Ji BLACK BOX BI By E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM Novelized from the motion picture drama of the same name produced. by the Universal Film Manufacturing Company. tographs from the motion picture production. (Copyright, 1815, by Otis ¥, Wood.) SYNOPSIS. Bapford Quest, master criminologist of the world, finds that in bringing to Pustice Macdougal, the mnpderer of ford Ash- leigh's ter; he 'has but just begur a life-and-death struggle with a mysteri- ous' master criminal. In a hidden" hut in Professor Ashlelgh"s garden he has seen an ape skelgion and a living creature half monkey, half man, destroyed by fire In his rooms have appeared black boxes containing notes, signed by a pair of armless hands. Laure and Lenora, his as sistants, suspect Craig, the professor's Servant, of a double murder. The black boxes continue to appear in unc anny fashion Craig, captured, escapes to Port Bald. Quest and bis party follow, and be. Pond Into the desert. They are captured ¥ Mongars, escape with Craig as thelr Captive, and turn him over tp Inspector French in San Francisco. He escapes in a train wreck, oufgenerals his pursuers, and goes hack to New York, where he dies while Quest is attempting to hypno- tize him inte confession, FIFTEENTH INSTALLMENT CHAPTER XXXV. The first shock was over. Craig's body had bicas removed, and the girls had taken Mary, half stunned with grief, to their room. French and Quest were left alone. "That is eome disappointment," the former remarked, gloomily. "It 1s a disappointment," ' Quast said, slowly, "which may clear the way to bigger things." "What's in your mind now?" French inquired. Quest shook his head. "A turmoll. First of all, where is the professor?" | "Must have scooted right away home," Prench suggested. "He was | lopking pretty sick all the time. Guess | it must have been a powerful shock for him, and he n't so young as he | used to be." "Give me that paper of Craig's again," Quest asked inspector produced the docu-| ment from hig inner' pocket, and Quest, stretching it ofit 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 remark @a he handed it back again. ned, @ queer provision, that, French." "Fve been thinking that myself," the inspector admitted. : Quest glanced at the clock. ~* "Well," he sald, "if you're ready, inspector, we'll be getting along." The two men drove to the outskirts of the city almost in gilence. 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 opep the door. The room 'Was empty, yet both Quest and French were copsclous of a curious convie: tion that it hat-been occupied with. in the last few seconds. "Queer, but it spemed to me I heard someon," French muttered. "I was sure of it," Quest replied. They stood still for a moment and listened. The silence In the empty holige was almost unnatural. Quest turned away with a shrug of the shoulders. "At any rate," he said, "Craig's dy- ing thoughts must have been truth- ful. 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 wag open. Inside was the black box, "Craig's secret at last!' 'French myttered, hearsely, "Bring.dt tq the git, quick!® toma wok] ey were unémotipnal men, moment was sup The Sain. the mystery of Phase Jrauien. wool) and was there in thelr hands almost devou ariel few scrawled words See Page 62, January Number, American Medical Journal, 1905. Illustrated with pho- -- thoughts were framing:themselves in the brains of hoth of them Then there came 'a startling and in its way a dramatic interlude. Through the empty house came the ringing of the electric bell from the front door, shrill and insistent. Without a moment's hesitation, Quest hurried out and French followed him. On the doorstep Wasa apether. surprise Lenora and Laura were there, the-former carry. ing a small, black-bound volume. "Don't . be cross," she begged, quickly. "We just had to come. Look! We picked this up underneath the chair where Cralg was sitting. It must have slipped from his pocket. You see what is written op it?-- Diary of-John Craig." Quest took it in his hand "Say, this ought to he interesting," he remarked. "Come along." They passed into the library. French lingered behind for a 'moment and caught them up just as they were opening thé book underneath the elec- tric lamp. "See here what I've found!" he ex- claimed. "It was just by the side of the wall there. = Where's that maga. zine? He spread out the piece of paper--it fitted exactly into the empty space. They all read together: Professor Ashleigh, after. being bit- ten by the anthropoid, rapidly devel- oped hydrophobia of a serious nature. After treatment with a new serum the patient was relieved of the hydropho- bic symptoms, but to my horror this mild-mannered, humane man seems possessed at times. of all the charac- terigtica of the brutal, anthropoid-- cunning; thievery, brutality. 1 do not know whit may some of this. | hesi- tate to gut even these words on to paper. | am doubtful as 'to what course, in the Interests of humanity, 1 ought to take, (Signed) JAMES 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, Hg was attacked by wild animals whilst alone in a South American jungle, and torn to pieces. There was a queer little sllence among the company. Ne one seemed Inclined. for speech. They looked at one another in dumb, wondering hor- ror. Then Quest drew a penknife from his pocket and with a turn of his wrist forced the lock of the diary. They all watched him with fascinated eyes, It was something to escape from their thoughts. They leaned over as he spread the book out be fore -him.{ Those first two sentences were almost in the nature of a dedica tion: For ten years | have protected my master, Prof. Edgar Ashleigh, at the cost of my peace of mind, my happi. ness, my reputation. This book, even though. it be too late to help. me. shal clear my reputation. Quest closed the volume. . "French," he decided, "we must find the professor. © Will you have youg men search the house and grounds im- mediately 2" The inspector left the room like a dazed man. They could hear him giv- ing orders outside. » "The next' page," Lenora begged. "Just one page more!" Quest hesitated for a moment. Then he turned it over; Al 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 Sa - 'Another page. : sald. "Don 'Yousce where it is leading us? We Biave the truth here. Wait!™ He strode hastily to the door: French Fralist. Quest han come. - Wily] t a wards, There's no sign of the profes sor." 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 id 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 al: ready in his hand. And then the little | Party seemed suddenly turned to stone. For a few breathless seconds not one of them maved. Out into the clammy night air came the echoes of a 'hideous, inhuman, « bleod-eurdling scream. Quest was the first to, res cover himself. He leaped from his seat and rushed back across the emp- ty hall into the study, followed a lit 'tle way behind by French and the others, An unsuspecteg . panel door which led into the garden stood slight ly 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 dis- torted, his body curiously hunched up, 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 hig sight. seme hateful object. - "Stop him!" he cried. "Pake 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 fire. place, Why can't 1 kill him! He is coming! Step him, somgeone!" No one spoke or moved; no one, in- deed, had the power. Then at last Quest found werds, 'There is ng one in the room, pro- fespor," he said, "except us." The sound of a human volee seemed to produce a strange effect. The pro- fessor straightened himself; shook his head, his hands dropped to his side, ghastly pale, but his smile was once morg® the smile of the amiable natu- "My friends," he said, "forgive me. I. am very old, and the events of these last few hours have unnerved me. Forgive me." eg He groped for a moment and sank into a chair. Quest felched a decan- ter and a glass from the sideboard, poured out, some wine apd held it-4o his lips. The professor drauk it eag- erly. "My dear friend," he exclaimed, "yqu have saved me. - I haye some thing to-tell you, something I must tell you at once, but not here. 1 loathe this place, Let me come with you to your rooms." "As you please," calmly, He gripped Quest's arm, In silence they passed from the room, in silence they took their places once more in the automobiles, in silence they droye without a pause to Quest's roams. The professor made his way at once to his favorite easy chair, threw oft his overcoat and leaned back, "Quest," he pronounced, "you are the best 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 Quest answered, He, seemed suddenly to haye 3 (the snar} from his lips as the two THE DAILY BRITISH WHIG, SATURDAY, JULY 17, 1915. ck Box DEAL PT TT 9 ite colls and. levers." The professor watched her. Slowly his face changed. The benevolence faded away, his teeth for a moment showed in something which was almost a snarl. "You helleve me?" fe cried, turn- ing to Quest, "You are not going to try that horrible thing on me---Pro- fessor Lord Ashleigh? I am all broken up, I am not fit for it. Look at my hands, how they shake." "Professor," Questieaid, sternly, "we are sursounded By the shadow of some terrible deeds for which as yet there Is no explanation. 1 do mot say that we mistrust you, but I ask you to submit to this test." "I refuse!" the professor replied, harshly, A "And 1 insist," Quest muttered: The professor drew a Mitle breath. He. sat back in his chais. 'His face became still, 'his lips 'webs' drawn | closely together. Lenopa wheeled uy the machine pnd with deft Sngers ad- ! justed the fittings on one side. Quest himself connected it ap on the other. The professor sat there lie Ww, figure of stone." The silence in the room Was so intense that the Wicking of the small clock upon the mantel plece was elearly audible. The very atmos- phere scemed charged with thé thrill and wonder of it. Never before Kad' 'Quest' met with registance so com- plete and immovable. Sternly he eon- centrated the whole of his will power upon his task. Almost at once there Was a change. The professor fell back in the chair. The tense self-con- trol had pdssed from his features, his lips twitched. Simultaneously, the mirror for a moment was clouded =-then slowly a picture upon it gath- ered outline and substance' There was a jungle, strange, tall trees, and brushweod so thick that it reached to the waists of the two men, whe were slowly making their way through it, One was the professor, cleatly recognizable under his white sun hel- met; 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 objedt of pursuit... There was a sudden | change in the professor. They saw | him seize his gun by the barrel and whirl it above his head: He seemed suddenly to lose his whole identity. He grouched on hig haunches, almost like an animal, and Siang at the oth- er"s throat. They could Almost hear men went down together into the un- dergrowth. The picture faded away. "Doctor, Merrill!" Lenora faltered. "Then it was not wild beasts whieh. killed him." : Almost immediately figures again appeared in.the mirror. There was a small passage which seemed to lead See Motion day oo Tr Ti "Me Is Dead!" Quest Declared, 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 eriminplogist "made ne' reply. His eyes were gill fixed upon the pro- fessor, who showed some signs of, re- turning consciousness. He was grip- ping 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 Ash- leigh house, the 'pictures upon: the walls, they could almost feel the quiet silence of night. They saw the pro- fessor come stealing down: the stairs. He was wearing the black velves suit with the ¢owl in" his hand. + They watched him pause before a certain door; draw on the cowl and disappear. Through the opening they could see Lord Askleigh aslecp in bed, the moon- light streaming through the open win- dow across the counterpane. They saw the professor turn with a strange, horribje look in hi§ face and close the door. Lenora burst into sobs. "No "more!" she shraked. more, or I shall go mad!" Quest leaned forward and released their victim. The whole' atmosphere af the place seemed immediatély to change. Lenora drew a long, convul: sive breath and sank inté a chair. The professor sat up and gazed at them all with the air of a man who has just awakened from a dream. . "Have 1, by any chance, slept?" he asked. "Or--" wi 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 demeanor amd tone, - He carried himself with the calm dignity of the scientist. "The end of our struggle, 1 pre sume?" he said to Quest, pointing to the metal band. "You will at least ad- mit that I have shown you fine sport." No one answered him. Even Quest *No had barely yet recovered himself. The | professor shrugged his shoulders, "1 recogmise, of course," he said, gravély, "that*this is the end. A per son in extremis has prigileges. Will you allow me to write just a matter of twenty lines at your desk?" Silently Quest assénted. The profes- sor seated himself in the swing chair, drew a sheet of paper towards him, dipped the pen in the ink and began to write. Then he turned around and reached for hs own small black bag which lay upon the table. Quest caught him by the wrist. | * "What do you want out of that, pro fessor?" he inquired. "Merely my own pen and ink." the professor expostulated. ff outreaches your: outreaches it and : phe: "If there is| and Tuesday Quest held up the paper. "They all read, . The professor's letters were carefylly formed, jis handwriting per fectly legible;.. ie You ve been a-clever opponent, Sanford Quest, hut Ven row you are to be cheated. The:wigdom of the ages trium * Quest looked up'quickly, « "What the devil dogs. he mean? he milttered @ The professor's arms 'shot sudden- ly above his head. . Again that strange animal 'look conviflsed bis features. Be burst into a Joy unnatural laugh. "Mean, you fool?' he cried, holding out his wrist, which was slcwly turn- ing black. "Poisgnedi That is what it means!™, - Si They' al] stared at him. Quest seized the ink. bottle, revealed the false top and laid # down again with a little exclamatioh.' Then, before they could realize .it the end came The professor lay, a crumpled-up heap, upon the floor. * . . * * Quest swung reupd in his chair as French entered the room and held out his left hand, "Glad to see you, French. Help yourself to a cigar." "I don't know @s §/Want to smoke this mogning jug ipresent, thank you," French replied. . "Nothing wrong, eh?" YS ia -"The fact of-it\e" Fréneh expiained, "1 should like a few 'words with Miss Laura" 2 . 3 Quest laughed shortly.' * "Why 'on earth 'pulfin't you say 80?" 'he observed. "*igver knew you bashful before, inspector. She's up in the laboratory.. I'll ring fop someone to show you the way." oe Quest touched the bell and his new secretary entered almost at once, "Take Inspector French up into the laboratory," Quest directed. See you later, French," ' "Yes--perhaps--I hope 80," the in- spector' replied nervously. Quest watched him disappear with a puzzled smile. Then he sat down at his desk, drew a sheet of 'paper to wards him and. began.to write: My Dear inspector; | am taking this opportunity of let ting you know that out of deference to the wishes of the woman | hdpe soon to marsy, | am abandoning the.haz ardous and nerve-racking profession of criminology for a safer and happier career, You wil have, therefore, to "find help elsewhere in the future. With best wishes.' Yours, : SANFORD QUEST. He 'left the sheet of paper upon the desk and, ringing the bell, sent for Lenora. She appeared in a few Jmo- ments and came -over-to ig glide. «+ "What ig it, Mr. Q 7" ghe asked, He gave her the lefter without re- | mark. She read it*through and, turn. ing slowly around, Tooked. st him ex pectantly. "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, this, for a mar ried man," - Quest declared. 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