Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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n (v ' " " - ' r r ~ ITEe BLAi By E. PHILLIP Author of "The Mooing Novell* Finger, " "The Prince of tame a 5/nners," " >4nna# (A* Manufa* ^^MnfurtM, " etc. tographi (Copyright, 1816, This interesting instalment of the Black Box will be shown in motion pictures at the Casino Theatre Thursday night. SYNOFSIS, f Banford Quest, muster criminologist of the world, finds that In bringing to justice Macdougal, the murderer of Lord lAfihleigh's daughter, he has but just entered a life-and-death contest with a mysterious master criminal. Engaged by 1'ro(fessor Ashleigh, Lord Ashleigh's brother, |to recover the stolen skeleton of an anthropoid ape, hurried to Mrs. Rhelnholdt's reception, where her diamonds have been torn from her throat by a pair of hands (without arms or body, a black box later appears from nowhere in his rooms and a jTiote contained in it. signed by the armless hands, sarcastically suggests that the Rheinholdt diamonds and the skeleton may be hidden together. While Laura. quest's secretary, shadows Crnig. the professor's valet, Quest and Lenora, his assistant, find the skeleton in a hut in the Jirofessor's garden, and discover there an nhuman creature, half monkey and half man. As the professor explains, the hut Is Ret afire and the monkey-man and skeleton are destroyed in the flames. In Quest's rooms the Rhelnholdt diamonds suddenly reappear, enclosed In a second black box with a note signed by the threatening hands. FOURTH INSTALLMENT AN OLD GRUDGE. CHAPTER X. ! Sauford Quest was smoking his j fter-breakfast cigar with a relish ! eomewhat affected by the measure of 1 his perplexities. Early though it was, I Lenora was already in her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had Just arrived, was busy divesting hereelf of her coat and hat. Quest watched the latter impatiently. 'Well?" he asked. Laura came forward, straightening her hair with her han^is. "No go," she answered. "I spent the evening in the club, and I talked with two men who knew Craig, but I IW11 lrln't nrr\+ ?* M ..4-U I ? Y7*? _ 1 1 wuiun i hcl uu lu <iu> tiling. r1 rum mi I could hoar of the man, respectability Is his middle name." 'That's the professor's own idea," Quest remarked grimly. "We're fairly up against it, boss," I-aura sighod. "The best thing we can do is to. get on to another job. The Rheinholdt woman has got her Jewels hack, or will have at noon today. I bet she won't worry about the thief. Then the professor's moldy old skeleton was returned to him, even if it was burned up afterwards. 1 should take on something fresh." "Can't bo done," Quest replied shortly. "Look here, girls, your average intellects are often apt to hit upon the truth, when a man who sees too far ahead goes wrong.v Rule Craig out. Any other possible person occur to you? Speak out, Lenora. You've fiOmethina on vnur minrl T run " "I'm afraid you'll laugh at me," she began tentatively. "Won't hurt you if I do," Quest replied. "I can't help thinking of Macdotigal," Lenora continued falteringly. "He has never been recaptured. I don't know whether ho's dead or alive. He bad a perfeot. passion for Jewels. If he is alive, he would be desperate and would attempt anything." Quest smoked in silence for a moment. "I guess the return of the jewels squelched the Macdougal theory," he remarked. "He wouldn't be likely to part with the stuff when he'd once got his hands on it. However. 1 always meant, when we hnd a moment's spare time, to look into that fellow's whereabouts. We'll take it 011 straight away. Can't do any harm." "I know the section boss on the; railway at the spot where he disap-! peared," Laura announced. "Then just take the train down to 1 Mount ways?that's the nearest spot? and get busy with him," Quest directed. "Try and persuade him to loan 1 us the gang's handcar to go down the line. Lenora and I will come on in ; the automobile." "Take you longer," l.enora remarked as she moved off to put on he"t jacket. "The cars do It in a quarter of an hour." "Can't help that," Quest replied. "Mrs. Relnholdt's coming here to identify her jewels at twelve o'clock, and I can't run any risk of there being no train back. You'd better be making good with the section boss. Take plenty of bills with you." "Sure! That's easy enough," Laura promised him. "I'll bo waiting for you." She hurried off and Quest commenced his own preparations. From his safe he took one of the small black lumps of explosive to which he had once before owed his life, and fitted It carefully in a small case with a coil of wire and an electric lighter. He looked at his revolver and recharged it. Finally he rang the bell lor his confidential valet. "Ross/' he asked, "who else is there * mtmrnmammmmmmmummmmmmm m CK BOX | S OPPENHE1M ed from the motion picture drama of the ame produced by the Universal Film rturing Company. Illustrated with phoi from the motion picture production. by Otla F. Wood.) nere today besidea you * "No one today, sir." "Just as well, perhaps," Quest observed. "Listen, Ross, I am going out now for an hour or two, but I shall be back at midday. Remember that. Mrs. Rheinholdt and Inspector French are to be here at twelve o'clock. If by any chance I should be a few minutes late, ask theru to wait. And, Ross, a young woman from the Salvation Army will call too. You can give her this check." Ross Brown, who was Quest's secretary-valet and general factotum, accepted the slip of paper and placed it in an envelope. "There are 110 other instructions, sir?" he inquired. "None," Quest replfed. "You'll look out for the wireless, and you had better switch the through cable and telegraph communication on to head-( quarters. Come 011, I.enora." They left the house, entered the waiting automobile, and drove rapidly towards the confines of the city. By Quest's directions the automobile was brought to a standstill at a point where it skirted the main railway line, and close to the section house which he had appointed for I his rendezvous with Laura. She had apparently seen their approach, and she came out to meet them at once, accompanied by a short, thick-set man whom she introduced as Mr. Iioran. "This is Mr. Horan, the section boss," she explained. Mr. Horan shook hands. "Say, I've heard of you, Mr. Quest," he announced. "The young lady tells me you are some interested in that prisoner they lost off the cars near here." "That's so," Quest admitted. "We'd like to go to the spot if we could." "That's dead easy," the boss replied. "I'll take you along on the handcar." The section boss turned round and whistled. From a little side track two men jumped 011 to a handcar, and L brought it around to where they were standing. A few yards aw^iy the man who was propelling it?a great, redheaded Irishman?suddenly ceased his efforts. Leaning over his pole, he; gazed at Quest. A sudden ferocity darkened his coarse face. He gripped ^ his mate by the arm. "See that bloke there?" he asked, pointing at Quest. "The guy with the linen collar?" the other answered. "I see him." "That's Quest, the detective," the Irishman went 011 hoarsely. "That's the man who got me live years in the j pen, the beast! That's the man I've been looking for. You're my mate,! Jim, eh?" "I guess so," the other grunted. "Are you going to try and do him in?"; "Now then, you fellows," Horan j shouted. "What are you hanging abo\it! there for. Red Gallagher? Bring the! carriage up. You fellows can have a smoke for an hour. I'm going to take | her down the line for a bit." The two men obeyed and disappeared in the direction of tho section j house. Quest looked after them curi-j ou sly. "That's a big fellow," he remarked. "What did you call him? Red Gallagher? I seem to have seen him be-; fore." "He was the most troublesome fellow 011 the line once, although he was I the biggest worker," the boss replied.! "He got live years in the penitentiary j and that seems to have taken the! spirit out of him." "I believe 1 was in the case," Quest' observed carelessly. "That's so! Now then, young ladies." Mr. Horan advised, "hold tight, and here goes!" They ambled down the line fori about half a mile. Then Horan j brought them to standstill. "This is the spot," he declared. "Now, if you want my impressions you are welcome to them. All the search has been made on the right-hand side here and in New York. I've had my eye on that hill for a long time. My mi pi tjssium is hull iio Hid mere." "I'll take your advice," Quest decided, "We'll spread out and take a little exercise in kill climbing." "Good luck to you!" the boss exclaimed. They searched carefully and deliberately for more than half an hour. Then Laura suddenly called out. They looked around to find only her head j visible. She scrambled up, muddy and with wet leaves clinging to her skirt. "Say, that guy of a section boss told me to look out for caves. I've been in one, sure enough! Only just saved myself." They hurried to where she was. Quest peered into the declivity down which she had slipped. Suddenly ho gave vent to a little exclamation. At the same time Laura called out. An inch or two of t\Veed was clearly visible through the strewn leaven. Quest, flat on his stomach, crawled a little 1 way down, took out bis electric torch ! from his pocket and brushed the stuff awav. Then he clambered to his feet., WTHE HOBBY HERi "Our search is over," he declared | gravely, "and your troubles, Lenora. That is Macdougal's body." Lenora's face sank into her hands I for a moment. Quest stood on ono side while Laura passed her arm around the other girl's waist. Quest glanced at his watch. "Ill have to get," he said, "but I'll send someone along. Cheer up, Lenora," he added kindly. "Look after her, Laura." Quest hastened along the road to I the spot where he had left the car. The chauffeur, who saw him coming, started up and climbed to his seat. Quest took his place. "Drive to the office," he ordered. The man slipped in his clutch. They were in the act of gliding o*ff when there was a tremendous report. They stopped short. The man jumped down and looked at the back tire. "Blowout," he remarked laconically. I Quest frowned. "How long will it take?" "Four minutes," the man replied., "I've got another wheel ready. That's the queerest blowout I ever saw, though." The two men leaned over the tire. Suddenly Quest's expression changed. His hand stole into his hip pocket. "Tom," he explained, "that wasn't a blowout at all. Look here!" He pointed to the small level hole. Almost at once he stood back and the sunshine flashed upon the revolver i clutched in his right hand. "That was a bullet," he continued. "Someone fired at that tire. Tom, there's trouble about." The man looked nervously around.1 "That's a ritle bullet, sure," he mut-j tered. "Get on the wheel as quick as you can," Quest directed. "Here, I'll give i you a hand." He stoopped down to unfasten the straps which fastened the spare wheel. It was one of his rare lapses, realized a moment too late. Almost in his ears came the hoarse cry: "Hands up, guvnor! Hands up this second or I'll Vvlnu* vnu ? - k/?V/ *? j vy u lu UCU Quest glanced over his shoulder and looked into the face of Red Gallagher, ; raised a little above the level of the road. A very ugly little revolver was pointed directly at Quest's heart. "My mate's got voh covered on the other Ride of the road, too. Hands up. both of you, or we'll make a quick job of it." Quest shrugged his shoulders, threw his revolver into the road and obeyed. As he did so, the other man stole out from behind a bush and sprang for the chauffeur, who under cover of the car was stealing off. There was a brief struggle, then the dull thud of the railway man's rifle falling on tho , chauffeur's head. lie rolled over and lay in the road. "Pitch him off amongst the bushes," ; Red Gallagher ordered. "You don't want anyone who comes by to see. ; Now lend me a hand with this chap." "What do you propose to do with me?" Quest asked. "You'll know soon enough." Red Gal-] lagher answered. "A matter of five minutes' talk, to start with. You see | that handcar house?" "Perfectly well," Quest assented.} "My eyesight is quite normal." "Get there then. I'm a yard behind you and my revolver's pointing for ' the middle of your back." Quest sprang lightly down from the road, crossed the few intervening yards and stepped into the habdcar house. Gallagher and his mate followed close behind. Quest paused on the threshold. "It's a filthy dirtv hole." he re- i marked. "Can't we have our little chat out here? Is it money you want?" Gr! higher glanced around. Then with en ugly push c? the shoulder he sent Quest reeling into the shed. His great form blocked up the doorway. "Xo," he 'cried fiercely, "it's not money I want this time. Quest, you brute, you dirty bloodhound! You sent me to the pen for five years?you - ; ' ' > ' V' USfcSaiir'ir i mm itHMmMM "Hands Up, Guvnor!" with your cursed prying into other people's affairs. Don't you remember me, eh? Red Gallagher?" "Of course 1 do," Quest replied coolly. "You garreted and robbed an \ old man and had the spree of your life, i The old man happened to be a friend of mine, so I took the trouble to see that you paid for it. Well?" .| \ r> fiAinrr a \r <3 fl "Five years of hell, that's what 1 had," the man continued, his eyes flashing, his face twitching with anger. "Well, you're going to have a little bit mere than Ave years. Thi? shed's been burnt down twice, sparks from passing engines. It's going to be burnt down for the third time." "Sounds remarkably unpleasant," Quest admitted. "You'd better hurry or the boss will be back." Gallagher Anally slammed the door. Quest heard the heavy footsteps of the two men as they turned toward the section house. He drew a little case from his pocket. He opened what seemed, to be a little mahogany box, looked at the ball of black substance inside, closed it up, placed it against the far wall, untwisted the coil, stood back near the door and then pressed the button. The result was extraordinary. The whole of the far wall was blown out and for some distance in front the ground was furrowed up by the explosion. Quest replaced the instrument in his pocket, sprang through the opening and ran for the tower house. Behind him 011 its way to New York he could see a freight train coming along. He could hear, too. Red Gallagher's roar of anger. It was less than lifty yards, vet as soon as he reached the shelter of the tower the thunder of the freight sounded in Quest's ears. He glanced around. Red Gallagher and his mate were racing almost side by side towards him. He rushed up the narrow stairs into the signal room, tearing open his coat to show his ofllcial badge. "Stop the freight," he sliouted to the operator. "Quick. I'm Sanford Quest, detective?special powers from the chief commissioner."' The man moved to the signal. Another voice thundered in his ears. He turned swiftly around. The Irishman's rod head had appeared at the top of the staircase. "Drop that signal or I'll blow you into bits," he shouted. The operator hesitated, dazed. "Walk towards me," Gallagher shouted. "Look here, you guy, this will show you whether I'm in earnest or not!" A bullet passed within a few inches of the operator's head.. He came slowly across the room. Below they could hear the roar of the freight. "This ain't your job," the Irishman continued savagely. "We want the cop, and we're going to have him." Qnest had stolen a yard or two nearer during this brief collocpiy. Gallagher's mate from behind shouted out' a warning just a second too late With "Yo? Don't?You Don1 a sudden kick, Quest sent the revolver flying across the room and be-1 il T 1 _ t t i iur? ine lnsnman couici recover He struck him full in the face. Notwithstanding his huge size and strength, Gallagher reeled. The operator who had just begun to realize what was happening flung himself bodily against the two thugs. A shot from the tangled mass of struggling limbs whis- j tied past Quest's head as he sprang i to the window which overlooked the j track. The freight had already almost passed. Quest steadied himself for a supreme effort, crawled out on the little steel bridge and poised himself for a moment. The last car was just beneath. The gap between it and the previous one was slipping by. He set his teeth and jumped on the smooth top. Hack behind the tower Red Gallagher and his mate bent with horrified faces over the body of the signalman. "What the hell did you want to plug him for?" the latter muttered. "He ain't in the show at all. You've done us. Red, he's cooked!" Red Gallagher stac^ered to bin foot Already the horror of the murderer was in his face as he glanced furtively around. "I never meant to drop him," ho muttered. "I got mad at seeing Quest get off. That man's a devil." "What are #we going to do?" tho other demanded hoarsely. "There's the auto," Gallagher shouted. "Come on. old man! I can fix the wheel. If we've got to swing for this job, we'll have something of our own back first." They crawled to the side of the road. Gallagher's rough, hairy fingers were still trembling, but* they knew tV'r job. In a few minutes the wheel was fixed. Clumsily but successfully, the great Irishman turned the car around away from the city.' "She's a hummer," he muttered. "I'll make her go when wc get the hang of t it. Sit tight." They drove clumsily off, gathering speed at every yard. Behind, in the shadow of the tower, the signalman lay dead. Quest, half way to New York, stretched flat on his stomach, was struggling for life with knees and hands and feet. CHAPTER XI. Mrs. Rhelnholdt welcomed the inspector with a beaming smile as he stepped out of his office and approached her automobile. "How nice of you to be so punctual, Mr. French," she exclaimed, making room for him by her side. "Will you tell the man to drive to Mr. Quest's house in Georgia square?" The inspector obeyed and took his place in the luxurious limousine. "How beautifully punctual we are!" she continued, glancing at the clock. "Inspector, I am so excited at the idea of getting my jewels back. Isn't Mr. Quest a wonderful man?" "He's a clever chap, all right," the inspector admitted. "All the same, I'm rather sorry ho wasn't able to lay hands on the thief." "That's your point of view, of course," Mrs. Rhelnholdt remarked. "1 can think of nothing but having my diamonds back. I feel I ought to go and thank the professor for recommending Mr. Quest." The inspector made no reply. Mrs. Rhelnholdt was suddenly aware that sue was necomlng a little tactless. "Of course.' she sighed, "it is disappointing not to he able to lay your I hands upon the thief. That is where ! I suppose you must find the interfer; ence of an amateur like My. Quest a i little troublesome sometimes. He gets j back the property, which is what the , private individual wants, but he 5 doesn't secure the thief, which is, of j course, the real end of the case from your point of view." "It's a queer affair about these jewels," the insj>ector remarked. "Quest hasn't told mo the whole story yet. Here we are on the stroke of time!" The car drew up outside Quest's house. The inspector assisted his j companion to alight and rang the bell ' at the front door. There was a some what prolonged pause. He rang again. "Never knew this to happen before," he remarked. "That sort of secretaryvalet of Mr., Quest's?Ross Brown 1 think he calls him?is always on the spot." They waited for some time ther? U'flfi still nr? nnuu'nr ?lml^ r. ?*" .. *?v/ uuu 11 v-1 IU men nil 111 mons. The inspector placed his ear tc the keyhole. There was not a sound 't Suepec? Me of This?" to be heard. ' He drew back, a iittl puzzled. At that moment his attention was caught by the fluttering of a little piece of white material caught in the door. He pulled it out. It was a fragments of white embroidery, and on If nrA?A 1 n ? a _ , r... . iv nciD Bc?i:i<n tiiiiciii sunny. i no inspector looked at them acid looked at his fingers. His face grew suddenly grave. "Seems to me," he muttered, "that there has been some trouble here. 1 shall have to take a liberty. If you'll excuse me. Mrs. Rheinholdt, I think it would be better if you waited in the car until I send out for you." "You don't think the jewels have been stolen again?" she gasped. The inspector madq no reply. He had drawn from his pocket a little pass key and was fitting it into the lock. The door swung open. Once more they were both conscious of that peculiar silence, which seemed to have in it some unnamable quality. He moved to the foot of the stairs and shouted: "Hello! Anyone there?" There was no reply. He opened tho doors of the two rooms on the righthand side, where Quest, when he was engaged in any widespread affair, kept a stenographer and a telegraph operator. Both rooms were empty. Then he turned towards Quest's study on the left-hand side. French was a man of iron nerve. No power on earth could have kept back the cry which broke from his lips. A few feet away from the door was Stretched the hndv f\t tha w.r ? -~ VUU BWAWAI/" valet On the other aide of the room, lying as though she had slipped from the sofa, her head fallen on one side in hideous fashion, was the body of I.iiss Quigg. the Salvation Army young woman. French set his teeth and lrew back the curtains. In the clearer light the disorder of the room was fully revealed. There had been a terrible struggle. Between whom? How? There was suddenly a piercing j shriek. Tho inspector turned quickly:^ around. Mrs. Rlieinholdt, who had die regarded his advice, was standing on the threshold. "Inspector!" she ciied. "What ban happened? Oh, my God!" She covered her face with her hands. French gripped her by the arm. At that moment there was the sound of an automobile stopping outside. ."Keep quiet for a moment," the in-? spector whispered in her car. "Pull < yourself together, madam. Go to the other end of the room. Don't look. Stay there for a few moments and then get home as quick as you can." She obeyed him mutely, pressing her hands to her eyes, shivering in every limb. French, stood back inside the room. He heard the front door open, he heard Quest's voice outside. "Where the devil are you, Ross?" There was no reply. Jy- f The door was pushed open. Quest*~ entered, followed by the professor and Craig. The inspector stood watching their faces. Quest came to a standstill before he had passed the threshold. He looked upon the floor and h? looked across to the sofa. Then ho looked at French. j "My God!" ho muttered. Jr\ rHie professor pushed past. lie had JL ml looked around the room, and gazed at^fcyl the two bodies with an expression of blank and absolute terror, 'pifcn h? fell back into Craig's arms. ^ "Tho poor girl!" ho cried. "Ilorri- A blc! Horrible! Horrible!" ^ we ' "Know anything about this?" Quci^'heasked quickly. si^8S "XJdf n Ifiinpr " tlui iiiunortnr r nn'loil . - .... ,-VVVVr. I V^IIV U. M "Wo arrived, Mrs. Hheinhoidt and I, * at. five minutes past twelve. There was no answer to our ring. I UEed my pass key and entered. This is what I found." Quest stood over the body of his valet for a moment. The man was obviously dead. The inspector took his handkerchief and covered up the head. A few feet away was a heavy paper* weight. "Killed by a blow from behind," French remarked grimly, "with that little affair. Look here!" They glanced down at the girl. Quest's eyebrows came together quickly. There were two blue marks upon her throat where a man's thumbs might have been. / "The hands again." he muttered. The inspector nodded. "Can you make anything of it?" "Not yet," Quest confessed. "I must A think." The inspector glanced at him curiously. "Where on earth have you been to?" he demanded. t on s~\ x ' ? Drat to: wuesL repealed. "Look in the mirror!" French suggested. Quest glanced at himself. His collar had given way, his tie was torn, a ^ button and some of the cloth had been " wrenched from his coat, his trousers were torn and ho was covered with dust. "I'll tell you about my trouble a little later on," he replied. "Say, can't we keep those girls out?" They were too late. Laura and Lenora were already upon the threshold. Quest swung round toward them. "Girls," he said, "there has been some trouble here. Go and wait upstairs, Lenora, or sit In the hall. He Set His Teeth and Jumped. ^ Laura, you had better telephone tf> the police station and for a doctor. That's right, isn't it, inspector?" "Yes!" the latter assented thought fully. Lenora, whit? to the lips, staggered a few feet back into the hall. Laura set her teeth and lingered. "Is that Ross?" she asked. "It's his body," Quest replied. "He's been murdered here, he and the Salvation Army girl who was to ctfme this morning for her check." Laura turned away half dazed. "I'd have trusted Ross with my life," Quest continued, "but he must have been aloue in the house when the girl came. Do you suppose it was the ^ usual sort of trouble?" Inspector French stooped down and