Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-11-19

met them in the hall He, too, seemed
to have lost to some extent his Gus
tomary equanimity.
"Come this way, my friends he in
vited. "If Craig keeps his word, he
will be here now within a. few min
utes. This way"
They followed him into the library.
Chairs were arranged around the table
in the middle of the room and they
all sat down. The professor took out
his watch. 1t was five minutes to
ten.
'In few minutes he continued
solemnly, this weight is to be lifted
from the minds of all of US. have come
to the conclusion that on this occa-
sion Craig will keep his word. l am
not sure, mind, but I believe that he
is in the house at this present moment.
/ have heard movements in the room
which belonged to him. l have not
interfered / have been content to
wait"
'He has at least not tried escape %
Quest remarked. French here brought
news of him. He has been living with
his niece very quietly, but without
any particular attempt at concealment
or any signs of wishing to leave the
city"
81 had that girl brought to my Office, -
French remarked, barely an hour ago,
but she slipped away while we were
| FOL Cav fhot
They all rose quickly to their feet
In a momentary lull of the storm they
could hear distinctly girls shrill
calling from outside, followed by the
clamor of angry voices.
| Gee! I bet that's the girl" French
| exclaimed. Shed been. looking uI
the professors address in a directory
They all hurried out into the hall
| The plainclothes man whom they haG
left on guard was standing there with
his hand upon Craig's collar. The
girl, sobbing bitterly, was clinging tc
his arm. Craig was making desperate
efforts to escape. Directly he saw the
| little party issue from the library, how
ever, the strength seemed to pass from
his limbs. He remained in the clutche:
of his captor, limp and helpless.
'I caught the girl trying to make he
way into the house." the latter ex
planned. "She called out and this maj
came running downstairs, right init
tmy arms"
| 1T is quite all right" the professo
said, in a dignified tone. you ma,
release them both. Craig was on hi
way to keep an appointment here a
ten o'clock. Quest, will you and tn
inspector bring him in? Let US re
sumo our places at the table,
The little procession made its wa,
down the hall. The girl was still
clinging to her uncle.
What are they going to do to you
these people?" she sobbed. .'The.
sha'n't hurt you. They sha'nt!"
Lenora passed her arm around tn
girl.
"Of course not, dear" she saii
soothingly. Your uncle has come @
his own free will to answer a fey
questions, only I think it would b
better if you would let me-"
Lenora never finished her sentence
They had reached the entrance now t
the library. The professor was stan(
ing in the doorway with extende
hand, motioning them to take thei
places at the table. Then, with n
form of warning, the room SCENE
suddenly filed with a blaze of blu
light. 1t came at first in a thin fias
, from the window to the table, becam
immedia tely multiplied thousan
times, played round the table
, sparks, which suddenly expanded t
sheets of leaping, curling fame. TIL
roar Of thunder shook the very fou1
dations of the house-and then silenc'
For several seconds not one of theI
, | seemed to have the power of speecl
| An amazing thing had happened. Th
oak table in the middle of the rooI
: was a charred fragment, the chair
were every one blackened remnants.
| "a thunderbolt!" French gasped &
last.
Quest was the first to cross th
J room. From the table to the outsid
window was one charred, black lin
which had burnt it's way through tn
| carpet. He threw open the windoy
: The wire whose course he had fo
. | lowed ended here with little lum
. | of queer substance. He broke it o
! | from the end Of the wire, which Wa
: absolutely brittle and natureless, an
{ brought it into the room.
r "What is it?" Lenora faltered.