The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-06-20
Fifteenth lNSTAlLMENT
CHAPTER XXXV.

The first shock was over. craig
body had been removed and the girls
had taken Mary, half stunned with
grief, to their room French and
Quest were left alone.
THAT is some disappointment
the former remarked gloomily.
1T is disappointment Quest
said, slowly, which may clear the
way TO bigger things"
whats in your mind now?" French
inquired.
Quest shook his head.
"a turmoil. First of all, where is
the professor?'
Must have scooted right away
home" French suggested. "He was
looking pretty sick all the time. Guess
II must have been a powerful shock
for him, and he isn't SO young as he
used to be"
GIVE me that paper of Craigs
again" Quest asked
The inspector produced the docu-
ment from his inner pocket, and
Quest, stretching 1t out upon his knee,
read 1t word for word.
Never to communicate or to have
anything to do with anyone OF the
name OF Ashleigh, eh?" he remarked,
as 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, "if you're ready,
inspector, Wen be getting along
The two men drove to the outskirts
OF the city almost in silence. The
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 curious convic-
tion that it had been occupied with.
in the last few seconds
Queer, but It seemed to me | heard
someone" French muttered.
Il was sure of it," Quest replied,
They stood still for a moment and
listened 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"
He led the way to the fireplace,
went down on his knees and passed
his hands over the bricks. The third
one he touched shook. He tapped
it-without n doubt it was hollow
With his penknife he loosened the
mortar a little and drew ii out easily
The back was open. Inside was the
black box.
"Craig's secret at last French
muttered. hoarsely. Bring 1t to the
light, quick"
They were Unconditional men, but the
moment was supreme. The key to
the mystery of these tragical weeks
was there in their hands! Their eyes
almost devoured those few hastily
scrawled words buried with so much
care:
See Page 60, January Number
American Medical journal. 1905.
They looked at one another. They
repeated vaguely this most common
place OF messages. AS the final result
of their strenuous enterprise, these
cryptic words seemed pitifully made
Quate Quests face darkened. HC
crumpled the paper in his fingers.
There must be some meaning II
this" he muttered. 1T can't be alto
Eether a FOOLS game we're on Wait
He moved towards a table whicl
usually stood against the wall. bu
which had obviously been dragge,
out recently into the middle OF tn,
room. 1t was covered with boun,
volumes. Quest glanced at one ant
exclaimed softly:
American Medical Journal. 1906
French, there's something in this mes
sage. after all"
He turned over the pages rapid,
Then he came TO a stop. Page G
was there: page &c had been neatl
removed with a pair Of scissors.
The professor" he cried. ''Th
professors been at work here!'
The two men stood looking az on
another across the table Strang
-