Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-06-09

| The woman shrieked. The butler sud
denly sprang upon the last man to en-
ter and sent him spinning down the
steps. Almost &C that instant there
was a scream from upstairs. Quest
took a running Jump and went up the
stairs four at time. The butler. who
had so far defied arrest. suddenly
snatched the revolver from Hard
away's hand and fired blindly In front
Of him. missing Quest Only 5y an inch
or two.
Don't be fool. KARL" the woman
called out. "The games up. Take 1t
quietly"
Once more the shrek rang through
the house Quest rushed to the door
of the room from whence II came, tried
the handle. and found 1t locked. He
ran back a little way and charged it.
From inside he could hear turmoil of
voices. White with rage and passion.
he pushed and kicked madly There
was a shot from inside, bullet came
through the door within an inch of his
head, then the crash Of broken crock
cry and a mans groan. With final
effort Quest dashed the door in and
staggered into the room. Lenora
was standing in the far corner, the
front of her dress torn and blood upon
her lips. She held a revolver in her
hand, and was covering a man whose
head and hands were bleeding. Around
him were the debris of a broken jug.
"Mr. Questi" she screamed. Don't
go near him-rve got him covered.
I'm all right"
Quest drew long breath. The man
who stood glaring at him was well
dressed ana still young. He was un-
armed, however. and Quest secured
him in a moment.
"The girls mad" he said sullenly.
mo one wanted to do her any harm"
HaSdaway and his men came troop
ing Up the stairs. Quest relinquished
his prisoner and went over to Lenora.
i've been so frightened" she
sobbed. "They got me in here-they
| told me that this was the street in
which my aunt lived-and they
wouldn't let me go. The woman was
horrible. And this afternoon this man
came. The brutel"
Quest turned to Hardaway.
"I'n take the young lady away" he
said. You know where TO find US"
Lenora had almost recovered when
they reached the hotel Walking up
and down they found the professor
MY friend!" he exclaimed-"Mr
Quest! It is the devil incarnate
against whom we fight"
what do you mean?" Quest de-
manded.
The professor wrung his hands
Il put him in our James Ii pris-
on" he declared "Why should |
think Of the secret passage? No
one has used it for 4 hundred years.
He found IT, learned the trick"
You mean," Quest cried
HE has escaped" the professor
broke in. Craig has escaped again,
They are searching for him high and
low, but he has gonel"
Quests arm frightened for moment
in Lenoras. It was curious how he
seemed to have lost at that moment
all sense OF proportion. Lenora was
safe the relief OF that one
thought overshadowed everything else
In the world.
'The fellow can't get far" he NUT
tered
who knows?" the professor re-
piled, dolefully.
They had been standing together in
little recess of the hall Suddenly
Lenora. whose face was turned to-
ward the entrance doors, gave a little
cry. She took quick step forward
"Laural" she exclaimed, wonder
ingly. why. it's Laura"
They all turned around. A young
woman had just entered the hotel.
followed by porter carrying some
luggage. Her arm was in a sling and
there was a bandage around her fore
head. She walked, too with the help
of stick. She recognized them at
once and waved II gayly
"Hullo, you peoplei" she cried
Soon run you to earth. eh?'
They were for a moment dunn
founded. Lenora was the first to find
words "But when did you start,
Laura?" she asked Il thought you
were too i'll to move for weeks"
The girl smiled contemptuously.
81 left three days after you, on the |
Kaiser Frederic" she replied. There |
was some trouble at Plymouth, and |