The Holly chieftain., 1915-08-06
Copyright. l9l5. by Otis y Wood
Fifteenth INSTAuLMENT
CHAPTER xxxV.

The first shock was over Craig's
body had been removed, and the girls
had taken Mary, half stunned with
grief, to their room. French and
Quest were left alone.
That Is some disappointment"
the former remarked, gloomily.
1T is a disappointment" Quest
said. slowly, (which may clear the
way to bigger things"
What's in your mind now?" French
inquired.
Quest shook his head.
"A turmoil. First of all, where is
the professor?"
Must have scooted right away
home" French suggested. "He was
looking pretty sick all the time. Guess
1t must have been a powerful shock
for him, and he isn't SO young as he
used to be-"
Give me that paper of Crag's
again." Quest asked
The inspector produced the docu-
"ment from his inner pocket. and
Quest. stretching 1t out upon his knee,
read it word for word.
Never to communicate or to have
anything to do with anyone of the
name of Ashleigh. eh?" he remarked,
as he handed it back again Rather
queer provision, that. French"
I've been thinking that myself" the
inspector admitted.
1upEt planood OF tho o1oo1-
Well he said, eff you're ready,
inspector, we'll be getting along"
The two men drove to the outskirts
OF the city almost In silence The
professors house seemed more than
ever deserted as they drew up at the
front door. They entered without
ringing and crossed the hall towards
the library. On the threshold Quest
paused and held up his finger.
Someone is in there" he whispered,
stepping quickly forward "Come!"
Il, He threw open the door. The room
was empty, yet both Quest and French
were conscious of a curious convlc.
tion that it had been occupied with
in the last few seconds.
Queer, but it seemed to me heard
someone" French muttered.
.! was sure Of its" Quest replied,
They stood still for moment and
listened. The silence in the empty
house was almost unnatural. Quest
turned away with shrug Of the
shoulders
"At any rate" he said. "Craig's dy.
ing thoughts must have been truth
full. Come"
He led the way to the fireplace,
went down on his knees and passed
his hands over the bricks. The third
one he touched, shook. He tapped
it-without a doubt 1t was hollow.
With his penknife he loosened the
mortar little and drew it out easily.
The back was OPEN Inside was the
black box
"Craig's secret at last!" French
muttered, hoarsely. Bring it to the
light, quick!"
They were Unconditional mer. but the
moment was supreme. The key to
the mystery of these tragical weeks
was there in their hands! Their eyes
almost devoured those few hastily
scrawled words buried with so much
care:
See Page e., January Number,
American Medical journal, 1905.
There must be some meaning in
this" he muttered. 1T cant be alto
gether a FOOLS game we're on. Wait
He moved towards a table which
usually stood against the wall but
which had obviously been dragged
out recently into the middle of the
room. 1t was covered with bound
volumes. Quest glanced at one and
exclaimed softly:
American Medical Journal. 1905.
French, there's something in this mes.
sage. after all"
He turned over the pages rapidly
Then he came to stop. Page 81
was there; page 62 had been neatly
removed with a pair of scissors.
THE professor" he cried "The
professors been at work here.'
The two men stood looking at one
another across the table. Strange
thoughts were framing themselves in
the brains of both of them. Then
there came startling and in its way
a dramatic interlude. Through the
empty house came the ringing of the
electric bell from the front door, shril
and insistent. Without moments
hesitation, Quest hurried out ant
Frep"h followed him. On the Doorstep