The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-05-09
THE BLACK BOX
PAGE ~
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A

The woman shrieked. The butler sud
denly sprang upon the last man to en-
ter and sent him spinning down the
steps. Almost at that instant there
was a scream from upstairs Quest
took running jump and went up the
stairs four at a time. The butler. who
had so far defied arrest, suddenly
, snatched the revolver from Hard
aways hand and fired blindly in front
/ OF him, missing Quest only by an inch
| or two.
Don't be a fool, Karl" the woman
called out. The games up, Take II
quietly"
| Once more the shrek rang through
the house. Quest rushed to the door
OF the room from whence 1t came. tried
the handle, and found 1t locked. He
ran back a little way and charged it
| From inside he could hear turmoil OF
voices. White with rage and passion
he pushed and kicked madly, There
was a shot from inside, bullet came
through the door within an inch OF his
head then the crash OF broken crock
| cry and mans groan. With a final
effort Quest dashed the door in and
staggered into the room. Lenora
| was standing in the far corner, the
front of her dress torn and blood upon
her lips. She held a revolver in her
| hand, and was covering a man whose
head and hands were bleeding Around
| him were the debris of a broken jug
Mr. Quest" she screamed. Don't
go near him-l've got him covered
I'm all right"
, Quest drew long breath. The man
who stood glaring at him was well
dressed and still young. He was un
armed, however, and Quest secured
him in moment
"The girls mad" he said sullenly
' mo one wanted to do her any harm
! Hardaway and his men came troop
| ing up the stairs. Quest relinquished
his prisoner and went over to Lenora
I've been so frightened" she
sobbed. They got me in here-they
told me that this was the street In
which my aunt lived-and they
wouldn't let me go. The woman was
horrible And this afternoon this man
came. The brute"
Quest turned to Hardaway.
"I'll take the young lady away" he
said. You know where to find us.
Lenora had almost recovered when
they reached the hotel. Walking uI
and down they found the professor
MY friend!" he exclaimed-"Mr
Quest 1t is the devil incarnate
against whom we fight"
What do you mean?" Quest de
manded
The professor wrung his hands.
II put him In our James II pris
on" he declared. why should
think of the secret passage? No
one has used 1t for hundred years
He found It, learned the trick"
You mean," Quest cried
He has escaped the professor
broke in. Craig has escaped again D.!
They are searching for him high and
low, but he has gone!"
Quests arm tightened for a moment
in Lenora's II was curious how he
seemed to have lost at that moment
all sense Of proportion. Lenora was
safe the relief OF that one
thought overshadowed everything else
in the world.
THE fellow can't get far" he NUT
tered.
who knows" the professor re.
piled, dolefully.
They had been standing together in
little recess Of the hall. Suddenly
Lenora, whose face was turned to,
ward the entrance doors, gave a little
cry. She took a quick step forward
"Laura!" she exclaimed wonder
ingly. why, it's Laura"
They all turned around. A young
woman had just entered the hotel
followed by a porter carrying some
luggage. Her arm was in a sling and
there was a bandage around her fore.
head. She walked, too. with the help
of a stick. She recognized them at
once and waved it gayly
'Hullo. you people." she cried
Soon run you to earth, eh?"
They were for a moment dunn
founded. Lenora was the first to find
words. But when did you start
Laura" she asked. 81 thought you
were too i'll to move for weeks"
The girl smiled contemptuously.
II left three days after you, on the
Kaiser Frederic" she replied. There
was some trouble at Plymouth, and