Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-05-20

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both with an air Of blank astonish.
ment. The inspector was a little en-
barrassed. q
mo need to give me away like that"
he muttered, as they reached the hall.
"Now then, ladies' and gentlemen, II
you are ready" -
They took their places In the au.
tomobile and drove of. AS they
neared the vicinity Of Gayson avenue
the professor began to show signs OF
renewed uneasiness. When they drew
up at last outside the house he gave
a little exclamation. His face was
grave, almost haggard. "
mir. Quest" he said, Inspector
French. I deeply regret that ! have
a statement to make"
They both turned quickly toward
him. The inspector smiled In a con.
tidential manner at Laura. 1t was
obvious that he knew what was COM
ing.
"Some years ago." the professor
continued, Il bought this house and
made Il present OF it to"
"To whom?" Quest asked quickly.
"To my servant Craig" the profess
sor admitted with a groan.
Lenora gave a little cry. She turned
t%riumphantly towards the Inspector.
"All recollection as to it's locality
had escaped me-" the professor con.
tinued sorrowfully. Il remember that
it was on the anniversary Of his haV-
ing been with me for some fifteen
years that l decided to show him
some substantial mark Of my appre'
citation. l knew that he was looking
for a domicile for his father and
mother, who are since both dead,
and l requested a house agent to send
me in a list of suitable residences.
This, alas! was the one I purchased"
Quest glanced around the place.
81 think" he said, that the profes.
sor's statement now removes any
doubt as to Craig's guilt. You are
sure the house has been closely
watched, Inspector"
"Since l received certain informa-
tion," French replied, 81 have had
half q dozen Of my best men in the
vicinity. I can assure you that no
one has entered or left it during the
last twenty.four hours"
They made their way to the piazza
steps and entered by the front door.
The house was an ordinary frame
work one Of moderate size, in poor re-
pair. and showing signs Of great neg
lect, The rooms were barely fur
nished and their first cursory searc!,
revealed no traces Of habitation.
There was still the broken skylight
in the room which Lenora had occu.
pied, and the bed upon which she had
slept was still crumpled. French,
who had been tapping the walls down.
stairs, called to them. They trooped
down into the hall. The inspector
was standing before what appeared to
he an ordinary panel.
"Look here" he said, glancing out
Of the corner Of his eye to be sure
that Laura was there, "let me show
you what l have just discovered"
He felt with his thumb for a spring.
In a moment or two a portion OF the
wall, about two feet in extent, slowly
revolved, disclosing a small cup
board fitted with a telephone instru'
ment. % eco t,.,a. .g
"A telephone" the Inspector re
marked, pointing to it, Gin an unoccu'
pied house and a concealed cup
board. What do you think Of that?
The professor shook his head.
Don't ask me-" he groaned.
French took the receiver from its
rest and called up the exchange.
inspector French speaking" he
announced. Kindly tell me what is
the number of the telephone from
which / am speaking, and who Is the
subscribers" .,.... .-,.
He listened to the reply and asked
another question.
"Can you tell me when this instru
ment was last used? . -. When
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The inspector hung up the receiver
"The subscribers name" he toll
them dryly, sis Brown. The numbe'
is not entered in the book, by re
quest. The telephone, was used a,
hour ago from a call office and con
nection was established. That is tt
say, that someone spoke from thi'
telephone" ...y
Then if your men have maintained
their search properly, that someone,
Quest said slowly, must be In tn
house at the present moment"
without a doubt" the inspecto
agreed. .....z .,s..E.#;
Il am going to search the from
room on the first floor before we d
anything else," said Quest. :" thin
that If you wait here l may be able ::
show you something directly"
Quest assembled the stairs and er
tered a wholly UNFINISHED room o.
the left.hand side. He looked for
minute contemplatively at a large bu
rather shallow cupboard, the door 9
which stood open, and tapped light
with his forefinger upon the back par
Of it. Then he withdrew a few fee
and, drawing out his revolver, DELFT
erately fired into the floor, a FEY
, inches inside. There was a hal
stiled CRY. The false back suddenl