Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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gtsp'b , Kovelized from the Photo Play of the So J Film Manufacti This intp^estin<r instalment of the Black Box will be shown in motion pictures at the Casino Theatre Thursday night. SYNOPSIS. I Sanford Quest, master criminologist o! the world, finds that in bringing to justice Macdougul, the murderer of Lord Ashleigb's daughter, he has but just begun a life-aml-death struggle with a mysterious master criminal. In a hidden hut in Professor Ashleigh's garden he has seen an anthropoid ape skeleton and a living inhuman creature, half monkey, half man, destroyed by fire. In his rooms have appeared from nowhere black boxes containing sarcastic, threatening notes, signed by a pair of armless hands. Laura and I/cnora. his assistants, suspect Craig. tlu* professor's servant, of a double murder. The black boxes continue to appear in uncanny fashion. Craig is trapped by Quest, but escapes to Kngland, where Quest, Lenora and the professor follow him. Lord Ashleigh is murdered by the Hands. l.enora is abducted in London and rescued. Craig is captured and escapes to Port Said. 1 , TENTH INSTALLMENT V ? CHAPTER XXII. i? ? THE SHIP OF HORROR. ""** . ] Quest leaned a little forward and; gazed down the line of steamer chairs. The professor, In a borrowed overcoat and cap, was reclining at full length, etudving a book on seagulls which he had found in the library. Laura and Lenora were both dozing tranquilly. Mr. Harris of Scotland Yard was deep in a volume of detective stories. "As a pleasure cruise." Quest re-i marked grimly, "this little excursion seems to be a complete success." Laura onenod hor cvp? nt nnpo "Trying to get my goat again, eh?" she retorted. "I suppose that's what you're after. Going to tell me, I suppose, that it wasn't Craig I saw aboard this steamer?' "We are all liable to make mis-; takes," Quest observed, "and 1 am in- i clined to believe that this is one of yours." Laura's expression was a little dogged. "If he'd too clever for you and Mr. Harris," she said, "I can't help that. I only know that he came on board. My eyes are the one thing in life I do believe." * "If you'll excuse me saying so. Miss Laura," Harris ventured, leaning deferentially towards her, "there isn't a passenger on board this ship, or a servant, or one of the crew, whom we , haven't seen. We've been into every stateroom, and we've even searched vthe hold_. We've been oyer JJye shin, backwards 'and forwards. The cap5 tain's own steward has been our guide. ,and we've conducted an extra search on our own account. Personally, I must say I have come to the same conclusion as Mr. Quest. At the present moment there is no such person as the man we are looking for on board this steamer." "Then ho either changed into another one," Tvaura declared obstinately, "or else he jumped overboard." " "Come on, Harris, you arrd I promised to report to the captain this morning. I don't suppose he'll be any 'too pleased with us. Let's get through with *fhe two men walked down the deck together. They found the captain alone in his room, with a chart spread out In front of hiin and a pair of compasses in his hand. He turned round greeted them. ' "Well?" "No luck, sir." Quest nnnrtiinrprl "Your steward has given us every as- J slstance possible and we have searched the ship thoroughly. Unless he has found a hiding place unknown to your steward, and not apparent to us, the man Is not on hoard." The captain frowned slightly. "You are not suggesting that this is possible, T suppose?' "Quest did not at once reply. He was thinking of Uaura's obstinacy. "Personally," he admitted, "I should not have believed it possible. The young lady of our party, however, who declares that she saw Craig board the steamer, Is quite immovable." "Brown," said the captain, turning to the steward, "1 understand that you say that you have taken these gentlemen into every corner of the ship, that you have ransacked every possible hiding place, that you have given them every possible opportunity of searching for themselves?" "That is quite true, sir," the man acknowledged. "You agree with me that it is impossible for anyone to remain hidden I ? OH 1U lUlb HUip I "Absolutely, sir." "You hear, gentlemen?" the captain containued. "I really can do no more. What the mischief are you hanging about for, Brown?" he asked, turning to the steward, who was standing by with a carpet-sweeper In his hand. "Room wants cleaning out badly, air." The captain glanced distastefully at the carpet-sweeper. LACK. BOX r Qsi QppsMP1 ime Name. Produced by the Universal urlng Company. "Do it when I am at dinner, then," he ordered, "and take that damned thing away." The steward obeyed promptly. Quest and Harris followed him down the deck. "Queer-looking fellow, that," the latter remarked. "Doesn't seem quite at Uts cp.se, does he?" "Seemed a trifle overanxious, 1 thought, when he was showing us round the ship," Quest agreed. "Mem.," Harris murmured, softly, "as the gentleman who wrote the volume of detective stories 1 am reading puts it, to keep our eye on Brown." . . . The captain, who was down to dinner unusually early, rose to welcome Quest's little party, and himself arranged the seats. They settled down into the places ! arranged for them. An elderly lady, dressed in somewhat oppressive black, with a big cameo brooch at her throat and a black satin bag in her hand, was being shown by the steward to a seat by Quest's pi'bv She acknowledged the captain's greeting acidly. * "Good evening, captain," she said. "I understood from the second steward that the seat on your right hand would be reserved for me. 1 am Mrs. Foston Howe." The captain received the announcement calmly. "Very pleased to have you at the table, madam," he replied. "As to the seating, I leave that entirely to the steward. I never interfere myself." Laura pinched his arm, and Lenora glanced away to hide a smile. Mrs. Foston Howe studied the menu disapprovingly. "Hors d'oeuvres," she declared, "I never touch. No one knows how lnnc they've been opened. Bouillon?I will 1 have some bouillon, steward." "In one moment, madam." The professor came ambling along towards the table. "I fear that I am a few moments late," he remarked, as he took the chair next to Mrs. Foston Howe. I of- ; fer you my apologies, captain. I con- 1 gratulate you upon your library. 1 have i discovered a most interesting book up- ' on the habits of seagulls. It kept me engrossed until the very last moment, and I am hungry." "Well, you'll have to stay hungry a long time at this table then," Mrs. Foston Rowe snapped. "Seems to me that the service is going to be abominable." . ?? The steward, who had just arrived, presented a cup of bouillon to Quest. The others had all been served. Quest stirred it thoughtfully. "And as to the custom," Mrs. Foston Rowe continued, "of serving gentle- j men before ladies, it is, I suppose, peculiar tQ this steamer." Quest hastily laid down his spoon, . raised the cup of bouillon and pre- j sented it with a little bow to his neigh- i bor. "Pray allow me. madam," he begged. ! "The steward was to blame." Mrs. Foston Rowe did not hesitate for a moment. She broke up some toaat in the bouillon and commenced * to sip it. ' * ] The spoon suddenly went clattrring | from her lingers. She caught at the Bides of the table, there was a strange , _ ^ ^ "A Message From the Hands! Look!" look In her face. With scarcely a murmur she fell back in her seat. I Quest leaned hurriedly forward. There was a slight commotion. The doctor came hurrying up from the otli I er siae or tn? saloon. He bent over her and his face grew grave. "What Is it?" the captain demanded. The doctor glanced at him meaningly. | "She had better be carried out," he whispered. "Was it a faint?" Lenora asked. "We shall know directly," the cap THE HORRY HER tain replied. "Better keep your places 1 think. Steward, serve the dinner as usual." The man held out his hand to withdraw the cup ot bouillon, but Quest drew it towards him. "Let it wait for a moment," he ordered. He glanced at the captain, who nodded back. In a few moments the doctor reappeared. He leaned down and whispered to the captain. "Dead!" Quest turned around. "Doctor," he said, "I happen to have my chemical chest with me, and some special testing tubes. If you'll allow me, I'd like to examine this cup of bouillon. You might come round, too, if you will." The captain nodded. "I'd better stay here for a time," ho decided. "I'll follow you presently." The service of dinner was resumed. i,aura, However, sent plate after plate away. The captain watched her anxiously. "1 can't help it," she explained. "I don't know whether you've had any talk with Mr. Quest, but we've been through some queer times lately. I guess this death business is getting on my nerves." The captain was startled. "You don't for a moment connect Mrs. Foston Rowe's death with the criminal you are in search of?" he exclaimed. Laura sat quite still for a moment "The bouillon was offered first to Mr. Quest,' she murmured, j The captain called his steward. "Where did you get the bouillon from you served?that last cup, especially?" he asked. "From the pantry just as usual, sir," the man answered. "It was all served out from the same caldron." "Any chance of anyone getting at it?" & '*** "Quite impossible, sir." In Quest's stateroom the doctor, the professor, Quest and Lenora were all gathered around two little tubes, which the criminologist was examining with an electric torch. "No reaction at all," the latter muttered. "This isn't an ordinary poison, anyway." The professor, who had been standing on one side, suddenly gave vent to a soft exclamation. "Wait!" he whispered. "Wait! I have an idea." He hurried off to lii3 stateroom. The doctor was poring over a volume of tabulated poisons. Quest was still watching his tubes. Lenora sat upon the couch. Suddenly the professor reappeared. lie was carrying a small notebook in his hand, his manner betrayed some excitement. He closed the door carefully behind him. "I want you all," he begged, "to listen very carefully to me. You will discover the application of what I am going to read when I am finished. Now, if you please." "This," he began, "is the diary of a tour made by Craig and myself in northern Egypt some fourteen years ago. Here is the first entry of import: MONDAY?Twenty-tilpe miles southeast of Tort Said. We have stayed for two days at a little Mongar village. I have today come to the definite conclusion that anthropoid apes were at one time denizens of this country. TUESDAY--Both Crnlg ami I have been a little uneasy today. These Mongars Into whose encampment we have found our way, are one of the strangest and fiercest of the nomad tribes. Thev are descended, without a doubt, from the ancient Mongolians, who invaded this country some seven hundred years before Christ, but have preserved in a marvelous way their individuality as a race. They have the narrow eyes and the thick nose base of the pure Oriental: also much o? his running. One of their special weaknesses seems to be the Invention of the most hideous forms of torture, which they apply remorselessly to their enem\c 3. '\n KONKSn.VY?'This has been a wonderful day for us, chiefly owing to what I must place on record as an act of great bravery by Craig, my servant. Early this morning, a man-eating lion found his way into the encampment. The Mongers behaved like arrant cowards. They fled right and left, icaylng the chief's little daughter, Feerda, at the brute's mercy. Craig, who is by no means an adept in Hie use of firearms, chased the animal as ho was making off with the child, and, more by good luck than anything el so. managed to wound It mortally. Ho brought the child back to the encampment just as the chief and the warriors of the tribe returned from a hunting expedition. Our position here is now absolutely secure. We ore treated like gods, and. appreciating my weakness for all i matters of science, the chief has today explained to mo many of the secret masteries of the tribe. Amongst other tilings, lie has shown me a wonderful secret poison. ifnown only to this tribe, which they cnll Veedotjizoo. Tt brings almost instant I death, and Is exceedingly difficult to trace. The addition of sugar causes a curious i condensation and resolves it almost to a white paste. The only antidote is a substance which ihov use here freely, and which is exactly equivalent to our camphor. The professor closed his book. Quest promptly rang the bell. "Some sugar." be ordered, turning to the steward. They waited In absolute silence. The suggestion which the professor's disclosure had brought to them was stupefying, even Quest's fingers, as a moment or two later he rubbed two knobs of sugar together so that the contents should fall Into the tubes of bouillon, shook. The result was magical. The bouillon turned to a strange shade of gray and began slowly to thicken. "It is Mongar poison!" the profes| sor cried, with breaking voice. They all looked at one another. "Craig must be here amongst us,* I Que3t muttered. "And the bouillon," Lfltira cried, clasping Quest's arm, "'the bouillon ALD, CONWAY, S. 0. - ' i iiirmiir^fro bbbbb jsb f "As a Pleasure Cruise," Quest Remar | Sue was meant for you!" ... I There seemed to be, somehow.' among all of them, a curious indis1 position to discuss this matter. Suddenly Lenora, who was sitting on the lounge underneath the portho10, r>dt out her hand and picked up a carcf' which wps lying by his side. She ' glanced at it, at first, curiously. Then she shrieked. "A message!" she cried. "A message from The Hands! Look?" They crowded around her. In that 1 same familiar handwriting was j scrawled across the face of the card | thes? f?*v words; ? h To Sanford Quest: You have escaped this time by a ^ ' chance of fortune, not because your wits are keen, not because of your own shrewdness; simply because Fate willed it. It will not be for long. Underneath was the drawing of the i clenched hands. } "There is no longer any doubt," Lenora said calmly. "Craig is on board. He must have been on deck a few minutes ago. It was his hand which placed this card on the porthole. . . . Listen! What's that?" There was a scream from the deck. They all recognized Laura's voice. Harris was out of the stateroom first, but they were all on deck within t?>n seconds. Laura was standing with one hand clasping the rail, her hand fiercely outstretched towards the lower part of the promenade deck. Through the darkness they heard the sound of angry voices. "What is it, Laura?" Lenora cried. She swung round upon them. "Craig!" she cried. "Craig! I saw his face as I sat in my chair there, talking to the captain. I saw j a man's white face?nothing else. lie 1 must have been leaning over the rail. I He heard me call out and he disappeared." The captain came slowly out of the shadows, limping a little, and followed by his steward, who was mur-j muring profuse apologies. "Did you find him?" Laura demand-' j ed. eagerly. "I did not," the captain replied, a little tersely. "I ran into Brown here and we both had a shake-up." "But he was there?a second ago!" Laura cried out. "I beg your pardon, miss," Brown ventured, "but the deck's closed at the end, as you can see, with sailj cloth, and I was leaning over the rail myself when you shrieked. There i wasn't anyone else near me, and no 1 one can possibly have passed round the deck, as you can see for yourself.' . "Very well, then," she said, "you people had better get a strait-waistcoat ready for me. If I didn't see Craig there, I'm going off my head." Quest had disappeared some seconds ago. He came thoughtfully back, a little later. "Captain,' he asked, "what shall you say if I tell you that I have proof that Craig is on board?" The captain glanced at Laura and restrained himself. 'I should probably say a great many things which I should regret afterwards, ' he replied, grimly. "'Sit down and we'll tell you what has happened in my room," Quest continued. He told the story, calmly and with-1 out remark. The captain held his | head. "The ship shall be searched," the captain declared, "once more. We'll look into every crack and every cupboard." Lenora turned away with a little shiver. It war one of her rare moments of weakness. "You won't find him! You won't And liiin!" she murmured. "And I am afraid!" ******* Lenora grasped the rails of the lltpnniPr nnr) orl ?i ?i r>i\r\ /lAH'nu'orHa <1 t : VI uuu ^4UllV>UVt UV/ " li " C*1 UO (?!/ the great barge full of Arab sailors and merchandise. In the near background were the docks of Port Said. It was their first glimpse of eastern atmosphere and color. "I can't tell you how happy I am," she declared to Quest, "to think that this voyage is over. Every night I have gone to bed terrified." Ke smiled grimly. t "Coming 011 shore, any of you?" Harris inquired. "We may when the boat moves up,' Quest replied. "The professor went off on the first barge. Here ho is, coming lack." A little boat had shot out from the docks, manned by a couple of Arabs 1 i \: ^.v^^v? svHsk^JK-' t '<.-' ' ' .v'.' -: isKttv'v V^^WPVSJ^^HB^Blir^BH ^ f nP^IHHIMI v \..wAfiwss^X'X.'.' ^rflP--* %\" -. fBU^^jS^^KBHEflKli V*>:> /:*^:^vyx:.:::3fc&*.:".*>*./. : ^SfSWSfiwi^BWwR^MM BM??i -~- 1 T " ked, "This Excursion Seems to Be a cess." They could see the professor seated in the stern. He was poring over a small document which he held in his hand. He waved to them excitedly. "He's got news!" Quest muttered. He camo straight to Quest and Len.pra and gripped the former by the arm. * 7, -r jr ' "Look!" ho cried. "Look!" He held out a card. Quest read it aloud: There Is not one amongst you with the wit of a Mongar child. Gcod-by! The Hands! "Where did you get it?" Quest demanded. "That's the point?the whole point!" the professor exclaimed excitedly. "He's done us! He's landed! That paper was pushed into my hand by a tall Arab, who mumbled something and hurried off across the docks. On the landing stage, mind!" The captain came and put his head out of the door. "Mr. Quest," he said, "can you spare me a moment? You can all come, il you like." They moved up towards him. The captain closed the door of his cabin Ho pointed to a carpet-sweeper whicl) lay against the wall. "Look at that," he invited. They lifted the top. Inside were several sandwiches and a small can ot tea. "What on earth is this?" Quest demanded. The captain, without a word, led them into his inner room. A huge lounge stood in one corner. He lifted tho valance. Underneath were some crumbs. "You see,' he pointed out, "there's room there for a man to have hidden, especially if he could crawl out on deck at. night. I couldn't make out J why the dickens Brown was always j sweeping out my room, and I took up J this thing a little time ago and looked at it. This is what I found." "Where's Brown?" Quest asked,' quickly. "I rang down for the chief steward," the captain continued, "and ordered Brown to be sent up at oiiv.e. The' chief steward came himself instead. It seems Brown went off without his wages, but with a huge parcel of bedding, 011 the first barge this morn-1 ing, before anyone was about." Quest groaned as he turned away. ' "Captain," * he declared, "I am ashamed. He has been here all the time and we've let him slip through our fingers. Girls," he went on briskly, turning towards Laura, who hadJ just come up, "India's off. We'll , catch this barge, if there's time. Our ! luggage can be put on shoro when the boat docks." The captain walked gloomily with ?Jbem to the gangway. "Professor," Quest asked, "how long would it take us to get. to this Mongar village you spoke about?" "Twa Ar ^ ? 1 ? ?u ui nit cc uajs, 11 w tJ ciin gKC camels," the other replied. "I see you agree with me, then, as to Craig's probable destination?" Quest nodded. "What sort of fellows are they, anyway?" he asked. "Will it be safe for us to push on alone?" "With me," the professor assured him, "you will be safe anywhere. 1 speak a little of their language. ( have lived with them. They are far more civilized than some of the interior tribes.' They disembarked and were driven to the hotel, still discussing their project. The professor had disappeared for some time, but rejoined them later. "It is all arranged," he announced. "I found a dragoman whom I knew. We shall have four of the best camels and a small escort ready to start tomorrow morning. Furthermore, I have news. An Englishman, whose description precisely tallies with Craig's, started off only an hour ago '.n the same direction. This time, at any rate, Craig cannot escape us." They made their way back to the hotel, dined in a cool, bare room, and sauntered out again into the streets. The professor led the way to a little building, outside which a man was volubly inviting all to enter. "You shall see one of the sights of Tort Said." he promised. "This is a real Egyptian dancing girl." A girl, who seemed to be dressed in little more than & winding veil, glided on to the stage, swaying and moving slowly to the rhythm of the monotonous music. She danced a measure which none of them except the protestor haul evtr seen before, coining . ? - -v.-r*isye X*'/?^ ' .low and then to close that they could | : i.nost fec i li r hot breath, and Lenora felt somewhut vaguely disturbed by Vj the gli*ter cf her eyes. jjS Suddenly I.aura leaned forward. p "I ook at the professor," she whis- A * pcred. * M Tlicy all turned their heads. A queer ^ chrngo seemed to have com? Into the 'X professor's face. His teeth were ' gloaming between, his parted lips, his , head was thrust forward a little, his eyes were filled with a strange, hard light. He was a transformed being, unrecognizable, perturbing. Even while they watched, the girl floated close to where he sat and leaned to-m wards him with a queer, mocking"^ smile. His hand suddenly descended I upon her foot. She laughed still more." ! There was a little exclamation from ? | Lenora. The professor's whole frame quivered. He snatched the anklet | from the girl's ankle and bent over it* ' She teuned towards him, a torrent of^ l . words streaming from her lips. The TITO Sir* ! n Jiuvvnivw' lull. <*. 1im> n 1 AM . L , hiiu kvivu iivi in livl u n 11 ittu'^ guage. She listened to him 111 amazement. The anger passed. She held out' both her hands. The professor still argued. She shook her head. Finally^ lie placed some gold in her palms. She* |? patted him on the cheek, laughed into $ his eyes, pointed behind and resumed n her jbo juik'et remained iu the-, , hand. j "Say, we'll ^et- out ot tnis." Quest I said. "The giris have had enough."/ ! The professor made no objection. 4 | "Congratulate me," lie said. "1 have 1 1 been a collector of Egyptian pold orna mentfl all my life. This is the one I anklet I needed to complete my oolleo* 9 tion. It has the double mark of the V Pharaohs. I recognized it at once. s~w There are a thousand like it, you would think, in the bazaars there. In reality there may be, perhaps, a dozen more in all Egypt which are genuine." ^ (j They all looked at one another. Their relief had grown too poignant for words. "Early start tomorrow," Quest reminded tliem. * ****** Lenora, a few nights later, lookedi down from the star-strewn sky which seemed suddenly to have dronned so much nearer to them, to the shadow thrown across the desert by the dancing flames of their fire. Laura rose to her feet. "Say, I'm going to get a drink," sheannounce 1. The dragoman who had been hover* ing around, bowed gravely and pointed: towards the water bottles. fl She took the horn cup from the j dragoman. "Have some yourself, if you want *** to, Hassan," she invited. Hassan bowed gravely, filled a cup and drank it off. He stood for a moment perfectly still, as though something were coming over him which lie failed to understand. Then his lips parted, his eyes for a moment seemed to shoot from out of his dusky skin. He threw up his arms and fell over on his side. Laura, who had only sipped^ her cup, threw it from her. She, too, reeled for a moment. The professor and Quest came running up, attracted by Lenora's shriek. "They're poisoned!" she cried. hmu _ tr ? ... ? ine veeaemzoo:" Quest shouted. "My God! Pull yourself together, Laura. Hold up for a minute." He dashed back to their little encampment and reappeared almost im- . mediately. He threw Laura's head ^ back and forced some liquid down her throat. "It's camphor!" he cried. "You'll be all right, Laura. Hold on to yourself."' He swung round to where the drago- ? i man was lying, forced his mouth open. but it was too late?the man was dead. Am* He returned to Laura. She stumbled y to her feet. She was pale, and drops J of perspiration were standing on her ^ /j forehead. She was able to rise to her * * feet, however, without assistance. "I am all right now," she declared. Quest felt her pulse and her forehead. They moved back to the fire. "We are within a dozen miles or sa f ? of the Mongar village," Quest said grimly. "Do you suppose that fellow &| could have been watching?" < They all talked together for a time'* 4Pr in low voices. The professor was in HflBCfl^^HQbfi^p^jfl^SPiP^Hj^H "Craig!" She CHed, "Craig! I Saw Hit Fact There." cllned to scout the theory of Craig hav- ' *