The Green Forest tribune., 1915-05-14

sought the ball which had come crash ing into the room. There was life once more in her pulses. She found a scrap of paper and pencil in her pocket. With trembling fingers she wrote a few words:
 Police headquarters. 1 am Sanford Quests assistant, abducted and inn l prisoned here in the room where the ball has fallen. Help. I am going mad!"
 She twisted the paper, looked around the room vainly for string, and finally tore a thin piece of ribbon from her bosom. She tied the mes sage round the ball, set her teeth and threw it at the empty skylight. The first time she was not successful and the ball CT - hack. The second time it passed through the center of the opening. She heard it strike the sound portion of the glass outside, heard it rumble down the roof. A few seconds of breathless silence! Her heart al- most stopped beating. Had it rested in some ledge or fallen into the street below? Then she heard the boys voice:
 Gee! Here's the ball come back again."
 | new light shone into the room. She seemed to be breathing different atmosphere-the atmosphere of hope. She listened no longer with horror for a creaking upon the stairs She walked backwards and forwards until she was exhausted. Curiously enough, when the end came she was asleep, crouched upon the bed and | dreaming wildly. She sprang up to | find Inspector French, with police ! man behind him, standing upon the 1 threshold
 Inspector" she cried, rushing to- | wards him. MT French! Oh, thank l God!"
 Her feelings carried her away. She threw herself at his feet. She was laughing and crying and talking inco- herently, all at the same time. The | inspector assisted her to chair.
 Say, what's all this mean?" he de manded.
 She told him her story incoherent- l ly, in broken phrases. French listened ! with puzzled frown.
 Then he realized that she was on | the point of a nervous breakdown and in no condition for interrogations 'Thatll do," he said. "I'll take care of you for a time, young lady, and I'll | ask you a few questions later on. My men are searching the house You :, and l will be getting on, if you can 1 tear yourself away"
 | The plain-clothes man, who was | lounging in Quests most comfortable easy chair and smoking one of his best cigars, suddenly laid down his l paper. He moved to the window. A large, empty automobile stood in the street outside, from which the occu- pants had presumably just descend ed He hastened towards the door. which was opened, however, before he was halfway across the room The cigar slipped from his fingers. It was i Sanford Quest, who stood there, fol lowed by the sheriff of. Bethel, two | and his mate, heavily handcuffed.
 Say, aren't you wanted down yon- der MT. Quest?" the man inquired.
 That's all right now" Quest told him. I'm ringing up Inspector French myself. You'd better stand by the other fellows there and keep your eye on Red Gallagher and his mate.
 "I guess MT. Quest is all right" the sheriff intervened. Were ringing up headquarters ourselves, anyway"
 The plain-clothes man did as he was told. Quest took up the receiver from his telephone instrument and arranged the phototelesme.
 Police station No 1, central" he through to MT. French's of flee, if you please Mr.. Quest wants to speak to him. Yes, San. ford Quest. No need to get excited, |. All right I'm through, am I? Hello, inspector?"
 A rare expression of joy suddenly transfgured Quests face. He was gazing downward into the little mir. TOT.
 You've found Lenora, then, in- spector?" he exclaimed. Bully for you! What do I mean? What l say! You forget that I am a sci entific man, French. No end of ap- pliances here you haven't had time to look at. I can see you sitting there. and Lenora and Laura looking as though you had them on the rack. You can drop that, French. I've got Red Gallagher and his mate, got them here with the sheriff of Bethel They went off with my auto and sold it. ) We've got that. Also, in less than , five minutes my chauffeur will be here. He's been lying in farmhouse