davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-09-30

der bruised, his head swimming q lit
tie. Suddenly a CLEAN OF light shone
down. A trap-door above his head
was slid q few inches back. The care
of an electric torch sbone upon his
face, q mans voice addressed him.
Not the great Sanford Quest? This
surely cannot be the greatest detec-
tive in the world walking so easily in
to the spiders web"
ANY chance Of getting out?" Quest
asked laconically.
None" was the bitter reply.
You've done enough mischief. You're
there to rot"
why this animus against me, my
friend Macdougal?" Quest demanded.
You and / have never come up
against one another before. ] didn't
like the life you led in New York ten
years ago, or your friends, but you've
suffered nothing through me-"
IF l let you CO." once more came
the mans voice, Il know very well in
what chair [ shall be sitting before
a month has passed. am James Mac
dougaI, MI. Sanford Quest, and 1 have
got the Ashleigh diamonds, and / have
settled an old grudge, If not of my own,
Of one greater than you. That's all.
A pleasant night to you!"
The door went down with a bang.
"A perfect oubliette," he remarked
to himself, as he held a match over
hiS had a -omapf nr fuo lotar "bui1t
for the purpose. II must be the house
we failed to find which Bill Taylor
used to keep before he was shot.
Smooth brick walls, smooth brick floor,
only exit twelve feet above ones head.
human means, apparently, are useless.
Science, you have been my mistress all
my days. You must save my life now
or lose an earnest disciple"
Quest felt In his overcoat pocket
and drew out the small, hard pellet.
He gripped it in his fingers, stood
as nearly as possible underneath the
spot from which he had been project
ed, coolly swung his arm back, and
flung the black pebble against the
sliding door. The explosion which fol-
lowed shook the very ground under
his feet. For minutes afterwards
everything around him seemed to
rock. Then Sanford Quest emerged,
dusty but unhurt, and touched a con
stable on his arm.
Arrest me-" he ordered. 81 am San
ford Quest. I must be taken at once
to headquarters"
They found a cab without much diff
iculty. 1t was five o'clock when they
reached the central police station.
Inspector French happened to be just
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-09-30

Together they carried the sleeping
CIR, out Of the room into a larger
apartment. A single electric light was
burning on the top of . square mirror
f1ed upon al easel. Towards this
they carried the girl and laid her in an
easy chair almost opposite to 1t.
THE battery is just on the left"
Laura whispered.
Quest nodded.
Give me the band"
She turned away for a moment and
disappeared in the shadows. When
she returned, she carried a curved
band Of flexible steel. Quest took il
from her, attached it by means of a
coil of wire to the battery, and with
firm, soft fingers slipped IL On to
Lenora's forehead. Then he stepped
back.
She's q subject, Laura-Tm sure
OF it! Now for our great experiment."
They watched Lenora intently.
"Lenora," Quest said, slowly and
firmly, your mind is full of n sub,
ject. You see your mistress IN her
chair by the tireside. She is toying
with her diamonds. Look again. She
lies there dead! Who was it entered
the room, Lenora? Look! Look!
Gaze into that mirror. What do you
see there?"
The girls eyes had opened. They
were fixed now upon the mirror-dis-
tended, full Of unholy things.
Try harder, Lenora," he muttered,
his own breath laboring. 1T is there
in your brain! Look"
For a single second the smooth sur
face Of the mirror was obscured. A
room crept dimly like a picture into
being, a fire upon the hearth, a girl
leaning back In her chair. A door
In the background opened. A man
stole out. He crept nearer to the girl
his eyes fixed upon the diamonds, a
thin, silken cord twisted round his
wrist. Suddenly she saw him-too
late! His hand was upon her lips,
his face seemed to start almost from
the mirror-then blackness!
Lenora opened her eyes. She was
still in the easy-chair before the fire.
MI. Quest!" she faltered.
He looked up from some letters
which he had been studying.
Il am so sorry" he said politely. Il
really had forgotten that you were
here. But you know-that you have
been to sleep?"
Can l go now?" she asked.
Certainly" Quest replied. ITO tell
you the truth, l find that | shall not
need to ask you those questions, after
all. A messenger from the police sta.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-09-30
CHAPTER v.

Sanford Quest was naturally q per-
son unaffected by presentiments or
fears Of any sort, yet, having
advanced a couple OF yards along the
hallway OF the house which he had
just entered without aim Guilty. he came
to . standstill. oppressed with the
sense Of impending danger.
anyone hsrsY- he asked. raising
his voice.
There was no direct response. yet
Srrw ecneShere sPeiAirs hs heard the
half-smothered cry OF : woman. He
gripped his revolver IN his fingers. He
took . quick step forward. The iloor
gavs way beneath him. He was fall
Ing into blackness.
The tail itself was scarcely . dozen
tees He picked himself Nd. his shout
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-09-30

"You will take your own maid with
you, OF course" Lord Ashleigh contin.
ued. "Lenora is q good girl and I am
sure she will look after you quite well,
but ' have decided to supplement Lee
nora's surveillance over your comfort
by sendipg with you, also, a sort of
courier n general standardization
do you think? Well, Macdougal. He
has lived in New York for some years,
and you will doubtless find this a
great advantage, Ella"
Ella glanced over her shoulder at
the two servants who we're standing
discreetly In the background. Her
eyes rested upon the pale, expression
less face of the mar who during the
last few years had enjoyed her ia
theirs confidence.
For a moment q queer sense of ap-
pro ension troubled her. Was Il true,
she wondered, that she did not like the
man? She banished the thought al
most as soon as 1t was conceived.
you are spelling me, daddy" Ella
sighed.
IF you think so now" he remarked,
Il do not know what you will say to
me presently"
He laid upon the table a very ia
miliar morocco case, stamped with a
coronet.
Our diamonds" Ella exclaimed.
THE Ashleigh diamonds"
The necklace lay exposed to view,
the wonderful stones flashing In the
subdued light.
In New York." Lord Ashleigh con-
tinued. 1T is the custom to wear jew
elry in public more, even, than In this
country. Allow mel"
He leaned forward. With long, capa-
BILE fingers he fastened the necklace
around his daughters neck.
1T Is u farewell present TO you,"
Lord Ashleigh declared.
Ella, impelled by some curious i'm
pulse which she could not quite un-
derstand, glanced quickly around to
where the manservant was standing.
For once she saw something besides
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-09-30

going OF duty. He recognized Quest
with a little exclamation.
Got your man to bring me here"
Quest explained so as to get away
from the mob"
Say, you've been In troubled" the
inspector remarked, leading the way
into his room.
"Bit of an explosion, that's ALL"
Quest replied. Il shall be all right
when you've lent me a clothesbrush."
"The Ashleigh diamonds. eh?" the
inspector asked eagerly.
Il shall have them at nine o'clock
this morning." Sanford Quest prom
Used. "and hand you over the muir
derer somewhere around midnight"
Quest slept for a couple of hours,
had a bath and made a leisurely toilet.
At a quarter to nine he sat down to
breakfast In his rooms.
AT nine O'clock" he told his serv-
ant. "a young lady will call. Bring
her up"
The door was suddenly opened. Le-
nora walked in. Quest glanced In sur
prise at the clock.
MY FAULT" he exclaimed. I'VE are
slow. Good-morning, Miss Lenora."
She came straight to the table. She
laid a little packet upon the table.
Quest opened It coolly. The Ashleigh
diamonds flashed up at him. He
led Lenora to a chair and ran a bell.
Prepare q bedroom upstairs" he
ordered. ASK Miss Roche to come
here. Laura" he added, as his
secretary entered. will you look after
this young lady?"
A few minutes later Inspector
French was announced. Quest nodded
In q friendly manner.
Some coffee. Inspector"
I'D rather have those diamonds!"
Quest threw them lightly across the
table.
The Inspector whistled.
And now. French. will you be herr,
please 1t midnight. with three man.
armedf-
-HereY" the inspector repeated.
Quest nodded
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-09-30
Dom. Ella pointed to tn. door.

room. Ella pointed 10 the door.
"Lenora, look outside. Sec IL any
one is on that landing. / fancied that
the door opened"
Lenora crossed the room and tried
the handle. Then she turned towards
her mistress In triumph.
1T is locked. my lady" she re.
ported.
Go down and ask Macdougal to
come mp. ] am going TO have this
thing explained"
Something OF her mistress agita-
ton seemed to have become commu-
nfcated to Lenora.
She walked quickly to the back part
OF the hotel and ascended to the wing
in which the servants quarters we're
situated. Here she made her way
along a corridor until she reached
Macdougal's room. She knocked, and
knocked again. There was no answer
She tried the door and found 1t was
locked. Then size returned to the lift
and descended once more to the floor
upon which her mistress apartments
were situated. She opened the door
OF the suite without knocking and
turned at once to the sitting room.
Il am sorry. my lady" she began.
Then she stopped short. The lift
boy, who had had a little trouble with
his starting apparatus and had not az
yet descended, heard the scream
which broke from her lips, and a fire.
man In an adjacent corridor came run
ming up almost at the same moment.
Lenora was on her knees by her mis-.
tress' side. Ella was still lying In the
easy-chair In which she had been
seated, but her head was thrown back
In an unnatural fashion. There was
a red mark Just across her throat.
Lenora shrieked. shes tainted!
And the diamonds-the diamonds have
gone!"
A doctor, hurriedly summoned, had
Just completed a hasty examination
when a police inspector, followed by a
detective, entered.
This Is your affair, gentlemen. not
mine" the doctor said gravely. "The
young lady Is dead. She has been
cruelty strangled within the last five
or ten minutes"
The inspector made a careful exam
ination of the DON
TELL me-" he inquired, rs this the
young lady who owned the wonderful
Ashleigh ~diamonds?"
They've gone!" Lenora shrieked.
They've been stolen! She was wear
ing them when / left the room!"
The inspector turned to the .tele-
phone.
"Mr. Marsham," he said. 81 am
afraid this will be a difficult AFFAIR. I
am going to take the liberty Of calling
in an expert. That you, exchange? 1
want number one, New York city
Mr.. Sanford Quest"
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-09-30
CHAPTER M.

The streets OF New York were GOV
cred with a thin, ~powdery snow as the
very luxurious car Of Mrs. Delarey
drew up outside the front Of the Lee
land hotel, a little after midnight. Ella
leaned over and kissed her hostess.
THANK you, dear, ever SO much.
for your delightful dinner" she ex-
claimed. land for bringing me home.
As for the music, we'll, I can't talk
about It. I am just going upstairs
into my room to sit and think"
The car rolled OF. Ella. a large
umbrella held over her head by the
doorkeeper, stepped up the little strip
of drugget which led into the softly
warmed hall es The Leland Behind
her came her maid, Lenora, and Mac
dougal. who had been riding on the
box with the chauffeur. He paused
for q moment to wipe the SNOW from
his clothes as Ella crossed the hall to
the left. Lenora turned toward him.
He whispered something In her ear.
For a moment she shook. Then she
turned away and followed her mis-
tress upstairs.
Arrived In her apartment, Ella
threw herself with . little sigh Of con.
tent into q big e~asy-chair before the
hre and gave herself up for . few mo
ments 70 reverie.
A log stirred upon the fre. She
,sansd forward lastly 70 replace Il and
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-09-30
FIRST INSTALLMENT
SANFORD QUEST, cRiMlNoLo.
GaST."

The young man from the West had
arrived In New York only that after
noon, and his cousin, town born and
bred, had already embarked upon the
task of showing him the grea' city.
They occupied a table in a somewhat
insignificant corner of one of New
York's most famous roof garden res
ta%urants. The place was crowded
with diners. There were many nota-
bilities to be pointed out. The town
young man was very busy.
Tell me-" the country cousin in
CURED. who Is the man at a table by
himself? The walters speak to him
as though he were a little god. Is he
q millionaire, or a judge, or what?"
You're in luck, Alfred" the New
Yorker declared. That's the most in
teresting man In New York-one of
the most interesting In the world.
That's Sanford Quest"
Who's he?"
Sanford Quest Is the greatest mas
ter in criminology the world has ever
known. He Is a magician, a scientist,
the Pierpont Morgan of his profess
sion.
Say. do you mean that he Is a de-
tective?"
YES" he said simply, you can call
him that--just In the same way that
you could call Napoleon a soldier or
Lincoln a statesman. He Is a detec-
tive, IL you like to call him that, the
master detective In the world"
When Sanford Quest entered his
house an hour later he glanced into
two of the rooms ON the ground floor,
in which telegraph and telephone OPP
orators sat at their instruments.
Then, by means Of a small lift, he as
cended 10 the top story and entered
a large apartment wrapped In gloom
until, as he crossed the threshold, he
touched the switches of the electric
lights. One realized then that this
was a man Of taste. Quest drew up
an easy chair to the wide.iung win
dow, touching a bell az he crossed the
room, In a few moments the door was
opened and closed noiselessly. A
young woman entered with a bundle
OF papers.
The crim!noiogist glanced through
the papers quickly. mo further In
quiries, Laura?"
She left the room almost noiseicssly.
"THE TENEMENT HOUSE MYS-
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-09-30

Ella glanced up from a pile of cor
respondence through which she had
been looking a little negligently.
None at all. mother. MY CORE
spondence Is Just the usual sort of rub
DETERMINATIONS and gossip. Such a
lot of invitations, by the bye"
AT your age" Lady Ashleigh de.
clared, that Is the sort of correspond
ence which you should find interest
ing"
"You know I am not like that, moth
err" she protested. MY music Is really
the only part OF life which absolutely
appeals to me. Oh, why doesn't Della
rey make up his mind and let father
know, Is he promised! Here
comes daddy. num-"
LORD Ashleigh loitered for a mo-
ment to raise the cover from the
dishes upon a side table. Afterwards
he seated himself at the table.
." heard this morning" he said,
"from your friend Delarey. Ella. He
went into the matter very fully. The
substance OF II Is that for the first
year OF your musical training he ad-
ivises New York.
"a have not finished yet. This cable
gram" he went on, drawing q little
slip OF blue paper from his pocket.
was brought to me this morning"
He smoothed II out before him and
read:
To Lord Ashleigh. Hamblin House. s,or-
BET. England: ] ind a magnificent pro-
gram arranged for at Metropolitan Opera
house his year. Have taken box for
your daughter. engaged the best profess
por In the world. and secured an apart
ment at the Leland. our most select and
comfortable residential hotel. Understand
hour brother IL still In South America. re-
turning early spring. but will do our best
81 make your daughters year OF study as
pleasant as possible. Advise her sail on
Saturday by Maurotania-
"On Saturday," Ella almost
screamed.
Il shall now" Lord Ashleigh said.
s'Ieave you TO talk over and discuss
this matter for the rest OF the day.
AZ dinner time tonight you can ten me
your dccleion, or rather We will dis
cuss 4 oogether."
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-09-30

Our friend" he said. rs xoins 70
be mad enough to walk into hell.
even, VIXEN he finds out what he
thinks has happened"
1T wasn't any of Jimmy's lot? ?"
Sanford Quest shook his head.
French" he said, keep mum, but Il
was the elderly family retainer, Mac
dougal. ! felt restless about him.
He has lost the girl-he was married
to heI. by the bye-and the Jewels.
No fear of his slipping away. 4 shall
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-09-30

you've Had a Rough Time, Lenora."
have him here at the time I told
you"
you've a way Of your own Of doing
these things, Mr.. Quest" the inspec-
tor admitted g~rudgingly.
Mostly lucky" Quest replied. take
a cigar, and 80 long, inspector. They
want me to talk to Chicago on an.
other little piece of business"
It was a few minutes before mid.
night when Quest parted the curtains
of a room on the ground floor of his
house in Georgia square and looked
out into the snow-white street Then
he turned around and addressed the
figure lying as though asleep upon the
sofa by the fire.
"Lenora," he said. 81 am going out.
Stay here, II you please, until I re-
turn"
He left the room. For a few mo-
ments there was a profound silence.
Then a white face was pressed against
the window. There was a crash of
glass. A man covered with snow
sprang into the apartment. He moved
swiftly to the sofa, and something
black and ugly swayed in his hand.
so you've deceived me, have you?"
he painted. Handed over the jewels.
chucked me, and given me the double
cross! Anything to say"
Macdougal leaned forward, his
white face distorted with passion. The
iife-preserver bent and quivered be-
hind him, cut the air with a swish
and crashed full upon the head.
The man staggered back. The
weapon fell from his fingers. For a
moment he was paralyzed. There was
no blood upon his hand, no cry
silence inhuman, unnatural! He
looked again. Then the lights flashed
out all around him. There were two
detectives in the doorway, their re-
volvers covering him-Sanford Quest.
with Lenora in the background. In
the sudden illumination Macdougal's
horror turned almost to hysterical
rage. He had wasted his fury upon a
dummy!
Take him, men," Quest ordered.
Hands up, Macdougai. Your numbers
up"
The handouts were upon him be-
fore he could move
What about the young woman?"
the Inspector asked.
Lenora stood in an attitude of de-
spair, her head downcast. She had
turned a little away from MacdougaI.
Her hands were outstretched. It was
as though she were expecting the
handouts.
you a let her Alone" Sanford
Quest said quietly. "a wife cannot
give evidence against her husband,
and besides. I need her. She Is going
to work for me-"
Macdougal was already at the door.
between the two detectives. He swung
around. His voice was calm, almost
clear-calm with concentration Of
hatred.
You are q wonderful man, Mr..
Sanford Quest" he said. MAKE the
most OF your triumph. Your time is
nearly up. there is one coming whose
Wit and cunning, science and skill are
al~[conquering. He will brush you
away. Sanford Quest, like a fly. Wait
q few weeks"
You interest me-" Quest muir
INJURED. Tell me some more about
this great MASTER"
Il shall tell you nothing Macdoug.
al replied. "You will hear nothing.
you win know nothing. Suddenly you
win find yourself opposed. You will
strusgle-and then the end. II IL Ger.
tain"
They led him AWAY. Only Lsscrs
remained. sobbing. Quest vens up
to her.
You've had . rough time. Leuors,"
he said. with strange g~entlensss.
Perhaps the brighter days are COM
TO BE cosrrrNUEDy
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-09-30
CHAPTER w.

There seemed to be nothing At all
the great criminologist when COZ
frented with this tableau of death and
robbery. His remarks to the inspec-
tor were few and perfunctory. He
asked only a few languid questions OF
Macdougal and Lenora, who were
summoned to his presence.
Macdougal then turned to leave the
room. Lenora was about to follow,
but Quest signed to her to remain.
81 should like to have a little con-
versation with you about your mis-
tress," he said TO her pleasantly. III
you don't mind, / will ask yon to ac-
company me II my car I viii send
the man back with you"
They descended in the lift together
and Quest handed the girl into his car.
They drove quickly through the silent
streets.
In a few minutes Lenora was in
stalled In an easy chair in Quests sit
ting-room.
Lean back and make yourself COM
Portable" Quest invited, as he took a
chair opposite TO her. II must just
look through these papers"
The girl did as she was told. She
opened her coat The was de-
lightfully warm, almost overheated. A
sense OF rest crept over her. She was
conscious that Quest had laid down
the letters which he had been pre-
tending to read. His eyes we're fixed
upon her. There was a queer new
look in them. a strange new feeling
creeping through her veins.
Quests voice broke an unnatural
silence.
you are anxious to telephone some
one." he said. you looked at both
the booths as we came through the
hotel. Then you remembered, I think,
that he would not be there yet. Tele-
phone now. The telephone is at your
right hand. You know the number"
She obeyed almost at once.
Number 700, New York city"
you will ask" Quest continued,
whether he Is all right whether the
jewels are safe"
There was q brief silence then the
| girls voice.
Are you there. James? Yes,
I am Lenora. Are you safe? Have
you the jewels? -. Where? .
You are sure that you r safe? . .
No, nothing fresh has happened"
"You are at the hotel" Quest said
softly. "You are going to him.
II cannot Sleep" she continued. Il
am coming to you"
She set down the receiver. Quest
leaned q little mor closely over her
"You know where the Jewels are
hidden" he said. Tell me wherer"
Her lips ouivered. She made no an
swer.
Very GOOD" Quest concluded. you
need not tell me. Only remember this:
At nino o'clock tomorrow morning you
viii bring those jewels 20 shss yarsxi
menk- Rest quietly now.
want you to 80 to sleep"
she obeyed without hesitation
Quest watched. for = moment. heu
regular breathing. Then be touched
: bell BY hts side. Laura entered y
~
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-09-30
CHAPTER I.

This habit OF becoming late for
Breakfast" Lady Ashleigh remarked.
as she sat down the coffee pot, sis
growing upon your father. Any news,
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-09-30

the perfect automaton. His eyes, in
stead of being axed at the back of his
masters chair, were simply riveted
upon the stones. A queer little feeling
OF uneasiness disturbed Ella for the
moment. 1t passed. however. as in
~glancing away her attention was once
more attracted by the sparkle OF the
jewels upon her bosom.
The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-09-30

"THE TENEMENT HOUSE MYS
Terry"
The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-03-09

this democracy. War at one time has
been world school and 1t did much
when there was no other schooling.
but under the free school system that
need is met in a far better manner.
Peace, too, hath its victories.
and II this war does not produce
some unforeseen blessing, all think
ing folk will insist that all wars end
But the end Of war will not be the
end of struggle. Poverty and riches
sin and goodness, ignorance and
knowledge, freedom and power will
struggle tor supremacy till the worlds
end. Struggle Is an element OF our
environment AID not re least of it
is the struggle against the evil from
within and without"
The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-03-09

such time had passed and he took
issue with those who declare there
are benefits to be derived from pres
ent day struggles between nations.
IN part he said:
WAR Is the elimination OF wrath,
Can any good come of it? Has any
benefit to the race grown out of It?
Has any benefit to the race grown
out of it There are some who say
yes to these questions. Some declare
that the engines OF war used by the
gncients were the first real inven
tons and that from them the spir.
1t of invention and use of machin-
cry was given to industry. Others
say that much of our progress in
science is largely due to the endea-