Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 40, Number 134, 17 April 1915 — Page 7

THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM. SATURDAY,'. "

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SEVENTH INSTALLMENT

3YN0P8IS. Banford Quest, master criminologist of the world, finds that In bringing to Justice Macdougal, the murderer of Lord Ashlelgh's daughter, he has but just begun a Mfe-and-death struggle with a mysterious master criminal. In a hidden hut In Professor Ashlelgh's garden he has seen an anthropoid ape skeleton and a living inhuman creature, half monkey, half man. destroyed by fire. In his room have appeared from nowhere black boxes, one containing diamonds torn from a lovely throat by a pair of armless, threatening hands, both with sarcastic, threatening notes signed by the inscrutable hands. He Is arrested for the murder of his valet. Ross Brown, and a Miss Qulgg. in his rooms. Laura and Lenora. his assistants, suspect Craig, the professor's valet. Lenora Is abducted by the threatening hands, but Is rescued. Quest clears himself of the murder charge, but fails to trap Craig. In his rooms anpther black box appears in the rifled safe and. returning the diamond a second time, the accompanying note tells him he has no chance against the inherited cunning of the ages. THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY , CHAPTER XVI. Something in the nature of a conference was proceeding in Quest's study. The professor was there, seated In the most comfortable easy-chair, smoking without relish one of his host's beat cigars, watching with nervous Impatience the closed door. Laura and Lenora were seated at the table, dressed for the street They had the air of being prepared for some excursion. Quest, realizing the professor's highly-strung state, had left him alone for a few moments and was studying a map of New York. The latter, however, was too ill at ease to keep silent for long. "Our friend French." he remarked, "gave you no clue,. I suppose, as to the direction in which his investigations are leading him?" Quest glanced up from the map. "None at all. I know, however, that the house In which Lenora here was confined is being watched closely." The professor glanced across towards the table before which Lenora was seated. "It seems strange," he continued, "that the young lady should hare so little to tell us about her Incarceration." Lenora shivered for a moment. "What could there be to tell," she asked, "except that It was all horrible, and that I felt thingsfelt dangers -which I couldn't describe." The professor gave vent to an impatient little exclamation. "I am not speaking of fancies," he. persisted. Tou had food brought to you, for instance. Could you never see the hand which placed It Inside your room? Could you hear nothing of the foot-" steps of the person who brought It? Could you not even 'surmise whether It were a man or a ' .A-Lenora -answered -him- with an evident effort, rue Lad barely, as yet, recovered from the shock of the swfuJ hours. "The pei-son who bought me the food," she . said, ' came at night never in the daytime. I never heard anything. The most I ever saw was once I happened to be looking towards the door and I saw a pair of hands nothing more setting down a tray. I shrieked and called out. I think that I almost fainted. When I found courage enough to look, there was nothing there but the tray upon the floor." The professor sighed as he turned away. "It is evident, I am afraid," lie said, "that Miss Lenora's evidence will help no one. As an expert In these affairs, Mr. Quest, does it not seem to you that her imprisonment was just a little purposeless? There seems to have been no attempt to harm her In any way." "Whoever took the risk of abducting her," Quest pointed out grimly, "did it for a purpose. That purpose would probably have become apparent in course of time. However we look at it, Mr. Ashlelgh, there was only one man who must have been anxious to get her out of the way, and that man was Craig. Here comes our friend French. I have an idea that he has something to tell us." They glanced expectantly towards the door as French entered. The inspector, who was looking very spruce and well-brushed, wished them a general good-morning. "I am going to propose a little excursion 'down Gayson avenue way," he announced. "Back to that house?" Lenora exclaimed with a grimace. The inspector nodded. "We have had those boys at the stallon," he went on, "and we have questioned them carefully. It seems that after they had picked up the ball, a man came out of the side entrance of the house, saw them reading Miss Lenora's message, and shouted after them. The boys had sense enough to scoot. The man ran after them but had to, give it up. Here is their description of him." The Inspector took a piece of paper from his pocket. They a!! waited breathlessly. "Had to drafr " ' cut of the boys, bit by bit," the Inspector rr '"d, "but boiled down and put Into reasonable 1 this is what It comes to: A man of medium height, rather thin, pale, and after running a short distance he put his hand to his heart, as though out of breath. One of the boys thought his nose was a little hooked, and they both remarked upon the fact that although he shouted after them, he used no swear words but simply tried to Induce them to stop. This description suggest anything to you, gentlemen?" "Craig," Lenora said firmly. "It Is a very accurate description of Craig," Sanford Quest agreed. The professor looked troubled, also a little perplexed. He said nothing, however. "Under these circumstances," the inspector continued, "I have had the house watched, and I propose that we now search it systematically." "What about the ownership of the house?" Quest asked, as he took up his hat. The Inspector nodded approvingly. "I am making a few inquiries in that direction," he announced. "I expect to have something to report very shortly." The professor stood drawing on his gloves. The vague look of trouble still lingered in his face. "Tell me again." he begged, "the name of the avenue in which this residence Is situated?" "Gayson avenue." the Inspector replied. "It's a bit out of the way but it's not a bad neighborhood." The professor repeated the address' to himself softly. For a moment he stood quite still. His manner showed signs of growing anxiety. He seemed to be trying to remember something. "The name." he admitted finally, as they moved

towards the door, "suggests to me, I must confess we are going to see the. house. Inspector?" "We are on our way - there now, sir that is if the young ladles are willing?" he added, glancing at Laura. "We've been waiting here with our hats on for the last half hour," Laura replied promptly. "You've stretched your ten minutes out some, Mr. French." The inspector maneuvered to let the others pass on, and descended the stairs by Laura's side. "Couldn't help it," he confided, lowering his tone a little. "Had some Information In about that house I couldn't quite size up. ' You're looking well this morning, Miss Laura." "Say, who are you guying!" she replied. "I mean, It," the inspector persisted. "That hat seems to suit you.", . .. ,. , Laura laughed at the top of her voice. They took their places In the automobile and drove off. As they neared the vicinity of Gayson avenue the professor began to show signs of tcnewed uneasiness. When they drew up at last outside the house he gave a little exclamation. "Mr. Quest,"' he said, "Inspector ..French,-1 deeply regret that I have a statement to make." They both turned quickly towards him. The inspector smiled in a confidential manner at Laura. It was obvious that he knew what was coming. "Some years ago," the professor continued, "I bought this house and made a present of It to -" ."To whom?" Quest, asked quickly. "To my servant Craig," the professor admitted with a groan. - . Lenora gave a little cry. She turned triumphantly towards the Inspector, "All recollection as to Its locality had escaped

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1 He Was Wearing Craig's Clothes, but His Face Was the Face of a Stranger. 2 The Staircase Began to Revolve. 3 "I Saw a Pair of Hands Setting Down a Tray."

me," the professor continued sorrowfully. "I remember that It was on the anniversary of his having been with me for some fifteen years that I decided to show him some substantial mark of my appreciation. I knew that he was looking for a domicile for his father and mother, who are since both dead, and I requested a house agent to send me in a list of suitable residences. This, alas! was the one I purchased." Quest glanced around the place. "I think," he said, "that the professor's statement now removes any doubt as to Craig's guilt. You are sure the house has been closely watched, inspector?" "Since I received certain Information," French replied, "I have had half-a-dozen of my best men in the vicinity. I can assure you that no one has entered or left it during the last twenty-four hours." They made their way to the piazza steps and entered by the front door. The house was an ordinary framework one of moderate size, in poor repair, and showing signs of great neglect. The rooms were barely furnished and their first cursory search revealed no traces of habitation. There was still the broken skylight in the room which Lenora had occupied, and the bed upon which she had slept was still crumpled. French, who bad been tapping the walls downstairs, called to them. They trooped down into the hall. The inspector was standing before what appeared to be an ordinary panel. "Look here," he said, glancing oat of the corner of his eye to be sure that Laura was there, "let me show you what I have just discovered." He felt with his thumb for a spring. In a moment or two a portion of the wall, about two feet In extent, slowly revolved, disclosing a small cupboard fitted with a telephone Instrument "A telephone," the Inspector remarked, pointing to it "in an unoccupied house and a concealed cupboard. What do yon think of that?" The professor shook his head. "Don't ask me," he groaned. French took the receiver from Its rest and called up the exchange. "Inspector French speaking," he announced. "Kindly tell me what Is the number of the telephone from which. I am speaklnr;, and who is tne subscriber?" He listened to the reply axui at sad, another question. . -- -r" - - '-- -v-- "

"Can you tell me when this instrument was last , used?. . . . When? . . Thank you!" The inspector hung up the receiver. "The subscriber's name," he told them dryly, "is Brown. The number is not entered . In the book, by request. The telephone was used an hour ago from a call office and connection was established. That , is to say that someone spoke from this telephone."' "Then if your men have maintained their search properly, that someone," Quest said slowly, "must be In the house at the present moment" "Without a doubt," the inspector agreed. "I am going to search the front room on vthe . first floor before we do anything else," said Quest. "I think that if you wait here I may be able to show you something directly." Quest ascended the stairs and entered a wholly unfurnished room on the left-hand side. He looked for a minute contemplatively at a large but rather shallow cupboard, the door of which stood open, and , tapped lightly with his forefinger upon the ' back part of it. Then he withdrew a few feet and, drawing out his revolver deliberately .fired Into the floor, a few inches inside.. There was a half stifled cry. The false back suddenly swung open and a man rushed out. Quest's revolver covered . him but there was no necessity for Its use.- Craig, -smothered with dust, ' his face white as a piece of marble, even his jaw shaking with fear, was wholly unarmed. He seemed, In fact, incapable of any form of resistance. "Walk' out of the room," Quest ordered, "In front of me so! Now turn to the right and go down the stairs." They all gave a little cry 'as they saw him appear, a trembling, pitiful creature, glancing around

like a trapped animal. . He commenced to descend the stairs, holding tightly to the banisters. Quest remained on the landing above, his revolver in his hand. French waited in the hall below, also armed. Laura gripped Lenora's arm in excitement. "They've got him now!" she exclaimed. "Got him, sure!" On the fourth or fifth stair Craig hesitated. He suddenly saw the professor standing below. He gripped the banisterB with one hand. The other he flung out in a threatening gesture. "You've given me away to these bloodhounds!" he cried "you, for whom I have tolled and slaved, whom I have followed all over the world, whom I have 6erved faithfully with the last breath of my body and the last drop of blood in my veins! You have brought them here tracked me down! You!" The professor shook his head sorrowfully. "Craig," he said, "you have been the best servant man ever had. If you are innocent of these crimes you can clear yourself. If you are guilty a dog's death is none too good for you." Craig seemed to sway for a moment upon his feet. Only Lenora, from the hall, saw that he was fitting his right foot into what seemed to be a leather loop hanging from the banisters. Then a wild shout of surprise broke from the lips of all of them, followed by a moment of stupefied wonder. The whole staircase suddenly began to re-. volve. Craig, clinging to the. banisters, disappeared. In a- moment or two there was a fresh click. Another set of stairs, almost Identical to the first, had taken their place. "The cellar!" Quest shouted, as he rushed down the stairs. "Quick!" They wrenched open the wooden door and hurried down the dark steps into the gloomy, unlit cellar. The place was crowded with packingcases and two large wine barrels stood in the corner. At the further end was a door. Quest rushed for it and stood on guard. . A moment later, however, he called to Laura and pressed his revolver into her hand, "Stand there," he ordered. "Shoot him if he tries to run out I'll search In the packing cases. He might be dangerous." The professor, out of breath, was leaning against one of the pillars, his arm passed around it for support Lenora, with Quest and French, searched hastily amongst the packing cases. Suddenly there

was a loud crack, the sound of falling masonry. followed by a scream from Laura. French, with a roar of anger, rushed towards her. She was lying on her side already half covered by falling bricks and masonry. He dragged her away. Just in time. " ' . ' . "My God, she's fainted!" he exclaimed. - "I haven't," Laura faltered, trying to open her eyes, "and I'm not going to, but I think my arm's broken, and my side hurts." "The fellow's not down here, anyway," Quest declared. "Let's help her upstairs and get her out of this devil's house." They supported her up the steps and found a . chair for her in the halL . . . - . The Inspector swung open the telephone cupboard and called for an ambulance. Then Quest, who had been' examining the staircase,-, suddenly gave a little exclamation. "He's done us!" he cried. "Look here, French, this Is the original staircase. . There's the leather loop. I know it because there was a crack on . the fourth ' stair. When we rushed down the cellar after him, he swung the thing round again . and simply walked out of the front door. Damn it, man, it's open!" They hurried outside. French blew his whistle. One of the plain-clothes men came running up from the avenue. He was looking a little sheepish. "What's wrong?" French demanded. "He's gone off," was the unwilling reply. "I guess that chap's given us the slip." "Speak up," French insisted. "The only place," the man went on, "we hadnt our eyes glued on was the front door. He must have come out through that There's been a motor-truck with one or two queer-looking chaps .

in it at the corner of the avenue there for the last ten minutes. I'd just made up my mind to stroll round and see what it was up to when Jim, who was on the other Bide, shouted out A man jumped up into it and they made off at once." Quest and the Inspector exchanged glances. "He's done us!" Quest muttered "done us like a couple of greenhorns!" The Inspector's rubicund countenance was white with fury. His head kept turning in the direction of Laura, to whom the professor was busy rendering first aid. "If I never take another Job on as long as I live," he declared, "111 have that fellow before I'm through!" CHAPTER XVII. The professor roused himself from what had apparently been a very gloomy reverie. "Well," he announced, "I must go home. It has been very kind of you, Mr. Quest, to keep me here for so long." Quest glanced at the clock. "Dont hurry, Mr. Ashleigh," he said. "We may get some news at any moment French has a dozen. men out on the search and he has promised to ring me up immediately he hears anything." The professor sighed. . "A man," he declared, "who for twenty years can deceive his master as utterly and completely as Craig has done me, who is capable of such diabolical outrages, and who, when capture stares him in the face, is capable of an escape such as he made today. Is outside the laws of probability. Personally, I do not believe that I shall ever again see the face of my servant, any more than that you, Quest, will entirely solve the mystery of these murders and the theft of the Rhelnholdt Jewels. What can we do against men who have revolving staircases and trolley-loads of river pirates waiting for them? You may be a scientific criminologist, Quest, but that fellow Craig is a scientific criminal, if ever there was one." Quest crossed the room towards his cigar cabinet and opened it His' little start was apparent to both of them. Lenora laid down the bag which she had Just lifted up. The professor leaned for-' ward In his chair. "What is it, Quest r he demanded. ' .. Quest stretched oat bis hand and picked op

from the top of the cigars s small Made box! Bs) laid It on the table. ( "Unless I am very much mlstakssV" ha said, "It Is another communication from oar mysterious friend." "Impossible!" the professor exclaimed laoareety.! "How can he have been here?" Lenora cried. Quest removed the lid from the box and drew out a circular card. Around the outside edge) was a very clever pen and Ink sketch of a Bfe buoy, and inside the margin were several seta

tences of clear handwriting. In the middle the signature the clenched hands! the message aload: . In the great scheme of things, the Rular nf tha Unlwaraa divided an amongst His children. Te one He gsrve sowar, te! another strength, to another beauty, but. Has! favorites He gave cunning. - - ... i They all looked at one another. "What does it meant Lenora i "A lifebuoy!" the professor mmiumed. J They both stared at Quest, who lent chewing hard at the end of bis cigar. . "Every message. be amid, speelinr batt to self, "has had soma slgnlflranrm What mean a lifebuoy?" He was silent for a moment TTaaci ' suddenly to the professor. "What did you call those men m. truck, professor liter pirates? And a WaitHe crossed the room towards Ids desst a turned with a Hat in his hand. He ran Ms . down it, stopped and glanced at the data. "The Durham, be muttered, "cargo destination Southampton, sails at high tide on tbe) 16th." Lenora. Is that calendar right? "It's the 16th. Mr. Quest." she answered, Quest crossed the room to the tdephoae. I want number one Central,'' he you! Put me through to Mr. French's ... Hello, French! Fve sot an Idea. Can come round here at once and bring; an antomobOs? I want to get down to the docks not where tb passenger steamers start from lower down. t Good! We'll waitQuest hung np the receiver. "See here, professor," he continued, "that . fellow wouldn't dare to send this message If ha weren't pretty sure of getting off. He's made sA his plans beforehand, but it's my belief we shall Just get our hands upon him, after sJL Presently they heard the automobile atop outside and French appeared. "Anything doing?" be asked. Quest showed him tbe card and the seiBng Hat. The inspector nodded. , "Say. that fellow's some sport!" he remarked admiringly. They hurried out to the automobile and started off for the docks. The latter part of their Journey was accomplished under difficulties, for the sUeet was packed with drays and heavy vehicles. They reached dock number twenty-eight at last, however, and hurried through the shed on to the wharf. There were no signs of a steamer there. "Where's the Durham? Quest asked one of the) carters, who was just getting his team together. The man pointed out to the middle of the river, where a small steamer waa lying. "There she is," he replied. "Shell bs off ta a few minutes. Yonll hear the sirens directly wham they begin to move down." Quest led the way quickly to tbe edge of the) wharf. There was a small tug there, the crew at which were Just making her fast for tbe night. "Fifty dollars If youTl take us out to the Dog ham and catch her before she soils," Quest Shoal ed to the man who seemed to be the captain. They clambered down the Iron ladder Jumped onto the deck of the tog. The seized the wheeL The two men who formed the) crew took off their coats and waiatcoasta. "Give it to her, Jim." the former ordered. then, here goes! Well just miss the ferry. They swung around and commenced their ney. Quest stood with bis watch In his They were getting np the anchor of the and from higher up the river cams the of steamers beginning to move on their way. 'Well make It all right," the captain them. They were within a hundred yards of the ham when Quest gave a little exclamation. the other side of the steamer another tug shot out away, turning back towards New York. TTndnTed up In the stern, half concealed in a tarpavuUa, wae a man in a plain black suit Quest, with a, Rttto shout, recognized the man at the helm from hie long brown beard. "That's one of those fellows who was ta the truck." he declared, "and that's Craig in the stern! We've got him this time. Say, captain. Ifs that tug I want Never mind about the steamer. Catch, it and ril make It a hundred dollars! "We've got her!" the captain exclaimed.' There's the ferry and the first of the steamers coming down in the middle. They'll hare to chuck it" Right ahead of them, biasing with lights, a huge ferry came churning the river np and ir; waves in their direction. On the other side, unnaturally large, loomed up the great bows of an ocean-going steamer. The tug was swan; round and they ran np alongside. The man with the; beard leaned over. "Say, what's your trouble?" he demanded. The inspector stepped forward. "I want that man you've got under the tar, paulin," he announced. "Say, you ain't the river police?" Tm Inspector French from headquarters, was the curt reply. "The sooner you hand him over, the better for you." "Do you hear that O'Toole?" the other remarked, turning around. "Get up, yon blackguard!" j A man rose from underneath the oilskin. Be' was wearing Craig's clothes bat his face waa the' face of a stranger. As quick as lightning Quest! swung round in his place. .1 "He's, fooled ns again!" he exclaimed. "Head her round, captain back to the Durham!" . . I The sailor shook his head.- I "We've lost our chance, guvnor," he pointed oat.; "Look!" - v. t , Quest set his teeth end gripped the lnspectora arm. - The place where the Durham had been anchored was empty. Already, half a mile down the river, with a trail of light behind and her siren shrieking, the Durham was standing oat soe tip's. . . x v -. . (To Be CofiMTrnedJ , , . ,