The Holly chieftain., 1915-05-21

The inspector made NO reply. He
had drawn from hfs pocket little
pass key and was fitting 1t into the
lock. The door swung open. Once
more they were both conscious of that
peculiar silence. which seemed to have
| IL it some unnamable quality. He
moved to the foot OF the stairs and
shouted:
Hello! Anyone there?"
There was no reply. He opened the
doors O. the two rooms on the right
hand side, where Quest. when he was
engaged in any widespread affair, kept
a stenographer and a telegraph oper-
ator. Both rooms were empty. Then
he turned towards Quests study on
the left-hand side. French was q man
Of iron nerve. No power on earth
could have kept back the cry which
broke from his lips.
A few feet away from the door was
stretched the body Of the secretary.
valet. On the other side Of the room.
lying as though she haC slipped from
the sofa, her head fallen on one side
in hideous fashion, was the body OF
Miss Quigg. the Salvation Army young
woman. French set his teeth and
drew back the curtains. In the clear
er light the disorder Of the room was
fully revealed. There had been ter
rible struggle. Between whom? How!
There was suddenly piercing
Shrek The inspector turned quickly
around Mrs. Rheinholdt. who ha6 dis.
regarded his advice. was standing on
the threshold.
She covered her face With her
hands. French gripped her by the
arm. At that moment there was the
sound Of an automobile stopping out
side.
Keep quiet for moment" the In
spector whispered in her car
She obeyed him mutely. pressing
her hands to her eyes, shivering in
every limb. French, stood back inside
the room. He heard the front door
open, he heard Quests voice outside.
Where the devil are you. Ross?"
There was no reply.
The door was pushed open. Quest
entered. followed by the professor and
SAo AC AAoRCSlOA 6tVOu WdICu1u6
their faces. Quest came to a stand.
still before he had passed the thresh-
old. He looked upon the floor and he
looked across to the sofa. Then he
looked at French.
my God!" he muttered.
The professor pushed past. He had
looked around the room. and gazed at
the two bodies with an expression of
blank and absolute terror. Then he
fell back into Craig's arms.
Quest stood over the body of his
valet for moment. The man was OBJ
viously dead. The inspector took his
handkerchief and covered up the head.
A few feet away was heavy paper.
weight.
KILLED by a blow from behind"
French remarked grimly. with that
little affair. Look here!"
They glanced down at tho girl.
Quests eyebrows came together quick.
ly. There were two blue marks upon
her throat where a mans thumbs
might have been.
"The hands again." he muttered.
The inspector nodded.
Can you make anything Of it,"
Not yet" Quest confessed. "I must
think"
The inspector glanced at him curl.
ously.
Where on earth have you been tor
he demanded.
Been to?" Quest repeated.
Look in the mirror!" French sug.
gested.
Quest glanced at himself. His col.
lar had given way, his tie was torn, q
button and some Of the cloth had been
wrenched from his coat, his trousers
were torn and he was covered with
dust.
''Ill tell you about my trouble lit
tie later on" he replied. Say. can't
We keep those girls out?"
They were too late. Laura and Len.
ora were already upon the threshold.
Quest swung round toward them.
Girls" he said, "there hos, been
some trouble here. Go and wait up.
stairs. Lenora, or, sit in The hall.
Laura. you had better telephone to
the police station and for a doctor.
That's right, isn't 1t, Inspector"
"Yes!" the latter assented thought.
fully.
French stopped and picked up
small clock. 1t had stopped at eleven.
fifteen. He looked at it thoughtfully.
Quest" he went on, "I'll have tc
r1~