The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-06-26
The Black Box
Continued from Page Three.)

Say, what have you got therer'
French echoed.
Quest examined the strengthening
lump of metal steadily. The most Gu
rious thing about it seemed to be that
it was absolutely sound and showed
no signs of damage. He turned to the
professor.
81 think you are the only one who
will be able to appreciate this. profes'
sor," he remarked. 'Look!" 1t Is q
fragment of opotan-a distinct and
wonderful specimen of opotan."
Everyone looked puzzled.
'But what" Lenora inquired, sis
opotan?"
''It is a new metal" Quest explained
gravely, towards which scientists
have been directing great deal of at
tention lately. 1t has the power of col
lecting all the electricity from the
air around us. There are a dozen
people, at the present moment, con
Quoting experiments with it for the
purpose of cheapening electric lights
If We had been in the room ten sec
onds sooner"
He paused significantly. Then he
swung round on his heel. Craig, G
now pitiful object, his hands nervous
ly twitching, his face CHASTITY, was
covering in the background.
Your last little effort, Craig?" hi
demanded, sternly.
Craig made no reply. The profes
sor, who had disappeared for a mo
ment, came back to them.
There is a smaller room across The
hail." he said, which will do for oul
purpose"
Craig suddenly turned and faced
them.
81 have changed my mind he said
Il have nothing to tell you. Do wha
you will with me. Take me to the
Tombs, deal with me any way yol
choose, but have nothing to say"
Quest pointed a threatening finger
at him.
your last voluntary word. perhaps,
he said, "but science is still your mas
ter, Craig. Science has brought man.
criminals to their doom. 1t shall take
it's turn with you. Bring him along
French, to my study. There is a wa.
of dealing with him."
Quest felt his forehead and found /
damp. There we're dark rims unde
his eyes. Before him was Craig, will
a little band around his forehead AM
the mirror where they could all see il
The professor stood a little in tn
side by side, gazing with distende'
eyes at the blank mirror, and Lenor
was doing her best to soothe the tel
rified girl. Twice Quests teeth cam
together and once he almost reeled.
Its the fight of his life" he nut
tered at last, "but I've got him.
Almost as he spoke they could Sc
Craig's resistance begin to weaker
The tenseness of his form relaxed
Quests will was triumphing. Slow
ly in the mirror they saw little pie
ture creeping from the outline int
definite form, picture of the profes
sor's library. Craig himself was Their
with mortar and trowel, and blac
box in his hand.
cts coming!" Lenora moaned.
Quest stood perfectly tense. TIL
| picture suddenly flashed into brillian
clearness. They saw Craig's feature
with almost lifelike detail. From tn
corner of that room where the profe;
sor was standing, came smothere
groan. 1t was terrifying, paral.
zing moment. Even the silence SCENE
charged with awful things. Then sue
denly, without any warning. the pit
ture faded completely away. A crI
which was almost a howl of anger
broke from Quests lips. Craig ha
fallen sideways from his chair. Their
was an ominous change in his face
| Something seemed to have passe
from the atmosphere of the room
some tense and nameless quality
Quest moved forward and laid hi
hand on Craig's heart. The girl wa
On her knees, screaming.
take her away" Quest whispere
| to Lenora.
what about him." French demand
ed, as Lenora led the girl from tn
| room.
"He fought too hard" Quest saft
gravely. HE is dead Professor
They all looked around. The spo
where, he had been standing wa
| empty. The professor had gone.