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) Ittovellzed from the Photo Play of the Sar Film Manufacti TV. ie fr?rv. nlrnpnt the Black Box will be shown in motion pictures at the Casino Theatre Thursday night. synopsis. I Panford Quest, master criminologist oi the world, finds that In bringing to Jusi tlce Macdougnl, the murderer of Lore Ashleigh's daughter, he has hut Just en1 tered a llfe-and-death struggle with n mysterious master criminal. In a hlddor hut in Professor Ashlctgh's garden he ha? seen an anthropoid ape skeleton and a living Inhuman creature, half monkey half man, destroyed by lire. In his rooms at Intervals have appeared from nowhen "two black boxes with sarcastic am threatening notes signed with a pair ol armless, threatening hands, represent inui those which have already floured in n diamond robbery. With his secretary. Laura, and his assistant, Lenora, he follows the trail of Macdougal, who escapee on his way to prison, and linds Macdougnl's dead body in a otive on a lonely hillside. After a thrilling escape from two thugs who try to kill him lie returns to his rooms to find his valet, Ross Brown, ami a Miss Quigg murdered, and Police Inspector French investigating. French, puzzled, half suspects Quest ol the crime. FIFTH INSTALLMENT ON THE RACK. CHAPTER XII. For the moment a new element had been Introduced into the horror of the little tableau. All eyes were fixed upon j Quest, who listened to the inspector's dubious words with a supercilious; smile upon his lips. "Perhaps," he suggested, "you would like to ask me a few questions?" "Perhaps I may feel it my duty to do so," the inspector replied gravely ! "In the first place, then. Mr. Quest, will you kindly explain the condition of your clothes?" Quest shrugged his shoulders. ??T T ** ' yuu are, men, lie rcpiiea. "This morning 1 decided to make an attempt to clear up the mystery of Macdougal's disappearance. I sent on my secretary, Miss Laura, to make1 friends with the section boss, and I Lenora and I went out by automobile; a little later. We instituted a search on a new principle, and before very long wo foilnd Macdougal's body. That's one up against you, I think, inspector." "Very likely," the inspector observed. "Go 011, please." "I left the two young ladies, at Miss Lenora's wish, to superintend the removal of the body. I myself had an engagement to deliver over her jew-' els to Mrs. Itheinholdt hero at mid-, day. I returned to where my automo-' bile was waiting, started for the city and was attacked by two thugs near the section house. I got away from them, ran to the tower house to try j and stop the freight, was followed by the thugs, and jumped out on to the last car from the signal arm." "Where is your automobile?" "No Idea," Quest replied. "I left it in the road. When I Jumped from the freight car I took ? taxicab to the professor's and cahed for him, as arranged." The inspector nodded. h' "1 shall have to ask you to excuse me for a moment." he said, "while I ring up number ten signal tower. If Mr. Quest's story receives corroboration the matter is at an end." The inspector left the room almost immediately. When he returned he was looking graver than ever. "Quest," he announced, "your alibi is useless?in fact, a little worse than useless. The operator at number ten has been found murdered at the back of the tower!" Quest started. "1 ought not to have left him to those thugs," he murmured regretfully. 1 "There is no automobile of yours in the vicinity," the inspector continued, "nor any news of it I think it will be as well now, Quest, for this matter to take Its obvious course. Will you, first of all, hand over her jewels to Mrs. Rheinholdt?" Quest drew the keys of the safe from his pocket, crossed the room and swung open the safe door. For a moment afterwards he stood transllxed. I His arm, half outstretched, remained motionless. Then ho turned slowly around. "The jewels have been stolen," he announced with unnatural calm. The inspector laid his hand heavily upon Quest's shoulder. "You will kindly consider yourself under arrest, Quest. Ladies and gen- j tlemen, will you clear the room now, if you please. The ambulance 1 telephoned for is outside." The professor, who had been looking as though dazed, suddenly intervened. "Mr. French," he said earnestly, *1 am convinced that you are making a great mistake. In arresting and taking away Mr. Quest you are removing from ub the one man who is likely to be able to clear up this mystery." The inspector pushed him gently LACK BOX % ffia Mlips Oppcnheim ne Name. Producod by the Universal irlng Company, to one side. "You will excuse me, professor," he said, "but this is no matter for argument. If Mr. Quest can clear himself, no one will be more glad than I." Quest shrugged his shoulders. "The inspector will have his little joke/' bo observed dryly. "It's all right, girls. Keep cool," he went on, us he saw the tears in Leuora's eyes. "Come round and see me In the Tombs, one of you." - v The ambulance 'men came and departed with their grim burden, the room on the ground lloor was locked and sealed, and the house was soon empty except lor the two girls. Toward three o'clock Lenora went out and returned with a newspaper. She opened it out upon the table and they both pored over it. " 'Justice Thorpe has refused to consider bail!' He's a guy, that Justice Thorpe, and so's the idiot who wrote this stuff!" Laura exclaimed, thrusting the paper away from her. "1 guess the professor was dead right when he told French he was locking up the one man who could clear up the whole show." Lenora nodded thoughtfully. "The professor spoke up like a man," she agreed, "but Laura, I want to ask you something. Did you notice his servant?that man Craig?" "Can't say I did particularly," Laura admitted. "Twice," Lenora continued, "I thought he was going to faint. I tell you ho was scared the whole of the time." "What are you getting at,- kid?" Laura demanded. "At Craig, if I can," Lenora replied, moving toward the telephone. "Please give me the phototelesme. I am going to talk to the professor." Laura adjusted the mirror to the instrument and Lenora rang up. The professor himself answered the call. oil nave you seen trie three o'clock edition, professor," Lenora asked. "I never read newspapers, young | lady," the professor replied. "Let me tell you what they say 1 about Mr. Quest!" Lenofa commenced a rambling account of what she had read in the newspaper. All the time the eyes of the two girls were fixed upon the mirror. They could see the professor seated in his chair with two huge volumes by his side, a pile of manuscript, and a pen in his hand. They could even catch the look of sympathy on his face as he listened attentively. Suddenly I^enora almost broke off. She gripped I^aura by the arm. The door of the study had been opened slowly, and Craig, carrying a bundle, paused for a moment on the threshold. He glanced nervously toward the professor, who seemed unaware of his entrance. Then he moved stealthily toward the fireplace, stooped down and committed something to the flamea. The relief on his face, as he stood up, was obvious. "All I can do for Mr. Quest, young lady, 1 will," the professor promised. He laid the receiver down and the "The Jewels Have Been Stole'n!" reflection on the mirror faded away. ! Lenora started up and hastily put on her coat and hat, which were still lying on the chair. "I am going right down to the professor's," she announced. '"What do VOU think unti non there?" Laura asked. "I am going to see if I can find out what that man burned," she replied. "I will be back in an hour." Laura walked with her as far as the street oar, and very soon afterward Leuora found herself knocking at the professor's front door. Craig admitted her almost at once. For a moment he seemed to shiver as he recognized her. "Well, young lady," the professor saM, ' have you thought of something I can do?" She took no notice of the chair to! which he pointed, and rested her hand j THE HORRY HFRAi upon tils shoulder. "Professor," she begged, "go and see Mr. Quest! He is in the Tombs prison. It would be the kindest thing anyone could possibly do." The professor glanced regretfully at his manuscrapt, but he did not hesitate. He rose pi*>mptly to his feet. "If you think he would appreciate it, I will go at once," he decided. Her face shone with gratitude. "That is really kind of you, professor," she declared. *1 will send for my coat and we will go together, if you like," he suggested. She smiled. "I am going the other way, back to Georgia square," she explained. "No, please don't ring. I can find my owu way out." She hurried from the room. Outside in the hall she paused for a moment, listening with beating heart. By the side wall was a hat rack with branching pegs, from which several coats j i were hanging. J3he slipped quietly behind their shelter?" ^ A moment or two later she heard the professor leave the house. Very I cautiously she stole out from her hiding place. The hall was empty. Sho crossed it with noiseless footsteps, slipped into the study and moved stealthily to the fireplace. There was a little heap of ashes in one distinct spot. She gathered them up in her handkerchief and secreted it in her dross and quietly left the house. At Georgia square she found Laura waiting for her. and a few minutes afterward the two girls were examining the ashes with the aid of Quest's microscope. Among the little pile was one fragment at the sight of which thov both exclaimed. It was distinctly a shred of charred muslin embroidery, j Lenora pointed toward it triumphantly. "Tsn't that evidence?" she demand-' ed. "Lot's ring up Inspector French!" Laura shook her head doubtfully. "Not so fast," she advised. "French is a good sort in his way, but he's prejudiced just now against the boss, j I'm not sure that this evidence would go far by itself." "1 t's evidence enough for us to go to Craig, though! What we have got to do is to get a confession out of him, somehow!" Laura studied her companion, for a moment, curiously. "Taking some interest in Mr. Quest, kid, ain't you?" Lenora looked up. Then her head suddenly sank into her hands. She knew quite well that her secret had escaped her. Laura patted her shoulder. "That's all right, child," she said soothingly. "We'll see him through this, somehow or other." "Laura," exclaimed I^enora, "we will save Mr. Quest and we will get hold of Craig! I have a plan Listen!" CHAPTER XIII. Craig's surprise was real enough i as he opened the back door of the pro feasor's house on the following morn- 1 Ing and found Lenora standing on the threshold. Lenora smiled pleasantly. "I came to this door," she said, "because 1 wanted a little talk with you." Craig's attitude was perfect. He was mystified but ho remained respectful. "Will you come Inside?" he invited. She shook her head. h "I am afraid," she confided, "of what I am going to say being overheard. Come with me down to the garage for a moment." He opened the doors of the garage, leaving the keys in the lock, and they both passed Inside. "You can say what you please here without the slightest fear of being overheard, miss," Craig remarked. Lenora nodded, and breathed a prayer to herself. She was nearer the door than Craig by about half a dozen paces. Her hand gr?ped in the little bag she was carrying and gripped something hard. She clenched her teeth for a moment. Then the automatic pistol flashed out through the gloom. "Craig," she threatened, "if you move I shall shoot you." It seemed as though the man were a coward. He began to tremble, his lips twitched, his eyes grew larger and rounder. "What is it?" he faltered. "What do you want?" "Just this," Lenora said firmly. "I suspect you to be guilty of the crime for which Sanford Quest is in prison. 1 am going to have you questioned. If you are innocent you have nothing to fear. If you are guilty there will be someone here before long who will extract the truth from you." The man's face was an epitome of terror. Even his knees shook. Lenora felt herself grow calmer with every moment. "I am going outside to send a message," she told him. "I shall return presently." I "Don't go," he begged suddenly. "Don't leave mef I am innocent. I have done nothing wrong. If you keep mo hero, you will do more harm than you can dream of." "It is for other people to decide about your Innocence," Lenora said calmly. "I have nothing to do with that. If you are wise you will stop hore quietly." "Have you said anything to Mr. A8hlelgh, mlse?" the man asked piteous!*. "Not a word." A expression of relief shone for a moment upon his face. Lenora pointed to a stool. "Sit down there and wait qfulctly," che ordered. i ' * .D. CONWAY. S. 0. He obeyed without a word. She left the place, locked the door securely, and made her way round to the other side of the garage?the, side hidden from the house. Here, at the far corner, she drew a little pocket wireless from her bag and set it on the window sill. Very slowly she sent her message: I have Craig here In the professor's garage, locked up. If our plan has succeeded, come at once. I am wait* Ing for you. There was no reply. She sent the message again and again. Suddenly, during a pause, there was a little flash upon the plate. A message was com ing to her. She transcribed it with' beating heart: O. K. Coming. * # * e The guard swung open the wicket In front of Quest's cell. "Young woman to see you, Quest," he announced. "Ten minutes, aud no loud talking, pleaSe. Quest moved to the bars. It was Laura who stoQd there. She wasted very .U?Ue time in prelimina rios. Hav-, ing satisfied herself that the guard was out of hearing, sho leaned as close as she could to Quest, "Look here," she said, "Lenora's crazy with the Idea that Craig has done those jobs?Craig, the professor's servant, you know. Wo used the, phototolesnie yesterday afternoon and saw him burn something In tho pro-; lessor's study. I.enora went up j straight A\vnv nnH rr/\i v. w . M j v?>>V4 (^V/V UV/1VJ V/ I IUO ashes." "Smart girl," Quest murmured, nod-, ding approvingly. "Well?" "There are dlntincj fragments," Laura continued, "of embroidered stuff such as the Salvation Army girl might "If You Move I Shall Shoot You!" have been wearing. We put them on one side, but they ain't enough evidence. Lenora's idea is that you should get hold of Craig and hypnotize him into a confession." "That's all right," Quest replied, "but how am I to get hold of him?" Laura glanced once moro carelessly around to where the guard stood. "Lenora's gone up to the professor's again this afternoon. She is going to ! try and get hold of Craig and lock him in the garage. If she succeeds, she will send a message by wireless at three o'clock. It is half-past two now." "Well?" Quest exclaimed. "Well?" "You can work this guard, if you want to," Lenora went on. "I have seen you tackle worse cases. He seems dead easy. Then let me in the cell, take my clothee and leave me here." Quest followed the scheme in his mind quickly. "It is all right," he decided, "but I am not at all sure that they can really hold me on the evidence they have got. Tf they can't, I shall be doing myself more harm than good in this way." "It's no use unless you can get hold of Craig quickly," I^atira said. "He is getting the scares, as it is." "I'll do it." Quest decided. "Call the guard, Laura." She obeyed. The man came goodnaturedly toward them. Quest looked at him steadfastly through the bars. "I want you to come inside for a moment," Quest repeated softly. "Unlook the door, please, take the key off your bunch and come inside." The man hesitated, but all the time his fingers were fumbling with tho keys. Quest's Hps continued to move. Thn worflftr '' ' 1?? uui wj/v;ncvi IIIC UUW1 Hlltl t'll* tered. A few minutes later Quest j passed the key through the window to Laura, who was standing on guard. Without a word, and >vl?h marvelous rapidity, the change was effected. Laura produced from her. handbag a wig, which she pinned Inside her hat and passed over to Quest. Then she flung herself on to the bed and drew the blanket up to her chin. "How long will he stav like that?** fhs whispered, pointing to the warder, who was sitting on the floor with his arms folded and his eyes closed. "Half and hour or bo," Quest wnewered. "rv?n't bother about him. I shall drop the key back through the window.** I Quest reached Georgia square at Ave minutes to three. A glance up and down assured him that the house was unwatched. He let himself In with his own key, threw Laura's clothes off, and, after a few moments* hesitation, selected from the wardrobe a rough tweed suit with a thick lining and lapels. Just as he was tying his tie, the little wirelesB which he had laid on the table at his side began to record a message. He glanced | at the clock. It was exactly three. i Quest's eyes shone for a moment I with satisfaction. Then he sent off his answering message, put on a duster and slouch bat, and left the house by the side entrance. In a few momente he was in Broadway, and a quarter of ap hour later a taxicab deposited him at the entrance to the professor's house. He wglked swiftly ! up the drive-and turned toward the1 garage, liopi^^vety^'TftSnfentto see ! something of Lenora. The door of the ( place stood open. He entered and ! walked around. It was empty. There j was jjo sign of either Craig or Le- j fiSro! - -. I Quest recovered from his first dis- ( appointment, stole carefully out and j made a minute examination of the place. Close to the corner from which ; Lenora had sent her wireless message to him, he stooped and picked up a.! handkerchief, which from the marking he recognized at once. A few feet away the gravel was disturbed as though by the trampling of several feet. He set his teeth. "I've got to find that girl," he muttered. "Craig can go to h?1!" He turned away and approached the house. The front door stood open and he made his way at once to the library. The professor, who was sitting at his desk surrounded by a pile of books and papers, addressed him, as he entered, without looking up. "Where on earth have you been, Craig?" he inquired petulantly. "I have rung for you six times. Have I not ' told you never to leave the place with- j out orders?" "It is not Craig," Quest replied quiet- I ly. "It is I, professor?Sonford Quest." , The professor swung round in his ! chair and eyed his visitor in blank j astonishment. "Quest?" he exclaimed. "God bless 1 my soul! Have they let you out already, then?" "I came out," Quest replied grimly. "Sit tight, and listen to me for a moment, will you?" "You came out?" the professor rev j peated, looking a little dazed. "You | mean you escaped?" Quest nodded. "Perhaps I made a mistake," ho admitted, "but here I am. Now listen, professor." And he told the story of the last few hours. The professor's face was almost pitiful in its blank amazement. His mouth was wide open like a child's, words seemed absolutely denied to him. He rose to his feet, obviously a tremendous effort to adjust his ideas. "Craig locked up in my garage?" he murmured. "Craig guilty of those murders? Whv. mv dear Mr Oupst a more harmless, a more inoffensive, peace-loving and devoted servant than John Craig never trod this earth!" "MaybV Quest replied, "but where is he?" The professor could do nothing but look around him a little vaguely. "I am going back," Quest announced. "My only chance is the wireless. If Lenora is alive or at liberty, she will J communicate with mo." "May I come, too?" the professor asked timidly. "Come by all means," Quest assented. "I will drive you down in your car, if you like." | The professor hurried away to get his coat and hat, and a few mitiutes later they started off. In Broadway j they left the car at a garage and ; made their way up a back street which j enabled them to enter the house at the side entrance. They passed upstairs into the sitting-room. Quest fetched the pocket wireless and laid it down on the table. The professor examined it with interest. "You are marvelous, my friend," j he declared. "With all those resourcs of science at your command it seems incredible that you should be in the position you are." | Quest nodded coolly. "Just one moment, professor, while I send off a message, he said, opening the little instrument. "Where are you, Henora?" he signaled. "Send nio word and I will fetch you. I am in my own house for the present. net me know that you are safe." The professor leaned back, smoking one of Quest's excellent cigars. He was beginning to show signs of the liveliest interest. "Quest," he said, "I wish I could induce you to dismiss this extraordinary supposition of yours concerning my servant Craig. The man has been with me for the best part of twenty years, lie saved my life in South America; we have traveled in all parts of the world. He has proved himself to be exemplary, a faithful and devoted servant." "Tilan norharta r/*n mill *>!! mw. ?' . ..vu J/IX u?|/o J uu "III lO|l iUU| Quest suggested, "where he ft now, and why he haB gone away? That does not look like complete Innocence, does It?" The professor sighed. ' "I cannot stay here much longer, unless I mean to go back to the Tombs," Quest declared. "Surely," the professor suggested, "your tnnoeenee will very soon be established?" V* "There Is one thing which will hajv without a doubt," Quest replied. "My auto and the chauffeur will be die / covered. I havo insisted upon lnQuiP** lea being sent out throughout the statei cf Connecticut. They tell me, too* _ that the police are hard on the scent* T of Red Gallagher and the other man. Unless they get wind of this and sell' ire purposely, their arrest will be the end of my troubles. To tell you the truth, profossor," Quest concluded, "it is not of myself I am thinking at all just now. It is Lenora." The professor nodded sympathetically. "The young lady who shut Craig up ^ In the garage, you mean? A plucky young woman she must be." "She has a great many other good, qualities besides courage," Quest declared. "Women have not counted for much with me, professor, up till now, any more than they have done, I should think, with you, but I tell you frankly, if anyone has hurt a hair of that girl's head I will have their lives* * '.r 'V"*-* . ...... *- ??. whatever the penalty may be! It Is for her sake?to And her?that I broke r out of prison and that I am trying to keep free. The wisest thing to do, from my own point of view, would be. (o give myself up. I can't bring myself to do Uiat wiUiput. knowing what, lias Become of her." .?, The professor nodded again. ^ "A charming and well-bred young woman she seems." he admitted. "I fear that I should only be a bungler In your profession, Mr Quest, but if wyb there is anything I can do depend ^} upon mo. Personally, i am cqrfvinced that Craig will return to fae with some j) nusiblc explanation (as tc what lias happened." Quest, for the third or fourth time moved cautiously toward the window. His expression suddenl> changed. He glanced suddenly downward, frowned slightly. ^ "They're after me!" he exclaimed. ^ "Sit still, professor." He darted into his room and reappeared again almost immediately. The professor gate a gasp of astonishment at his altered appearance. His tweed suit seemed to have been turned inside out. There were no lapels now, and it was buttoned up to his neck. lie wore a long white apron; a peaked A. cap and a chinpicce of astonishing naturalness had transformed him into 4 1, ~ ....... Y.I * _ . . un; Kuuiuiuiii-e oi a uuicn grocer s hoy. "I'm off, professor," Quest whispered. "You shall hear from ino soon. I have not been here, remember!" He ran lightly down the steps and into the kitchen, picked up a basket, filled ft haphazard with vegetables and threw a cloth over the top. Then ho made his way to the front door, peered >4 out for a moment, swung through it on to the step, and, turning round, commenced to belabor It with his fist. Two plain-clothes men stood at the end of the street. A police automobile drew up outside the gate. Inspector French, attended by a policeman, stepped out. The former looked searchIngly at Quest. "Well, my boy, what are you doing hero?" ho asked. "I cannot answer yet," Quest replied, in broken English. "Ten minuts already have I wasted. I have knocked at all the floors.'' French smiled. "You run along home," he said, "and tell your master that ho had better leave off delivering goods here for the present." Quest went off, grumbling. French.^ opened the door with a master key and secured it carefully, leaving one of his men to guard it. He searched the rooms on the ground floor and finally ascended to Quest's study. The pro feasor v.as still enjoying his cigar. "Say, where's Quest?" the inspector t v asked promptly. . "Have you let him out already?" the j professor replied, in a tone of mild surprise. "I thought he was in the ^ j Tombs prison." The inspector pressed on without answering. Every room in the house was ransacked. Presently he came back to the room where tin* professor mn-M., With Marvelous Rapidity, the Chang* I Was Effected. was still sitting. His usually goo^frhumored faoe was a little clouded. "Professor/' be began? "What's the matter, Miles?" A plain-clothes man from the street had come hurrying Into the room. "Say, Mr. French," he reported, "our, fellows have got hold of a . newsie down fn the street, who was coming along 'way round the back and saw two men enter this house by the side ^ entrance, half an hour ago. One he X !