The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-08-13
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
The professor reused himself from
what had apparently been very
gloomy reverie.
We'll" he announced. Il must go
home. II has been very kind of you,
Mr.. Quest, to keep me here for so
long"
Quest glanced at the clock.
Don't hurry, Mr.. Ashleigh." he
said. I'VE may get some news at any
moment. French has a dozen men
out on the search and he has prom
Used to ring me up Immediately he
hears anything"
The professor sighed.
"A man." he declared, who for
twenty years can deceive his master
as utterly and completely as Craig
has done me, who is capable of such
diabolical outrages, and who, when
capture stares him in the face, is
capable of an escape such as he made
today, is outside the laws of prob
ability. Personally, | do not believe
that / shall ever again see the face
of my servant, any more than that
! you, Quest, will entirely solve the
i mystery of these murders and the
theft of the Rheinholdt jewels. What
can we do against men who have re
volving staircases and trolley-loadE
of river pirates waiting for them
| You may be scientific criminologist
Quest, but that fellow Craig is ;
scientific criminal, If ever there wa
one"
Quest crossed the room towards hi
cigar cabinet, and opened it. His littl
start was apparent to both of their
Lenora laid down the bag which sh
had just lifted up. The professo
leaned forward in his chair
What is it, Quest?" he demanded
Quest stretched out his hand an
picked up from the top of the cigar
n a small black box! He laid 1t on tn
table.
a Unless I am very much mistaken,
he said, ut is another communicate
from our mysterious friend"
"Impossible" the professor e1
claimed hoarsely.
How can he have been here?" LIZ
nora cried.
Quest removed the lid from tn
box and drew out circular card
Around the outside edge was a YER
clever pen and ink sketch of a life
buoy, and inside the margin wer
several sentences of clear handwrit
ing. In the middle was the sigma
ture-the clenched hands! Ques
read the message aloud:
In the great scheme of things, tn
Supreme Ruler of the universe dl
vided an inheritance amongst hi
children. To one he gave power, t
another strength, to another beauty
but to his favorite he gave cunning
They all looked at one another.
what does it mean?" Lenor
gasped.
"A lifebuoy!" the professor mul
INJURED.
They both stared at Quest. who re
manned silent, chewing hard at tn
end of his cigar.
Every message he said, speakin
half to himself "has had some sis
nificance. What does this mean
lifebuoy?"
He was silent for moment. The
he turned suddenly to the professol
What did you call those men in tn
motortruck, professor-river pirates
And a lifebuoy! Watt
He crossed the room tawards hi
desk and returned with list in hi
, stopped and glanced at the date.
THE Durham" he muttered, "carg
cotton. destination Southampton. sail
, at high tide on the 10th. Lenora,
that calendar right?"
cts the 18th, Mr. Quest she al
swered.
Quest crossed the room to the tel
: phone.
Il want number one, central"
: said Thank you! Put me throug
] to Mr.. French's office. He'll
French! I've got an idea. Can yo
come round here at once and brin
!. an automobile? want to get dow
5 to the docks-not where the passe
> ger steamers start from-lower dow,
1 II. Good! Well wait"
: Quest hung up the receiver.
{ See here, professor" he continue
: that fellow wouldn't dare to ser
D this message If he weren't pretty SUI
D of getting off. He's made all h
r plans beforehand, but it's my bell
D we shall just get our hands upon hir
after ALL
) Presently the heard The automobi
d stop outside and French appeared.
|, Anything doing?" he asked
/ Quest showed him the card and Il
sailing list.
3 The inspector glanced at the clee