The Washington times., 1915-03-17
The BLACK BOX
Continued from Yesterday
CHAPTER V.-(COntinued.)
BY L. PHILLIPS oPPENHEIM.

CHAPTER V.--(COntinued.)
There was no direct response, yet
from somewhere upstairs he heard the
half-smothered cry of woman. lie
gripped his revolver in his fingers. lie
was n fatalist. and although for mo-
ment he regretted having come single
handed to such an obvious trap, he pre-
pared for his task. lie took quick
step forward. The ground seemed TO
slip from beneath his feet. He stag
gered wildly to recover himself. end
failed. The floor had given from be-
meath him. He. was falling into black
The fall itself was scarcely a dozen
feet. He picked himself UP, his should
nr bruised, his head swimming little.
His electric torch was broken to pieces
upon the stone floor. lie was simply In
Il black gulf of darkness. suddenly a
. gleam of light shone down. a trap
door above his head was SID a few
irches back. The flare of an electric
torch shonc upon his face, II mans
voice addressed him.
Not the great Sanford Quest? This
surely cannot be the greatest detective
in the world walking so easily into the
SPIDERS web!'
ANY chance of getting out?" Quest
"None!" was the bitter reply. you've
done enough mischief. You're there to
lot!'
why this animus against me. my
You and have never come up against
bne another before. l didn't like the
life you led in New York ten years ago,
or your friends, but you've suftereu
nothing. through me-
IF let you 60 once more came .iie
mans voice, Il know very well III "hat
chair l shall be sitting before month
has passed. l am James Macdougai,
Nshleigh diamonds, and | have settleu
an old grudge, IL not OF my own, OF one
sreater than you. That's all A pleas
ant night to you
The door went down with n DanE
Taintly. us though. indeed. the FOOT
steps belonged to some other world. san
lord Quest heard the two leave the
house. Then silence.
"A perfect oubliette,' he remarked 10
himself, as he held Il match over his
bad a moment or two later, built for
the purpose. 1t must be the mouse we
failed to find which Bill Taylor used 10
keep before he was shot. Smooth prlch
walls, smooth brick floor, only ext
twelve feet above ones head. Human
means, apparently. arc useless. Sciehce
you have been my mistress all my days
You must save my life now or lose an
earnest disciple
He felt IN the overcoat pocket and
draw out the small, hard pellet lie
gripped 1t in his fingers, stood as near
ly as possible underneath the spot IRON,
which he had been projected. cooils
swung his arm back, and flung The
black pebble against the sliding door
The explosion which followed shooK tne
very ground under his feet. The walls
cracked about him. Blue fire seemed tc
be playing around the blackness. tic
jumped to one side, barely in time to es
cape a shower of bricks. For minutes
afterward everything around him seem
ed to rock, He struck another match
The whole of the roof of the place Was
gone. BY building few bricks together
he was able easily TO climb higf
, enough to swing himself on to the frag
ments of the hallway. Even as he ac
complished this. the door was thrown
open and a crowd of people rushed In
hurt, and touched a constable on his
arms, ,
ARREST me- he ordered. Il am San
ford quest. | must be taken at once tt
headquarters.
THAT so, Mr.. ,Quest? Stand on on.
side, yo1 loafers," the man ordered
pushing his way out.
We'll have q taxicab," Quest decided
rs there any one else In the mousse!
the policeman asked.
Not n soul" Quest answered.
They found a cab without much diff
,ulty. It was o'clock wnHn they reach
ed the central police station. Inspector
French happened to be just going OF
duty. He recognized Quest with littl'
Got your man to bring me here,
Quest explained 80 as to get ava.
from the mob.
Say, you've been in trouble the In
spector remarked, leading the way int
his .oom.
BIT of an explosion. that's all" Qucs
replied. II shall be all right wheI
you've lent me a clothesbrushn"
The Ashleigh diamonds, eh?' the in
spector asked eagerly.
II shall have them at o'clock TIM
morning" Sanford Quest promised, nn
. hand you over the murderer somewher
around midnight"
The inspector scratched his chin.
, From what I can hear about TN
young lady's friends" he said, its tn
murderer they'll want to see ma bbed.
"They'n have him." Quest promiset
Come round about $50 and I'll han
over the diamonds to start with
. Quest slept for couple OF hour
(1had a. bath and made a leisurel
vtoilet At quarter to he sat dow
4 20 breakfast in his rooms.
NJ eat Q o'clock" he told his serVan
u "a young lady will call. Bring he
N The door was suddenly opened. Ii
Mora walked in. Quest glanced in SUI
nMy fault" he exclaimed. We ar
slow. Good .mrring. Miss Lenora!
She came straight to the table. TIL
servant at u sign from Quest. dlSal
peared. There We're black rims aroun
her eyes, she seemed exhausted. Sl
laid q little packet upon the tabf
Quest opened it coolly. The Ashleig
diamonds Mashed up at him, He lie
Lenora to u chair and rang the bell.