The Holly chieftain., 1915-04-30

At a quarter to nine he sat down to
breakfast in his rooms
AT nine o'clock" he told his serv-
ant, "a young lady will call. Bring
her up
The door was suddenly opened. Le-
nora walked in. Quest glanced in sur
prise at the clock.
MY fault" he exclaimed. I'VE are
slow. Good-morning, Miss Lenora!"
She came straight to the table. She
laid little packet upon the table.
Quest opened it coolly. The Ashleigh
diamonds flashed up at him. He
led Lenorast 30 chair and rang bell.
Prepare a bedroom upstairs" he
ordered. ASK Miss Roche to come
here. . Laura" he added, as his
secretary entered, will you look after
this young LADY,"
A few minutes later Inspector
French was announced Quest nodded
in friendly manner.
Some coffee. Inspector"
I'D rather have those diamonds"
Quest threw them lightly across the
table.
The inspector whistled
"And now, French. will you be here,
please, at midnight, with three men,
armed?"
"Here?" the inspector repeated.
Quest nodded
Our friend" he said. is going to
be mad enough to walk into hell.
even, when he finds out what he
thinks has happened"
TT wasn't any of Jimmy's lot?"
Sanford Quest shook his head.
French" he said, keep mum, but It
was the elderly family retainer, Mac
dougal. l felt restless about him.
He has lost the girl-he was married
to her. by the bye-and the jewels.
No fear of his slipping away. / shall
have him here at the time l told
you"
1t was a few minutes before mid
night when Quest parted the curtains
of room on the ground floor Of his
house in Georgia square and looked
out into the snow-white street. Then
he turned around and addressed the
figure lying as though asleep upon the
sofa by the fire.
'Lenora," he said, 81 am going out.
Stay here. if you please. until l re-
| turn
He left the room. For a few mo-
ments there was a profound silence.
Then white face was pressed against
the window. There was crash of
glass. A man covered with snow
sprang into the apartment. He moved
swiftly to the sofa, and something
black and ugly swayed in his hand.
so you've deceived me, have you?"
he painted. Handed over the jewels,
chucked me, and given me the double
cross! Anything to say?"
Macdougal leaned forward, his
white face distorted with passion. The
life-preserver bent and quivered be.
hind him, cut the air with swish
and crashed full upon the head.
The man staggered back. The
| weapon fell from his fingers. For q
moment he was paralyzed. There was
| no blood upon his hand, no cry
! silence inhuman, unnatural! He
| looked again. Then the lights flashed
out all around him. There were two
| detectives in the doorway, their re-
| volvers covering him-Sanford Quest,
with Lenora in the background. In
the sudden illumination Macdougal's
| horror turned almost to hysterical
| rage. He had wasted his fury upon a
dummy
Take him. men," Quest ordered.
| Hands up, Macdougal. Your numbers
| up"
The handouts were upon him be-
| fore he could move.
What about the young woman"
the inspector asked.
Lenora stood in an attitude Of de-
| spair, her head downcast. She had
| turned little away from Macdougal.
| Her hands were outstretched.
you can let her alone" Sanford
| Quest said quietly. "A wife cannot
give evidence against her husband,
and besides, I need her. She is going
to work for me-"
| Macdougal was already at the door,
| between the two detectives He swung
around. His voice was calm, almost
clear-calm with concentration Of
| hatred.
You are a wonderful man, Mr..
| Sanford Quest" he said. Make the
most of your triumph. Your time is
nearly up, there is one coming whose
wit and cunning, science and skill are
all-conquering. He will brush you
away, Sanford Quest, like fly. Wait
few weeks"