Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-04-28
THE POCKET WIRELESS.
CHAPTER VII.

Mr.. Sanford Quest sat in his favorite
chair, his cigar inclined toward the
left-hand corner of his mouth, his at
tention riveted upon a small instru-
ment which he was supporting upon
HIS knee. He glanced across the room
to where Lenora was bending over
her desk.
We've done 1t this time. young
woman" he declared triumphantly.
"Tt's all o. K. working like a little
peach"
Lenora rose and came toward him.
rs that the pocket wireless?"
He nodded.
1--WE had Morrison out at Harlem
all the morning to test it," he told
her. I've sent him at least half a
dozen messages from this easy chair,
and got the replies. How are you get
ting on with the code?"
Not so badly for a stupid person"
Lenora replied.
Laura, who had been busy with
some papers at the farther end of
lhe room, came over and Joined them.
Say, it's dandy little affair, that,
Nj. Quest" she exclaimed. Il had a
try with it, day or so ago. Jim spoke
to me from Fifth avenue"
"We've got ii tuned to a shade now"
Quest declared. Equipped with this
simple little device. you can speak
to me from anywhere up to ten or a
dozen miles"
Quest rose to his feet and moved
restlessly about the room.
Say, girls" he confessed, this is
the first time in my life l have been
in a fix like this. Two cases on hand
and nothing doing with either of them.
Criminologist. indeed! Whose box
is this?"
Quest had paused suddenly in front
of an oak sideboard which stood
against the wall. Occupying a posi-
ton upon 1t of some prominence was
a small black box, whose presence
there seemed to him unfamiliar
Laura came over to his side and
looked at it also in puzzled fashion.
Never saw it before in my life"
she answered.
Quest grunted.
Hint No one else has been in
the room, and 1t hasn't been empty
for more than ten minutes" he re-
marked well. let's see what's inside,
anyway"
He lifted off the lid There was
nothing in the interior but a sheet
of paper folded up. Quest smoothed
it out with his hand. They all leaned
over and read the following words,
written in an obviously disguised
hand:
You have embarked on a new study
anthropologv. What characteristic strikes
you most forcibly in connection with it?
Cunning? The necklace might be where
the skeleton is. Why not begin at the be-
ginning?
The note was unsigned, but in the
spot where a signature might have
been there was rough pen drawing
of two hands, with fingers extended,
talon fashion, menacingly, as though
poised to strike at some unseen en-
envy. Quest, after their first moment
of stupefaction, whistled softly.
THE handsI" he muttered.
what hands?" Lenora asked.
The hands that gripped Mrs. Rhein-
holdt by the throat" he reminded
them. Don't you remember? Hands
without arms?"
There was another brief, almost stu
pefied silence. Then Laura broke into
speech.
What I want to know is" she de-
manded. "who brought the thing
here?"
"a most daring exploit, anyway"
Quest declared. IF we could answer
your question, Laura, we could solve
the whole riddle. We are up against
something, and no mistake"
Inc hand which placed that box
there" Quest continued slowly, lis
capable of even more wonderful
things. We must be cautious. Hello!"
The door had opened The profes-
sor stood upon the threshold.
81 trust that have done right in
coming up?" he inquired.
quite right, professor" Quest as
sured him. They know well enough
downstairs that am always at home
TO you. Come in"
Il am so anxious to learn" the pro-
fessor continued eagerly, whether
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