Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 40, Number 116, 27 March 1915 — Page 7

THIS RICHMOND PALLADIUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM, SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1915

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FOURTH INSTALLMENT

SYNOPSIS. ' San ford Quest, master criminologist of the world, finds that In bringing to Justice .Macdougal. the murderer of Lord Ashlelgh's daughter, he has but Just entered a lite-and-death contest with 4 mysterious master criminal. Engage-1 by Professor Ashleigh. Lord Ashlelgh'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 note contained in it, tgned by the armless hands, sarcastically suggests that the Rhelnholdt diamonds and the skeleton may be hidden together. While Laura, Quest's secretary, shadows Craig, the professor's valet. Quest and lienors, his assistant, find the skeleton in a hut in the professor's garden, and discover there an Inhuman creature, half monkey and half man. As the professor explains, the hut Is set 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 nota signed by the threatening bands. AN OLD GRUDGE CHAPTER X. 8anford Quest was smoking his after-breakfast clear with a relish somewhat affected by the measure of bis perplexities. Early though It was, Lenora was already In her place, bending over her desk, and Laura, who had Just arrived, was busy divesting herself of her coat and hat. Quest watched the latter impatiently. . "Well?" he asked. . Laura eame forward, straightening her hair with . her hands. "No go." she answered. "I spent the evening In the club and I talked with two men who knew Craig, but I couldn't get on to anything. From 11 I could hear 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,- Laura sighed. "The best thing we can do Is to get on to another job. The Rhelnholdt woman has got her Jewels back, or will hare at noon today. I bet she won't worry about the thief. Then the professor's moldly old skeleton was returned to him, even it It was burnt up afterwards. I should take on something fresh." "Can't be 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. Rule Craig out Any other possible person occur to you? Speak out, Lenora. You've something on your mind, I can see." Tm afraid youH laugh at me," she began tentatively. t "Won't hurt you If I do," Quest replied. "I can't help thinking of Macdougal.' Lenora" continued falterlngly. "He has never been recaptured. I don't know whether he's dead or alive.. He had a perfect 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 squelches 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. I always meant, when we had a moment's spare time, to look Into that fellow's whereabouts. Well take It on straight away.. Can't do any harm.". "I know the section, boss on the railway at the spot where he disappeared." Laura announced. "Then Just take the train down to Mountways that's tha nearest spot and get busy with him," Quest directed. "Try and persuade him to loan U3 the gang's handcar to go down the line. Lenora nnd I will come on In the automobile." "Take you longer." Lenora remarked, as she moved off to put on her Jacket. "The cars do it in a quarter of an hour." "Can't help that," Quest replied. "Mrs. Rhelnholdt'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 be 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 be 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 for his confidential valet "Ross," he asked, "who is there else here today besides 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. Rhelnholdt and Inspector French are to be here at twelve o'clock. If by any chance I should be a few moments late, ask them 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 no other instructions, sir?" he Inquired. "None," Quest replied. "You'll look out for the wireless, and you had better switch -the through cable and telegraph communication on to headquarters. Come along, Lenora." 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 be had appointed for 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. Horan. "This is Mr. Horan. the section boss," she explained. Mr. Horan shook hands. "Say, I've heard of yon, 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. "Ill take you along in the handcar." The section boss turned round and whistled, i From a little side track two men Jumped on to a i handcar, and brought it round to where they , were standing. A few yards away the man who waa

propelling It a great ' red-headed 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." ;.-.'; J "That's Quest the detective." the Irishman went on hoarsely. "That's the man -who got me five years in the 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?" v "Now then, you fellows," Horan shouted. "What are you hanging about 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 the section house. Quest looked after them curiously- . - "That's a big. fellow," he remarked.: "Whs did you call him? Red Gallagher? I seem to have seen him before." . . ' "He was the most troublesome fellow on the line once, although he was the biggest worker," the boss replied. . "He got five years In the penitentiary and that seems to have taken the spirit out of him." ' ' "I believe I 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 for about half a

1 He Set His Teeth and Jumped. mile. Then Horan brought them to a 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-band side here and in New York. I've had my eye on that hill for a long time. My impression is that he hid there." "I'll take your advice," Quest decided. "We'll spread out and take a little exercise in hill 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 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 he gave vent to a little exclamation. At the same time Laura called out. An inch or two of tweed was clearly visible through the strewn leaves. Quest, flat on his stomach, crawled a little way down, took out his electric torch from his pocket and brushed the stuff away. Then he clambered to his feet "Our search is over." he declared gravely, "and your troubles, Lenora. That is Macdougal's body." Lenora's face sank Into , her hands for a mo-, ment Quest stood on one side while Laura passed her arm around the other girl's waist Quest glanced at his watch. "I'll have to get," he said, "but 111 send someone along. Cheer up, Lenora." he added kindly. "Look after her, Laura." . Quest hastened along the road to 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 off when there' was a tremendous report. They stopped short The man Jumped down and looked at the back tire.' "Blowout," he remarked laconically. ' Quest frowned.' " - 7 "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

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Quest's expression changed. . His hand stole into his hip pocket - " "Tom." he explained, -'"that wasnt 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 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. ' "That's a rifle bullet, sure," he muttered. "Get on the wheel as quick as you can," Quest directed. "Here, I'll give you a. hand." He stooped 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 blow you to hell!" . , ; i 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 waa pointed directly at Quest's heart. "My mate's got you covered on the other side 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 the chauffeur's head. He rolled over and lay in the road. "Pitch him off amongst the bushes," Red Galla

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gher 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. "YouH know soon enough." Red Gallagher answered. "A matter of Ave 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 handcar house. Gallagher and his mate followed close behind. Quest paused on the threshold. "It's a filthy dirty hole." he remarked. "Can't we have our little chat out here? Is it money yOu want?" Gallagher glanced around. Then with an ugly push of the shoulder he sent Quest reeling into the Bhed. His great form blocked up the doorway. "No," 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 with your cursed prying into other people's affairs. Don't you remember me, eh? Red Gallagher?" "Of course I do," Quest replied coolly. "You garroted and robbed an old man and had the spree of your life. The old man happened to be a friend of mine, so I took the trouble to see that you paid for it Well?" "Five years of hell, that's what I had," the man continued, his eyes flashing, his face twitching with anger. "Well, you're going to have a little bit more than five years. This. 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 finally slammed the door. Quest heard the heavy footsteps of the two men as they turned towards 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 open- " ing and ran for the tower houBO. Behind him on ' 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 "fifty yards, yet 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 official badge. "Stop the freight" he shouted to the operator.

"Quick. Tin Sanford Quest. detecttTe-Hrpeelal powers from the chief commissioner." The man moved , to the signal. Another voice thundered In his ears. He turned swiftly round. The. Irishman's red head had appeared at the top of the staircase. "Drop that afgnal 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 la 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 tha freight - "This ain't your Job," the Irishman continued savagely. "We want the cop, and we're going to have him." Quest had stolen a yard or two nearer during this brief colloquy. Gallagher's mate from behind shouted out a warning Just a second too late. With a sudden kick. Quest sent the revolver. flying across the room, and before the Irishman could 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 whistled past Quest's head as he sprang to the window which overlooked the track. The freight had already almost paseed. Quest steadied himself for a supreme effort, crawled out on to the little steel bridge and poised himself for a moment The last car waa Just beneath. The gap between it and the previous

2 "You Don't You Don't Suspect Me of This?" one was slipping by. He set his teeth and Jumped on to the smooth top. Back . 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 staggered to his feet Already the horror of the murderer was in biB face as he glanced furtively around. "I never meant to drop him," he muttered. "I got mad at seeing Quest get off. That man's a devil." "What are we going to do?" the other demanded hoarsely. "There's the auto," Gallagher shouted. "Come on, come on, 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 their Job. In a few minutes the wheel was fixed. Clumsily but successfully, the great Irishman turned the car round away from the city. "She's a hummer," he muttered. "HI make her go when we get the hang of 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 be 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 sduare?" 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 he wasnt able to lay his hands on the thief." "That's your point of view, of course," Mrs. Rhelnholdt remarked. "I 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 she was becoming a little tactless. - "Of course," she sighed, "it is disappointing not to be able to lay your hands upon the thief. That Is where I suppose you must find the interference of an amateur like Mr. Quest a little troublesome sometimes. He gets back the property which Is what the private Individual wants, -but he doesn't secure the thief, which is, of course, the real end of the case from your point of view." ' "It's a queer affair about these Jewels." the inspector remarked. . "Quest hasn't told me the whole story yet Here we are on the stroke of time!": - - - - - - - . -.

The car drew up outside Quesffc bow 13 1 Inspector assisted hla companion tc alight ejsd , rang; the ben at the front door. There waa s somewhat prolonged pause. He rang; agate. "Never knew this to happen before." he ie marked. "That sort of secretary-valet of Mr. Quest , Ross Brown I think he oalte him la alwaye em the pot" They waited for some time. There we k till no answer to their summone. The Inspector . placed his ear to the keyhole. There was mot e, , sound to be heard. He drew beck, a Utile punted. At that moment his attention was caught by the fluttering of a little piece of white material caught In the door. He puUed It out It was a fragment of white-embroidery, and en It were several small tains. The Inspector looked at them and looked at his fingers. His face grew suddenly grave. "Seems to me," he muttered, "that there haa been some trouble here. I shall have to take liberty. If youll excuse me, Mrs. Rhelnholdt I think It would be better If you waited la the ear until I send out for you." "You don't think the jewels have beam stales) again?" she gasped. The Inspector made mo reply. Be had draws! from his pocket a little pass key and was fltttag? It Into the lock. The door swung; open. He moved It Into the lock. The door swung open. Onee more they were both conscious of that peculiar silence, which seemed to have la It some unnamable quality. He moved to the foot of tha stairs and shouted: . "Hello! Anyone there?" - " J ' There waa no reply. He opened the doors of the two rooms on the right hand side, where- Quest when be was engaged In any widespread affair, kept a stenographer and a telegraph operator. Both rooms were empty. Them he turned towards. Quest's study on the left hand side. French waf a man of Iron nerve. No power on earth could have kept back the cry which broko from his lips. few feet away from the door waa stretched the body of the secretary-valet On the other side of the room, lying as though she had lipped from the sofa, her head fallen on one sld In hideous fashion, was the body of Miss Qulgg. the Salvation Army young woman. French set hla teeth and drew back the curtains. In the clearer light the disorder of the room waa fully revealed. There had been a terrible struggle. Between whom? How? There was suddenly a piercing shriek. The In pector turned quickly around. Mrs. Rhelnholdt. who had disregarded his advice, was standing on the threshold. "Inspector!" she cried. "What haa happenedf Oh. my God!" She covered her face with her hands. Frencm gripped her by the arm. At that moment them was the sound of an automobile stopping outside. "Keep quiet for a moment" the Inspector whispered in her ear. "Pull yourself together, madam. Go to the other end of the room. Don't look. Stay there for a few momenta 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. Roes?" There was no reply. The door was pushed open. Quest entered, fol lowed 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 he looked across to the sofa. Then he looked at French. "My God!" he muttered. The professor pushed past He had looked around the room, and gazed at the two bodies with an expression of blank and absolute terror. Then he fell back Into Craig's arms. "Know anything about this?" Quest asked quickly. "Not a thing." the Inspector replied. "We ar- . rived, Mrs. Rhelnholdt and I, at five minutes pest twelve. There was no answer to our ring. I used my pass key and entered. This Is what I found." Quest stood over the body of his valet tor moment The man was obviously dead. The inspector took his handkerchief and covered up tha head. A few feet away was a heavy paperweight "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 thumb) might have been. "The hands again." he muttered. The Inspector nodded. "Can you make anything of It?" "Not yet" Quest confessed. "I must think." The Inspector glanced at him curioucly. "Where on earth have you been to?" he do manded. "Been tor Quest repeated. "Look in the mirror!" French simre-ted. Quest glanced at himself. IIU collar bad xlvcs way, his tie was torn, a button ar d smci of lbs cloth bad been wrenched from his coat IU trousers were torn and he was covered with dut "I'll tell you about my trouble a little !a!r on he replied. "Say, cant wo keep those airU ot?" They were too late- Laura and Lanora wre at ready upon the threshold. Quest swung rounC t wards them. "Girls." he said, "there haa btu eme troubU here. Go and wait upstairs, Lenora. or sit la tha hall. Laura, you had better telephone to the po . lice station, and for a doctor. That'a right lent l inspector?" "Yes!" the latter assented thoughtfully. French stooped ard picked up a small clock. V, had stopped a', eleven-fiftcen. He looLel at ft thoughtfully. ' "Quest" he went on. Til bate to ask you a que . ... ...

"Why not?" Quest replied looking qolcMr mm. "Where were you at eleven-fifteen?" "On tower No 10 of the New York Central. ' scrapping for my life."' Quest . answered grimly. Tve reason to remember it" Something la the Inspector's steady case Mcmed to Inspire the criminologist with a new Idea. He) came a step forward, a little frown up hla forehead. - " Y -" ' '' " ' ' "Say. French." he exclaimed. " "you ' don't yon don't suspect me of this?" - French waa unmoved. He Icoked Quest In the eyes. : ,. '.' -I don't know' ha said. . v : r v . . jTq- Be Continued) : ,