The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-11-11
SEVENTH l%NSTALLMENT
THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY.
CHAPTER XVI.

Ference was proceeding III quest ID
study. The professor was there, seat
ed In the most comfortable easy
chair, smoking without relish enc OF
his hosts best cigars, watching with
nervous impatience the closed door.
Laura and Lenora we're seated at the
table, dressed for the street. They
had the air OF being prepared for
some excursion. Quest, realizing the
professors highly strung state. had
left him alone for a few moments
and was studying a map OF New York.
The latter, however, vas too Ill at
ease to keep silent for long.
Our friend French" he remarked.
gave you nc clue. I suppose. as to the
direction In which his investigations
are leading himr'
Quest glanced mp from the nap.
None at all. l know. however. that
the house In which Lcnora here was
confined il being watched closely"
The professor glanced ACROSS to.
ward the table before which Lenora
was seated.
1T seems strange" he continued,
that the young lady shoSid have %
little to tell MS about her incarcera-
ton"
Lenora shivsred fer a moment.
What could there be to tell" she
asked. except that II was all horrible,
and that l felt things-feit dangers
which / couldn't describe"
The professor gave vent to an I'M
patient little exclamation.
II am not speaking for fancies," he
persisted. "You had food brought to
you, for instance. Could you never
see the hand which placed 1t inside
your room? Could you hear nothing
of the footsteps Of the person who
brought It? Could you not even sur.
mise whether II were a man or q
woman"
Lenora answered him with an evi-
dent effort. She had barely, as yet,
recovered from the shock of those
awful hours.
The person who brought me the
feed" she said, came at night-never
In the daytime. I new heard any
thing. The most I ever saw was once
II happened to be looking toward
the door and i saw a pair of hands
nothing ~more-sstting down q tray. I
shrieked and called out. I think that
/ almost tainted. When I found cour.
g enough to look, there was nothing
there but the tray upon the floor"
The professor sighed rs he turned
away.
1T is evident. ! an afraid" he said.
that Miss Lenora's evidence viii help
no one. Az Al expert In these affairs.
Nj. Quest. does Il not seem to you
that her impriscn-aent was just q 1T
tie p~urposeless, There seems TO have
been no attempt to harm her In any
way"
Whoever took the risk Of abduct.
ing her." Quest pointed out gnmly,
did It for q purpose. That purpose
would probably have been dsvel'
eped In course OF time. However We
look at II, Mr.. Ashleigh, there was
only one man who must have been
anxious to get her out Of the way. and
that mar was Craig. Here comes our
friend French. I have an idea that he
has something 10 ten us."
They glanced e~xpectantly towards
the door a. French entered. The In
speotor, uho vas iooking very spruce
aud ven brushed, wished them . gen
ual good-morninS. His eyes rested
Inst and longsst upon Laura. who
seemed. however, unconscious Of his
yresenool
.Now, then, yrench." Quest began.
- Ne returned ~ greeting. take :
G1gar. make y~sufsslf comfortable IN
0at chair ana ls< ~ hare your news.
As you sse. We have obsysd orders.
10 are all rsady 70 follow ron any
unsrs."
III 1cnt - - ~ end 81 the world.
nnyway." ths inspector remarked, ~
= lft he CIGAR. Il am going TO pro
800 : i1txlo e~xeursicn Down 0ayaon
AZ ~ thet heUsey" Lnocea e.
,o.1nS1 ~ = or1nacos
~ lnsp4o1pr neddeA-
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