The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1915-05-14

the house in which Lenora here was
confined is being watched closely"
The professor glanced across to-
| ward the table before which Lenora
was seated.
TT seems strange" he continued,
chat the young lady should have so
| little to tell us about her incarcera-
ton
Lenora shivered for a moment.
What could there be to tell" she
| asked, except that it was all horrible,
and that felt things-felt dangers
which | couldn't describe"
The professor gave vent to an i'm
patient little exclamation.
81 am not speaking for fancies," he
persisted. "You had food brought to
you. for instance Could you never
see the hand which placed it inside
your room? Could you hear nothing
of the footsteps of the person who
brought it? Could you not even sur
mise whether it were man or q
Woman?"
Lenora answered him with an evil
dent effort. She had barely, as yet,
recovered from the shock Of those
awful hours.
THE person who brought me the
food she said, came at night-never
in the daytime | never heard any
thing The most l ever saw was once
Il happened to be looking toward
the door and | saw a pair of hands
nothing more-setting down tray. /
shrieked and called out. l think that
| almost tainted When found cour-
age enough to look, there was nothing
there but the tray upon the floor"
The professor sighed as he turned
away.
1T is evident, am afraid" he said,
that Miss Lenora's evidence will help
no one AS an expert in these affairs,
Mr.. Quest, does it not seem to you
that her Imprisonment was just lit
tie purposeless? There seems to have
been no attempt to harm her in any
way"
Whoever took the risk Of abduct-
ing her." Quest pointed out grimly,
did it for purpose. That purpose
would probably have been devel-
oped in course Of time. However we
look at it, Mr. Ashleigh, there was
only one man who must have been
anxious to get her out of the way, and
that man was Craig. Here comes our
friend French. l have an idea that he
has cOmathinp Tn fell us"
They glanced expectantly towards
the door as French entered. The in
spector, who was looking very spruce
and well brushed, wished them gen.
eral good-morning. His eyes rested
last and longest upon Laura, who
seemed, however, unconscious Of his
presence.
Now, then, French" Quest began,
as he returned his greeting, take
cigar, make yourself comfortable in
that chair and let us have your news.
AS you see, we have obeyed orders.
We are all ready to follow you any
where"
1T won't be to the end Of the world,
anyway" the inspector remarked, as
he lit his cigar. Il am going to pro-
pose a little excursion down GaysOn
avenue way"
Back to that house?" Lenora ex-
claimed with grimace.
The inspector nodded.
1--WE have had those boys at the
station lie went on, "and we have
questioned them carefully. 1t seems
that after they had picked up the ball,
a man came out of the side entrance
of the house, saw them reading Miss
Lenora's message, and shouted after
them. The boys had sense enough
to scoot. The man ran after them,
but had to give it up. Here is their
description of him."
The inspector took a piece of pa
per from his pocket. They all waited
breathlessly.
Had 10 drag this out Of the boys,
bit by Bit" the inspector proceeded,
"but boiled down and put into reason
able language, this is what it comes
to-: A man of medium height, rather
thin, pale, and after running
short distance he put his hand TO
his heart, as though out of breath.
One of the boys thought his nose was
a little hooked, and they both re-
marked upon the fact that although
he shouted after them, he used no
swear words, but simply tried to in
duce them to stop. This description
suggest anything to you, gentlemen
Craig" Lenora said firmly.
SIT is very accurate description of
Craig" Sanford Quest agreed.
The professor looked troubled, also
little perplexed. He said nothing,
however.
"Under these circumstances the
inspector continued, II have had the
house watched, and / propose that we
now search it Systematically. 1t is
very possible that something may
transpire to help us. OF course. my
men went through it roughly when
we brought Miss Lenora away, but
that wasn't anything of search to
count. if the place really has become
haunt OF criminals"
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