Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-10-01
porn -the inspecror nere's setting NJ


~ Judge of millinery"
:seiiora turned and looked at them
both with an air of blank astonish.
ment. The inspector was little en-
barrasse |.
mo need to give me away like that"
he muttered, as they reached the hall.
Nov then, ladies and gentlemen, if
you are ready"
They took their places in the au-
tomobile and drove off. AS they
neared the vicinity Of Gayson avenue
the professor began to show signs of
renewed uneasiness When they drew
up at last outside the house he gave
a little exclamation His face was
grave, almost haggard.
MIR. Quest" he said, Inspector
French, l deeply regret that / have
a statement to make"
They both turned quickly toward
him. The inspector smiled in con-
fidential manner at Laura It was
obvious that he knew what was COM
ing.
Some years ago." the professor
continued, 81 bought this house and
made present of 1t to-"
ITO whom?" Quest asked quickly
ITO my servant Craig" the profess
sor admitted with groan.
Lenora gave little cry She turned
triumphantly towards the Inspector
"All recollection as to its locality
had escaped me-" the professor con-
tinued sorrowfully. 81 remember that
1t was on the anniversary of his hav-
ing been with me for some fifteen
years that decided to show him
some substantial mark of my appre-
citation. / knew that he was looking
for q domicile for his father and
mother, who are since both dead,
and requested house agent to send
me in a list of suitable residences.
This, alas! was the one purchased"
Quest glanced around the place.
81 think" he said, "that the profess
sor's statement now removes any
doubt as to Craig's guilt. You are
sure the house has been closely
watched, Inspector"
"Since l received certain informa.
tion," French replied, Il have had
half a dozen of my best men in the
vicinity. can assure you that no
one has entered or left it 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 troopet
down into the hall. The inspector
was standing before what appeared t,
be an ordinary panel.
Look here" he said, glancing ou
Of the corner of his eye to be sur,
that Laura was there, '1et me shov
you what have just discovered"
He felt with his thumb for o spring
In moment or two portion of tn
wall, about two feet in extent, slowl
revolved, disclosing small cur
board fitted with a telephone instru
ment
"A telephone" the inspector re
marked, pointing to it, ''in an unoccr
: pied house and concealed cuI
board. What do you think of that?
The professor shook his head.
Don't ask me-" he groaned.
: French took the receiver from It
rest and called up the exchange.
Inspectors French speaking" b
| announced. "Kindly tell me what !
the number of the telephone fror
which I am speaking, and who is tn
subscriber"
He listened to the reply and aske
another question.
"Can you tell me when this instr
ment was last used? When
Thank you'll
The inspector hung up the receive
"The subscribers name," he tol
them dryly, 'is Brown. The numbe
is not entered in the book, by r
quest. The telephone was used a
hour ago from a call Office and col
nection was established. That is I
say, that someone spoke from tn
telephone"
\ Then If your men have maintaine
their search properly, that someone
Quest said slowly, must be in IL
house at the present moment"
Without a doubt" the inspect,
agreed.
Il am going to search the frol
room on the first floor before we {
anything else" said Quest 81 thir
that If you wait here may be able
show you something directly"
Quest ascended the stairs and e
tered a wholly unfurnished room {
the left-hand side. He looked for
minute contemplatively at large b
rather shallow cupboard, the door
which stood open, and tapped light
| with his forefnger upon the back pa
| Of it. Then he withdrew few fe
| and, drawing out his revolver, deli
erately fred into the floor, a fe
= inches inside. There was a ha
" stifed cry. The false back sudden
swung open and a man rushed O,
d Quests revolver covered him, b
r. there was no necessity for it's u,
Craig, smothered with dust, his ia
le white as piece of marble, even
le jaw shaking with fear, was who
unarmed. He seemed, in fact, inca
d, able of any form Of resistance.
le Walk out of the room," Quest
dered, "in front of me-so! NJ
lg turn to the right and go down t
STAIRS"
e. They all gave little cry as tn
saw him appear, trembling, pitt
d. creature, glancing around like
trapped animal He commenced
er descend the stairs, holding tigh
to the banisters. Quest remained
.e- the landing above, his revolver in
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