The Washington times., 1915-04-11

mn, me thoroughly; cannot stay here
Come, by all means" Quest assent
ed. will drive you down in your
car. II you like"
The professor hurried away to get
his coat and hat. and a few minutes
later they started off. In Broadway
they left the car at a garage and made
their way up a back street which en-
abled them to enter the house at the
side entrance They passed upstairs
into the sitting-room. Quest fetched the
pocket wireless and laid 1t down on the
table. The professor examined it with
interest.
You are marvellous, my friend he
declared. with all these resources of
science at your command it seems in
credible that you should be in the posi-
tion you are"
Quest nodded coolly.
"I'll get out of that all right" he
asserted confidently. The only trouble
is that While l am lodging about like
this | cannot devote myself properly
to the task of running down this fiend
of the Hands. Just one moment, pro-
fessor, while | send off a message" he
continued, opening the little instru-
ment. Where are you. Lenora?" he
signaled. Send me word and ! will
fetch you. / am in my own house for
the present Let me know that you are
safe"
The professor leaned back, smoking
one Of Quests excellent cigars. He was
beginning to show signs of the liveiest
interest
Quest" he said. Il wish could in
duce you TO dismiss the extraordinary
servant Craig. The man has been with
me for the best part of twenty years
He, saved my Iife in South America;
I'VE have Travelled in all parts of the
exemplary. a faithful and devoted serv-
ant. / thought it absurd. Mr.. Quest,
when you were suspected OF these
crimes. l should think It even more
ridiculous to associate Craig with them
in any way"
Then perhaps you will tell me.
Quest suggested, where he is now,
and why he has gone away? That doe
not look like complete innocence, does
The professor sighed.
appearances are nothing" he de-
ciared. craig Is man of highly nerv-
Gus susceptbilities. The very idea OF
bong suspected of anything so terrible
ouid be enough to drive him almost
out of hiss mind. | am convinced that
We shall find him at home presently,
with some reasonable explanation of his
/ absence.
Quest paced the room for a few mo-
ments. moodily. There was certain
amount of reason in the professors
point Of view.
Anyway. | cannot stay here much
lorger. unless ] mean to go back to tho
Tombs,' he declared.
Surely. the professor suggested,
Nour Innocence will very soon be es-
There is one thing which will hap
pen, without a doubt" Quest replied.
My auto and the chauffeur will he
discovered | have insisted upon in
quiries being sent out throughout the
state of Connecticut They tell me. too,
that the police are hard on the scent OF
Red Gallagher and the other man. Tn
/ less they get wind of this and sell me
purs'oselv. their arrest viii be the end
of my troubles. To tell YOU the truth.
professor Quest concluded lit is not
+ of myself am thinking at all, just now.
! 1t is Lenora.
! The professor nodded sympathe ticals
The young lady who shut Craig up in
the garage. YOU mean? A plucky young
| woman she mustS be.
/ She has a great many other good
qualities besides courage" Quest de-
Clared. Women have not counted for
much with me. professor, up till nov.
any more than they have done. | should
think. with YOU. but l. tell YOU frankly.
! If any ono has hurt a hair of that girl
| head | will have their lives. whatever
the penalty may be! 1t is for her sake
| to find her-that | broke out of prison
and that am trying to keep free. Tho
wtsest thing to do. from my own point
of view. would be to give myself ur. I
ant bring myself to do that without
knowing what has become of her"
! The professor nodded again.
| "A charming and well-bred young
woman she seems" he admitted Il
fear that should only he a bungler in
your profession. Mr.. Quest but if there
! is anything | can do to help you to dis
cover her wherea bouts, You can depend
upon me. Personally, 7 am convinced
that Craig will return to .me with some
pla ausiblc explanation as to what has
happened. In that Caso he will doubt
less bring news of the young lady"
Quest. for the third or fourth time.
moved cautiously toward the window.
His expression suddenly changed. 'Ts
glanced downward. frowning slightly.
An alert light flashed into his ewes
| ''Thcv're after me-" he exclaimed
Sit still professor"