Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-06-03
SEVENTH lNsTALLMENT
THE HOUSE or MYSTERY.


ference was proceeding In Guests
study. The professor was there. seat
ed In the most comfortable easy
chair. smoking without relish one 81
his hosts best cigars, watching with
nervous Impotence 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 q map OF New York
The latter, however. was too Ill nj
ease to keep silent for long.
Our friend French" he remarked.
gave you no clue. ! suppose. rs to the
direction In which his Investigations
are leading him2''
Quest glanced UP from the map.
None at all. know. however, that
the house In which Lenora here was
confined II being watched closely
The professor glanced across to.
ward the table before which Ienora
was seated.
II 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 II was all horrible.
and that l felt things felt dangers
which I couldn't describe"
Tho professor gave vent TO an Inn
patient little exclamation.
II am not speaking for faneies." he
persisted. "You had food brought to
you. for instance Could you never
sce the hand which placed II inside
your room? Could you hear nothing
OF the Footsteps Of the person who
brought It. Could you not even sur
mise whether II were a man or a
woman"
I.enora answered him with nm cyl,
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--never
In the daytime. never heard any
thing The most ever saw was once
II 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 I found cour
age enough to look. there was nothing
there hut the tray upon the floor"
The professor sighed as he turned
away.
1T Ia evident, 1 am afraid" he said
that Miss Lenoras evidence win heir
no orc, Az an expert In these affairs
Quest. does II not seem to yot
that her imprisonment was just a Iii
tie purposelessf There seems 10 have
been no attempt to harm her In an,
way"
Whoever took the risk Of abduct
Ing her." Quest pointed out grimly
did II for a purpose. That purpos'
would probably have been devel
oped In course OF time. However WI
look at II, Mr. Ashleish. there wa
only one man who must have beel
anxious to get her out or the way, an,
that man was Craig, Here comes on
friend French. | have an idea that b.
has something to tell u.s."
They glanced espectantly toward
the door as French entered. The In
speotor. who was looking very spruc
and well brushed. wished them ger
cral Eood-morning His eyes reste,
hast and longest upon Laura, VIII
seemed. however. unconscious OF hi
presence.
Now. then, French" Quest begar
% no returned his greeting, take
cigar. make yourself comfortable 1
that chalk and let us have your new.
As you see, we have obeyed orders
We are all ready to follow YOU an,
who're.
III won't DO to the end OF the worlt
anyway" the inspector remarked. a
he III his cigar. II am going to prt
poae : little excursion down Gayso
avenue way"
Back to that houses" Lenora e,
claimed with a grimace,
The Inspector nodded
We have had those boys at th