The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-07-03
FIFTEENTH lNSTALLMENT
CHAPTER xxxv.


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 we're left alone.
"That is some disappointment
the former remarked. gloomily.
1T ia 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
1t must have been 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 1t out upon bis knee.
read 1t word for word
Never to communicate or TO have
anything to do with anyone of the
name of Ashleigh. eh?" he remarked,
us he handed 1t back again Rather
q queer provision, that, French
tive been thinking that myself" the
Inspector admitted
Quest glanced at the clock.
well" he said. If 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
front door. They entered without
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. "Comel"
He threw open the door. The room
was empty, yet both Quest and French
were conscious of curious conVic-
tion that 1t had been occupied with
in the last few seconds
"Queer, but 1t seemed to me I heard
someone" French muttered.
Il was sure Of it, Quest replied.
They stood still for moment and
listened, The silence in the empty
house was almost unnatural. Quest
turned 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,
gent down on his knees and passed
his hands over the bricks. The third
one he touched, shook He tapped
without a doubt 1t was hollow
With his penknife he loosencd the
mortar a little and drew II out easily,
The back was open. Inside was the
black box
"Craig's secret at last!" French
muttered, hoarsely Bring 1t TO the
light, quickl"
They were Unconditional men, but the
moment was supreme The key TO
the mystery OF these tragical weeks
was there in their hands! Their eyes
almost deyoured those few hastily
scrawled words buried with so much
care:
See Page e2, January Number,
American Medical Journal, 1905.
They looked ag one another. They
repeated vaguely this most common.
place of messages. As the final result
of their strenuous enterprise, these
cryptic words seemed pitifully made
quate. Quests face darkoned. He
crumpled the paper in his fingers.
There must be some meaning In
this" he muttered. 1T can't be alto
gether FOOLS game we're on Wait" {"
He moved towards table which
usually stood against the wall. but
which had obviously been dragged
out recently into the middle Of the
room. It was covered with bound
volumes Quest glanced at one and
exclaimed softly:
American Medical Journal, 1905l
French, there's something in this mes
sage, after all.'
He turned over the pages rapidly.
Then he came TO a stop. Page CT
was there; page 60 had been neatly
removed with pair Of SCISSORS.
The professor!" he cried. Tho
professors been at work herol"
The two men stood looking at one
another across the table Strange