The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-05-17
The Black Box
tsY E. PHILLIPS oPPEhHEIM.)
CHAPTER xvi-(continued.)

They all gave a little cry as they
saw him appear, trembling. pitiful
creature, glancing around like a
trapped animal He commenced to
descend the stairs, holding tightly
to the banisters Quest remained On
the landing above, his revolver in his
hand. French waited in the hall be-
low, also armed. Laura gripped Lee
nora's arm in excitement
They've got him now!" she ex-
claimed. Got him, sure!"
On the fourth or fifth stair Craig
hesitated. He suddenly saw the pro-
lessor standing below He gripped
the banisters with one hand. The
other he flung out in threatening
gesture.
You've given me away to these
bloodhounds! he cried-'you, for
whom have toiled and shaved, whom
I have followed all over the world,
whom have served faithfully with
the last breath Of my body and the
last drop of blood in my veins! You
have broue ht them here-tracked me
down! You!"
The professor shook his head sor-
rowfully.
Craig" he said, you have been
the best servant man ever had. If
you are innocent of these crimes you
can clear yourself If you are guilty
a dogs death is none too good for
you"
upon his feet Only Lenora, from the
hall, saw that he was fitting his right
foot into what seemed to be a leath-
er loop hanging from the banisters.
Then wild shout of surprise broke
from the lips of all of them. followed
by a moment of stupefied wonder.
The whole staircase suddenly began
to revolve. Craig, clinging to the
banisters, disappeared. In moment
or two there was fresh click. An.
other set of stairs, identical to the
first, had taken their place.
"The cellar!" Quest shouted, as he
rushed down the stairs. Quick"
They wrenched open the wooden
door and hurried down the dark steps
into the gloomy, unlit cellar. The
place was crowded with packing cases
and two large wine barrels stood in
the corner. At the farther end was
door. Quest rushed for it and stood
guard. A moment later, however, he
called to Laura and pressed his re.
volver into her hand.
Stand there" he ordered. "Shoot
him If he tries to run out. I'll search
in the packing cases. He might be
dangerous"
The professor, out of breath, was
leaning against one of the pillars,
his arm passed around it for support
Lenora, with Quest and French,
searched hastily amongst the packing
cases. Suddenly there was a loud
crack, the sound of falling masonry,
followed by scream from Laura.
French. with a roar of anger, rushed
toward her. She was lying on her
side, already half covered by falling
bricks and masonry. He dragged her
away, just in time
my God. she's fainted!" he ex-
claimed
Il haven't" Laura faltered, trying
to open her eyes. "and I'm not going
to, but think my arm'g broken, and
my side hurts
"The fellows not down here, any.
way" Quest declared. Lets help her
upstairs and get her out of this
devils house"
They SUPPORTED her IN the stems
and found a chair for aer In the naff.
The inspector swung open the tele.
phone cupboard and called for an am.
bulance. Then Quest, who had been
examining the staircase, suddenly
gave little exclamation.
He's done u.s." he cried. Look
here, French, this is the original stair
case. There's the leather loop. I
know it because there was crack on
the fourth stair. When we rushed
down the cellar after him, he swung
the thing round again and simply
walked out of the front door. Damn.
1t, man, it's open!"
They hurried outside. French blew
his whistle. One of the plain-clothes
men came running up from the ave.
nue.. He was looking little sheep
ish
What's wrong?" French demand.
ed
He's gone Off" was the unwilling
reply. Il guess that chaps given us
the slip"
Speak up," French insisted.
THE only place." the man went On.
I'VE hadn't our eyes glued on was
the front door. He must have come
out through that. There's been a
motortruck with one or two queer.
looking chaps in it at the corner OF
the avenue there for the last ten min.
utes. I'd just made up my mind to
stroll round and see what it was up
to when Jim. who was on the other
side, shouted out. A man jumped up
into It and they made OF at once"
The inspectors rubicund counte.
nance was white with fury. His head