i
SYNOPSIS.
Sanford Quest, master criminologist of
the world, finds that In bringing to Jus
tice Macdougal, the murderer of Lord
Ashlelgh’s daughter, he has but Just en
tered «i llfe-and-death struggle with a
mysterious master criminal. In a hidden
hut in Professor Ashleigh's garden he lias
seen an anthropoid ape skeleton and a
living inhuman rreature, half monkey,
half man, destroyed by fire. In his rooms
at intervals have appeared from nowhere
two black boxes with sarcastic and
threatening notes signed with a pair of
armless, threatening hands, representing
those which have already figured In a
diamond robbery. With his secretary,
I.aura, and his assistant, Lenora. he fol
lows the trail of Macdougal, who escaped
on his way to prison, and finds Maedou
gal's dead body in a cave on a lonely
hillside. After a thrilling escape from
two thugs who try to kill him he returns
to his rooms to find his valet, Ross
Brown, and a Miss Qutgg murdered, and
Police Inspector French investigating.
Breach. puzzled, half suspects Quest of
the crime.
FIFTH INSTALLMENT
ON THE RACK.
CHAPTER XII.
For the moment a new element had
been introduced into the horror of the
little tableau. All eyeB were fixed upon
Quest, who listened to the inspector’s
dubious words with a supercilious
smile upon his lips.
■‘Perhaps,” he suggested, "you would
like to ask me a few questions?”
“Perhaps I may feel it my duty to
do so,” the inspector replied gravely.
“In the first place, then, Mr Quest,
will you kindly explain the condition
of your clothes?”
Quest shrugged his shoulders
"Here you are, then,” he replied
“This morning I decided to make an
attempt to clear up the mystery of
Macdougal's disappearance. 1 sent on
my secretary, Miss Laura, to make
friends with the section boss, and
Lenora and 1 went out by automobile
a little later. We instituted a search
on a new principle, and before very
long we found Macdougal's body. |
That's one up against you, I think, in- |
spector.”
very tigeiy, me inspector od
served. "Go on, please.”
"I left the two young ladles, at Miss
Lenora's wish, to superintend the re
moval of the body. I myself had an
engagement to deliver over her jew
els to Mrs. Rbelnhotdt here at mid
day. I returned to where my automo
bile was waiting, started for the city
and was attacked by two thugs near
the section house. I got away from
them, ran to the tower house to try
and stop the freight, was followed by
the thugs, and Jumped out on to the
last car from the signal arm.”
"Where is your automobile?"
"No idea,” Quest replied "I left It
in the road. When 1 jumped from the
freight car I took a taxicab to the pro
fessor’s and called for him, as ar
ranged.”
The inspector nodded.
*T shall have to ask you to excuse
me for a moment,” he said, “while I
ring up number ten signal tower. If
Mr. Quest’s story receives corrobora
tion the matter is at an end.”
The inspector left the room almost
Immediately.
When he returned he was looking
graver than ever.
“Quest,” he announced, “your alibi
is useless—in fact, a little worse than
useless The operator at number ten
ihas been found murdered at the back
of the tower!”
Quest started.
"I ought not to have left him to
those thugs,” he murmured regret
fully.
"There is no automobile of yours in
the vicinity,” the inspector continued,
“nor any news of it I think it will be
as well now. Quest, for this matter to
take its obvious course. Will you,
first of all, hand over her jewels to
Mrs. Rheinholdt?”
Quest drew the keys of the safe
from his pocket, crossed the room and
swung open the safe door. For a mo
ment afterwards he stood transfixed.
His arm, half outstretched, remained
motionless. Then he turned slowly
around.
i ne jewels nave Deen stolen, uo
announced with unnatural calm.
The Inspector laid his hand heavily
upon Quest's shoulder.
‘You will kindly consider yourself
under arrest. Quest. Ladles and gen
tlemen, will you clear the room now.
If you please. The ambulance I tele
phoned for is outside.”
i The professor, who had been look
ing as though dazed, suddenly inter
vened.
‘‘Mr. French,” he said earnestly, “I
(am convinced that you are making a
great mistake. In arresting and tak
ing away Mr. Quest you are removing
from us the one man who Is likely to
bo'able to clear up this mystery.”
The Inspector pushed him gently
to one side.
“You will excuse me, professor,” he
;eaid, "but this Is no matter for argu
ment If Mr. Quest can clear himself,
no one will be more glad than I.”
Quest shrugged his shoulders.
“The Inspector will have his little
Joke,” he observed dryly. “It’s all
right, girls. Keep cool,” he went on,
yia he saw the tears In Lenora’s eyes.
or i j r wuuu
"Come round and see me in the
Tombs, one of you.”
1 he ambulance men came and de
parted with their grim burden, the
room on the ground floor was locked
and sealed, and the house was soon
empty except for the two girls. To
ward three o'clock Lenora went out
and returned with a newspaper. She
opened it out upon the table and they
both pored over it.
“ ‘Justice Thorpe has refused to con
sider bail!' He’s a guy, that Justice
Thorpe, and so's the idiot who wrote
this stuff!” Laura exclaimed, thrust
ing the paper away from her. ‘I
guess the professor was dead right
when he told French he was locking
up the one man who could clear up
the whole show.”
Lenora nodded thoughtfully.
“The professor spoke up like a
man," she agreed, “but Laura, I want
to ask you something. Did you notice
his servant—that man Craig?”
“Can't say I did particularly,” Laura
admitted.
"Twice,” Lenora continued, “I
thought he was going to faint. I tell
you he was scared the whole of the
time.”
“What are you getting at, kid?”
Laura demanded.
"At Craig, if I can,” Lenora replied,
moving toward the telephone. "I’lease
give me the phototelesme. I am
going to talk to the professor,”
Laura adjusted the mirror to the in
strument and Lenora rang up The
professor himself answered the call.
• lave you seen the three o'clock
edition, professor,” Lenora asked.
“1 never read newspapers, young
lady,” the professor replied.
"Let me tell you what they say
about Mr. Quest:"
L.enora commenced a rambling ac
count of wnat she bad read in the
newspaper. All the time the eyes of
the two girls were fixed upon the mir
ror They could see the professor
seated in his chair with two huge vol
umes by his side, a pile of manuscript,
and a pen in his hand. They could
even catch the look of sympathy on
his face as he listened attentively. Sud
denly Lenora almost broke off. She
gripped I^aura by the arm. The door
of the study had been opened slowly,
and Craig, carrying a bundle, paused
for a moment on the threshold. He
glanced nervously toward the profes
sor. who seemed unaware of his en
trance. Then he moved stealthily to
ward the fireplace, stooped down and
committed something to the flames.
The relief on his face, as he stood up,
was obvious
“All I can do for Mr. Quest, young
‘ady, I will," the professor promised.
He laid the receiver down and the
"The Jewels Have Been Stolen!”
reflection on the mirror faded away.
Lenora started up and hastily put on
her coat and hat, which were still ly-!
ing on the chair.
"I am going right down to the pro- j
fessor's,” she announced.
"What do you think you can do
there?” Laura asked.
"I am going to see if I can find out
what that man burned," she replied.
“I will be back in an hour.”
I-aura walked with her as far as the
street car, and very soon afterward I
Lenora found herself knocking at the ;
professor's front door. Craig admitted
her almost at once. For a moment he ,
seemed to shiver as he recognized her. |
“Well, young lady,” the professor
said, "have you thought of something
I can do?”
She took no notice of the chair to
which he pointed, and rested her hand
upon his shoulder.
“Professor,” she begged, “go and see
Mr. Quest! He is in the Tombs prison.
It would be the kindest thing anyone
could possibly do.”
The professor glanced regretfully at
his manuscrapt, hut he did not hesi
tate. He rose promptly to his feet
“If you think he would appreciate
it, I will go at once,” he decided.
Her face shone with gratitude.
“That is really kind of you, profes
sor,” she declared.
"1 will send for mj coat ant* we will
go together, If you like,” he suggested.
She smiled.
"1 am going the other way. back to
Georgia square,” she explained "No,
please don’t ring. 1 can find my own
way out.”
She hurried from the room. Outside
1n the hall she paused for a moment
listening with beating heart. Ity the
side wall was a hat rack with branch
lng pegs, from which several coats
were hanging. She slipped quietly be
hind their shelter.
A moment or two later she heard
the professor leave the house. Very
cautiously she stole out from her hid
ing place. The hall was empty She
crossed It with noiseless footsteps,
| slipped into the study and moved
stealthily to the fireplace There was
a little heap of ashes in one distinct
spot. She gathered them up in her
handkerchief and secreted it in her
dress and quietly left the house.
At Georgia square she found Laura
waiting for her, and a few minutes af
terward the two girls were examining
the ashes with the aid of Quest's mi
croscope. Among tile little pile was
one fragment at the sight of which
they both exclaimed. It was distinctly
a shred of charred muslin embroidery
Lenora pointed toward it triumphant
ly.
"Isn't that evidence?” she demand
ed. “Let's ring up Inspector French!”
Laura shook her head doubtfully.
“Not so fast,” she advised. “French
Is a good sort in his way, but he’s
! prejudiced just now against the boss
I'm not sure that this evidence would
go far by Itself.”
“It's evidence enough for us to go to
: Craig, though! What we have got to
do is to get a confession out of him,
somehow!”
Laura studied her companion, for a
moment, curiously.
“Taking some interest in Mr. Quest,
kid, ain't you?”
Lenora looked up. Then her head
suddenly sank into her hands She
knew quite well that, her secret had
^scaped her. I^aura patted her shoul
der.
'That's all right, child.” she said
soothingly. “We'll see him through
this, somehow or other.’’
"Laura,” exclaimed I>cnora, "we will
save Mr. Quest and we will get hold
of Craig! 1 have a plan Listen!”
CHAPTER XIII.
Craig’s surpr'se was rpal enough
as he opened the back door of the pro
fessor’s house on the following morn
ing and found Lenora standing on the
threshold.
Lenora smiled pleasantly.
“I came to this door,’ she said, “be
cause I wanted a little talk with you.”
Craig's attitude was perfect. He was
mystified but he remained respectful.
"Will you come inside?' he invited.
She shook her head.
"I am afraid,” she confided, “of what
I am going to say being overheard.
Come with me down to the garage
for a moment."
He opened the doors of the garage,
leaving the keys in the lock, and they
| both passed inside.
“You can say what you please here
without the slightest fear of being
overheard, miss,” Craig remarked.
, I.enora nodded, and breathed a
prayer to herself She was nearer
the door than Craig by about half a
dozen paces. Her hand groped in the
little bag she was carrying and
gripped something hard. She clenched
her teeth for a moment Then the
automatic pistol flashed out through
the gloom.
“Craig,” she threatened, "it you
move 1 shall shoot you ”
It seemed as though the man were
a coward. He began to tremble, his
lips twitched, his eyes grew larger
and rounder.
“What is it?” he faltered. “What
do you want?”
'Just this," Lenora said firmly. “I
suspect you to be guilty of the crime
for which Sanford Quest is in prison.
I am going to have you questioned
If you are innocent you have nothing
to fear. If you are guilty there will
be someone here before long who will
extract the truth from you.”
The man’s face was an epitome of
terror. Even his knees shook Lenora
felt herself grow' calmer with every
moment.
i am going ouisiue u) geno a mes
sage,” she told him. “1 shall return
presently.1'
“Don't go,” he begged suddenly.
"Don’t leave me! 1 ain innocent i
have done nothing wrong. If you keep
me here, yau will do more harm than
you can dream of.”
“It Is for other people to decide
about your innocence,” Lenora said
calmly. “I have nothing to do with
that. If you are wise you will stop
here quietly.”
“Have you said anything to Mr.
Ashlelgh, miss?” the man asked pite
ously.
“Not a word.”
A expression of relief shone for a
moment upon his face. Lenora point
ed to a stool.
"Sit down there and wait quietly,”
6he ordered.
He obeyed without a word She
left the place, locked the door se
curely, and made her way round to the
other side of the garage the side
hidden from the house. Here, at the
fan corner, she drew a little pocket
wireless from her hag and set it on
the window sill. Very slowly she sent
her message:
I have Craig here In the professor's
garage, locked up. If our plan ha9
succeeded come at once I am wait
ing for you.
There was no reply. She sent the
message again and again. Suddenly,
during a pause, there was a little flash
Upon the plate. A message was cum
mg to her. She transcribed It with
beating heart:
0. K Coming.
**<■*•»
The guard swung open the wicket
in front oi Quest’s cell.
"Young woman to see you Quest,
he announced ‘‘Ten minutes, am no
loud talking, please.'
Quest moved to the bars It was
I,aura who stood there. She wasted
very little time in preliminaries Hav
ing satisfied horselt that the guard
was out of hearing, she leaned as close
as she coulc. to Quest
"Look here," she. said, "Lenora's
eraz> with the idea that Craig has
done these jobs—Craig, the profes
sor’s servant you know. We used the
phototelesme yesterday afternoon and
saw him burn something in the pro
fessor’s study. Lenora went up
straight away and got hold of the
ashes.”
"Smart girl," Quest mu-mured, nod
ding approvingly. “Well?’
“There are distinct fragments,"
Laura continued, “of embroidered stuff
such as the Salvation Army girl might
"If You Move I Shall Shoot You!”
havp bPen wearing W'p put them on
one side, but they ain't enough evi
dence. Lenora's Idea is that you
should get hold of Craig and hypnotize
him into a confession.“
“That’s all right,” Quest replied,
"but how am 1 to get hold of him9'
Laura glanced once more carelessly
around to where the guard stood
“Lenora's gone up to the professor's
ngafn this afternoon She fs going to
try and get hold of Craig and lock him
in the garage If she succeeds, she
will send a message by wireless at
three o clock. It is half-past two
now.”
“Well? Quest exclaimed "Well?”
“You can work this guard if you
want to," Lenora went on “1 nave
seen you tackle worse cases f?e seems
dead easy Then let me in the cell,
take my clothes and leavp me here :
Quest followed the scheme in his
mind quickly.
“It fs all right,” he decided, “but I
am not al all sure that they can really
hold me on (he evidence they have
got If they can't I shall be doing my
self more harm than good in this !
way."
It's no use unless you can get hold
ol Craig quickly ’ Laura said. "He 1b
gctling the scares, as it is.'*
"I'll do it.'' Quest decided “Cal! the
guard, Laura ” %
She obeyed. The man came good
naturedly toward them.
Quest looked at him steadfastly
through the bars.
.. "I want you to come Inside for a
moment. Quest repeated softly. “Un
look the door, please, take the key off
your bunch and come inside.”
The man hesitated but all the time
his fingers were fumbling with the
keys. Quest's lips continued to move.
Thp warder opened the door and en
tered. A few minutes later Quest
passed (he key through the window to
Laura, who was standing on guard.
Without a word, and with marvelous
rapidity, the change was effected
Laura produced from tier handbag a
wig, which she pinned inside her hat
and passed over to Quest. Then she
flung herself on to the bed and drew
the blanket up to her chin.
“How long will he stay like that?”
she whispered, pointing to the warder,
who was sitting on the floor with his
arms folded and his eyes closed
“Half and hour or so.” Quest an
swered “Don't bother about him 1
shall drop the key back through the
window ”
vuest reacnoa t;eorgta squire at
live minutes to three. A glance tin
and down assured him that the house
was unwatched He let himself In
with his own key. threw [.aura's
clothes off. and after a few moments’
hesitation, selected from the ward
robe a rough tweed suit with a thick
lining and lapels Just as he was
tying his tie. the little wireless which
he had laid on the table at his side
began to record a messagp. He glanced
at the clock It was exactly three.
Quest’s eyes shone for a moment
with satisfaction. Then lie sent off
his answering message, put on a dus
ter and slouch hat. and left the h.ouse
by the side entrance. In a few mo
ments he was in Proadway, and p
quarter of an hour later a taxicab de
posited him at the entrance to the
r«rofessor’s house. He walked swiftly
up >h< drive and turned toward the
parage, hoping every momen' to see
something ».t I^enora. The door of the
place stood open. He entered and
walked around. It was empty. There
was no sign ot either C»aig or Le
nora! . . .
Quest recovered from his first dis
appointment, stole carefully out and
made a minute examination ol the
place. Close to the corner from which
Lenora had sent her wireless message
to him he stooped and picked up c.
handkerchief, which from the marking
he recognized at once. A few feet
away the gravel was disturbed as
though by the trampling of several
feet. He set his teeth.
"I’ve got to find thal girl,' he mut
tered. “Craig can go to h—1!”
He turned away and approached the
house. The front door stood open
and he made his way at once to the
library. The professor, who was sit
ting at his desk surrounded by a pile
of books and papers, addfessed him,
as he entered without looking up.
"Where on earth have you been,
Craig?" he inquired petulantly. "I have
rung for you si: times. Have I not
told you never to leave the place with
out orders?”
“It is not Craig," Quest replied quiet
ly. “It is I, professor—Sanford Quest."
The professor swung round in his
chair and eyed his visitor in blank
astonishment.
"Quest?" he exclaimed. “God bless
mv soul! Have they let you out al
ready, then?”
"I came out,” Quest replied grim
!y. "Sit tight, and listen to me for a
moment, will you?”
“You came out?" the professor re
peated, looking a little dazed. “You
mean you escaped?”
Quest nodded.
“Perhaps I made a mistake,” he ad
mitted, "but here I am. Now listen,
professor.” And he told the story of
the last few hours.
The professor's face was almost piti
ful in its blank amazement. His
mouth wap wide open like a child’s,
words seemed absolutely denied to
him He rose to his feet, obviously
a tremendous effort to adjust his
ideas
“Craig locked up in my garage?”
he murmured. "Craig guilty of those
murders? Why my dear Mr Quest,
a more harmless, a more inoffensive,
peace-loving and devoted servant than
John Craig never trod this earth!”
“Maybe,” Quest replied, "but where
Is he?”
I he professor could do nothing but
look around him a little vaguely.
‘I am going hack, Quest announced
‘‘My only chance is the wireless. If
Lenora Is alive or at liberty, she will
communicate with me.”
! ‘May l come, too?" the professor
asked timidly.
j “Come by all means,” Quest assent
ed “1 will drive you down In your
j car, If you like.”
The professor hurried away to get
hfs coat and hat. and a few minutes
later they started off. In Broadway
they left the car at a garage and
made their way up a hack street which
enabled them to enter the house at
the side entrance They passed up
stairs into the sitting-room Quest
fetched the pocket wireless and laid it
down on the table. The professor ex
amined it with interest.
“You are marvelous, my friend,"
he declared ‘‘With all these resourcs
of science at your command it seems
Incredible that you should be In the
position you are.”
Quest nodded coolly.
“Just one moment, professor, while
1 send off a message, he said, open
ing the little instrument “Where are
you, Lenora? he signaled. “Send me
word and 1 wilt fetch you. i am in my
own house t'oi the present. Let me
know that you are safe."
The professor leaned back, smoking
>ne ot Quest’s excellent cigars He
was beginning to show signs of the
liveliest interest.
"Quest,’' he said, “1 wish l could in
duce you to dismiss this extraordinary
supposition of yours concerning my
servant Craig The man has been wdth
me for the best part of twenty years.
He saved my life in South America;
we have traveled in all parts of the
world. He has proved himself to be
exemplary, a faithful and devoted
servant.”
“Then perhaps you will tell me,”
Quest suggested, “where he is now,
and why he has gone away? That
does not look like complete Innocence,
does It?"
The professor sighed.
"I cannot stay here much longer, un
less I mean to go back to the Tombs, ’
Quest declared.
“Surely," the professor suggested,
“your innocence will very soon be es
tablished ?"
“There is one thing which will hap
pen, without a doubt," Quest replied.
“My auto and the chauffeur will be dis
covered. 1 have insisted upon incpiir
ies being sent out throughout the state
of Connecticut. They tell me, too,
that the police arelpird on the scent
of Red Gallagher and the other man.
Unless they get wind of this and sell
me purposely, their arrest will be the
end of my troubles. To tell you the
truth, professor,” Quest concluded, “it
is not of myself I am thinking at all
just now. It is Lenora."
The professor nodded sympathet
ically.
“The young lady who shut Craig up
in the garage, you mean? A plucky
young woman she must be."
“She has a great many other good
qualities besides courage," Quest de
dared. "Women have not counted
for much with me, professor, up till
now, any more than they have done. 1
should think, witli you, but I tell yon
frankly. If anvone has hurt a hair o'
that girl's head 1 will have their lives.
w-hatever the penalty may be! It i~
for her sake—to find her—that I broke
out of prison and that I am trying to
keep free. The wisest thing to do
from my own poin' of view, would bo
to give myself up. I can't bring my
self to do that without knowing what
hac become of her."
The professor nodded again.
“A charming and well-bred younr
woman she seems,’’ he admitted. “1
fear that I should only be a bungle:
in your profession, Mr. Quest, but fi
there lc anything j can do depen
upon me. Personally, am convinced
that Craig will return to me with
some plausible explanation as to wh*'
ha* happened.”
Quest, for the fhirt or fourth time
moved cautiously toward the window
His expression suddenly changed Hi
glanced suddenly downward, frowned
slightly.
“They’re after me!” he exclaimed
“Sit still, professor.”
He darted into his room and reap
peared again almost immediately. The
professor gave a gasp of astonish
ment at his altered appearance His
tweed suit seemed to have been turned
inside out. There were no lapels now
and it was buttoned up to his neck. He
wore a long white apron; a peaked
cap and a chinpiece of astonishing
naturalness had transformed him intc
the semblance of a Dutch grocer's boy
“I'm oft, professor,” Quest wtais
pered. “You shall hear from me soon
I have not been here, remember!”
He ran lightly down the steps and
Into the kitchen, picked up a basket,
filled It haphazard with vegetables and
threw a cloth over the top Then he
made his way to the front door, peered
out for a moment, swung through it
on to the step, and, turning round
commenced to belabor it with his fist
Two plain-clothes men stood at the
end of the street. A police automo
bile drew up outside the gate. Inspec
tor French, attended by a policeman,
stepped out. The former looked search
Ingly at Quest.
“Well, my boy, what are you doing
here?' he asked.
“I cannot answer yet,” Quest re
plied, in broken English ‘Ten min
uts already have 1 wasted, f have
Knocked at all the doors.”
French smiled
“You run along home," he said, “and
tell your master that he had better
leave off delivering goods here tor the
present."
wuest went on grumoung French
opened the door with a master key
and secured it carefully, leaving one of
nis men to guard it He searched the
rooms on the ground floor and finally
ascended to Quest's study The pro
fessor was still enjoying his cigar.
“Say, where's Quest?" the inspector
asked promptly.
“Have you let him out already?" the
professor replied, in a tone of mild
surprise. "I thought he was In the
Tombs prison.”
The Inspector pressed on without
answering. Every room in the house
was ransacked. Presently he came
back to the room where the professor
With Marvelous Rapidity, the Change
Was Effected.
was still sitting. Ills usually good
humored face was a little clouded.
"Professor,’' he began— "What's the
matter, Miles?"
A plain-clothes man from the street
had come hurrying Into the room.
"Say, Mr. French," he reported, "our
fellows have got hold of a newgie
down in the street, who was coming
along ’way round the back and saw
two men enter this house by the side
entrance, half an hour ago. One he
described exactly as the professor
here. The other, without a doubt, was
Quest." ,
French turned swiftly toward the
professor.
"You hear what this man says?”
he exclaimed. Mr. Ashlelgh, you’re
fooling me! You entered this house,
with Sanford Quest. You will have,
to tell us where he is hiding.”
The professor kuocked the ash from
his cigar and replaced It in his mouth.
His clasped hands rested in front
of him. There was a twinkle of some*
thing like mirth In his eyes as he
glanced up at the inspector.
"Mr. French,” he said, "Mr. Sanford
Quest is my friend. I am here in
charge of his house. Believing as I
do that his arrest was an egregious
blunder, I shall say or do nothing like
ly to afford you any Information.”
French turned impatiently away.
Suddenly a light broke in upon him;
he rushed toward the door.
"That d—d Dutchie!” he exclaimed.
The professor smiled benignly.
(TO B£ CONTINUED.)