To Prof. ICdgar Ashleigh, Nev Yor^ My Dear Professor: Your communication gratifies and amazes me. I can say no more. It fell to your lot to discover the skeleton of the anthropoid, a marvelous thing, In its way, and needing only its corollary to form the greatest discovery since tiie dark ages. Now you tell me that In the person of Hartoo, the Inst of the Inyamo race of South America, you have f< und that corollary. You have supplied the missing link. You are in a position to give to the world a definite and logical explanation of the evolution of \ man. T.et me give you one word of warning, professor, before 1 write you at greater length on the matter. Anthropologists are afflicted more, even, than any other race of sHentiM men, with Jealousy. Guard your secret well, lest the honor of this discovery should i?e stoi,.n from you. WILLIAM HAYS.MORK. The profercor nodded deliberately as Quest finished the letter. "Now, perhaps you can understand," ho said, "why it was necessary tj keep Hartoo absolutely hidden. In a month's time my papers will be ready. Then I shall electrify the world. I shall write not a new page but a new volume across the history of science. I shall?" The door was suddenly thrown open, Craig sprang in. no longer the s. Ifcontained, perfect man-servant, but with the face ol some wild creatu/e. ^ His shout was one almost ol agony. "The hut, professor! The hut is on fire!" he cried. His appearance on the threshold was like a flash. They heard his flying feet down the hall, and without a moment's hesitation they all followed. The professor led the way down a narrow and concealed path, but when they reached the little clearing in which the hut was situated, ^ they were unable to approach any nearer. The place was a whirlwind ol flame. The smell of kerosene was almost overpowering. The wild yeil of the leopard rose above the strange, half-human gibbering of the monkeys and the hoarse, bass calling of another voice, at the sound of which Lenora and even Quest shuddered Then, as they came, breathless, to a stand- . still, they saw a strange thing. One A. side of the hut fell in, and almost immediately the leopard with a mighty spring, leaped from the place and ran howling into the undergrowth. The monkeys followed but they came straight for the professor, wringing their hands. They fawnfed at his feet as though trying to show him their scorched bodies. Then for a single moment they saw the form of the a^- g man as he struggled to follow the. others His strength failed him, however. He fell backwards into the burning chasm. The professor bade them farewell, an hour later, on the steps of the house. He seemed suddenly to have aged. "You have done your best, Mr. Quest," he said, "but fate has been too strong. Remember this, though. It ^ is quite true that the cunning of Hartoo may have made it possible for him to have stoleu the skeleton and to have brought it back to its hidingplace, but it was Jealousy?cruel, brutal, foul jealousy which smeared the walls of that hut with kerosene and set light to it. The work of a lifetime, my dreams of scientific immor- Y tality, have vanished in those flames." ' He turned slowly away from them and re-entered the house. Quest and Lenora made their way down the avenue and entered the automobile which was waiting for them, almost in silence. The latter glanced toward his companion, as they drove off. ' "Say, this has been a bit tough for you," he remarked. I'll have to call somewhere and get you a glass of 41 wine." She tried to smile but her strength was almost gone. They drove to a restaurant and sat there for some little time. Lenora soon recovered her color. She even had courage to speak of the events of the afternoon when they re-entered the automobile. "Mr. Quest," Lenora murmured, "who do you suppose burned the hut down?" v ^ "II I don't say Craig, I suppose you will," he remarked. "I wonder whether Laura's had any luck." They were greeted, as they entered Quest's room, by a familiar little ticking. Quest smiled with pleasure. "It's the pocket wireless," he declared. "Let me take down the message.'; He spelled it out to Lenora, who stood by his side: Have joined Servants' club disguised as your butler. Craig frequent visitor here ten years ago. comes now occasionally Thursday evenings most likely time. Shall wait here on chance of seeing hltn, "Good girl, that," Quest remarked. "She's a rare sticker, too/' He turned away from the instrument and was crossing the room, to- \ ward his cigar cabinet Suddenly he stopped. He looked intently towards the sideboard. \ 6