Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 40, Number 149, 5 June 1915 — Page 7

THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM, SATURDAY, JUNE 5 1915-

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FOUBTEENTHMISTAaMENT SYNOPSIS. . lutnra Qut, iiMtw crlmiMtoftat f tb world. And; tht lr, brtBKlng to jUe IIMMftl. th murAarar of Lor Aablatch'a Asktar. ha hu Hit Jnat Wwq a, lUa-an4-aath trwrila with a myatarloua maatar avtmioal. In a hMdan Hot la Profaaaor Aahlalgfc'a sarflaa ba.Ma aan an apa k;ton and a llrln araatura. half aaoakar. half Baas. !- atrayad by lira. In hi raoma hm appaarad black boxaa atalBln natoa. alanad by a nalr ot Braalaaa banda. Laura, and Lanera. . bla aaalatanta. auavaa " Cralf. tha profaaaor-a larvant, of a doubla murdar. Tha black- basaa eoatlnua ta appaar In unennny faahlon. Craig. trappad. aaeapaa t; Kniland- Quaat, Lanora and profaaaor fallow him. Lord Aahlalgh ta murderad by tha Han da Cralf. aapturad. aaeapaa to Fort Bald. Quaat and hi party follow, and bayond lo tha dtaart. Tbay ara oaptgrad by Mongara. -capa with Crate aa tbalr eaptlva. and turn him avar ta Inapcetor French In San Franolaeo. Ha aaeapaa ta a train wreck, out enerala Ma imraoara, ad atana . back to Maw Tork. - Vy A BOLT FROM THE BLUE CHAPTER XXXI. ; There was a peculiar, almost foreboding, silence about tbe camp tbat morning when Laura, returned from ber early ride, Tbe only Jlvini person to be seen was tbe Chinaman, sitting on a stool in front of the wagon with a dish of potatoes between his knees. -''"'. "Say, where's everyone?" Laura sung out, after she bad looked into Lenora's tent and found tt mpty. ' ; Tbe Chinaman looked up at ber malevolently. "All gone," ho announced. ! "Cowboys gone workee. Missee gone hurry up find Mr. Quest." Laura hesitated, puzzled. -,ust then the professor came cantering in with : a bundle of grass In his band. He glanced down tat the Chinaman. "Good morning. Miss Laura?" be said- "You don't seem to be getting on with our friend here," be added in an undertone." J'i "Pshaw 1" she answered. ."-"Who cares what a chink thinks! Tbe fellow's an idiot. I'm worried, professor. Lenora's gone out after Mr. Quest and the inspector, She wasn't fit to ride a horse. I can't make out why she's attempted it-" -The professor unslung some field-glasses from his shoulder and gazed steadily southward. . "It is just pcksible," he said, softly, "that she may have receif ed 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 borlson. The professor banded her bis glasses. "Why, it's a fire!" she cried. ' The professor nodded. ' ' : "Just a prairie fire," he replied "very dangerens, thought, these dry seasons. : The flames mjve so quickly tbat if you happen to be in a certain position you might easily get cut off." Laura turned ber horse round. "Come on, professor!" she .exclaimed. "That's what It la. Lenora's gone -to try and warn the others.They rode to the very edge of the tract of country which was temporarily enveloped with smoke and flame. Here they pulled in their horses and the professor looked thoughtfully through his fieldglasses. Laura gave a little cry and pointed with her ' riding whip. About twenty yards farther on, by the side of the road, was a small white object. She eantered on, swung herself from her horse and picked it up. "Lenora's .handkerchief! she cried. The professor waved bis arm westward. "Here come Quest and the inspector. They 'are making a circuit to avoid. tha fire." They galloped across the rough country towards tbe little party, who were now clearly in sight. From the center of one of tbe 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 en again. Laura would have turned her horse, but tbe professor checked her. "Let us wait for Quest, he advised. "They are close here." The cowbody, riding a little behind tbetwo others, had unlimbered his lariat, and, while they watched, swung it over his head and . secured tbe runaway. Quest galloped up to where Laura and the professor were waving frantically. "Say that's some fire!" Quest exclaimed. "Did you peoplo come out to see it?" ' "NO, we came to find Lenora!" Laura answered,' breathlesely. "That's ber horse. She started to meet you. She must be somewhere " "Lenora?" Quest Interrupted, fiercely. "What do you mean?" "When I got back to the camp," Laura continued, rapidly, "there wasn't a soul there except the Chinaman. He told me that Lenora had ridden off a few minutes before to find you. We came to look for ber. We found ber 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 -aide, galloped over the ground, which was already hot with tbe coming fire, and followed along down the rocd by which Lenora bad passed. When be came to the fir6t bend, he could hear tbe -roar of flames in the trees. A volume of smoke almost blinded hlir ; his horse became wholly unmanageable. He slipped ftom the saddle and ran on, staggering from right to left like a drunken man. About forty yard 4 nlng the road, Lenora was lying in the dus'. A volume of smoke rushed over her. The tree vnder which she had collapsed was already afire. A twig fell from it as Quest staggered 'Vp, and her skirt began to smoulder. He tore off -ale coat, wrapped It around her, beat out th fire which was already biasing at her feet and snatched her irto his arms. She opened her eyes foi a. moment "TViiere are wr rte whispered. "The fire!" ' That's al! rljrt!,' Quest shouted. "We'll be out of "t in i '.cement. Hold tight to my neck." YIt bracer! b!molf for a supreme effort and ran, alorg the i-.-atIr.vay. JI! feet were blistered with the. heat, tbere was a great burn on one of his a.'"T,. At last, however, he passed out of the !i:rjv zous and iggfyd up to where the professot , tie inspector and Laura were waiting. "Spy, tbat wax a. c!;m? chave," he faltered, as fc ltfc" Lraora upuu tfts ground. "Another five i roln';ep wel!, we won't tak about it. Let's lift ker vv. to yocr home, Liiura, and get back to the J, camp.'" '" '

CHAPTER XXXII. X?.,e .ofos'ir laid down h' fniok and gazed with ao ii.'ub1- smile tr,wrdb Quest and Lenora. - " Via m.,V "that mv littt

treatise oa tha 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,'' be 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. Laura 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. "Tbat fellow French has got grit," Quest declared. "He sticks to it all the time. He'll win out with Laura In the end, you mark my words." "I hope be will,' Lenora said. "She's a dear girl. ' although she has got an idea into her bead that she bates men and lovemaking. I think tbe Inspector's Just the man for her." "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. - Let's see what Laura and French have . to say." . .. . "Can't see any sense la 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." "We'll get everything in order tonight," Laura decided, "and start first thing tomorrow." They busied themselves for the next hour or two, making preparations. After . their evening meal

the two men walked ; with Lenora and Laura to their tent "I think you girls had better go to bed," Quest suggested. "Try and get a long night's sleep." "That's all 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 Lenora. . "Please go," the latter begged. "I really don't feel like going to sleep just yet." "I'll look after Lenora," Quest promised. "You have your walk. There's the professor sitting outside his tent. Wouldn't you like to take him with you ?" Laura glanced indignantly at him aa they strolled out. and Lenora laughed softly. "How dared you suggest such a thing!" she murmured to Quest. "Do look at them. The inspector wants her to take his watch and she can't quite make up her mind about it. Why, Laura's getting positively frivolous." When the inspector 'returned Quest handed him a telegram: To Inspector French, Allguez, N. M.: Very sorry. Craig gave ua slip after leaving depot. Niece disappeared from address given. No clues at present. 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 smiled across at 'the girl who stood at the window. "It's all ready now directly your uncle comes home," she announced. Mrs. Malony came to the girl's side. "Your poor uncle looks as though a little peace would do him good," she remarked. The girl sighed. "If only I could do something for him!"' she murmured. "He's in some kind of trouble, I think," Mrs. Malony observed. "He is not what you might call a communicative person, but it's easy to see that he is ar from being happy in himself. You'll ring when you're ready, Miss Mary?" T-!ie door was suddenly opened and Craig entered. He was very pale and a little out of breath. Before he closed the. door he listened for a moment. "Look across the road," he begged. . "Tell me if there is a man in a blue serge suit and a bowler bat, smoking a cigar, looking across here." - Mrs. Malony and the girl both obeyed. The girl was the first to speak.' "Yes," she announced. "He is looking straight at these windows." Craig groaned and sank down upon a'chair. ""Leave us, if you please, Mrs: Malony," he ordered. "I'll ring wnen I'm ready." The landlady left the room silei. The girl came over to her uncle and threw her arm around his. neck. Y.l He patted her head, felt in his pocket and drew out a little paper bag. from which he shook a bunch of violets. The girl pinned them In her frock with- a fittle cry of pleasure. "How kind you are to me!" she exclaimed. "You think of everything!" -: " : . , :.

sHo sighed and leaned back wearily. v "If I bad had you for & little longer, Mary," be said, "perhaps I should , have been a better man. Go to the window, please, and tell me It that man is still there.". ' , She crossed the room with light footsteps. Presently she returned. "He is just crossing tbe street," Ehe announced. "I think that he seems to be coming here." Craig took the girl for a minute into his arms. "Qood-by, dear," he said. "I want you to take this paper and keep ft carefully. You will be cared for always, but f must go." . "But where must you go?" she asked, bewildered.' . "I have an appointment at Professor Asbleigb's," be told ber. "I cannot tell you anything more than tbat. Good-by." He kissed her for a moment passionately. Then ' suddenly he tore himself away. She heard him run lightly down tbe stairs. Some Instinct led her to the back, window. . She saw him emerge from tbe bouse and pass down . tbe yard. Then she went to the front. Tbe 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 declared, irritably. "As for Mr. Craig, I 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 minutes , ago. Now then,' young lady, guess you'd better cough up the truth.

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1 "He Fought Too Hard," Quest Said Gravely, "He Is Dead." 2 "I Caught the Girl Trying to Make Her Way Into the House. 3-$-"l Cannot Tell You Anything More Than That.

Where's this precious uncle of yours?" "My uncle has gone out," the girl replied, drawing herself up. "He left five 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 tabl "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 tbe seal of a notary and the name of a witness: , I, John Craig, be(ng about to receive the just punishment for all my sins, hereby bequeath to my niece, Mary Carlton, all moneys and property belonging to me, a list of which she will find at this address. I make one condition only of my bequest, and I beg my niece to fervently respect it. It is that ehe 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 the paper. "I'll take care of this," he said. , "It's yours, right enough. We'll just need to borrow it for a time. Go and 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 jan 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." 'Til 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 an inspector's office. Tbe 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. He took up the telephone by

his side, still staring at the paper in his hand. "Say, you've something of a find here," ha remarked to the plain-clothes man. "Put me through to Mr. Quest, please," he added, speaking into the . receiver. The two men whispered together. Tbe girl stole from ber place and turned over rapidly the pages of a directory which was on the round table " before her. She found the "A'a" 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 tbe moment she was forgotten. Sbe stole on tiptoe across the room, ran down ; the stone steps and hastened .into the street. v.

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. - His servant entered bearing a note. - v "This was left a few minutes ago, sir, he announced, "by a messenger boy. There was no answer required." Tbe man retired. Quest unfolded the sheet of paper. His expression suddenly changed,"Listen!" he exclaimed: . To Sanford Quest: Gather your people In Professor AsMeigh's library at ten o'elock tonight. J will be there and tell you my whole story. . JOHN CRAIG. Tbe professor sat for a moment speechless. "Then he meant it, after all!" he exclaimed at last. "Seems like it," Quest admitted. "Ill jnst 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 be waited until Quest had completed bis conversation. The tatter's face had grown grave and puzzled. It was obvious tbat he was receiving information of some importance. Good-by." He put down tbe instrument at last with a curt word of farewell. The professor moved towards the door. "If only this may prove to be the end!" be sighed. Quest spent the next hour or so in restless deliberations. There were strll many things which puzzled him. At about a quarter past nine Lenora and Laura arrived, dressed for their expedition. "I'm afraid we are in for a bad thunderstorm, girls," Queist remarked. Laura laughed. "Who cares? The automobile's there, Mr. Quest." "Let's go, then," he replied. They descended into the street and drove to the professor's house in silence. Even Laura was feeling the strain of these last hours, of anxiety. On' the way they picked up French and a plain clothes man nd the whole party arrived at their1 destination jyat as the storm broke. The professor met them in the hall. He, too, seemed to have lost to some extent his customary .equanimity. "Come this way, ' my friends," he invited. ' "If ' Craig keeps his word, he will be here now within a few minutes. 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 bis watch. It was five minutes to ten. "In a few minutes," he continued solemnly, "this weight is to be lifted from the minds of all of us. I have come to the conclusion that on this occasion Craig will keep his word. I am not sure, mind, but I believe that he is in the bouse at this ' present moment. I have heard movements in the room which belonged tct.him. I have not inter, fered. I have been content to wait" V "He has at least not-tried escape,"-Quest' remarked. ."French here brought news of him. He has been . living with his niece very quietly," but ' without any particular attempt at concealment or any signs of wishing to leave the city.", "I had that girl brought to my office," French remarked, "barely an hour aro, but she slipped -away while we were talking. Say, what's that?" -5 They all rose quickly to their feet In a mo mentary lull of the. storm they could hear, distinctly a girl's shrill calling from outside,', followed by the clamor of angry voices". s. "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. The plain

clothes man whom thoy had toft en

standing there with his hand upon Craig's ooUar. The girl, sobbing bitterly, was clinging to Tata em. Craig was making desperate efforts to escape. Directly be saw the little party issue from tha library, however, the strength seemed to pass from hie limbs. He remained la tha clutches of Tata captor, limp and helpless. "I caught the girl trying , to make her way into the house," the latter explained. 8ha called ovt and this man came running downstairs, right Into my arms." , "It Is quite all right," the professor said, ta dignified tone. "Ton may release them betfe. Craig. was on his way to keep an appointment here at ten o'clock. Quest, will you and the- 4p spector bring aim In? Let aa resume our pboea at the table." The little procession made its way down tha hall. The girl was still clinging to ber uncle. "What are they going to do to you. these people?" she. sobbed. ."They sha'n't hJrt yon. They sha'n't!" . Lenora passed her arm around the girl "Of course not, dear," she said, soothingly. "Your uncle baa come ot his own free will ta answer a few questions, only I think tt would ba- . better if you would let roe-" Lenora never finished ber sentence. Tbay reached the entrance now to the library. . professor was standing In the doorway with axtended band, motioning them to take tbalr places at the table. Then, with no form of warning, tha room seemed suddenly filled with a blase of bhM light It came at first in a thin flash from tbe window to the table, became immediately multiplied a thousand times, played round tbe table In . sparks, which suddenly expanded to sheets ot leaping, curling flame. Tbe roar of thunder shook the very foundations of the house and then alienee. For . several seconds not one of them seemed to bare the power of speech. An amazing; thing bad happened. The oak table In tbe middle of the room was a charred fragment, the chairs were every one blackened remnants. "A thunderbolt!" French gasped at last Quest was the first to cross the room. 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 followed ended, here with a little lump of queer substance. He broke It off from the end of tbe wire, which was absolutely brittle and natureless, and brought it into tba room. ".What is it?" Lenora faltered. "Say, what have you got there?" French echoed. Quest examined the strange-looking lump of metal steadily. The most curious thing about: ft. 'seemed to be that if was absolutely sound and showed no signs of damage. He turned to the professor. "I think you are the only one who will be able to appreciate this, professor," he remarked. "Look!" It is a fragment of opotan a distinct and wonderful specimen of opotan." Everyone looked puzzled. "But what," Lenora inquired, ia opotan?" "It Is a new metal," Quest explained, gravely, "towards which scientists have been directing a great deal of attention lately. It has the power of collecting all the electricity from tbe air around us. There are a dozen people, at the present moment, conducting experiments with it for tbe purpose of cheapening electric lights. If we had been in the room ten seconds sooner" He paused signilcantly. Then he swung round on bis heel. . Craig, a now pitiful object, his hands nervously twitching, bis face ghastly, was cowering in the background. "Your last little effort, Craig?" he demanded, sternly. Craig made no reply. The professor, who had disappeared for a moment, came back to them. "There is a smaller room across tbe hall," ha said, "which will - do for our purpose." Craig suddenly turned and faced them. "I have changed my mind," he said. "I havo nothing to tell you. Do what you will with me. Take me to the Tombs, deal with me any way yon choose, but I have nothing to say." Quest pointed a threatening finger at him. "Your last voluntary . word, perhaps." he said, "but science is still your master, 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 little band around his forehead and the mirror where they could all see It. Tba professor stood a little in the background. Laura and French were side by side, gazing with distended eyes at the blank mirror, and Lenora was doing her best to soothe the. terrified girl.. Twice Quest's teath came together and once be almost reeled. "It's the fight of his life." be muttered at last, "but I've got him." Almost as he spoke they could see Craig's resistance begin to weaken. .The tenseness of hla form relaxed. Quest's will was triumphing.' Slowly in . the mirror they saw a little picture creeping from the outline iato definite form, a picture of tha professor's library. Craig himself was there with, mortar and trowel, and a black box in his hand. "It's coming!" Lenora moaned. Quest stood perfectly tense. The picture sud den flashed Into brilliant clearness. They saw Craig's features with almost lifelike detail. From the corner of that room where the' professor was standing, came a smothered groan. It was a terrifying, a paralyzing moment : Even the silence . seemed charged with awful . things. , Then sud- : denly, without any warning, the picture, faded completely away: A cry, -which was almost a bowl of anger, broke from Quest's lips. Craig had fallen sideways from bis chain There was - an ominous change in his face -Something seemed to bay passed from the atmosphere of the' room, ' soma -tense and nameless ' quality.1 ' Quest moved' for-1 ward and laid his band on Craig's heart The girl was On her knees, screaming. , .". , ."Take ber away, Quest whispered to Lenora..': "What about hlmtf" French demanded, as Lenora, led the girl, from tbe room. - ; "He fought too bard." Quest said,-gravely. Ha Is dead. Professor" . i .- - They all looked around. The spot-where ha bad been standing ' was empty.- The professor bad gone.-- - .. : -;i .- r r.

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