Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-06-03

Lenora turned and looked at them
both with an air of blank astonish
ment. The inspector was little EN-
barrassed.
mo need to give me away like that.
he muttered, az they reached the hall
Now then, ladies and gentlemen, 1
you are ready"
They took their places In the all
tomobile and drove of. As they
neared the vicinity OF Gayson avenue
the professor began to show signs oil
renewed uneasiness. When they drew
up at last outside the house he gave
a little exclamation. His face was
grave, almost taggard.
mfr. Quest" he said Inspector
French. deeply regret that / have
statement to make"
They both turned quickly TOWARD
him. The inspector smiled In a con
fidential manner at Laura II was
obvious that he knew what was com
Ing.
Some years ago." the professor
continued, II bought this house and
made present Of 1t to"
ITO whom?" Quest asked quickly
ITO my servant Craig" the profes
sor admitted with groan.
Lenora gave little cry. She turned
triumphantly towards the inspector
"All recollection as to It's locality
had escaped me-" the professor con.
tinued sorrowfully. II remember that
1t was on the anniversary Of his hav,
Ing been with me for some fifteen
years that l decided to show him
some substantial mark of my appre.
citation. knew that he was looking
for domicile for his father and
mother, who are since both dead.
and requested q house agent to send
me In list OF suitable residences
This, alas! was the one purchased. u
Quest glanced around the place.
II think. he said, that the profes.
sor's statement now removes any
doubt as to Craig's guilt. Yor are
sure the house has been closely
watched, Inspector" ..
"Since | received certain informa.
tion," French replied, Il have had
half dozen OF my best men in the
vicinity. can assure you that no
one has entered or left 1t during the
last twenty-four hours"
They made their way to the piazza
steps and entered by the front door
The house was an ordinary frame,
work one Of moderate size. in poor re,
pair, and showing signs of great neg
lect. The rooms were barely fur.
nished and their first cursory search
revealed no traces of habitation
There was still the broken skylight
In the room which Lenora had occu
pied. and the bed upon which she had
slept was still crumpled. French
who had been tapping the walls down
stairs, called to them. They trooped
down into the hall The inspector
was standing before what appeared to
be an ordinary panel.
look here" he said. glancing out
OF the corner OF his eye to be sure
that Laura was there, 'let me show
you what l have just discovered.
He felt with his thumb for spring
In q moment or two portion OF the
wall, about two feet In extent, slowly
revolved, disclosing a small cup
board fitted with telephone instru
ment.
"A telephone" the inspector re.
marked. pointing to 1t. "in an unoccu
pied house and a concealed cup
board. What do you think OF that? p
The professor shook his head.
Don't ask me-" he groaned.
French took the receiver from Its
rest and called up the exchange.
Inspector French speaking" he
announced. Kindly tell me what Is
the number OF the telephone from
which / am speaking, and who il the
subscriber"
He listened to the reply and asked
another question.
"Can you tell me when this instru
ment was last used? When
i. Thank you!"
The inspector hung up the receiver
THE subscribers name" he told
them dryly. is Brown. The number
Is not entered In the book, by re
quest, The telephone was used an
hour ago from call office and con
nection was established. That is tc
say, that someone spoke from this
telephone"
Then II your men have maintained
their search properly, that someone
Quest said slowly, must be In the
house at the present moment"
Without doubt" the inspector
agreed.
Il am going to search the from,
room on the first floor before we dc
anything else" said Quest. Il think
that II you wait here may be able &C
show you something directly"
Quest assembled the stairs and en-
tered wholly unfinished room or
the left'hand side. He looked for q
minute contemplatively at large bu,
rather shallow cupboard. the door Of
which stood open. End tapped light,
with his forefingek. upon the back par
OF 1t. Then he sssithdrew a few feel
and, drawing .rlt his revolver. DELHI
erately firef. into the floor, few
inches INSIDE. There was a half
stifled cry. The false back suddenly