The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1915-04-22
"stoIen There in the conservatoryl"

"stoIen There in the Conservatory"
An affair so unusual as this might at
tract him. You will excuse me-"
The professor met the great Grimm
ologist and his assistant In the hal
upon their arrival He took the for
mer at once by the arm.
"Mr. Quest" he began, Fin a sense
must apologize for my peremptory
message. am we'll aware that an or
binary jewel robbery does not inter
est you, but in this case the circum
stances are extraordinary. I ventured
therefore, to summon your aid"
Sanford Quest nodded shortly.
AS a rule" he said, 81 do not care
to take up one affair until have a
clean slate. There's your skeleton
still bothering me, professor. How
ever, where's the lady who was
robbed?"
Il will take you to her." the profes
sor replied.
Mrs. Rheinholdt's story, by frequent
repetition, had become a little more
coherent, trif1e more circumstantial,
the perfection of simplicity and utter
ly incomprehensible. Quest listened to
it without remark and finally made
his way to the conservatory. He re-
quested Mrs. Rheinholdt to walk with
him through the door by which she
had entered and stop at the precise
spot where the assault had been made
upon her. There were one or two
plants knocked down from the tiers
on the right-hand side, and some dis
turbance in the mold where some large
palms were growing. Quest and Lee
nora together made a close fnvesti-
cation of the spot. Afterwards, Quest
walked several times to each Of the
doors leading into the gardens.
There are four entrances alto
gether," he remarked, as he lit cigar
and glanced around the place. 1.-TWO
lead into the gardens-one is locked
and the other isn't-one connects with
the back CT the house-the one through
which you came, Mrs. Rheinholdt, and
the other leads into your reception
room, into which you passed after the
assault. I shall now be glad If you
will permit me to examine the gardens
outside for few minutes, alone with
my assistant, if you please"
For almost quarter of an hour
Quest and Lenora disappeared. They
all looked eagerly at the criminologist
on his return.
"It seems to me-" he remarked,
..that from the back part of the house
the quickest way to reach Mayton ave-
nue. would be through this conserva-
tory and out of that door. This is
path leading from just outside straight
to gate in the wall. Does anyone
that you know of use this means of
EXIT"
Mrs. Rheinholdt shook her head.
''The servants might occasionally"
she remarked doubtfu1ly, "but not on
nights when am receiving"
The butler stepped forward. He was
looking a little grave
81 ought, perhaps, to inform you,
madam, and Mr.. Quest" he said, that
I did, only short time ago, suggest
to the professors servant-the man
who brought your macintosh, sin" he
added, turning to the professor-"that
he could, if he chose, make use of this
means of leaving the house. Mr.. Craig
is a personal friend Of mine, and a
of a very select little club we
have for social purposes"
did he follow your suggestion?"
Sanford Quest asked.
stOf that am not aware, SIR" the
butler replied. 81 left Mr.. Craig with
some refreshment, expecting that he
few minutes later discovered that he
had left. will inquire in the kitchen
# anything is known as to his move
ments.
He hurried off. Quest turned to the
professor.
HAS he been with you long, this
man Craig, professor" he asked.
The professors smile was illuminat-
ng, his manner simple but convincing.
Craig. he asserted, lis the best
servant, the most honest mortal who
ever breathed. He would go-any dis
.ance out of his way to avoid harming |
! fly. / cannot even trust him to pro-
cure for me the simplest specimens of |
insect LIFE. Apart from this. he is a |
nan of some property, which he has
10 idea what to do with. He is, I /
.hfnk Imay say. too devoted to me to |
lream of ever leaving my service.
You think 1t would be out OF the
then, Quest asked. to asso- I
late him with the crime 2"