La Grande evening observer., May 11, 1915, Image 2

TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1915.
PAGE ' TWO.
LA GRANDE EVENING OBSElfl ER
kLE.Phillips Cpjxfihep
Shown at the Arcade theatre on
Wednesdays and Thursdays
CHAPTER XIII.
Craig's surprise was real enough
s he opened the back door of the pro
fessor's house on the following morn
ing and found Lenora standing on the
threshold.
Lenora smiled pleasantly;
"out how am I to get hold of him?"
.'. Laura glanced once more carelessly
around to where the guard stood.
"Lenora's gone up to the professor's
again this afternoon. She is going to
try and get hold of Craig and lock him
In the garage. If she succeeds, she
will send a message by wireless at
three o'clock. It Is half-past two
"I came to this door," she said, "be- j now.
. ' . 1 tlA At 1 1. XL. . UXK
cause I wanted a little talk with you."
Craig's attitude was perfect He was
mystified but he remained respectful.
"Will you come inside T" he Invited.
. . She shook her head.
"I am afraid," she confided, "of what
I am going to say being overheard.
Come with me down to the garage
for a moment."
He opened the doors of the garage,
leaving the keys In the lock, and they
both passed inside.
"You can say what you please here
without the slightest fear of being
overheard, miBs," Craig remarked.
Lenora nodded, and breathed a
prayer to herself. She was nearer
the door than Craig by about half a
dozen paces. Her hand groped In the
little bag she was carrying and
gripped something hard. She clenched
her teeth for a moment. Then the
automatic pistol, flashed out through
the gloom. ,
"Craig," she threatened, "If you
move I shall shoot you.1
Well?" Quest exclaimed. "Well?"'
"You can work this guard, If you
want to," Lenora went on. "I have
seen you tackle worse cases. He seems
dead easy. Then let mer In the cell,
take my clothes and leave me here."
, Quest followed the scheme In his
mind quickly.
"It la all right," he decided, "but I
am not at all sure that they can really
hold me on the evidence they have
got If they can't, I shall be doing my
self more harm than good In this
way."
. "It's no use unless you can get hold
of Craig quickly," Laura said. "He la
getting the-scares, as it is." '
"I'll do It," Quest decided. "Call tho
guard, Laura."
She obeyed. ' The man came 'good
naturedly toward them.
Quest looked . at him steadfastly
through .the bars.
"I want you to come Inside for a
moment," Quest repeated softly, "Un
look the. door, please, take the key off
It seemed as though the man were j your bunch and come Inside.1
a coward. He begnn to tremble, his I The man hesitated, but all the tlma
lips twitched, bis eyes grew larger i his Angers were fumbling with the
and rounder. ' I keys. Quest's lips continued to move.
he faltered. "What
"What is It?
do you want?"
"JuHt this," Lenora said firmly. "I
suspect you to be guilty of the crime
for which Sanford Quest Is In prison. !
I am going to have you questioned.
If you are Innocent you have nothing
to fear. If you are guilty there will
be someone here before long who will
extract the truth from you."
The man's face was an epitome of
terror. Even his knees shook. Lenora
felt herself grow culmer with every
moment. -
"I am going outside to send a mesial?,-"
told him. "I shall return
presently." ,
"Don't go," he begged suddenly.
"Don't leave me! I am Innocent. I j
have done nothing wrong. If you keep
me here, you will do more harm than .
you can dream of." j
"It Is for other people to decide
about your Innocence," Lenora said'
calmly. "I have nothing to do with I
that. If you are wise you will stop j
nere quieuy.
"Have you said anything to Mr.
Ashlelgb, miss?" the man asked plte-
ously.
"Not a word."
A expression of relief shone for a
moment upon his face. Lenora point
ed to a stool.
"Sit-down there and wait quietly,'
she ordered, t
i lie obeyed without a word. She
left the place, locked the door se
curely, aqd made her way round to the
other side of the garage the aide
hidden from the house. Here, at the
Jar corner, she drew a little pocket
wlrelesafrom ner' "bag and set it on
the window sill. Very slowly she sent
.?r message: -MiwWf5R.T.fitv- -
1 I have Craig her In the professor's
garage, locked up. If our plan, has
uccfeded. coma at once. I am wait
ing for youT' "KP33S2S "'
,. TJjere was no reply. She sent the
meosage again and again. Suddenly,
during a pause, there was a little flash
upon the plat. A message was com
ing to her. She transcribed It with
beating heart:
O, K. ' Coming.
. ,
The guard swung open the wicket
In front of Quest's cell.
t "Vbunrifomtt'n'To soe you, Quest,"
lie announced. "Ten minutes, and do
loud talking, please."
Quest moved to the bars. It was
Laura who stood there. She wasted
very little time In preliminaries. - Hav
ing satisfied herself that tbo guard
was out of hearing, Bite leaned as close
as she could to QueBt.
"Look here," she said, "Lenora's
craxy with the idea that Craig has
done these Jobs Craig, the profes
sor's Bervant, you know. We used tho
pbototelesme yesterday afternoon and
saw htm burn something In the pro
fessor's study. Lenora went up
straight away and got hold of the
ashes.",
' "Smart girl," Quest murmured, nod
dinar approvingly. "Well?"
"There are distinct fragments,"
Laura continued, "of embroidered stuff
such as the Salvation Army girl might
lve been wearing. We put them on
one tide, but they ain't enough evi
dence. Lenora's Idea Is that you
should get hold of Cral and hypnotise
klm Into a confession."
- "That's all right," Quest replied,
The warder opened. the door and en
tercd. A few minutes later Quest
passed the key through the window to
Laura, who was standing on guard.
Without a word, and with marvelous
rapidity, the change was effected.
Laura produced from her handbag a
wig, which she pinned inside her hat
and pnssed over to Quest. Then she
flung herself on to the bed and drew
the blanket up to her chin.
v"How long will he stay like that?"
she whispered, pointing to the warder,
who was sitting on the floor with his
arms folded and his eyes closed.
' "JliV 1Qd n?ur or B0'" Quest n
swered. "Don't bother about him. 1
shall drop the key back through tho
window."
Quest reached Georgia square at
five minutes to three. A glance up
and down assured him that the house
was unwatched. He let himself In
.with his own key, threw Laura's
clothes off, and, after a few moments
hesitation, selected from the ward'
robe a rough tweed suit with a thick
lining and lapels. Just as he was
tying his tie, the little wireless which
he had laid on the table at his side
began to record a message. He glanced
at the clock. It was exactly three.
Quest s eyes shone for a moment
with satisfaction. Then he sent oft
hlB answering message, put on a dus
ter and slouch hat, and left the house
by. the side entrance. In a few mo
ments he was In Broadway, and a
quarter of an hour later a taxtcab de
posited him at the entrance to tbi
professor's house. He walked swiftly
up the drive and turned toward t,he
garage, hoping every moment to see
something of Lenora. The door of the
place stood open. He entered and
walked around. It was empty. There
was no sign of cither Craig or Le
nora! '. . V''!'"'''-""
Quest recovered from hls first dis
appointment, stole carefully out and
made a minute examination ot tho
place. Close to the corner from which
Lenora had sent her wireless messago
to him, he stooped and picked up a
handkerchief, which from the markinc
he recognized at once. A few feet
away the gravel was disturbed us
though by the trampling of several
feet. He" sot hisleethr
"J've got to find that girl,' he mut
tered. '"''cYaTg can go to h 1!"
Ho turned away and approached the
house. The front door stood open
and he made his way at once to the
library. The professor, who was sit
ting at his desk surrounded by a pile
of boohs and papers, addressed htm,
as he entered without looking up.
"Where on earth have you been,
Craig?" he Inquired petulantly. "I have
rung for you six times. Have I not
told you never to leave the place with
out orders?"
"It Is not Craig." Quest replied quiet
ly. "It Is I, professor Sanford Quest."
The professor swung round in hts
chair and eyed his visitor In blank
astonishment.
"Quest?" he exclaimed. "God bless
my soul! Have they let you out al
ready, then?"
"I came out," Quest replied grim
ly. "Sit tight, and listen to me for a
moment, will you?"
, "You came out?" the professor re
peated, looking a little dated. "You
mean you escaped?"
Quest nodded.
"Perhaps I made a mistake," he ad
mitted, "but here I am. Now listen, I
professor." And he told the story of
the last few hours.
. The professor's face was almost piti
ful In Its blank amazement. . His
mouth was wide open like a "child's,
words seemed absolutely denied to I
him.. He rose to bis feet, obviously
a tremendous effort' to adjust his
ideas.
"Craig locked up In my -garage?"
he murmured. "Craig guilty of those
murders? Why, my dear Mr. Quest,
a more .harmless, a more Inoffensive,
peace-loving and devoted servant than
John Craig never trod this .earth!"
"Maybe," Quest replied, "but where
Is he?"
The professor could do nothing but
look around him a little vaguely.
"I am going back," QueBt announced.
"My only chance is the wireless. It
Lenora Is alive or at liberty, she will
communicate with me." , .
"May 1 come, too?" the professor
asked timidly.
"Come by all means," Quest assent
ed. "I will drive you down In your
car, If you like.
The professor hurried away to get
bis coat and bat, and a few minutes
later they started off. In Broadway
tbey left the car at a garage and
made their way up a back street which
enabled them to enter the house at
the side entrance. They passed up
stairs into the sitting-room. Quest
fetched the pocket wireless and laid it
down on the table. The professor ex
amined It with Interest. '
"You are marvelous, my - friend,"
he declared.. "With all these resourcs
of science at your command It seems
incredible that you should be In the
position you are."
Quest nodded coolly.
"Just one moment, professor, while
I send off a message," he said, open
ing the little Instrument. "Where are
you, Lenora?" he signaled. "Send me
word and I will fetch you. 1 am In my
own house for the present Let me
know that you are safe"-.- -.--
The professor leaned back, smoking
one ot Quest's excellent cigars. He
was beginning to show signs of the
liveliest interest
Quest," he said, "I wish I could In
duce you to dismiss this extraordinary
supposition of yours concerning my
servant Craig. The man has been with
me for the best part of twenty years.
He saved my life In South America;
we have traveled In all parts of the
world. He has proved himself to be
exemplary, a faithful and devoted
servant."
"Then perhaps you will tell me,"
Quest suggested, "where he Is now,
.and why he has gone away? That
does not look like complete Innocence,
does It?" '
The professor sighed.
"I cannot stay here much longer, un
less I mean to go back to the Tombs,"
Quest declared.
"Surely," the professor suggested,
'your Innocence will very soon be es
tablished?"
"There is one thing which will hap
pen, without a doubt," Quest replied.
"My auto and the chauffeur will be dis
covered. I have Insisted upon Inquir
ies being sent out throughout the state
of Connecticut. They tell me, too,
that the police are hard on the scent
of Red Gallugher and the other man.
Unless they get wind of this and sell
me purposely, their arrest will be the
end of, my troubles. To tell you the
truth, professor," Quest concluded, "It
la not of myself I am thinking at all
Just now. It is Lenora."
The professor nodded sympnthet
IcaHy.
"The young lady who shut Craig up
in the garage, you mean? A plucky
young woman she must be."
"She has a great many other good
qualities besides courage," Quest de
clared. "Women have- not counted
for much with me, professor, up till
now, any more than they have done, I
should thluk, with you, but I tell you
frankly, If anyone has hurt a hair of
that girl's head I will have their lives,
whatever the penalty may be! It 1b
for her sake to And ner ithat I broSe
ouiU'.Eisorl M.d .' am trying to
keep free. The wisest thing to do.
from my own point of view, would be
to give myself up. I can't bring my
self to do that without knowing what
has become of her."
The professor nodded again.
"A charming and well-bred young
woman she seems," he admitted. "I
fear that I should only be a bungler
in your profession, Mr. Quest, but if
there Is anything I can do depend
upon me. Personally. I am convinced
that Craig will return to me with
eomo nlauslble explanation tn nhot
nas happened."
Quest, for the third or fourth time
moved cautiously toward the window.
His oxpresslon suddenly changed. He
glanced suddenly downward, frowned
slightly.
"They're after me!" he exclaimed.
Sit still, professor."
He darted Into his room and reap
peared again almost Immediately. The
professor gave a gasp of astonish
ment at his altered appearance. His
tweed suit seemed to have been turned
Inside out. There were no lapels now,
and It was buttoned up to his neck. He
wore a long white apron; a peaked
cap and a chlnplece of astonishing
naturalness had transformed him Into
the semblance of a Dutch grocer'B boy.
lm off, professor." Quest whis
pered. "Tou shall hear from me soon.
I have not been here, remember!"
He ran lightly down the steps and
Into the kitchen, picked up a basket,
filled It hauhaznrd with wi.-tAhl nrt
threw a cloth over the top. Then he
made hla way to the front door, peered
out for a moment, swung through It
on to the step, and, turning round.
commenced to belabor It with his fist.
i b inn hi
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Seed Potatoes
Change Your Potatoes
"If You Move I Shall 8hoot You I" .
Two plain-clothes men stood at- the
end of the street. A police automo
bile drew up outside the gate. Inspec
tor French, attended by a policeman,,
stepped out. The former looked search-
Ingly at Quest.
"Well, my boy, what are you doing
here?" he asked.
"I cannot answer yet," Quest re
plied, in broken English.- "Ten min
ute already have I wasted. . I have
knocked at all the doors."
French smiled.
"You run along home," he said, "and
tell your master that he had better
leave off. delivering goods here for the
present."
Quest went off, grumbling. French
opened the door with a master key
and secured It carefully, leaving one of
his men to guard it. He searched the
rooms on the ground floor and finally
ascended to Quest's study. The pro
fessor was still enjoying his cigar.
"Say, where's Quest?" the inspector
asked promptly.
"Have you let him out already?" the
professor replied, in a tone of mild
surprise. "I thought he was in the
Tombs prison."
The Inspector pressed on without
answering. Every room In the house
was ransacked. Presently he came
back to the room where the professor
Have a Few Sacks Netted
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:'.'... V.;.
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With Marvelous Rapidity, the Change
was Effected.
was still sitting. HIb usually good
humored face was a little clouded.
"Professor," he began "What's the
matter, Miles?"
A plain-clothes man from the street
had come hurrying Into the room.
"Say, Mr. French," he reported, "our
fellows have got hold of a newsle
down In the street, who was coming
along 'way round the back and saw
two men enter this house by the side
entrance, half an hour ago. One he
described exactly as the professor
here. The other, without a doubt, was
Quest."
French turned swiftly toward the
professor.
"You hear what this man Bays?"
he exclaimed. Mr. Ashlelgh, you're
fooling me! You entered this house
with Sanford Quest. You will have
to tell us where he Is hiding."
The professor knocked the ash from
his cigar and replaced It In his mouth.
His clasped hands reeted in front
of him. There was a twinkle ot some
thing like mirth in his eyes as he
glanced up at the Inspector.
"Mr." French," he said, "Mr. Sanford
Quest Is my friend. I am here In
charge of his house. Believing as I
do that his arrest was an egregious
blunder, I shall say or do nothing like
ly to afford you any Information."
French turned Impatiently away.
Suddenly a light broke In upon him;
be rushed toward the door.
"That d d Dutchie!" he exclaimed.
The professor smiled btalgnly.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
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