The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-05-09
NINTH IhSTkLLMENT
CHAPTER ~.
LOST ~ LONDON.

Quest, Notwithstanding the unusual
nature Of hlg surrounding. slept that
night az only tired and healthy man
can. He vss awakened the next morn
ing By the quiet movements Of man.
lserysnt who had brought back ais
jelothes carefully brushed and pressed
"Breakfast Ia served at nine clock,
tir /, 10 nov halfpast eight"
"Ill be right there"
The man withdrew and Quest made
a brisk toilet The nameless fears D,
the previous night had altogether dis.
appeared Al the last moment be
stretched out hts hand 70 take hand
kerchief from his satchel sudden
exclamation broke from his lips He
stood for moment as though turned
10 stone. Before him, On the top Of
the little pile Of white cambric. was
a small black box Win movement
OF the fingers which vas almost me.
chanical, he removed the lid and drew
out the customary little scrap Of pa
per He smoothed II out before him
on the dressing case and read the mes.
BaRe:
You will fail here as you have
failed before Better 20 back There
Ia more danger for you In this country
than you dream Of
His teeth came fercely together and
his hands were clenched His thoughts
had gone like fash 10 Lenora Was
II possible that harm was Intended for
herr He put the idea away from him
almost as soon as conceived. The
thing was unimaginable. Craig was
here, must be here. in the close VI
cinity OF the house.
The atmosphere OF the pleasant
breakfast room 10 which IN due course
he descended, was cheerful enough.
Lady AshleiRh had already taken her
place at the head OF the table.
She touched an electric bell under
her foot aud moment or two later
the butler appeared.
"Go up aud see how long your mas
ter will be?' Lady Ashlelgh directed
VERY good, your ladyship'
The man was backing through the
doorway In his usual digniiied manner
when he was suddenly pushed on one
side The valet who had waited upon
Quest, and who was Lord Asheigh's
own servant, rushed into the room.
He almost shouted TO Lady Ashleigh:
Your ladyBhip-the master Some
thing has happened He won't move!
He-he-"
They all trooped out OF the room
and up the stairs, the professor lead.
ing the way They pushed open the
door Of Lord ABhleigh's bedchamber.
In the far corner OF the large room
was the four.poster, and underneath
the clothes silent figure. The pro
fessor turned down the sheets Then
he held out his hand. His face. too,
was blanched.
Julia, don't come" he begged
81 must know" she almost shrieked
I must know"
George is dead" the professor said
slowly.
There was a moments awful silence,
broken by piercing scream from Lady
Ashlelgh She sank down upon the
sofa, and the professor leaned over
her. Quest turned 10 the little group
OF frightened servants who were gath
cred round the doorway.
Telephone for a DOCTOR he or
dered: "also TO the local police sta
ton.
HE. too, approached the bed and
reverently lifted the covering. Lord
Ashleigh was lying there, his body a
little doubled up, his arms wide out
stretched On his throat were two
black marks.
They had led Lady Ashleigh from
the room. The professor and Quest
stood face to face. The formers ex'
preston. however had lost all his
amiable serenity. His face was white
and pinched.
Quest Quest" he almost sobbed.
My brother'-George, whom loved
like nobody else on earth! Is he real
ly dead?"
Absolutely"
The professor gripped the oak pillar
Of the bedstead lie seemed on the |
point Of collapse.
THE mark OF the Hands is upon |
his throat" Quest pointed out.
The Hands! oh. my Cod" the |
proieesor grosned.