The Holly chieftain., 1915-04-30
CHAPTER v.

Sanford Quest was naturally per-
son unaffected by presentiments or
nervous fears of any sort, yet, having
advanced couple of yards along the
hallway of the house which he had
just entered without difficulty, he came
to a standstill, oppressed with the
sense of impending danger.
Anyone here?" he asked, raising
his voice
There was no direct response, yet
from somewhere upstairs he heard the
half-smothered cry of woman. He
gripped his revolver in his fingers. He
took quick step forward. The floor
gave way beneath him. He was fall
ing into blackness.
The fall itself was scarcely dozen
feet. He picked himself up, his shoul-
der bruised, his head swimming d lit
tie. Suddenly CLEAN of light shone
down. A trap-door above his head
was slid few inches back. The flare
of an electric torch shone upon his
face. a mans voice addressed him.
"Not the great Sanford Quest? This
surely cannot be the greatest detec-
tive in the world walking SO easily in
to the spiders web!"
ANY chance of getting out?" Quest
asked laconically.
Monet" was the bitter reply
You've done enough mischief You're
there to rot!"
why this animus against me, my
| friend Macdougal?" Quest demanded.
You and l have never come up
against one another before l didn't
like the life you led in New York ten
years ago, or your friends, but you've
suffered nothing through me-"
"If let you CO." once more came
the mans voice, 81 know very well in
what chair l shall be sitting before
month has passed. am James Mac
| dougal, Mr.. Sanford Quest, and have
get the Ashleigh diamonds, and have
settled an old grudge, if not of my own,
| of one greater than you. That's all.
A pleasant night to you!"
The door went down with a bang.
"A perfect oubliette," he remarked
| to himself, as he held match over
his head a moment or two later, built
| f,r the purpose. 1t must be the house
we failed to find which Bill Taylor
used to keep before he was shot.
Smooth brick walls, smooth brick floor,
only exit twelve feet above ones. head.
human means, apparently, are useless.
ri hnpn INV OF oil
my days. You must save my life now
or lose an earnest disciple"
Quest felt in his overcoat pocket
and drew out the small, hard pellet.
He gripped it in his fingers, stood
as nearly as possible underneath the
spot from which he had been project
| ed, coolly swung his arm back, and
flung the black pebble against the
sliding door, The explosion which fol-
lowed shook the very ground under
| his feet. For minutes afterwards
everything around him seemed to
rock. Then Sanford Quest emerged,
dusty but unhurt, and touched con-
stable on his arm.
Arrest me-" he ordered. Il am San
ford Quest. | must be taken at once
to headquarters"
| They found cab without much diff
ficuIty. 1t was five o'clock when they
reached the central police station.
Inspector French happened to be just
going off duty. He recognized Quest
with little exclamation.
Got your man to bring me here"
Quest explained so as to get away
from the mob"
Say, you've been in troubled" the
inspector remarked, leading the way
into his room.
"Bit of an explosion, that's ALL"
Quest replied. Il shall be all right
when you've lent me clothesbrush."
"The Ashleigh diamonds, eh?" the
inspector asked eagerly.
Il shall have them at nine o'clock
this morning" Sanford Quest prom