Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-10-01
SEVENTH INsTALLMENT
THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY.
CHAPTER XVI.

Something In the nature OF a con-
ference was proceeding In Quests
study. The professor was there, seat
ed in the most comfortable easy
chair. smoking without relish one OF
his hosts best cigars, watching with
nervous impatience the closed door
Laura and Lenora were 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 few moments
and was studying a map OF New York
The latter, however. was too Ill al
ease to keep silent for long.
Our friend French" he remarked,
gave you no clue. suppose. as to the
direction in which his Investigations
are leading him?"
Quest glanced up from the map.
None at all. know, however, that
the house In which Lenora here was
confined is 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 should have. SO
little to tell us about her incarcera-
tlon."
Lenora shivered for moment.
what could there be to tell" she
asked, except that 1t was all horrible,
and that felt things-felt dangers
which l couldn't describe"
The professor gave vent to an Inn
patient little exclamation.
Il am not speaking for fancies," he
persisted. "You had food brought to
you, for instance. Could you never
see the hand which placed It inside
your room? Could you hear nothing
of the footsteps Of the person who
brought II? Could you not even sur
mise whether it 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
food" she said. "came at night-never
IN the daytime. never heard any
thing. The most I ever saw was once
II happened to be looking toward
the door and / saw a pair of hands
nothing more-setting down a tray.
shrieked and called out. I think that
I almost tainted. When I found cour
age enough to look, there was nothing
there but the tray upon the floor"
The professor sighed as he turned
away.
1T is evident, am afraid" he said
"that Miss Lenora's evidence will hell
no one. As an expert In these affairs
Mr.. Quest, does 1t not seem to yot
that her Imprisonment was Just lit
tie purposeless3 There seems to hav.
been no attempt to harm her In an,
way"
Whoever took the risk of abduct
Ing her" Quest pointed out grimly
did II for a purpose. That purpose
would probably have been devel
oped in course of time. However WI
look at II, Mr.. Ashleigh, there wa
only one man who must have beel
anxious to get her out of the way. AM
that man was Craig. Here comes ou
friend French. have an idea that h
has something 10 tell u.s."
They glanced expectantly toward
the door as French entered. The II
spector, who was looking very spruc
: and well brushed, wished them a ger
sral good-morning. His eyes reste
last and longest upon Laura, VIII
seemed. however, unconscious Of hi
presence.
Now, then, French Quest begar
as he returned his greeting, take
cigar. make yourself comfortable |
that chair and let us have your new
AS you see, we have obeyed order
We are all ready to follow you an.
where
1T won't be to the end of the worl
anyway" the inspector remarked, 8
he lit his cigar. II am going to pr
pose little excursion down Gayso
avenue way"
Back to that house?" Lenora e
claimed with grimace.
The Inspector nodded.
I'VE have had those boys at Il