The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-12-09
The The Black Box Of Silence

in your lab.
1--WE have found out that he is the
secret head-and brains-of a criminal
organization that is almost nation
WIDE He got the three Louisville
magnates on the string and they
agreed to buy the Quavapai If it proved
to be as he represented it. The tun-
neling through the mountain had cost
a lot of money, and Candy had put
everything he had into it. If he could
make the turn and sell the mine, he
stood to clean up with a couple of
millions, or more. But more money
was needed, so he turned the black
box over to his three yeggmen and
told them to pick what they could in
the way of ready cash on their way
out here. And it was one Of his little
refinements of audacity to have them
pose as the three Louisville magnates
on the western trip"
att worked" said Lands.
Eyes, until we butted in. When the
three found out we were on their
trail, they yelled for help, and Candy
jumped in to try and balk us until the
black box had enabled the miners to
get we'll into the Alice vein and the
sale to the Louisville people had been
made. After that, Candy could snap
his fingers at all of u.s."
Lands made no comment for min
ute or so. But after little pause he
said, "I'm mighty sorry for Betty. It's
horrible ending to her little ro-
nance" Then, 1T was Candy who
stole my box, of course. But who was
the woman who helped him? Has she
been traced?"
Il don't think the woman will ever
be found. But we can afford to let
her go. I'll quit you now and send the
nurse in. You've had enough excite
ment for one day."
Lands heard her when she came
in and crossed the room. and was in
clined to be rebellious when he felt
her sit down on the edge of the bed.
That was an odd thing for nurse to
do, he thought. When she continued
to sit there. he opened his eye six
teenth of an inch to see what she
looked like. Before he could deter
mine, low voice said, Don't be so
bashful, Owen, dear; it's nobody
but me-"
"Betty!" he gasped, coming wide
eyed. "Did-did Wally mean you
when he said 'nurse'?"
She nodded. i've been waiting. The
doctor said you might be yourself
again some time today. Is your poor
head hurting awfully?"
rIt feels as If I'd lost 1t and got
cracked dinner pot in its place.
What day is it? l forgot to ask
Wally."
"It's Wednesday-the day after, you
know. 1t was yesterday you had that
dreadful fight in the NINE"
He looked away from her when he
asked the question:
what became of Canby?"
HE is in jail"
"Poor grill"
"Why am poor?"
II shouldn't think you'd need to ask.
Weren't you going to marry him?"
mo; not If he were the last man on
EARTH"
But. Betty"
IT know. Wally has told you his
story. and now I've got to tell you
mine. I'm going to tell you just what
happened, and then you'll hate me-.
You know now why Bert Candy want
ed to get all three Of us out of the
way. don't your"
II know why he wanted to obliterate
Wally and me. But you"
"He was just as much afraid of me
as he was of you and Wally."
"But you came out here with him
in his car"
"Yes; with daddy along. And we
hadn't come very far before was
glad daddy had accepted his invitation.
In just little while knew there was
something terribly wrong going on.
and that you and Wally were mixed
up in it some way. After that. !
tried and tried to find out what 1t
was; why you and Wally seemed to
be trying to catch up with three men
ahead of us, with Bert trying to get to
them first"
swell, you know now, don't youl
It was that black box of mine. Wally
has told you. about the box-my noise
killer-hasn't he?"
When she nodded assent, he went
on. There were three banks and a
mine commissary blown up, wrecked
and looted. on the way out here. land
not in any of the places did anybody
hear a sound"
"You think those three men stole
your invention? Where did you
keep it?"
''In the safe in my workshop"
when was 1t stolenT"
| ION the night when you acted SC
well as leading lady. Do you remem
Der. In the first interlude. how the
orchestra made queer break, right
In the middle Of passage?"
1--WE all noticed It,"