The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-08-13
SEVENTH lNSTALLMENT
THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY.
CHAPTER XVI.

ference was proceeding In Quests
study. The professor was there, seat
ed in the most comfortable easy
chair, smoking without relish one of
his hosts best cigars, watching with
nervous impatience the closed door.
Laura and Lenora were seated at the
table, dressed for the street. They
had the air of being prepared for
some excursion. Quest, realizing the
professors highly strung state, had
left him alone for a few moments
and was studying map of New York.
The latter. however, was too i'll at
ease to keep silent for long.
Our friend French" he remarked.
gave you no clue. suppose as to the
direction in which. his Investigations
are leading him?'
Quest glanced up from the map
None at ALL ! know, however, that
the house in which Lenora here was
confined is being watched closely"
The professor glanced across to.
ward the table before which Lenora
was seated.
1T seems strange" he continued,
that The young lady should have so
little to tell US about her incarcera-
ton
Lenora shivered for moment.
What could there be to tell" she
asked, except that 1t was all horrible,
and that felt things felt dangers
which ] couldn't describe"
The professor gave vent to an i'm
patient little exclamation.
Il am not speaking for fancies," he
persisted "You had food brought to
YOU for instance Could you never
see the hand which placed it inside
your room? Could you hear nothing
of the footsteps of the person who
brought it, Could you not even sur
mise whether 1t were man or a
woman?"
. Lenora answered him with an evi
dent effort She had barely, as yet
recovered from the shock of those
awful hours.
THE person who brought me the
food" she said, came at night-nevel
in the daytime I never heard any
thing. The most ever saw was once
Il happened to be looking toward
the door and saw pair of hands
nothing more-setting down tray.
shrieked and called out. think tina
almost tainted When | found cour
age enough to look, there was noth1ni
there but the tray upon the floor
The professor sighed as he turne'
away
1T is evident, am afraid he said
that Miss Lenora's evidence will hell
no one AS an expert in these affa1rs
Mr. Quest. does it. not seem to yo'
that her Imprisonment was just a lit
tle purposeless? There seems to nav
been no attempt to harm her IN an,
way"
whoever took the risk OF abduc'
ing her Quest pointed out grimiS
did it for a purpose. That purpos
would probably have been deye
oned in course of time. However W
look at it, Mr. Ashleigh, there wa
only one man who must have Dee
anxious 10 get her out of the way, an
that man was Craig. Here comes GU
friend French. | have an idea that n
has something to tell u.s.
They glanced expectantly toward
the door as French entered. the II
spector who was looking very spruc
and we'll brushed. wished them a gel
eral good .morning. His eyes reste
last and longest upon Laura, wh
seemed. however. unconscious OF NJ
presence.
Nov. then, French Quest begal
40 he returned his greeting, take
cigar make yourself comfortable
that chair and let us have your new
As YOU see, we have obeyed order
We are all ready to follow you an
where
ri won't be to the end of the WORT
ANYWAY" the inspector remarked
he III his cigar. q am going 10 pr
nose little excursion down Gayso
avenue way.
aBack to that houseg Lenora e
claimed with grimace
The inspector nodded.
We have had those boys al