Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 40, Number 152, 8 May 1915 — Page 7

THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM, SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1915

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TENTH INSTALLMENT

SYNOPSIS. an ford Quest, master criminologist of the world, finds that In bringing to justice Macdougal, the murder, er of Lord Ashlelfth's daughter, he has but just begun a llfa-and-death "Struggle with a mysterious master criminal. In a hidden hut In Professor Ashlelgh's garden lie 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, lined by a pair of armless hands. Laura and Lenora. Is assistants, suspect Craig1, the professor's servant, of a double murder. The black boxes continue to appear In uncanny fashion. Craig is trapped by Quest, but escapes to England, where Quest, Lenora and the professor folic' him. Lord Ashlelgh Is murdered by the Hands. Lenora Is abducted In London and rescued. Cralg Is captured and escapes to Port Said. THE SHIP OF HORROR CHAPTER XXII. 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, studying 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," Q'-est remarked grimly, "this little excursion seems to be a complete success." Laura opened her eyes at once. "Trying to get my goat again, eh?" she ritorted. "I suppose that's what you're after. Going to tell me, I suppose, that it wasn't Cralg I saw board this steamer?" "We are all liable to make mistakes," Quest observed, "and I am inclined to believe that this is one of yours." Laura's expression was a little dogged. "If he's too clever for you and Mr. Harris," she eald, "I can't, help that. I only know that he came on board. My eyes aro the one thing in life I do believe." "If you'll excuse my saying bo, Miss Laura," Harris ventured, leaning deferentially towards her, "there isn't a passenger on board this ship, or a servant, or one of th crew, whom we haven't seen. We've been Into every stateroom, and we've even searched the hold. We've been over the ship, backwards and forwards. The captain'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 he either changed on to another one," Laura declared, obstinately, "or else he jumped overboard." Quest struggled to his feet and threw back the rug in his chair. "Come on, Harris, you and I promised to report to the captain this morning. I don'i. suppose he'll be any too pleased with us. Iet's get through with it." The two men walked down th deck together. "No luck, sir," Quest announced. "Your steward has given us every assistance 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 board." The captain frowned slightly. "You are not suggesting that that is possible, I suppose ?" Quest did not at once reply. He was thinking of Laura'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, "I understand you to 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 in tais ship?" "Absolutely, sir." "You hear, gentlemen?" the captain continued. "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 wartc cleaning cut badly, sir." The captain glanced distastefully at the carpetsweeper. "Do it when I am at dinner, then," he ordered, "and take that domned thing away." The cteward obeyed promptly. Quest and Harris followed him down the deck. "Qucor-look'.ng fellow, that," the latter remarked. "Doesn't seem quite ot h: r ase, does he?" "Seemed a trifle ovennxious, I thought, when he was showing u round the ship," Quest agreed. "Mem.,' Harris murmured softly, "as the gentleman w'io w-oto Uio volume of detective stories I am reading puts it, to keep our eye on Brown." . . . Tho captain, who was down to dinner unusually early, rose to welcome Quest's little party, and himself arranged the seats. "You, Mis Lencra," he said, "will please sit on my left, and vou. Miss Laura, on my right. Mr. Quest, will you sit on the other side r?f Miss Laura, and Mr. Harris two places down on my left. There is an old laUy who fctpects to be at the table, but tho steward tells me she hasn't been in yet." They ccttlcd down into the places arranged for them. An elderly lady, dressed in r.omewliat oppressive black, with a 6ig cameo hioocu at her throat and a black 3atin bag in her hani, was being shown by the steward to a seat by Quest's side. She acknowledged the '.laptatn'e greVJag acidly. "Good cvenlLg. captain," b'jo eaid. 1 understood fron. the. second att ard tfiat the scat on your right hand would be reeirred fur tso. I air. Mrs. Boston Row." The captain received the tnuiunomait calmly. "Very pleaded lo have ywn at the :-Me. madam:," be replied. "As to the aeatKjr ! lfr.e that entirely to the steward. I never interfere myself." Laura pinched his arm, ajid l.tmorr. glanced away to hldo a smile Mrs. FGtoa Rore studied tho menu disapprovingly. "Hors d'ocuvrcs," she declard, norrer touch. No ono knows how long they've teen opened. Bouillon I will ave scm 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 Rowe. I offer you my apologies, captain. I am very 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 gentlemen before ladies, it is, I suppose, peculiar to this steamer." Quest hastily laid down his spoon, raised the cup of bouillon and presented it with a little bow to his neighbor. "Pray allow me, madam," he begged. "The steward was to blame." Mrs. Foston Rowe did not hesitate for a moment. She broke up some toast in the bouillon and commenced to sip it. The spoon suddenly went clattering from her fingers. She caught at the sides of the table, there was a strange look in her face. With scarcely a murmur she fell back in her seat. There was a slight commotion. The doctor came hurrying up from the other side of the saloon. He bent over her and his face grew grave. "She had better be carried out," he whispered. "Was it a faint?" Lenora asked. "We shall xknow directly," the captain replied. "Better keep your places, I think. Steward, serve the dinner as usual." The man held out his hand to withdraw the cup of 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.

1 Off for the Mongar Camp. 2 "Craig!" She Cried, "Craig! I Saw His Face There!" 3 "A Message From the Handsl Look!" 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," he decided. "I'll follow you presently." The service of dinner was resumed. Laura, however, sent plate after plate away. The captain watched her anxiously. "I 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. The captain called hia 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 cauldron." "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 his 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. He waB 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-nine miles southeast of Port Said. Wo 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. TUJT-SPAY Both Craig and 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. They 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 of his cunning. One of their special weaknesses seems to be the invention of the most hideous forms of torture, which they apply remorselessly to their enemies. WEDNESDAY This has been a wonderful day for us, chiefly owing to what I must place on record as an act of reat bravery by Cralg, my servant. Early this morning, a man-eating lion found his way into the encampment. The Mongars behaved like arrant cowards. They fled right and left, leaving the chief's little daughi ter, Feerda, at the brute's mercy. Craig, who is by no means an adept in the use of firearms, chased the animal as he was making off with the child, and, more by good luck than anything else, managed to wound it mortally. He 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 are treated like gods, and, appreciating my weakness for all matters of science, the chief has today explained to me many of the secret mysteries of the tribe. Amongst other things, he has shown me a wonderful secret poiaon, known only to this tribe, which they call Veedemzoo. It brings almost Instant death, and is exceedingly difficult to trace. The addition of sugar causes a curious condensation and resolves it almost to a white paste. The only antidote is a. substance which they use here freely, and which Is exactly equivalent to our camphor. The professor closed his book. Quest promptly rang the bell. "Some sugar," he 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 professor cried, with breaking voice. They all looked at one another. "Craig must be here amongst us," Quest muttered.

"And the bouillon," Lenora cried, clasping Quest's arm, "the bouillon was meant for you!" . . . There seemed to be, somehow, amongst all of them, a curious indisposition to discuss this matter. Suddenly Lenora, who was sitting on the lounge underneath the porthole, put out her hand and picked up a card which was 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 same familiar handwriting was scrawled across the face of the card these few words: 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 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 ten seconds. "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 a man's white face nothing else. He must have been leaning over the rail. 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 murmuring profuse apologies. "Did you find him?" Laura demanded, eagerly. "I did not," the captain replied, a little tersely. "I ran into Brown here and we 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 sail-cloth, and I was leaning over the rail myself when you shrieked. There wasn't anyone else near me, and no 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 ray room," Quest continued. He told the story, calmly and without 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 was one of her rare moments of weakness. "You won't find him! You won't find him!" she murmured. "And I am afraid!" Lenora grasped the rails of the steamer and glanced downwards at 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." He smiled grimly. "Coming on shore, any of you?" Harris inquired. "We may when the boat moves up," Quest replied. "The professor went off on the first barge. Here he is, coming back." A little boat had shot out from the docks, manned by a couple of Arabs. 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 came straight to Quest and Lenora and gripped the former by the arm. "Look!" he cried. "Look!" He held out a card. Quest read it aloud: There is not one amongst you with the wit of a Mongar child. Good-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, if you like." They moved up towards him. The captain closed the door of his cabin. He pointed to a carpet-sweeper which lay against the wall. "Look at that," he invited. They lifted the top. Inside were several sandwiches and a small can of 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 the valance. Underneath were somo 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 why the dickens Brown was always sweeping out my room, and I took up 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 once. The chief steward came himself instead. It seems Brown went off without his wages, but with a huge parcel of bedding, on the first barge this morning, 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 had just come up, "India's off, We'll catch this barge, if there's time. Our luggage can be put on shore when the beat docks." The captain walked gloomily with them to the gangway.

"Professor." Quest asked, "how long; would It take us to get to this Mongar village you spok about?" "Two or three days, if we can get camels," thf, other replied. "I see you agree with me, then, a to Craig's probable destination?" , Quest nodded. "What sort of fellow are they, anyway?" ha asked. "Will it be safe for us to push on alone?" "With me," the professor assured him, "you will be safe anywhere. I speak a little of their language. I have lived with them. They are far more civilized than some of the interior tribe. They di8erat-".rked and were driven to the hotel, still dl8cusslpg their project. The professor had disappeared for some time, but rejoined them later. "It is all arranged," he announced. "I found' 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 in ths 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 Port Said, he promised. "This is a real Egyntian dancicj girl." A girl, who seemed to be dressed in little mors than a 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 professor Lad ever seen before, coming now and then so lose thit they could almost feel her hot breath, and Lenora felt somewhat vaguely disturbed by the glitter of her eyes. Suddenly Laura leaned forward. ' "Look at the professor," she whlspereel. They all turned their heads. A queer changta seemed to have come into the professor's face. His teeth were gleaming between his parted lips, his head as thrust forward a little. hi eyes were filled with a strange, hard light. Tie was a transformed being, unrecognizable, perturbing. Even while they watched, the gir! floated close to whers he sat and leaned towards him with a queer, mocking smile. His hand suddenly descended upon Ltr foot. She laughed still more. There was a little exclamation from Lenora. The professor's whols frame quivered. He snatched the anklet from the girl's ankle and bent over It. She leaned towards him, a torrent of words streaming from her lips. The professor answered her in her own langvaso. She listened to him In amazement. The anger passed. She held out both her hands. The professor still argued. She shook her head Finall he placed some gold in her palms. She patted h!ia on the cheek, laughed into his eyes, pointed behind and resumed her dance. The anklet remained in the professor's hand. "Say, we'll get out of this," Qv.est said. Ths) girls have had enough." The professor made no objection. "Congratulate me," he said. "I have been a collector of Egyptian gold ornaments all my life. This is the one anklet I reeded to complete my collection. It has the double mark of the Pharaohs I recognized it at once. There are a thousand like it, you would think, in the bazaars there. In reality there may be. perhaps, a de:en more in all Egypt which are genuine." They all looked at one another. Their relief had grown too poignant for words. "Early start tomorrow," Quest rerr.irded Ihem. Lenora, a few nights later, looked down from the star-strewn sky which seemed suddenly oh-r dropped so much nearer to them, to the cta'o-ra thrown across the desert by the dancing r-it of their fire. "It is the same world. I suppose." she murmmcd. Laura rose to her feet. "Say, I'm going to get a drink." she announced. The dragoman who had been hovering around, bowed gravely and pointed towards the vater bottles. She took the horn cup from the dragoman. "Have some yourself, if you want to, Hascan," she invited. Hassan bowed gravely, filled a cup and drank it off. He stood for a moment perfectly still, ns though something were coming over him which he failed to understand. Then his lips parted, his eyes for a moment seemed to shoot frcm c--.it .f his dusky skin. He threw up his arms and foil over on his side. Laura, who had only sipned her cup, threw it from her. She. too. reeled fcr a moment. The professor and Quest came running up, attracted by -Lenora's shriek. "They're poisoned!" she cried. "The Veedemzoo!" Quest shouted. "My Gcd! Pull yourself together. Laura. Hold up for a minute." He dashed back to their little encampment and reappeared almost immediately. 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 dragoman was lying, forced his mouth open, but it was too late. "I am all right now," Laura declared. Quest felt her pulse and her forehead. They moTed back to the fire. "We are within a dozen miles or so of the Mongar villa.ee," Quest said grimly. " Do you suppose that fellow could have been watching?" They all talked together for a time in lowvoices. The professor was inclined to scout tta theory of Craig having approached them. "You must remember," he pointed out, "that the Mongars hate these fellows. It was part of my arrangement with Hassan that they should icavo us when we got in sight of the Mongar encampment. It may have been meant for Hassan. Tho Mongars hate the dragomen who bring tourists ia this direction at all." They talked a little while longer and finally 6tole away to their tents to sleep. Outside, the camel drivers talked still, chattering away, waiting now and then around Hassan's body in solemn procession. Soon they stole away a long, ghostly; procession into the night "Those fellows seem to have left off their in fernal chattering all of a sudden," Quest remarked, lazily, from inside the tent. The professor made no answer. He was aslecpb (TO BE CONTINUED.)