Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-05-27

The thoughts formed themselye.
mechanically in her mind. Her eyes
sought the ball which had come crash
ing into the room. There was life
once more In her pulses. She found
q scrap OF paper and a pencil In he,
pocket. With trembling fingers she
wrote few words: ..@
police headquarters. am Sanford
Guests assistant. abducted and i'm
prisoned here in the room where the
ball has fallen. Help! am going
mad!" #
She twisted the paper, looked
around the room vainly for string, and
finally tore a thin piece OF ribbon
from her bosom. She tied the mes,
sage round the ball. set her teeth and
threw 1t at the empty skylight. The
first time she was not successful and
the ball came back. The second time
1t passed through the center of the
opening. She heard 1t strike the sound
portion OF the glass outside. heard 1t
rumble down the roof. A few seconds
Of breathless silence! Her heart al
most stopped beating. Had 1t rested
in some ledge or fallen into the street
below? Then she heard the boys
voice:
Gee! Here's the ball come back
again."
A new light shone into the room.
She seemed to be breathing different
atmosphere-thea atmosphere of hope.
She listened no longer with horror
for a creaking upon the stairs. She
walked backwards and forwards until
she was exhausted. Curiously
enough, when the end came she was
asleep. crouched upon the bed and
dreaming wildly. She sprang up to
find Inspector French. with a police
man behind him, standing upon the
threshold.
Inspector" she cried. rushing to-
wards him. "Mr French! Oh. thank
God!"
Her feelings carried her away. She
threw herself at his feet. She was
and crying and talking inco-
herently, all at the same time. The
inspector assisted her to a chair.
Say. what's all this mean?" he de.
manded.
She told him her story. incoherent.
ly. In broken phrases. French listened
with puzzled frown.
Then he realized that she was on
the point OF nervous breakdown
and in no condition for interrogations.
'Thatll do" he said. I'm take care
Of you for time. young lady, and I'll
ask you few questions later on. My
men are searching the house. You
and will be getting on, If you can
tear yourself away"
The plain-clothes man, who was
lounging in Quests most comfortable
easy chair and smoking one OF his
best cigars, suddenly laid down his
paper. He moved to the window. A
large, empty automobile stood in the
street outside. from which the occu-
pants had presumably just descend
ed. He fastened towards the door,
which was opened, however, before he
was halfway across the room. The
cigar slipped from his fingers. 1t was
Sanford Quest, who stood there. fol-
lowed by the sheriff of Bethel, two
country policemen and Red Gallagher
md his mate. heavily handcuffed.
Say. aren't you wanted down yon-
Ter. Mr.. Quests" the man inquired.
That's all right now" Quest told
him. I'm ringing up Inspector French
myself You'd better stand by the
,ther fellows there and keep your
aye on Red Gallagher and his mate"
II guess Mr.. Quest is all right" the
sheriff interviewed. We're ringing up
ourselves, anyway"
The plain-clothes man did as he was
old. Quest took up the receiver from
his telephone instrument and arranged
he phototelesme.
Police station No. /, central" he
to Mr.. Frenchs OF.
Ice. II YOU please. Mr.. Quest
wants to speak to him. Yes, San
ord Quest. No need to get excited.
All right I'm through, am I?
Hello. Inspector"
A rare expression OF joy suddenly |
Quests face. He was
,azing downward into the little mir.
or
You've found Lenora, then, In |
pector~ he exclaimed. Bully for
'ou. What do mean What |
say. You forget that | am a sci |
'ntiflc man, French. No end of ap-
'liances here You haven't had time !
o look at. can see YOU sitting there,
Ind Lenora and Laura looking as |
hough you had them on the rack. You
an drop that, French. I've got Red |
Gallagher and his mate. got them |
lere with the sheriff of Bethel. They |
vent OF with my auto and sold it.
We've got that. Also. In less than |
I've minutes my chauffeur will be |
|sre. He's been lying In a farmhouse