The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-11-11
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
The professor reused himself from
what had apparently been a very
gloomy reyerie.
Well" he announced, 81 must go
home. II has been very kind Of you,
Mr.. Quest, to keep me here for SO
long"
Quest glanced at the clock.
Don't hurry, Mr.. Ashleish," he
said we may get some news at any
moment. French has q dozen men
out on the search and he has prom
ised to ring me up Immediately he
hears anything"
The professor sighed.
"A man." he declared, who for
twenty years can deceive his master
as utterly and completely as Craig
has done me, who Is capable Of such
diabolical o~utrages, and who, when
capture stares him in the face, Is
capable of an escape such as he made
today, is outside the laws of prob
ability. Personally, I do not believe
that ! shall v e again see the face
Of rny servant, any more than that
you, Quest, win entirely solve the
mystery Of these murders and the
theft Of the Rheinholdt jewels. What
can We do against men who have re-
vol'ing staircases and trolley-loads
Of river pirates waiting for them?
You may be q scientific criminolosist,
Quest. but that fellow Craig "a a
scientific criminal, II ever there was
one"
Quest crossed the room towards his
cigar cabinst, and opened it. His little
start was apparent to both of them.
Leaora laid down the bag which she
had just lifted up. The professor
loaned forward in his chair.
What 10 1t. QusstT' he demanded.
Quest stretched out his hand and
picked up from the top Of the cigars
a small black box! He laid 1t on the
table.
"Unless ! am very much mistaken"
he said, 1T is another communication
from our mysterious friend"
"Empossible!" the professor ex-
claimed hoarsefy.
How can he have been hsrer" Le-
nora cried.
Quest removed the lid from the
box and drew out q circular card.
Around the outside edge was a very
clever pen and ink sketch of a life
buoy, and inside the margin were
several sentences Of clear handwrit-
ing. In the middle was the sigma
ture-the clenchsd hands! Quest
read tho message aloud:
In the great scheme Of things, the
Supreme Ruler of the universe d.
vided an Inheritance amongst his
children. To n he gave power, to
another strength, to another beauty,
but 70 his favorite he gave cunning.
They all looked at n another.
What does It mean. Lenora
gasped.
"A lifebuoy!" the professor muir.
INJURED.
They both stared at Quest, who re-
NAMED silent. chewing hard at the
end Of his cigar.
Every message" he said, speaking
half to himself. 'kas had some sig
n~ificance. What does this means
~lifebuoy?"
He was silent for q moment. Then
he turned suddenly to the professor.
What did you call those men in the
motortruck, profsssor-river pirates?
And q lifsbuoy! Wait"
He crossed the room towards his
desk and returned with q list in his
hand. He ran his finger down It,
stopped and glanced ut the date.
The Durham" he muttered, cargo
cotton, destination Southampton. sails
ut high tide on the 18th. Lenora, II
that calendar right?"
ITS the 18th. MT. Quest" she m.
swered.
Quest crossed the room to the tele-
phone.
II want number one. central" he
said. Thank you! Put me through
to Mr.. French's once. . Hello,
French! I've got an idea. Can you
come round here ut once and bring
q N automobile? / want to get down
to the docks-not where the passen-
ger steamers start from-lower down.
/, . . Good! Well wait"
Quest hung up the receiver.
See here, professor" he continued.
that fellow wouldn't dare to send
this message II he weren't pretty sure
Of getting on. He's made all his
plans beforehand, bet it's my belief
we shall just get cur hands upon him.
after all"
Presently the heard the automobile
stop outside and French appeared.
Anything doing?" he asked.
Quest showed him the card and the
sailing list.
The inspaator glanced II the clock.