The Holly chieftain., 1915-06-04
CHAPTER XIV,

IueUt.
mo news of Craig" he asked.
Il got Craig, all right" he replied.
He came to the Servants club, where
l was waiting for him. My lucks out.
though. The place was burned to
the ground last night | saved his
to the police. l had to make my es-
cape as best | could"
Quest smoked in silence for a mo-
ment
Amy mail for me- professor?" he
asked abruptly.
The professor opened a drawer and
handed him a Telegram.
only this!"
| Quest opened it and read it through
1t was from the Sheriff of small
town in Connecticut:
The men you inquired for are both
here. They have sold an automobile
and seem to be spending the proceeds.
Shall arrest?"
Quest studied the message for
moment.
Say. this is rather interesting, pro-
fessor," he remarked. These are
the two thugs who set upon me
at the section house They killed the
signal man, who could have been
my alibi. and swiped my car. in
which. as it cannot be found, French
supposes that returned to New York.
With their arrest the case against
me collapses. l tell you frankly, pro-
fessor," Quest continued frowning. Il
hate to leave the city without having
found that girl; but | am not sure
that the quickest way to set things
right would not be to go down, arrest
these men and bring them back here,
clear myself, and then go tooth and
nail for Craig"
Quest stepped off the cars at Bethel
little before noon that morning The
sheriff met him at the depot and greet
ed him cordially but with obvious sur
prise.
Say, Mr. Quest he exclaimed. as
they turned away. 81 know these men
are wanted on your charge, but
thought-you'll excuse me for saying
so-that you were in some trouble
yourself"
Quest nodded.
I'm out of that-came out yester-
day The moment my car is identi-
fed and Red Gallagher and his mate
arrested every scrap of evidence
against me goes"
We'll, here's the garage and the
man who bought the car" the sheriff
remarked, "and there's the car itself
in the road. It's for you to say wheth-
er it can be Identified"
Quest drew a sigh of relief.
That's mine, right enough" he de-
clared. Now for the men"
Say, l want to tell you some
thing" the sheriff began obviously.
These two are real thugs. They amt
going to take it lying down"
Where are they?" Quest de-
manded.
In the worst saloon here" the sher-
if replied. They've been there pret-
ty well all night, drinking, and they're
there again this morning. hard at it.
They've got firearms, and though
amt exactly a nervous man, Mr..
Quest"
You leave it to me-" Quest inter-
rupted This is my job and want
to take the men myself"
You'll never do it," the sheriff de-
clared.
Well" Quest decided, I'm going
in, and I'm going in unarmed. You
can bring your men in later, if | call
for help or if YOU hear any shoot
ing"
He pushed open the door of the sa-
loon. There were dozen men drink
ing around the bar and in the cen
ter of them Red Gallagher and his
mate. Quest walked right up to the
two men.
Gallagher" he said, you're my
prisoner. Are you coming quietly?"
Gallagher's mate, who was half
drunk, swung round and fired wild
shot in Quests direction. The result
was a general stampede. Red Gala
CHER alone remained motionless. Grim
and dangerously silent, he held a pis-
tol within a few inches of Quests
forehead.
'If my numbers up," he exclaimed
ferociously. ''it won't be you to take
me-"
81 think it WILL" Quest answered.
Put that away.
Gallagher hesitated. Quests influ-
ence over him was indomitable.
Put it away Quest repeated firm