The Green Forest tribune., 1915-07-16
FIFTEENTH lNSTALLMENT
CHAPTER xxxV.

CHAPTER xxxV.
 ma first shock was dver. Craig's
 ,dv had been removed, and the girls
 d taken Mary, half stunned with
 ,s to their room. French and
 hest were left alone.
 aTbat is some disappointment"
 he former remarked, gloomily.
 If is disappointment Quest
 aid slowly, which may clear the
 ay to bigger things"
 "What's in your mind now?" French
 nqured.
 Quest shook his head.
 "A turmoil. First of all, where is
 he professor?"
 Must have scooted right away bome" French suggested. "He was
 ooking pretty sick all the time. Guess
 must have been a powerful shock
 Tor him. and he isn't so young as he used to be-
 Give me that paper of Craig's again" Quest asked
 The inspector produced the docu- ment from his inner pocket, and Quest stretching it out upon his knee, read it word for word.
 Never to communicate or to have anything to do with anyone of the name of Ashleigh, eh?" he remarked, las he handed it back again. Rather a queer provision, that, French"
 I've been thinking that myself" the Inspector admitted.
 Quest glanced at the clock.
 Well" he said, eff you're ready, Inspector, we'll be getting along" The two men drove to the outskirts | of the city almost in silence The 1 professors house seemed more than ever deserted as they drew up at the front door. They entered without ringing and crossed the hall towards the library. On the threshold Quest paused and held up his finger.
 Someone is in there," he whispered, stepping quickly forward. Come"
 He threw open the door. The room was empty, yet both Quest and French were conscious of a curious convic- ton that it had been occupied with m the last few seconds.
 Queer, but 1t seemed to me I heard someone" French muttered.
 I was sure of it." Quest replied. They stood still for a moment and hstened. The silence in the empty house was almost unnatural. Quest turned away with a shrug of the shoulders.
 At any rate" he said. "Craig's dy- Ing thoughts must have been truth ful Come"
 Tie led the way to the fireplace, went down on his knees and passed us hands over the bricks. The third one ?. ne touched, shook. Ie tapped a-wlthout doubt it was hollow. "ltn his penknife he loosened the mortar !, little and drew it out easily. ! ne pack was open. Inside was the black box.
 Cralg's secret at last!" French , hoarsely. Bring it to the fight, quick!"
 ihey were unemotional men, but the noiient :, was supreme. The key to @ ue mystery of these tragical weeks vas " there in their hands! Their eyes Amost devoured those few hastily words buried with so much are:
 'ee Page 62, January Number, m1 american Medical Journal, 1905. iney looked at one another. They ii ipo"tea vaguely this most common ."ee s ol messages. As the final result .r 'nelf strenuous enterprise, these n,p ,sp'ic words seemed pitifully made ~a'e Quests face darkened. He S,r, npied the paper in his fingers. ,, mere must be some meaning in .,' a. he muttered. Tt cant be alto CtIer IT fools game we're on. Wait" ,,S ne S moved towards a table which ,h, Iaa,iy stood against the wall, but n. a''h mad obviously been dragged s recently into the middle of the oI,l % It was covered with bound vol Ilnes' Quest glanced at one and Atelalmed softly:
 ,o Ainerican Medical Journal, 1905! ,s ruch' there's something in this mes- 'ge' after all"
 bae turned over the pages rapidly. as N ne came to a stop. Page 61 Ss tnere; page 62 had been neatly ~wyed aT, with a pair of scissors. .os Ne professor!" he cried. The 'TneSsor's r, been at work here!" ,otS e TWO men stood looking at one
 er across the table, Strange