The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-10-08
FIFTEENTH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER xxxv.

WHAT Eh NNNNs
The first shock was over. Craig's
body had been removed, and the girls
had taken Mary, half stunned with
grief, to their room. French and
Quest were left alone.
THAT is some disappointment"
the former remarked, gloomily.
1T is a disappointment" Quest
said, slowly, which may clear the
way to bigger things"
Whats in your mind now?" French
inquired.
Quest shook his head.
"A turmoil. First of all, where is
the professor"
Must have scooted right away
home" French suggested. "He was
looking pretty sick all the time. Guess
it must have been a powerful shock
for him, and he isn't so young as he
used to be-"
Give me that paper of Craig's
again. Quest asked
The inspector produced the docu-
ment from his inner pocket, and
Quest, stretching it out upon his knee,
read it word for word.
Never to communicate or to have
anything to do with anyone of the
name of Ashleigh, eh?" he remarked,
as he handed it back again. Rather
a queer provision, that, French"
1--WE been thinking that myself" the
inspector admitted.
Quest glanced at the clock
WELL" he said, eff you're ready,
inspector, Wen be getting along"
The two men drove to the outskirts
of the city almost in silence. The
professors house seemed more than
ever deserted as they drew up at the
ringing and crossed the hall towards
the library. On the threshold Quest
paused and held up his finger.
Someone is in there" he whispered,
stepping quickly forward. Comet"
He threw open the door. The room
was empty, yet both Quest and French
we're conscious of a curious convic-
tion that it had been occupied with
in the last few seconds
Queer, but it seemed to me heard
someone" French muttered.
81 was sure of it," Quest replied
They stood still for a moment and
listened. The silence in the empty
house was almost unnatural. Quest
rurned away with a shrug Of the
shoulders.
"At any rate" he said, "Craig's dy
ing thoughts must have been truth
full. Come"
He led the way to the fireplace
went down on his knees and passed
his hands over the bricks. The thirt
one he touched, shook. He tapped
it-without a doubt it was hollow
With his penknife he loosened the
mortar little and drew it out easily
The back was open. Inside was tho
black box.
"Craig's secret at last!" French
muttered, hoarsely. Bring it to tn,
light quick"
They were Unconditional men, but thu
moment was supreme. The key tt
the mystery of these tragical weeks
was there in their hands, Their eye
almost devoured those few hastil.
scrawled words buried with so mucl
care:
See Page 90, January Number
American Medical Journal, 1905.
They looked at one another. The,
repeated vaguely this most common
place of messages. AS the final result
of their strenuous enterprise, thes
cryptic words seemed pitifully made
auate. Quests face darkened H
crumpled the paper in his fingers.
There must be some meaning i
this" he muttered. ut can't be alto
Sether a fools game we're on. Wait.
He moved towards table whic
usually stood against the wall bu
which had obviously been dragge
cut recently into the middle of tn
room. 1t was covered with boun
volumes Quest glanced at one an
exclaimed softly:
American Medical Journal, 1905
French, there's something in this me-
sage. after all.
He turned over the pages rapid,
Then he came to stop. Page 6
was there; page 62 had been neatl
removed with a pair of scissors.
1.-THE professor" he cried. 9Th
professors been at work here!"
The two men stood looking at on
another acres the table. StranR