The Holly chieftain., 1915-06-11


board fitted with a telephone instru-
ment.
"A telephone" the inspector re-
marked, pointing to it, 'in an unoccu-
pied house and a concealed cup
board. What do you think of that?"
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 is the
subscriber"
He listened to the reply and asked
another question.
Can you tell me when this instru-
ment was last used? Wher?
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 to
say. that someone spoke from this
telephone
Then if your men have maintained
their search properly, that someone"
Quest said slowly, must be in the
house at the present moment"
Without a doubt" the inspector
agreed.
Il am going to search the front
room on the first floor before we do
anything else," said Quest Il think
that if you wait here may be able 20
show you something directly"
Quest ascended the stairs and en-
tered a wholly unfurnished room on
the left-hand side He looked for a
minute contemplatively at large but
rather shallow cupboard the door Of
which stood open, and tapped lightly
with his forefinger upon the back part
of it. Then he withdrew few feet
and, drawing out his revolver, delib-
erately fired into the floor, a few
inches inside. There was a half
stifled cry. The false back suddenly
swung open and man rushed out.
Quests revolver covered him, but
there was no necessity for it's use.
Craig, smothered with dust, his face
white as a piece Of marble, even his
jaw shaking with fear, was wholly
unarmed.. He seemed, in fact, incap-
able of any form of resistance.
~ hn
dered, "in front of me-so! Now
turn to the right and go down the
stairs"
They all gave a little cry as they
saw him appear, trembling, pitiful
creature, glancing around like a
trapped animal. He commenced to
descend the stairs, holding tightly
to the banisters. Quest remained on
the landing above, his revolver in his
hand French waited in the hall be,
low, also armed. Laura gripped Le-
nora's arm in excitement
They've got him now!" she ex,
claimed. Got him, sure"
On the fourth or fifth stair Craig
hesitated. He suddenly saw the pro-
fessor standing below. He gripped
the banisters with one hand. The
other he> flung out in a threatening
gesture
you've given me away to these
bloodhounds!" he cried-"you, for
whom have toiled and slaved, whom
have followed all over the world,
whom l have served faithfully with
the last breath of my body and the
last drop of blood in my veins! You
have brought them here-tracked me
down! You!"
The professor shook his head sor.
rowfully.
Craig" he said, you have been
the best servant man ever had. If
you are innocent of these crimes you
can clear yourself If you are guilty
a dogs death is none too good for
you"
Craig seemed to sway for moment
upon his. feet. Only Lenora, from the
hall, saw that he was fitting his right
foot into what seemed to be a leath-
er loop hanging from the banisters.
Then a wild shout of surprise broke
from the lips of all of them, followed
by a moment of stupefied wonder.
The. whole staircase suddenly began
to revolve. Craig clinging to the
banisters, disappeared. In a moment
or two there was a fresh click An.
other set of stairs, identical to the
first, had taken their place.
"The cellar" Quest shouted, as ne
rushed down the stairs. Quick"
They wrenched open the wooden