The Green Forest tribune., 1915-04-16

"stoIen There in the Conservatory" An affair so unusual as this might at tract him. You will excuse mc."
 The professor met the great crimin- ologist and his assistant in the hall upon their arrival. He took the for mer at once by the arm.
 MT. Quest" he began, ''in a sense l must apologize for my peremptory message. I am well aware that an or dinary jewel robbery does not inter- est you, but in this case the circum- stances are extraordinary. ventured, therefore, to summon your aid"
 Sanford Quest nodded shortly.
 "As a rule,' he said, q do not care to take up one affair until I have a clean slate. There's your skeleton still bothering me, professor How ever, where's the lady who was robbed?"
 q will take you to her." the profes- sor replied.
 Mrs. Rheinholdt's story, by frequent repetition, had become a little more coherent, trif1e more circumstantial, the perfection of simplicity and utter ly incomprehensible. Quest listened to 1t without remark and finally made his way to the conservatory. He re- quested Mrs. Rheinholdt to walk with him through the door by which she had entered and stop at the precise spot where the assault had been made upon her. There were one or two plants knocked down from the tiers on the right-hand side, and some dis !, turbance in the mold where some large palms were growing. Quest and Le- nora together made a close investf- gation of the spot. Afterwards, Quest walked several times to each of the doors leading into the gardens.
 There are four entrances alto gether," he remarked as he lit cigar and glanced around the place. Two lead into the gardens-one is locked and the other isn't-one connects with the back Of the house-the one through " the other leads into your reception room, into which you passed after the assault I shall now be glad if you will permit me to examine the gardens outside for few minutes, alone with my assistant, if you please"
 For almost a quarter of an hour Quest and Lenora disappeared. They all looked eagerly at the criminologist on his return.
 "It seems to me-" he remarked, that from the back part of the house the quickest way to reach Mayton ave- hue would be through this conserva- tory and out of that door. This is a path leading from just outside straight to a gate in the wall. Does anyone that you know of use this means of exit?"
 Mrs. Rheinholdt shook her head.
 "The servants might occasionally, " she remarked doubtfully, but not on nights when I am receiving"
 The butler stepped forward. He was looking little grave.
 q ought, perhaps, to inform you, madam, and MT. Quest" he said, that did, only a short time ago, suggest to the professors servant-the man who brought your macintosh, sir" he added, turning to the professor-"that ! he could, if he chose, make use of this means of leaving the house. MT Craig is a personal friend of mine, and a | l>n,, of o1,,b have for social purposes"
 Did he follow your suggestion?" Sanford Guest asked.
 of that I am not aware, sir" the butler replied. q left Mr. Craig with some refreshment, expecting that he would remain until my return, but a few minutes later I discovered that he had left 1 will inquire in the kitchen if anything is known as to his move mentS.'
 He hurried off Quest turned to the professor.
 Has he been with you long, this man Craig, professor?' he asked The professors smile was illuminat- | ing, his manner simple but convincing Craig" he asserted. lis the best servant, the most honest mortal who ever breathed. He would go any dis tance out of his way to avoid harming fly. I cannot even trust him to pro- cure for me the simplest specimens of | insect life. Apart from this, he is a man of some property, which he has no idea what to do with. He is, I think 1 may say, too devoted to me to dream of ever leaving my service.
 You think it would be out of the question, then," Quest asked, ito asso- | ciate him with the crime?"