The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-06-12

1-"Mean, You Fool! Poisoned! That 10 What It
Means"
fore him. Those first two sentences were almost
in the form of q dedication:
For ten years ! have protected my master, Pro-
fessor Edgar Ashleigh, at the cost Of my peace
Of mind, my happiness, my reputation. This book
even though It be too late to help me, shall clear
my reputation.
Quest closed the volume.
French" he decided I'VE must find the profess
sor. Will you have your men search the house
and grounds immediately"
The inspector left the room like a dazed man.
They could hear him giving orders outside.
THE next page" Lenora begged. "Just one page
more! -' :
Quest hesitated for a moment Then he turned
it over. All three read again:
Ten years Of horror struggling all the while to
keep him from that other self that thing Of besti-
atty to keep his horrible secret from tho world,
to cover up his crimes though their shadow
should rest upon Now Sanford Quest has
Will this mean discovery
Another page" Lenora faltered.
mo more" Quest said. Don't you where
it is leading us? We have the truth here Waltz"
He strobe hastily to the door. French and one
of the plain-clothes men were descending the
stairs.
"wen?" Quest asked, breathlessly.
The professor is not in the house." French re-
ported. 1--WE are going to search the grounds"
Quest returned to the library. Lenora chung to
his The diary lay still upon the table.
Quest opened the volume slowly. Again they all
read together:
The evil nature 10 growing stronger every day.
He 10 developing a sort Of ferocious cunning to
help him In his crimes. He wanders about In the
dark, wearing a black velvet suit with holes for
his eyes, and leaving only his hands exposed. 4
have watched him come into hafdarkened room
and see nothing but the hands and the
eyes; sometimes II he closes his eyes, only tho
hands,
Mrs Rheinholdt!" Quest muttered.
The door was suddenly opened and French u.
tered
"Beaten!" he exclaimed tersely.
You haven't found him." Quest asked.
French shook his head.
We've searched every room, every cupboard,
every scrap Of the cellar in the place. he
nounced. We've been into every corner of the
grounds searched it all backwards and forwards.
There's sign of the professor"
Quest pocketed the diary.
You're perfectly certain that he is not in this
house or anywhere upon the premises?'
Certain sure!" French replied.
Quest shrugged his shoulders.
WELL we'd better get back he said.
They were on the point of starting, the chauffeur
with his hand upon the starting handle French
with the steering wheel of the police already
in his hand. And then the little party seemed
suddenly turned to stone For few breathless
seconds not one of them moved. Out into the
clammy night air came the echoes of a hideous,
inhuman, bloodcurdling scream. Quest was the
first to recover himself He leaped from his
seat and rushed back across the empty hall into
the study, followed little way behind by French
and the others. An unsupported panel door which
led into the garden stood slightly ajar.. The pro-
fessor, with his hand on the back of chair,
staring at the fireplace shaking though with
some horrible ague, his face distorted. has body
curiously hunched up. He seemed suddenly to have
dropped his humanity, to have fallen back into the
world of some strange creatures. He heard their
footsteps, but he did not turn his head His
hands were stretched out in front of him as
though to keep away from his sight some hateful
object.
stop him!" he cried take him away! It's
Craig-his spirit! He came to me in the garage
he followed me through the grounds, he Knocked
at me when hid in the tree He's there now,
kneeling before the fireplace. Why can't l kill
him! He is coming! Stop him, someone!"
No one spoke moved; no one. indeed, had the