Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1915-06-18


steps and entered by the front door.
The house was an ordinary frame
work one OF moderate size, In poor re-
j pair. and showing signs OF great neg
lect The rooms were barely fur
nlshed 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 trooped
down into the hall The inspector
was standing before what appeared to
be an ordinary panel,
Look here" he said. glancing out
Of the corner of his eye to be sure
that Laura was there, "let me show
you what have just discovered
He felt with his thumb for spring.
In moment or two portion Of the
wall, about two feet In extent, slowly
revolyed, disclosing small cup
board fitted with telephone instru
ment
"A telephone" the inspector re-
marked, pointing to 1t, "in an unoccu'
pied house and 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 Ia the
subscriber"
He listened to the reply and asked
another question,
Can you tell me when this instru-
ment was last used? When
Thank you!'
The Inspector hung up the receiver
The Subscribers name" he told
them dryly Is Brown The number
Ia not entered In the book, by re-
quest The telephone was used an
hour ago from call Office and con
nection was established. That 10 tC
say, that someone spoke from thii
telephone"
Then II 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 from
room on the first floor before we d.
anything else" said Quest Il thinl
that II you wait here may be able e
show you something directly"
Quest assembled the stairs and en-
tered wholly unfurnished room OF
the left hand side He looked for Z
minute contempiatiyely at large but
rather shallow cupboard, the door Of
which stood open, and tapped lightly
with his forennger upon the back par
Of 1t, Then he withdrew few feel
and, drawing out his revolver. DELHI
erately fired into the floor, few
inches inside There was a half
stitied cry The false back suddenly
swung open and man rushed out
Quests revolver covered him. but
there was no necessity for Its use
Craig, smothered with dust. his fact
white as a piece of marble. even his
Jaw shaking with fear, was wholly
unsrmed He seemed In fact, incap
able OF any form of resistance.
Walk out OF the ROOM" Quest or
dered, in front Of me-so Now
turn to the light and go down the
stairs"
They all gave little cry az they
saw him appear, trembling, pitiru
creature, CHANGING around like 1
trapped animal He commenced t
descend the stairs. holding tightly
A 10 the banisters Quest remained oil
the landing above, his revolver in hi
hand French waited In the hall b.
low, also armed Laura gripped IL
nora's arm In excitement
They've got him nowl" she O.
l. claimed Got him sure!'
On the fourth or fifth stair Graf
l hesitated lie suddenly saw the PR
= lessor standing below He grippe
the banisters with one hand. In
other he flung out In threatenin
gesture
You've given me away to thes
bloodhounds he cried-"you. Il
u whom | have toiled and shaved. whol
| have followed all over the worl
3 whom | have served faithfully wit
D the last breath Of my body and tn
last drop OF blood In my veins! 70
o have brought them here-tracked n
l. down! You'"
/. The professor shook his head so
rowfully.
" Craig" he said you have bee
|. the best servant man ever had.
II you are innocent OF these crimes yo
can clear yourself II you are guilt
\ dogs death Is none too good IL
y you"
@ Craig seemed to sway for a momel
" upon his feet. Only lenora. from II
" hall saw that he was fitting his rigl
q foot into what seemed to be leat
IS err loop hanging from the banister
Then wild shout Of surprise brol
II from the lips OF all Of them, followt
% by moment Of stupefed wonde
The whole staircase suddenly bega
d to reyolye. Craig, clinsing to Il
n. banisters. disappeared. In a mome
IA or two there was q fresh click. A
n. other set of stairs, Identical to Il
first had taken their place.
,r "The cellar!" Quest shouted, az
ID rushed down the stairs. Quick"
They wrenched open the wood
v. door and hurried down the dark ste
3 into the gloomy, unlit cellar. II
place was crowded with packing cas-
ID and two large wine barrels stood
r. the corner, At the farther end "