Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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SIX r~" BThe BUS 0 By ?. PHILLIP g Author* of "Mr, K j I Car lor 44 7Y?? 11 i engorr *'T7ieL+ B i Novelised from the moHon picture dn R { | Universal 1 ilm Manufacturing i i jxhoto?roph? from the n '{Uopyrigbt, 1916, This interesting instalment of the Black Box will be shown in motion pictures at the Casino Theatre Thursday night. SYNOPSIS. Sanford Quest, master criminologist of the world, finds that In bringing to justice Macdougal, the murderer of Lord Ashleigh's daughter, he has but just begun a life-and-death struggle with a mysterious master criminal. In a hidden hut in Professor Ashleigh's garden he has seen an ape skeleton and a living creature, half monkey, half man, destroyed by fire. In his rooms have appeared black boxes containing notes, signed by a pair of armless hands. Laura and Lonora, his assistants, suspect Craig, the professor's servant, of a double murder. The black boxes continue to appear in uncanny fashion. Craig, trapped, escapes to England. Quest, lienor a and the professor follow him. Lord Ashleigh is murdered hy the hands. Craig, captured, escapes to Port Said. Quest and his party follow, and beyond Into the desert. They are captured by Mongars. escape with Craig as their I captive, and turn him over to Inspector j Krenoh in San Erancioco. lie escapes in 1 a train wreck, outgenerals his pursuers, j and starts back to New York. FOURTEENTH INSTALLMENT A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. CHAPTER XXXI. There was a peculiar, almost foreboding silence about the camp that morning when Laura returned from her early ride. The only living person j to be seen was the Chinaman, sitting, on a stool in front of the wagon with A dish of potatoes between his knees, j "Say, where's everyone?" Laura Bang out. after she had looked into Lenora's tent, and found it empty. The Chinaman looked up at her malevolently. "All gone," he announced. "Cowboys gone workee. Missee gone hurry up find Mr. Quest." Laura hesitated, puzzled. Just then the professor came cantering in with a bundle of grass in his hand. He glanced down at the Chinaman, "Good morning, Miss Laura!" he said. "You don't seem to be getting on with our friend here," he added in an undertone. "Pshaw!" she answered. "Who cares what a chink thinks! The fellow's an idiot. I'm worried, professor. Lenora's gone out after Mr. Quest and the inspector. She wasn't lit to ride a horse. I can't make out why she's attempted it." The professor unslung some fieldglasses from his shoulder and gazed steadily southward. "It is just possible," he said, softly, "that sho may have received a warning of that." He pointed with his forefinger. Laura peered forward. There was something which seemed to be just a faint cloud upon the horizon. The professor handed her his glasses. "Why, it's a tire!" she cried. The professor nodded. "Til a f o a ?J </ viuv i? jji un ic in c, ui: 1 fjMltiU "very dangerous, though, these dry seasons. The flan, s move so quickly that if you happen to be in a certain position you might easily be cut off." Laura turned her horse round. "Come on. professor!" she exclaimed. "That's what it is. Lenora's gone to try and warn the others." They rode to the very edge of the tract of country which was temporarily enveloped in smoke and flame. J Here they pulled in their horses and the professor looked thoughtfully through his field glasses. Laura gave a little cry and pointed with her riding whip. About twenty1 yards farther on, by the side of the' road, was a small white object. She cantered on, swung herself from her horse and picked it up. "Lenora's handkerchief!" she cried. The professor waved his arm west-! ward. "Here come Quest and the inspector. They are making a circuit to avoid the fire. The cowboy with them ,.\ A 1 - - * in urn. nuve biiuwn inem me way. we'd bettor hurry up and find out if they've seen anything of Miss Lenora." They galloped across the rough country towards the little party, who "were now clearly in sight. From the center of one of the burning patches they saw a riderless horse gallop out, stop for a moment with his head almost between his forelegs, shake himself furiously and gallop blindly on again. Laura would have turned her horse, but the professor checked her. "Let us wait for Quest," he advised. The cowboy, riding a little behind the two others, had unlimbered his lariat, swung it over his head and secured the runaway. Quest galloped up to where Laura and the professor were waving frantically. "Say, that's some Are!" Quest exclaimed. "Did you people come out to see it?" "No, we came to find Lenora!" Laura answered, breathlessly. "That's her horse. She started to meet you She must be somewhere?" "Lenora?" Quest Interrupted, fierce* ly. "What do you mean?" I ? .CKBOX | S OPPENHEIM 1 i i i . Grex of Monte !! 5 Vanished Mess- !! n ightcd WcwS'etc. \ j ?_ 0 ?? , ^ una of the aame name produced by <he ^ Company, Illustrated with IJ lotion picture production ^ by Otis F. Wood.) "When I got back to camp/' :Laura continued, rapidly, "there wasn't a soul there except the Chinaman. He told me that Lcnora had ridden off a few, minutes beforo to find you. We came to look for her. We found her handkerchief on the road there, and that's her horse." Quest did not wait for another word. He jumped a rough bush of scrub on the right-hand side, galloped avor the ground, which was already hot with the coining lire, and followed along down the road which Lenora had passed. When he came to the lirst bend, he could hear the roar of tlames in the trees. A volume of smoae almost blinded him; his horse became wholly unmanageable. He slipped from the saddle and ran on, staggering from right to left like a drunken man. I About forty yards along the road, Le! nora was lying in the dust. A volume of smoke rushed over her. The tree under which sho had collapsed was already afire. A twig fell from it as Quest staggered up, and her skirt bo* gan to smoulder. He tore off his coat, wrapped it around her. beat out the firo which was already blazing at her feet and snatched her into his arms. She opened her eyes for a moment. "Where are we?" she whispered. "The lire!" "That's all right," Quest shouted. we 11 uo out of it in a moment. Hold tight to my neck." "Say, that was a close shave," he faltered, as he laid Lenora upon the ground. "Another five minutes?well, we won't talk about it. Let's lift her on to your horse, Laura, and get back to the camp." CHAPTER XXXII. The professor laid down his book and gazed with an amiable smile towards Quest and Lenora. "I fear," he remarked, dolefully, "that my little treatise on the fauna of the northern Orinoco scarcely appeals to you, Mr. Quest." Quest, whose arm was in a sling, but who was otherwise none the worse for his recent adventure, pointed out of the tent. "Don't you believe it, professor," he begged, "I've been listening to every word. But say, Lenora, just look at Laura and French!" They all three peered anxiously out of the opening of the tent. I^aura and the inspector were very slowly approaching the cook wagon. Laura was carrying a large bunch of wild flowers, one of which she was in the act of fastening in French's buttonhole. "That fellow French has got grit," Quest declared. "Ho sticks to it all the time. He'll win out with Laura in the end, you mark my words." "We've wired for them to meet Craig," Quest said, after a short silence. "I only hope they don't let him slip through their fingers. I haven't much faith in his promise to turn up at the professor's. Lot's see what L^ura and French have to say." . . . "Can't sec any sense in staying on here any longer," was French's immediate. decision, '.'so long as you two invalids feel that you can stick the journey. Besides, we're using up these fellows' hospitality." They busied themselves for the next hour or two, making preparations. After their evening meal the two men walked with Lcnora and Laura to their tent. "1 think you girls had better go to bed." Quert suggested. "Try and get a long night's sleep." 'That's Jill very well," French remarked, "but it's only eight o'clock. What about a stroll, Miss Laura, just up to the ridge?" Laura hesitated for a moment and glanced towards Lcnora. "Please go," tho latter begged. "I really don't feel like going to sleep just yet." 'I'll look after Lcnora," Quest promi ised. "You have your walk. There's I the professor sitting outside his tent. Wouldn't you like to take him with you?" Laura glanced indignantly at him as they strolled out, and Lcnora laughed softly. "How dared you suggest such a thing!" she murmured to Quest. "Do look at them. Tho inspector wants her to take his watch and she can't quite make up her mind about it. Why, i Laura's getting positively frivolous." When tho inspector returned Quest handed him a telegram: : To Inspector French, Allguez, N. M.: Very sorry. Craig gave us slip after :leaving depot. Niece disappeared from address given. No clues at present, i When are you returning? French swore softly for a moment. Then he dropped into a chair. "This," he declared, "is our unlucky evening." CHAPTER XXXIII. The woman who had just laid the cloth for a homely evening meal I smiled across at the girl who stood THE HORRY HERJ | at the window. "It's all ready now directly your uncle comes home," she announced. Mrs. Malony camo to the girl's side. "Your poor unci3 looks as though a little peace would do him good," she remarked. The girl sighed. "Tf only T could do something for him!" she murmured. 'Hes in Bome kind of trouble, 1 think,' Mrs. Malony observed. 'He 1b not what you might call a communicative person, but it's easy to see that he is far from being happy in himself. You'll ring when you're ready, Miss Mary?" The door was suddenly opened and Craig entered. 'Look across the road," he begged. "Tell me tf there is a man lit a hin? serge suit and a bowler hat, smoking a cigar, looking across here.' Mrs. Malony and the girl both obeyed. The girl was the first to speak. "Yes,' she answered. "He is looking straight at these windows." Craig groaned and sank down upon a chair. "Leave us, if you please, Mrs. Malony," ho ordered. "I'll ring when I'm ready." j ; The landlady left the room silently. | The girl came over to her uncle and threw her arm around his neck, i llo patted her head, felt in his pock, ets and drew out a little paper bag, from which ho shook a bunch of vioI lets, "How kind you are to me!" she ex- s claimed. "You think of everything!" i Ho sighed. "If I had had you for a little longer. 1 Mary," lie said, "perhaps 1 should have i been a better man. tlo to the window, please, and tell 1110 if that man is still there." Sho crossed the room with light footsteps. Presently she returned. "Ho is just crossing the street." she announced. "1 think that he seems + ? v.~ ;? 1 " i.v7 uu ruining ueit:. Craig took the girl for a minute into his arms. "Good-by, dear," he said. "I want you to take this paper and keep it carefully. You wili be cared for always, but I must go." "llut where must you go?" she asked, bewildered. "I have an appointment at Professor Ashleigh's," ho told her. "I cannot tell you anything more than that. Good-by." He kissed her for a moment passionately. Then suddenly he tore himself away. She heard him run lightly down the stairs. Some instinct led her to the back window. She saw him emerge from the house and pass down | the yard. Then she went to the front. ; i The man in the blue serge was talking to the landlady below. She sank into a chair, puzzled and unhappy. Then she heard heavy footsteps. The door was opened. The man in the blue serge ! suit entered, followed by the protesting landlady. "There's no sense in coming here | to worry the young lady," Mrs. Malony j declared, irritably. "As for Mr. Craig, 1 told you that he'd gone out."' "Gone out, eh?" the man repeated, speaking in a thick, disagreeable tone. "Why, I watched him in here not ten i minuies ago. inow then, young lady, "I Cannot Tell You Anything More. Good-Bty." guess you'd better cough up the truth. ! Where's this precious uncle of yours?" "My uncle has gone out," the girl replied, drawing herself up. "He left live minutes ago." "What's that in your hand?" he demanded. "Something my uncle gave me before he went out " the girl replied. "I haven't looked at it yet myself." "Give it here," he ordered. She spread it out upon the table. "You may look at it if you choose, ' she agreed. "My uncle did not tell me not to show It to anyone." They read it together. The few lines seemed to be written with great care. They took, indeed, the form of a legal document, to which was affixed the seal of a notary and the name of a witness: "ly John Craig, being about to receive the Just punishment for all my tins, hereby bequeath to my nie<*? Mary Carlton, all moneys and propJ erty belonging to me, a list of which A ' \ ? . ? t \ LD, CONWAY, S. 0. a, K"gire9H| ' V> KSESfe^i' ' ' JL: ^&V*gi KjKfiMK ;:-.. <*-*>. mWmtm YjHp,, |wfl :. : - "He Fought Too Hard," Quest she will find at this address. I make I one condition only of my bequest, and 1 beg my niece to fervently respfcet it. It is that she never of her own consent or knowledge speak to anyone of the name of Ashleigh, or associate with any of that name. JOHN CRAIG. The man folded up Iho paper. "I'll take care of this." lie said. "It's yours, rf^ht enough. We'll just need to borrow it for a time. Go a?:d get your hat And coat on, miss." "I shall not.' the girl objected. "My uncle told me, if anything happened to him, that I was to remain here.' "And remain here she shall, as long as she likes," Mrs. Malony insisted. "I've given my promise, too. to look after her, and Mr. Craig knows that I am an honest woman." "You may be that," the man replied, "but it's just as well for you both to understand this. I'm from the police and what I say goes. No harm will come to the girl, Mrs. Malony, and she shall come back here, but for the present she is going to accompany me to headquarters. If you make any trouble, I only have to blow my whistle and I can fill your house with policemen." "I'll go," the girl whispered. In silence she put on her hat and coat, in silence she drove with him to the police station, where she was shown at once into the inspector's office. The man who had brought her whispered for a moment or two with his chief and handed him the paper. Inspector French read it and whistled softly. lie took up the telephone by his side. "Say, you've something of a find here," he remarked to the plainclothes man. "Put me through to Mr. Quest, please," he added, speaking into the receiver. The two men whispered together. The girl stole from her place and turned over rapidly the pages of a directory which was on the round table before her. She found the "A's" quickly. Her eye fell upon the name of Ashleigh. She repeated the address to herself and glanced around. The two men were still whispering. For the moment she was forgotten. She siuiu on npioe across me room, ran clown the stone steps and hastened into the street. CHAPTER XXXIV. The professor, who was comfortably seated in Quest's favorite easy chair, glanced at his watch and shook his head. "I am afraid, my friend," he said, "that Craig's nerve has failed him. A voluntary surrender was perhaps too much to hope for." Quest smoked for a moment in silence. Ilis servant entered hearing a note. "This was left a few minutes ago, sir," he announced, "by a messenger boy. There was no answer required." The man retired. Quest unfolded lie sheet of paper. His expression suddenly changed. "Listen!" he exclaimed. To Sanford Quest: i Gather your people In Professor Ashleigh's library at ten o'clock tonight. I will be there and tell you my whole^tory. JOHN CRAIG. rP L A nmf Aofi/\n on m. uu IJ i vjivooui oui ivji a niuiiiiiii speechless. "Then he meant It. after all!" he exclaimed at last. "Seems like It," Quest admitted. "I'll just telephone to French." The professor rose to his feet, knocked the ash from his cigar, struggled into his coat and took up his hat. Then he waited until Quest had completed his conversation. The latter* a face had grown grave and puzzled. It was obvious that he was receiving Information of some importance. He put down the instrument at last with a curt word of farewell. The professor moved towards the door. "If only this may prove to be the end!" he sighed. Quest spent the next hour or so in restless deliberations. Th^re were still many things which puzzled him. At about a quarter past nine Lenora r? - t* ^ 'f ||/^ ^ J n ^ i i1 t Said Gravely. "HJe ,R Dead!" and Laura arrived, dressed for their ' expedition. "I'm afraid we arc in for a had thunderstorm, girls," Quest remarked, j Laura laughed. "Who cares? The automobile's there, Mr. Quest." "Let's go, then," ho replied. They descended into tho street and drove to the professor's house in silence. Even Laura was feeling tho | strain of these last hours of anxiety. I On the way they picked up French | and a plain-clothes man and the whole 1 i party arrived at their destination just 9.9 tho storm broke. Tho professor I met them in the hall. He, too, seemed | to have lost to some extent his cus| tomary equanimity. "Come this way, my friends," he invited. "If Craig keeps his word, he ' will be here now within a few min j utes. This way." They followed him Into the library. Chairs were arranged around the table in the middle of the room and they ! all sat down. The professor took out his watch. It was five minutes to ten. "In a few minutes.' ho continued > solemnly, "this weight is to be lifted , from the minds of all of us. I have coine , to the conclusion that on this occa- ! sion Craig will keep his word. I am j not sure, mind, but I believe that he is in the house at this present moment. 1 have heard movements in the room which belonged to him. 1 have not interfered. I have been content to wait." | "He has at least not tried escape," Quest remarked. ''French here brought news of him. Ho has been living with his niece very quietly, but without any particular attempt at concealment or any signs of wishing to leave the city." "1 had that girl brought to my office,'' French remarked, "barely an hour ago, 1 but she slipped away while we were talking. Say, what's that?" They all rose quickly to their feet. ! In a momentary lull ot the storm they could hear distinctly a girl's shrill calling from outside, followed by the clamor of angry voices. I "Gee! I bet that's the girl," French exclaimed. "She'd been looking up the professor's address in a directory." They all hurried out into the hall, j | The plainclothes man whom they had j left on guard was standing there with hia hnnd nnnn frain'o **?M Ui?4?U ViyV/li VI Urlg D W1IC11 . X HO . girl, Hobbing bitterly, was clinging to his arm. Craig was making desperate efforts to escape. Directly he saw the little party issue from the library, however, the strength seemed to pass from his lin>os. lie remained in the clutches of his captor, limp and helpless. "I caught the girl trying to make her way into the house,' the latter explalned. "She called out and this man came running downstairs, right into my arms." "It is quite all right," the professor said, in a dignified tone. "You may release them both. Craig was on his way to keep an apointment here at ten o'clock. Quest, will you and the Inspector bring h'.m in? Let us resumo our places at the table.' The little procession made its way down the hall. The girl was still clinging to her uncle. "What are they going to do to you, these people?" she sobbed. "They slia'n't hurt you. They sha'n't!" Lenora passed her arm around the girl. "Of course not, dear," she said, soothingly. "Your uncle has come of his ov/n free will to answer a few questions, only I think it would be better if you would let me?" T .priorft I1AVAP flnlahaH Kor oontanno ? w. ^ V . w? iwtavvt MVI P^llWUVC* They had reached the entrance now to the library. The professor was stand ing in the doorway with extended hand, motioning them to take their places at the table. Then, with no 1 form of warning, the room seemed suddenly filled with a blaze of blue light. It came at first in .a thin flash ' from the window to the table, became immediately multiplied a thousand 1 times, played round the table In sparks, which suddenly expanded to 1 sheets of leaping, curling flame. The 1 roar of thunder shook the very foundations'of the house?and then silence. k For several seconds not ono of them % ,r J P J ii UIW seemed to have the power of speech.. An a iru. - in g thin^ had happened. The cr': tabic in the rtiidcilo of the room van a charred fragment, the chairs were every one blackened remnants. "A thunderbolt French gasped at ij last. Quest was the first to cross theroom. From the table to the outside / window was one charred, black line: which had burnt its way through the carpet. He threw open the window. The wire whose course he had foU lowed ended here with a little lump of queer substance. He broke it off from the end of the wire which was ^ absolutely brittle and natureless, and brought it into the room. "What is it?""Lenora faltered.. "Say, what have you got there?1* Flench echoed. Quest examined the strange-looking lump of metal Bteadily. The most curious thing about it seemed to be that it was absolutely sound and showed no signs of damage. He turned to theprofessor. ^ "1 think you are the only one who will be able to appreciate this, professor," ho remarked. "Look!" It is a fragment of opotan?a distinct and wonderful specimen of opotan." Everyone looked puzzled. "But what," Lenora inquired, "is opotan?" 'it is a new metal," Quest explained, gravely, 'towards which scientists have been directing a great deal of at-^ tention lately, it lias i.ne power of collecting all the electricity from the air around us. There arc a dozen people, at the present moment, conducting experiments with it for tha purpose of cheapening electric light J. If we ha J oeen in the room ten sec- * onds sooner?" Ho paused significantly. Then swung round en his hcci. Craig, now pitiful object, his hands nervously twitching, his face ghastly, was cowering in the background. "Your last little effort, Craig?" he demanded, sternly. Craig made no reply. The profes sor, who nad disappeared lor a moment, came back to them. "There is a smaller room across the hall," ho said, "which will do for our purpose." jj Craig suddenly turned and faced them. "I have changed my mind," he said. "I have nothing to tell you. Do what you will with me. Tako me to the Tombs, deal with mo any way you choose, but I have nothing to say." Quest pointed a threatening linger at him. "Your last voluntary word, perhaps,'* ho said, "but science is still your mas?4 ter, Craig. Science has brought many criminals to their doom. It shall take its turn with you. Bring him along, French, to my study. There is a way of dealing with him." ******* Quest felt his forehead and found it damp. There were dark rims under his eyes. Before him was Craig, with a littlo band around his forehead and the mirror where they could all see itJ The professor stood a little in the background. Laura and French were side by side, gating with diat.&nded eyes at the blank mirror, and Lenora was doing her best to soothe the terrified girl. Twice Quest's teeth came together and once lie almost reeled. "It's the fight of his life," he muttered at last, "but I've got him.' Almost as hn srmUp tliov nnni/i , ""-J Craig's resistance begin to weaken. The tenseness of his form relaxed. Quest's wlH.\v?.s triumphing. Slowly in the mirror they saw a little picture creeping from the outline into definite form, a picture of the professor's library. Craig himself was there with mortar and trowel, and a black box in his hand. "It's coming!" Lenora moaned. V Quest stood perfectly tense. TV& picture suddenly flashed into brilliant Ml Caught the Qirl Trying to Mfltkc Her Way Into the House." clearness. They saw Craig's features with almost lifelike detail. Prom the corner of that room where the professor was standing, came a smothered groan. It was a terrifying, a paralysing moment. Even the silence seemed charged with awful thlngaf Then suddeflin without??? "m1--! SIT ae