The Holly chieftain., 1915-07-16
Copyright. 1915. by Otis y. Wood
TWELFTH INSTALLMENT.
CHAPTER XIV. .
MEATH IRON WHEELS.

WhTu6 at the BlOWly uniolulHS bceuc
before them. For some time they had
all preserved an almost ecstatic 81
lence.
Say. but it's good to see home
agaiat Laura sighed at last.
''Im with you." Quest agreed en-
phatically. Its the wrong side of
the continent, perhaps. but I'm aching
to set my foot on American soil again"
This the wrong side Of the con-
tinent! should say mott" Laura ex-
claimed. pointing to where in the dis
tance the buildings Of the exposition
cleaned almost snow white In the daz-
zltag sunshine why. have never
seen anything so beautiful in my life"
81 guess there's one of us here"
Quest observed. "who is none too
pleased to see America again"
Lenora shivered little. They we're
all grave.
Quest moved slowly down the deck
towards Craig's side, and touched him
on the arm.
Give me your left wrist, Craig" he
said quietly.
The man skunk away There was
sudden look of horror In his white
face. He started back. but Quest was
too quick for him. In moment there
was the click of a handcuff. the mate
of which was concealed under the
criminologist's cuff.
They stepped along the deck to-
wards the rest of the party. Lenora
handed her glasses to Quest.
do look. Mr.. Quest" she begged.
There is Inspector French standing
la the front row on the dock, with two
enormous lunches of fowers-carna-
tions for me. expect. and poinsettias
for Laura. They're the larger bunch"
Quest took the glasses and nodded.
Slowly the great steamer drifted
nearer and nearer to the docks. hats
were waved from the little line of
spectators. ropes were drawn taut
The inspector was standing at the
bottom Of the gangway as they all
passed down. He shook hands with
everyone vigorously. Then he pre-
Laura with the poinsettias. Lenora
was enthusiastic. Even Laura mur-
INJURED few words Of thanks.
Some flowers, those poinsettfas, I"
the inspector agreed.
Quest gripped him by the arm.
French" he said. "I tell you | shall
make your hair curl when you hear all
that we've been through. Do you feel
like having me start in right away,
on our way to the cars?"
French withdrew his arm
Nothing doing" he replied 81
want to talk to Miss Laura You can
stow that criminal stuff. It'll wait all
right. You've got the fellow-that' 8
what matters!"
Quest exchanged an amused glance
with Lenora. The inspector and Laura
fell little tehind. The former took
off his hat for moment and famed
himself
Say, Miss Laura" he began, "Tm
plain man. and poor hand at
sfeeches. I've teen saying a few nice
things over to myself on the dock here
for the last hour, but everything's
gone right out of my head. Look
here. It sums up like this: How dc
you feel about quitting this bunch
right away and coming with me tc
New York"
What do want to go to New
York for?" Laura demanded.
ooh, come on, Miss Laura. you know
what I mean." French replied. wei
slip off and get married here and ther
take this man Craig to New York
Once get him safely in the Tombs ans
we'll go of on honeymoon anywhere
you say"
Laura was on the point of laughlns
at him. Then the unwonted serious
ness of his expression appealed sud
denly to her sympathy. She pattet
him kindly on the shoulder
You're good sort. Inspector bu
you've picked the wrong girl. I've ru,
along on my own hook ever since
was born, ! guess. and | can't switcl
my ideas over to this married stua
You better get move on and ge
Craig back to New York before h
slips US again. I'm going to stay her
with tho hunch."