Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 40, Number 155, 12 June 1915 — Page 7

THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM AND SUN-TELEGRAM,

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FIFTEENTH INSTALLMENT Srt0PSI8. Stanford Quest nutor criminologist of the world, finds that In bringing to Juatlce Macdougal, the murderer of Lord Aehleigh'a daughter, he haa but Just begun a Uie-aad-deth struggle with a mysterious master criminal. In a hidden hut in Profeaaor Ashlelgh's garden he haa aeen an ape akeleton and a. living- creature, half monkey, half man. destroyed by flre. In hie rooms have appeared black boxes containing notes, signed by a pair of armless hands. Laura and Lenora, his assistants, suspect Craig1, the professor's servant, of a double murder. The black boxes continue to appear In uncanny fashion. Craig, captured, escapes to Port Said. Quest and his party follow, and beyond Into the desert. They are captured by Mongers, escape with Craig aa their captive, turn him over to Inspector French In San Francisco. He escapes In a train wreck, outgenerals his pursuers, and goes back to New York, where he dlea while Quest is atcmptlng to hypnotise htm Into confession. CHAPTER XXXV.

Tbe first shock was over. Craig's body had teen removed, and the girls had taken Mary, half stunned with grief, to their room. French and Quest were left alone. "This Is some disappointment," the former remarked, gloomily. "It is a disappointment," Quest said, slowly, "which may clear the way to bigger things." . ."What's in your mind now?" French inquired. Quest shook his head. "A turmoil. First of all, where Is the professor?" "Must have scooted right away home," French suggested. "He was looking pretty sick all the time. Ouess It must have been a powerful shock for him, and he isn't so young as he used to be." "Give me that paper of Craig's again," Quest asked, stretching out his hand. The Inspector produced the document from his Inner pocket, and Quest, stretching It out upon his knee, read It word for word. "Never to communicate or to have anything to do with anyone of the name of Ashleigh, eh?" he remarked, as he handed it back again. "Rather a Queer provision, that, French." "I've been thinking that myself," the inspector admitted. "Seems to be rather reversing the positions, doesn't it?" Quest glanced at the clock. "Well," he said, "if you're ready, Inspector, we'll be getting along." The two. men drove to the outskirts of the city almost In silence. The professor's house seemed more than ever deserted as they drew up at the front door. They entered without ringing and crossed the . hall towards the library. On the threshold Quest paused and held up his finger. "Someone Is In there," he whispered, stepping quickly forward. "Come!" He threw open the door. The room was empty, yet both Quest and French were conscious of a curious conviction that it had been occupied within the last few seconds. French even shook out the curtains and swung open the doors of a bureau. There was no sign of anybody, however, nor any evidence as to how they could have left the room. "Queer, but It seemed to me I heard someone," French muttered. "I was sure of It," Quest replied, shaking the curtain at the back of the door. They stood still for a moment and listened. The silence in the empty house was almost unnatural. Quest turned away with a shrug of the shoulders. "At any rate," he said, "Craig's dying thoughts must have been truthful. Come." He led the way to the fireplace, went down on his knees and passed his hands over the bricks. The third one he touched, shook. He tapped it without a doubt It was hollow. With his penknife he loosened the mortar a little and drew it out easily. The back was open. Inside was the Black box. "Craig's secret at last!" French muttered, hoarsely. "Bring It to the light, quick!" They were unemotional men, but the moment was supreme. The key to the mystery of these tragical weeks waa there In their hands! Their eyes almoBt devoured those few hastily scrawled were! buried with so much care: See psge 62, January number, American Medical Journal, 1905. They looked at one another. They repeated vaguely this most commonplace of messages. As the final result of their strenuous enterprise, these cryptic wore! a seemed pitifully inadequate. Quest's fac darkened. He crumpled the paper in his fingers. "There must be some meaning in this," he muttered. "It can't bo altogether a fool's game we're on. Wait." He moved towards a table which usually stood against ttho wall, but which had obviously been dragged out recently into the middle of the room. It was covered with bound volumes. Quest glanced at ore and exclaimed softly: "American Medical Journal, 1905! French, there's something in this message, after all." He turned over the pages rapidly. Then he cante to .i s'op. Page 61 was there; page 62 had beit neatly removed with a pair of scissors. "The professor!" he cried. "The professor's fcnei; at wort: here!" The two men stood looking at one another cropq the table. Strange thoughts were framing t'lamselv!" in the brains of both of them. Then ther cair. a startling and in its way a dramatic lMvh)de. Through the empty house came the r.nrl.'ig of t'j electric bell from the front door, eb rill t.vA insistent. Without a moment's hesitation. Quest hurried out and French followed him. On the doorstep was another surprise. Lenora and, Laura were there, tho former carrying a small, black-bound volume. 'TX'r.'t he cross," s"-te begged, quickly. "We Just bad t? CAi:ie. Look! We picked this up underneath the chair where Craig was sitting. It must havo slipped from his pocket. You see what is written on it' Diary of John Craig." y Quest took It in Ms hand. "Say, this ought to be interesting," he remarked. "Come alanf." Thev passed, into the library. French lingered behind for a raor.-snt and caught them up Just as they were openirg the book underneath the electric lamp. "Seo here what I've found!" he exclaimed. "It was just by the side of the wall there. Where's that magazine?" He ftprsd out ibe piece of paper it fitted exactly Into the empty snac. They all read to- ! tether: Professor Ashleigh, fte being bitten by the anthropoid, rapidly develops hydrophobia of a serleus nature. Aft" -treatment with a new serum .the paafra K mhm Miim04 f tho hydrophobic symp

toms, but to my horror this mild-mannered, humane) man seems possessed at times of all the. characteristics of the brutal anthropoid cunning, thievery, brutality. I do not know what may come of this. I hesitate to put even these words on to paper. I am doubtful as to what course, In the Interests of humanity, I ought to take. (Signed) ! JAME8 MERRILL, M. D. Editor's Note Just as we go to press, a cable announces the terrible death of Doctor Merrill, the writer of the above notes. He was attacked by wild animate whilst alone In a South American Jungle, and torn to pieces. There waa a queer little silence among the company. No one seemed Inclined for speech. They looked at one another. In dumb, wondering horror. ' Then Quest drew a penknife from his pocket and with a turn of bis wrist forced the lock of the diary. They all watched him with fascinated eyes. Jit was something to escape from their thoughts. "They leaned over as he spread the book out be

1 "Mean, You Fooll Polsonedl That Is What It l h Means." AtmTl A1 tVY l

fore him. Those first two sentences were almost in the form of a dedication: For ten years I have protected my master, Professor Edgar Ashleigh, at the cost of my peace of mind, my happiess, my reputation. This book, even though It be; too late to help me, shall clear my reputation. Quest closed the volume. "French," he decided, "we must find the professor. Will you have your men search the bouse and grounds Immediately?" The Inspector left the room like a dazed man. They could hear him giving orders outside. "The next page," Lenora begged. "Just one page more!" Quest hesitated for a moment Then he turned it over. All three read again: Ten years of horror, struggling all the while to keep him from that other self, that thing of bestiality, to keep his horrible secret from the world, to cover up his crimes, even though their shadow should rest upon me. Now Sanford Quest has come. Will this mean discovery? "Another page," Lenora faltered. "No more," Quest said. "Don't you see where it is leading us? We have the truth here. Wait!" He strode hastily to the door. French and one of the plain-clothes men were descending the stairs. "Well?" Quest asked, breathlessly. "The professor is not in the house," French reported. "We are going to search the grounds." Quest returned to the library. Lenora clung to his arm. The diary lay still upon the table. Quest opened the volume slowly. Again they all read together: The evil nature Is growing stronger every day. He Is developing a sort of ferocious cunning to help him in his crimes. He wanders about In the dark, wearing a black velvet suit with holes for hie eyes, and leaving only his hands exposed. I have watched him come into a half-darkened room and one can see nothing but the hands and the eyes; sometimes if he closes his eyes, only the hands. "Mrs. Rheinholdt!" Quest muttered. The door was suddenly opened and French entered. "Beaten!" he exclaimed, tersely. "You haven't found him?" Quest asked. French shook his head. "We've searched every room, every cupboard, every scrap of the cellar in the place," he announced. "We've been into every corner of the grounds, searched it all backwards and forwards. There's no sign of the professor." Quest pocketed the diary. "You're perfectly certain that he is not in this house or anywhere upon the premises?" "Certain sure!" French replied. Quest shrugged his shoulders. "Well, we'd better get back," he said. They were on the point of starting, the chauffeur with his hand upon the starting handle, French with the steering wheel of the police car already in his hand. And then the little party seemed suddenly turned to stone. For a few breathless seconds not one of them moved. Out into the clammy night air came the echoes of a hideous, inhuman, blood-curdling scream. Quest was the first to recover himself. He leaped from his seat and rushed back across the empty 4 hall into the study, followed a little way behind by French and the others. An unsuspected panel door wblch led Into the garden stood slightly ajar. The professor, with his hand on the back of a chair, was staring at the fireplace, shaking as though with some horrible ague, his face distorted, Ms body curiously hunched up. He seemed suddenly to have dropped his humanity, to have fallen back into the world of some strange creatures. He heard their footsteps, but he did not turn his head. His hands were stretched out in front of him as though to keep away from his sight some hateful object . "Stop him!" he cried. "Take him away! It's Craig his spirit! He came to me in the garage, he followed me through the grounds, he mocked at me when I hid in the tree. He's there now, kneeling before the fireplace. Why can't I kill him! He is coming! Stop him, someone!" No one spoke or moved; no one. Indeed, had the

power. Then at last Quest found words. "There is no one in the room, professor," he said, "except us." . t The' sound of a human voice seemed to produce a strange effect. The professor straightened himself, shook his head, his hands dropped to his side. gbaBtly pale, but his smile was once more the smile of the amiable naturalist. "My friends," he said, "forgive me. I am very old, and the events of these last few hours have unnerved me. Forgive me." He groped for a moment and sank into a chair. Quest fetched a decanter and a glass from-the sideboard, poured out some wine and held It to bis lips. The professor drank it eagerly. . . " "My dear friend," he exclaimed, "you have saved me! I have something to tell -you, something I must tell you at once, but not here. I loathe this place. Let me come with you to your rooms." He gripped Quest's arm. In silence they passed from the room, in silence they took their places

S y 3 "He Is Dead!" Quest Declared.

2 The . Professor Sat There Like a Figure of Stone. once more in the automobiles, in silence they drove without a pause to Quest's rooms. The professor made his way at once to his favorite easy chair, threw off his overcoat and leaned back. "Quest," he pronounced, "you are the be6t friend I have in my life! It is you who have rid me of my great burden. Tell me help me a little with my story have you read that page from the Medical Journal which Craig has kept locked, up all these years?" "We have all read it," Quest replied. "It was forged," the professor declared, firmly, "forged by Craig. All the years since he has blackmailed me. I have been his servant and his tool. I have been afraid to speak. At last I am free of him. Thank God!" "Craig, after all," French muttered. Lenora stood a little apart with a faint frown upon her forehead. She touched Quest on the shoulder. "Mr. Quest," she murmured, "he is lying!" Quest turned his head. His Hps scarcely moved. "What do you mean?" he whispered. "He is lying!" Lenora insisted. "I tell you there's another creature there, something we don't understand. Let me bring the electro-thought transference apparatus; let us ..read his mind. If I nm wrong, I will go down on my knees and beg for forgiveness." Quest nodded. Lenora hastened to the farther end of the room, snatched the cloth from the instrument and wheeled down the little mirror with its coils and levers. The professor watched her. Slowly his face changed. The benevolence faded away, his teeth for a moment Bhowed in something which was almost a snarl. "You believe me?" he cried, turning to Quest "You are not going to try that horrible thing on me Professor Lord Ashleigh? I am all broken up. I am not fit for it Look at my hands, how they shake." "Professor," Quest said, sternly, "we are surrounded by the shadow of some terrible deeds for which as yet there Is no explanation. I do not say that we mistrust you, but I ask you to submit to this test." "I refuse!" theprofessor replied, harshly. "And I insist," Quest muttered. The professor drew a little breath. He sat back in his chair. His face became still, his lips were drawn cloBely together. Lenora wheeled up the machine and "with deft fingers adjusted the fittings on one side. Quest himself connected it up on the other. The professor sat there like a figure of stone. The silence in the room was so intense that the ticking of the small clock upon the mantlepiece was clearly audible. The very atmosphere seemed charged with the thrill and wonder of it. Never before had Quest met with resistance so complete and immovable. Sternly he concentrated the whole of his will power upon his task. Almost at once there was a change. The professor fellback in the chair. The tense self-control had passed from his features, his lips twitched. Slmul-

taneously the mirror for a moment waa cloudedthen slowly a picture upon it gathered outline and substance. There was a jungle, strange, tall trees, and brushwood so thick that it reached to the waists ' of the two men who were slowly making their way through it One was the professor; the other a stranger to all of them. Suddenly they stopped. The latter had crept a yard or so ahead,, his gun raised to his shoulder, his eyes fixed upon some possible object of pursuit. There was a sudden change in the professor. They saw him seise his gun by the barrel and whirl it above his head. He seemed suddenly to lose his whole identity. He crouched on his haunches, almost like an animal, and sprang at the other's throat They could almost hear tbe snarl from his lips as thetwo men; went down together in the undergrowth. The picture faded away. - " "Doctor Merrill!" Lenora faltered. "Then it waa not wild beasts which killed him." Almost immediately figures again appeared in the mirror. There was , a small passage which seemed to lead from - the back entrance of a house; the professor, with a black mantle, Craig following him, pleading, expostulate ing. - They saw the conservatory for a minute, and then blackness. The professor was leaning against a marble basin. There was nothing to he seen of him but his eyes and hands. They saw him listen for a moment or two in cold, unresponsive silence, then stretch out his hand and push Craig away.

The picture glowed and faded and glowed again. Then they saw through the gloom the figure of a woman approach, a diamond necklace around her neck. They saw the hands steal out and encircle her throat and then more darkness... silence, obscurity. The mirror was empty once more. ."Mrs. Rhelnholdt's jewels!" Lenora cried. "What next? Oh! my God, what next?" . Their eyes ached with the strain, but there was not one of them who could even glance'away from the mirror. It was Quest's study which slowly appeared then. The Salvation Army girl was there, talking to the professor. They saw him leave her, they saw him look back from the door, a strange, evil glance. Then the secretary entered and spoke to her. Once more the door opened. The hands were there, stretching and reaching, a paperweight gripped In the right-hand fingers. They saw It raised above the secretary's head, they saw the other hand take the girl by the throat and push her towards the table. A wild scream broke from Lenora's lips. Quest wavered for a moment The picture faded out. "Oh, stop it ! " Lenora begged. "Haven't we seen enough? We know the truth now. Stop it or I shall die!" The criminologist made no reply. His eyes were still fixed upon the professor, who showed some signs of returning consciousness. He was gripping at his collar. He , seemed to have difficulty with his breathing. Quest suddenly braced himself. He pushed Lenora back. "One more," he muttered. "There's something growing in his mind. I can feel it. Wait!" Again they all turned towards the mirror. They saw the hallway of Ashleigh house, . the pictures upon the walls, they could almost feel the quiet silence of night They saw the professor ,-come stealing down the stairs. He was wearing the black velvet suit with the cowl in his hand. They watched him pause before a certain door, draw on the cowl and disappear. Through the opening they could see Lord Ashleigh asleep in bed, the moonlight streaming through the open window across the counterpane. They saw the professor turn with a strange, horrible look in his face and close the door. Lenora burst Into sobs. "No more!" she shrieked. "No more, or I shall go mad!" . . f Quest leaned forward and released their victim. The whole atmosphere of the place seemed immediately to change. Lenora drew a long, convulsive breath and sank into a chair. The professor sat up and gazed at them all with the air of a man who has just awakened from a dream. His features relapsed, his mouth once more resolved itself into pleasant and natural lines. - He smiled at them pleasantly. - "Have I, by any chance, slept?" he asked. "Or " He never finished his sentence. His eyes fell upon the mirror, the metal band lying by his side. He read the truth in the faces still turned towards him. . He rose to his feet There was another and equally sudden change in his demeonor and tone. He carried himself with the calm dig-, nity of the scientist "The end of our struggle, I presume?" he said to. Quest, pointing to the metal band. "You will at least admit that I have shown you fine sport." No one answered him. Even Quest had-barely yet recovered himself. The . professor shrugged his shoulders.. . - , "I recognise, of courser he said, gravely, "that

this Is the end.' A person' in extremis has privl-, leges. Will you allow me to write just a matter ) of twenty lines at your desk?" ... Silently Quest assented. The professor teated ' . himself in the swing chair, drew a sheet of paper towards him, dipped the pen In the Ink and begasi'k to write. Then be turned round and reached fas, his own small black bag which lay upon the tabs.' Quest caught him by the wrist "What do want out of that, professor?' he ls quired. "Merely my own pen and ink," the professor ex, . postulated. "If there la anything I detest in the,world, it is violet - ink. "nd your pen, too. la -execrable. As these are to bo the last words I ' shall, leave to a sorrowing world, I should like to write them In my own fashion. Open the haf for yourself. If yon wllL You can pass me the) ' things out" - ". .. Quest opened tbe bag, took out pea and a small glass bottle of ink; He handed them to tho professor, wbo started once more to write. Quest , watched him for a moment and then turned away to French. The professor looked over his shoulder and suddenly bared his wrist .Lenora seized her employer by the arm.' . "Look!" she -cried. "What is he going to dor" Quest swung round, but he was too late. TbV : professor had dug the pen into his arm. He aat in his chair and laughed as they all hurried to- . wards him. Then suddenly he sprang to his feet. , Again the change came into his face which they k had seen in the mirror. French dashed forward t towards him. - The professor snarled, seemed about , . to spring, then suddenly once more stretched out , his hands to show that he was helpless and handed , to Quest the paper upon which had been writing. "You have nothing to fear from me," he ex-. claimed. "Here is my last message to you, San- , ford Quest Read it read It aloud. ' Always ra . member that this was not your triumph, but mine." Quest held up -the paper. They all read. The. professor's letters were carefully formed, his hand '. writing perfectly legible: You have been a clever opponent, Sanford Quest, " but even new . you are to be cheated. The wia dom of the ages outreachee yours, outreaches it V and triumphs. . Quest looked up quickly. "What the devil does he mean?" he muttered. The professor's arms shot suddenly above his head. Again that strange, animal look convoked his features. He burst into a loud, unnatural laugh.. ' "Mean, you fool?" he cried, holding out his wrist, which was slowly turning black. 'ToiscTJ'sd! That is what it means!" They all starejl at him. Quest selcd the Ink bottle, revealed the false top and laid it down again with a little exclamation. Then, before they could realize it the end came. The professor lay, a crumpled-up heap, upon the floor. e e e e e e e e . e , Quest swung round In his chair as French en tered the room and held out his left hand. "Glad to see you, French. Help yourself to a cigar." "I don't know as I want to smoke this morning Just at present, thank you," French replied. , Quest laid down his pen and looked up. French was fidgeting about with his hat in his hand. He was dressed more carefully than usual, but ha was obviously ill at ease. "Nothing wrong, eh?" "No, there's nothing wrong," French admitted. "I just looked in" Quest waited for a moment Then he crossed his legs and assumed a patient attitude. - "What the dickens did you look in for?" ho asked. - "The fact of It Is," French explained, "I should like a few words with Miss Laura," ' ';. '; - Quest laughed shortly". - -; t. "Why on earth couldn't you say sohe observed. "Never knew you. bashful befoireCinspec tor. She's up in the laboratory. -IU ring for some one to show you the way. , , v : . Quest touched the bell and his new secretary entered almost at once. "'. ; " "Take Inspector French up into the laboratory,' Quest directed. "See yon 1ater,French." "Yes perhaps I hope so," the inspector replied nervously. ... ... . . .. Quest watched him disappear with- a puzzled smile. Then he sat down at his desj, drew a sheet of paper towards him and began to .write:- . My Dear Inspector:, ' ; I am taking this opportunity of letting you know that out of deference to the wishes of the woman I hope soon to marry, I am abandoning the haxardous and nerve-racking profession of criminology for a safer and happier, career. .You will have, . therefore, to find help elsewhere In the future. With best wishes, Yours, SAW FORD QUE8T. He left the sheet of paper upon the desk and, ringing the bell, sent for Lenora. She appeared la a few moments and came over to his side. "What Is it, Mr. Quest?" she asked. ' He gave her the letter without remark. She v read it through and, turning slowly around, looked at him expectantly. "How's that seem to you?" he asked, reaching out his hand for a cigar. "Very sensible Indeed," she replied. "It's no sort of life, his, for a married man Quest declared. "You agree with me there, don't you, Lenora?" "Yes!" she admitted, a little faintly. The secretary entered the room, helped Quest on with his coat and handed him bis hat "If you are quite ready, Lenora." "Ready?" she exclaimed. "Where are we go. ing?" " , s ' . ' - Quest sighai. "Fancy having to explain all these things!" he . said, taking her arm. "I just want you to understand, Lenora, that I've waited quite long enough. Parkins," he added, turning to. his secretary, "if " anyone calls, just say that my wife and I will be back early. In the afternoon. ' And you'd better step upstairs to the laboratory and give my compli-' ments to Inspector French, and say that I hope ho ' and .Miss .Laura will join us at Delmonico's for. luncheon at one o'clock. ' m"Very good, sir." the man replied. " Lenora's face was suddenly transformed.-. She passed her arm through Quest's. He stooped and '. kissed her as he led her towards the door. "You understand now, dont you?" ho whls- ' . pered, smiling down at her. "I think so." she admitted, with a little sigh of. content - . . THE) END.