The Washington times., 1915-03-16
THE BLACK BOX
Continued from Yesterday
CHAPTER IV.-(Continued).
BY E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM

"rhere was a brief silence, then the
girls voice.
Are you there, James. Yes.
am Lenora. Are you safe? Have you
the jewels? Where? You
are sure that you are safe? NO,
nothing fresh has happened"
You are at the hotel" quest said
softly. You are going to him."
II cannot sleep" she continued. I
am coming to you"
She set down the receiver. Quest lean
ed a little more closely over her.
You know where the jewels are hid
den," he said. Tell me where?'
Her lips quivered. She made no an
swer. She turned uneasily in her chair.
Tell me the placer" Quest persisted.
There was still no response from the
girl. There were drops of perspiration
on her forehead. Quest shrugged his
shoulders slightly.
Very good" he concluded. ''You need
not tell me. Only remember this: At
9 o'clock tomorrow morning you will
bring those jewels to this apartment.
Rest quietly now. l want you
to go to sleep"
She obeyed without hesitation. Quest
watched, for a moment her regular
breathing. Then he touched bell by
his side. Laura entered almost at once.
Open the laboratory" Quest ordered.
Then come back
Without word or a glance toward
the sleeping figure, she obeyed him. 1t
was a matter of seconds before she re-
turney. Together they lifted and car
rled the sleeping girl out of the room,
across the landing, into IA larger apart
fh1 Sarhi WI n
ped in gloom and mystery. single
electric light was burning on the top
of a square mirror fixed upon an easel.
Toward this they carried the girl and
laid her in an easy chair almost op-
posite to it.
'Ane battery is just on the left. "
Lauro whispered.
Quest nodded.
Give me the band
Sha turned away for moment and
disappeared in the shadows. When she
returned. she carried curved band OF
flexible steel. Quest took it from her,
attached it by means of a coil OF wire
to the battery, and with firm, soft
hngefs slipped it on to Leonora's fore
head. Then he stepped back. A rare
emotion quivered in his tone.
she's "a subject, Laura-Im sure OF
it! Now for our great experiment."
They watched Lenora intently. Hell
face twitched uneasily, but she did moi
open her eyes and her breathing con,
tinued regular. quest bent over her.
'Lenora," he said. slowly and firmly
your mind is full of one subject You
see your mistress in her chair by the
tireside. She is toying with her dia-
monds. Look again. She lies there
dead! Who was it entered the room
Lenora? Look Look! Gaze into tna
mirror. What do you see there?"
The girls eyes had opened. They were
fixed now upon the mrror-dislended
full of unholy things Quest wiped 8
drop of perspiration from his forehead
TRY harder, Lenora,' he muttered
his own breath laboring. 1T is there il
your brain! Look
Laura for the first time showed signs
of emotion. She pointed toward the
mirror. Quest was suddenly silent. He
seemed to have turned into IA hguie OF
stone. For q single second the smooth
surface of the mirror was obscured. 4
room Crept dimly like "a picture into be
ing, a fire upon the hearth, a girl lean
ing back in her chair. door in thu
background opened. A man stole out
fixed upon the diamonds. a thin, siikel
cord twisted round his wrist. Suuuenl.
she saw hlnl-too late! His hama wa
upon her lips, his face seemed to star
almost from the mirror-tnen back
neSSi
Lenora opened her eyes She was still
in the easy chair befole the fire.
Mr.. Quest!' she taltered.
He looked up from some letters whicl
he had been studying
Il am SO sorry he said politely. -
really had forgotten tnat you We're here
But, you know tnat you nave been
Sleep"
She half rose to her feet. She wa
perpleNed uneasy.
'Asleap?" she murmured. Have
And ] dI canned horrible dream! .
Have | been ringing anyone up on tn
telephone"
NOT mat | know Of Quest assure
her. "As matter Of fact, was cale
downstairs to see one of my men 500
after we got here.
Can ! go now she asked.
"Certainly," Quest replied. ''To te
you tie truth, | find that ! shall ~no
need to ask YOU those questions. afte
all. A messenger from the police sta
ton has been here. He says they hav
come to the conclusion that very vel
known gang of New York criminals ar
in this thing We know how to trac
them down all right"
Il may go now, then?' she repeated
with immense relief.
Quest escorted the gir! downstair.
opened the front door, blew his whistle
and his car pulled up at the door
Take this young lad.', he ordered
"wherever sh. wishes. Good ni2 mt"
The girl drove off. Quest watched tn
car disappear around the corner The
he turned slowly and made preparation
for his adventure.
Number 7C0, New York." he muttcre
half an hour later as he left his hous
Beyond Fourteenth street-a toug
neighborhoOd.
He hesitated for a moment. feeling IL
articles in his ovorCOat pocket.-a revo
yer in one, small piece of hard sui
stIce in the other. Then he stepne
into his car, which had just returned.
Where d'd YOU leave the your
lady" ne asked the chauffeur.
''ln Broadway, sir. She left me ar
boarded a crOss-town car"
Quest nodded approVingly.
"No tinesse," he sighed