davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-05-06
Nk5ESaEf INA hAhaiK AiEIY; NGf Il

WkatSvsf Tie pshaisy i5as B5F Il i
for her sake-to find her-that / broke
out of prison and that am trying to
keep free. The wisest thing to do,
from my own point of view, would be
to give myself up. / can't bring MY
self to do that without knowing what
has become Of her"
The professor nodded again.
"A charming and well-bred young
woman she seems" he admitted Il
fear that / should only be a bungler
in your profession, Mr. Quest, but if
there is anything I can do depend
upon me. Personally, | am convinced
that Craig will return to me with
some plausible explanation as to what
has happened.
Quest. for the third or fourth time
moved cautiously toward the window.
His expression suddenly changed. He
glanced suddenly downward. frowned
slightly.
They're after mel" he exclaimed.
"Sit still, professor
He. darted into his room and reap
peared again almost Immediately. The
professor gave a gasp of astonish-
ment at his altered appearance. His
tweed suit seemed to have been turned
inside out. There were no lapels now
and it was buttoned up to his neck. He
wore a long white apron; peaked
cap and a chinpiece of astonishing
naturalness had transformed him into
the semblance of a Dutch grocer's boy.
"l'm off, professor" Quest whis-
pered. you shall hear from me soon.
l have not been here, remember"
He ran lightly down the steps and
into the kitchen, picked up basket,
filled it haphazard with vegetables and
threw a cloth over the top. THEN he
made his way to the front door, peered
out for a moment, swung through it
on to the step, and, turning round,
commenced to belabor it with his fist.
Two plain-clothes men stood at the
end Of the street A police automo-
bile drew up outside the gate. .Inspec-
tor French, attended by a policeman,
stepped out. The former looked search
ingly at Quest.
well, my boy, what are you doing
here?" he asked.
II cannot answer yet" Quest re-
piled, in broken English "Ten min
uts already have i wasted. 1 have
knocked at all the DOORS"
French smiled
"You run along home" he said, land
tell your master that he had better
leave off delivering goods here for the
present"
Quest went off, grumbling. French
opened the door with a master key
and secured it carefully, leaving one of
his men to guard it. He searched the
rooms on the ground floor and finally
assembled to Quests study The pro
fessor was still enjoying his cigar
Say, where's Quest?" the inspector
asked promptly.
Have you let him out already?" the
professor replied, in tone of mild
surprise. Il thought he was in the
Tombs prison"
The inspector pressed on without
answering. Every room in the house
was rapsacked. Presently he. came
back to the room where the professor
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-05-06

i Come round and see me in the
Tombs. one Of you"
The ambulance men came and de
parted with their grim burden, the
room on the ground floor was locked
and sealed, and the house was soo1
empty except for the two girls. To
ward three o'clock Lenora went Out
and returned with newspaper. She
opened it out upon the table and they
both pored over it. -
Justice Thorpe has refused to con
slider bail!' He's a guy, that Justice
Thorpe, and SOS the idiot who wrote
this stuff" Laura exclaimed, thrust
ing the paper away from her. 81
guess the professor wal dead right
when he told French he was locking
up the one man who could clear UP
the whole show"
Lenora nodded thoughtfully.
"The professor spoke up like a
man." she agreed. "but Laura, want
to ask you something. Did you notice
his servant-that man Craig?"
Cant say. / did particularly" Laura
admitted. ','
Twice." Lenora continued, 81
thought he was going to faint. l tell
time" =
What are. you getting at, kid?"
Laura demanded.
At Craig. If can" Lenora replied.
moving toward the telephone. please
give me the phototelesme. am
going to talk to the professor"
Laura adjusted the mirror to the in
strument and Lenora rang up. The
professor himself answered the call.
Have you. seen the three o'clock
edition. professor" Lenora asked.
Il never read newspapers, young
lady," the professor replied.
Let me tell you what they say
about Mr.. Quest!"
Lenora' commenced a rambling &C.
count Of what she had read in the
newspaper. All the time the eyes of
the two girls were fixed upon the mir
TUT. 1ney couIo see the professor
seated in his chair with two huge vol
tunes by his side, a pile Of manuscript,
and pen in his hand. They could
even catch the look Of sympathy on
his face as he listened attentively. Sud
denly Lenora almost broke OF. She
gripped Laura by the arm. The door
Of the study had been opened slowly,
and Craig, carrying a bundle, paused
for q moment ON the threshold. He
glanced nervously toward the profes-
sor, who seemed unaware Of his en-
trance. Then he moved stealthily to-
ward the fireplace, stopped down and
committed something to the flames.
The relief on his face. as he stood up.
was obvious.
"All can do for Mr. Quest, young
lady, WILL" the professor promised.
He laid the receiver down and the
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-05-06

was Erected.
was still sitting. His usually good
humored face was a little clouded.
Professor" he began What's the
matter, Miles?"
A plain-clothes man from the street
had. come hurrying into the room.
Say, Mr.. French" he reported, "ou1
fellows have got hold of a newsie
down in the street, who was coming
along way round the back and saw
two men enter this house by the side
entrance, half an hour ago. One he
described exactly as the professor
here. The other, without doubt, was
Quest"
French turned swiftly toward the
professor
"You hear what this man says?'
he exclaimed. Mr.. Ashleigh, you're
fooling me! You entered this house
with Sanford Quest. You will have
to tell US where he is hiding"
The professor knocked the ash from
his cigar and replaced It in his mouth.
His clasped hands rested in front
of him. There was a twinkle of some
thing like mirth in his eyes as he
glanced up at the inspector.
Mr.. French" he said, "Mr. Sanford
Quest is my friend. l am here In
charge Of his house. Believing as !
do that his arrest was an egregioua
blunder, shall say or do nothing like.
ly to afford you any information"
French turned impatientIy away
Suddenly a light broke in upon him;
he rushed toward the door.
That id Dutchie!" he exclaimed
The professor smiled benignly.
>CTO BE, CONTINUED
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-05-06

| reflection on the mirror faded away
Lenora started up and hastily put ON
her coat and hat. which were stin ~
| ing on the chair.
II am going right down to the pro.
fessor's," she announced.
What do you think you can do
there?" Laura asked.
Il am going to see II can find out
what that man burned" she replied.
II win be back in an hour"
Laura walked with her as far as the
street car, and very soon afterward
Lenora found herself knocking at the
professors front door Craig admitted
her almost at once. For a moment he
seemed to SILVER a. he recognized her.
We'll. young lady" the professor
said, have you thought of something
I can dot"
She took no notice of the chair to
which he pointed. and rested her hand
upon his shoulder.
Professor" she begged, "go and see
Mr.. Questi He IL In the Tombs prison.
1t would be the kindest thing anyone
could possibly do" pi5ss
The professor glanced regretfully at
his manuscript, but he did not hest
tate. He rose promptly to his feet
IF you think he would appreciate
1t, will go ct once" he decided.
Her face shone with gratitude.
'That Is really kind Of you, profess
sor." she declared.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-05-06
SYNOPSIS.

Sanford Quest, master criminologist Of
the world, finds that in bringing to jusi
dee Macdougal. the murderer. OF Lord
Ashleigh'e daughter, he has but just en-
tered iife-and-deatl struggle with q
mysteftous master criminal. In hidden
Professor Ashleigh's garden he has
455ElH anthropoid ape skeleton and a
living inhuman creature. half monkey,
half man. destroyed by fire. In his rooms
at intervals have. appeared from nowhere
two black boxes with sarcastic and
threatening notes. signed with, q pair Of
armless, threatening hands. representing
those which have, already figured in. q
diamond robbery. With his secretary.
! eura, and his assistant. Lenora. he fol-
losIs the trail Of Macdougai who escaped
gals dead body~in q cave on lonely
hillstde. After q thrilling escape from
two thugs who try to kill him he returns
% his rooms to ind his valet. Ross
Brown, and IL Miss .Quiggs murdered. and
Police Inspector French investigating.
Trsnch. puzzled. half suspects Quest Of
the crifn0.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-05-06

" 1ou MOVE SHdII 0nOOg r0u!
have been wearing. We put them or
one side, but they amt enough evi
dence. Lenora's idea is that you
should get hold Of Craig and hypnotize
him into confession"
That's all right" Quest replied,
''but how am to get hold of him?"
Laura glanced once more carelessly
around to where the guard stood.
L 'Lenora's gone up to the professor'a
Feain this afternoon. She is going to
try and get hold Of Craig and lock him
II the garage. II she succeeds, she
will send message by wireless at
three o'clock. It is Ahalf-past two
now"
"Well?" Quest exclaimed. 'Well?''
you can work this guard, If you
want to-" Lenora went on. II have
seen you tackle worse cases. He seems
dead easy. Then let me in the cell,
take my clothes and leave me here. -"
Quest followed the scheme in his
mind quickly.
1T is all right" he decided, "but
am not at all sure that they can really
hold me on the evidence they have
got. If they can't, shall be doing my
self more harm than. good in this
way"
tits no use unless you can get hold
of Craig quickly" Laura said. 'He IL
getting the scares, as It is"
"Ill do IT," Quest decided. Call the
guard, Laura" r..
She obeyed. The man came good
naturally toward them.
Quest looked at him steadfastly
through the bars.
II want you to come inside for q
moment" Quest repeated softly. "Un-
look the door, please, take the key on
your bunch and come inside"
The man hesitated, but all the time
his fingers were fumbling with the
keys. Quests lips continued to move.
The warder opened the door and en-
tered. A few minutes later Quest
passed the key through the window to
Laura, who was standing on guard.
Without word, and with marvellous
rapidity. the change was effected.
Laura produced from her handbag q
wig. which she pinned inside her hat
and passed over to Quest Then she
flung herself on to the bed and drew
the blanketaup to her chin.
How long will he stay like THAR"
she whispered. pointing to the warder,
who was sitting on the floor with his
arms folded and his eyes closed.
Half and hour or So" Quest an.
swered. Don't bother about him. I |
shall drop the key back through the
Quest reached Georgia square at
five minutes to three. A glance up
and down assured him that the house
was unmatched. He let himself n |
with his own key, threw Laura's
clothes OF. and, after a few moments
hesitation, selected from the ward. |
robe a rough tweed suit with a thick /
lining and lapels. Just as he. was |
tying his tie, the little wireless which
be had laid on the table at his side
began to record a message. He glanced
st the clock. It was exactly three.
Quests eyes shone for a moment
with satisfaction. Then he sent Oh
mis- answering message. put on a dus-
.er and SLOUGH hat and left the house
BY the side entrance. In . few mo
nents he was In Broadway, and q
quarter Of an hour later . taxicab de.
posted him At the entrance to the |
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-05-06
CHAPTER XIII.

Craig's surprise was real enough
as he opened the back door of the pro
| fessor's house on the following morn
ing and found Lenora standing on the
threshold.
Lenora smiled pleasantly.
II came to this door," she said, 'be
cause wanted a little talk with you.
Craig's attitude was perfect, He wal
mystif1ed but he remained respectful
''Will you come inside?" he invited
She shook her head.
Il am afraid" she conflded, "of whal
am going to say being overheard
Come with me down to the garage
for moment"
He opened the doors Of the garage
leaving the keys In the lock, and they
both passed inside.
'"You can say what you please here
without the slightest fear of beina
overheard, MISS" Craig remarked.
Lenora nodded, and breathed Q
prayer to herself. She was nearer
the door than Craig by about half S
dozen PAGES. Her hand CROPPED In the
little bag she was carrying and
gripped something hard. She clenched
her teeth for q moment. Then the
automatic pistol flashed out through
the gloom. i,
Craig" she threatened, "if you
move shall shoot you"
It seemed as though the man were
coward. He began to tremble, his
lips twftched, his eyes grew larger
and rounder.
What is it," he faltered. what
do you want?"
"Just this" Lenora said firmly. q
suspect you to be guilty Of the crime
for which Sanford Quest is in prison
l am going to have you questioned
If you are innocent you have nothing
to fear. II you are guilty there will
be someone here before long who will
extract the truth from you"
The mans face was an epitome of
terror Even his knees shook. Lenora
felt herself grow calmer with every
moment.
II am going outside to send a mes.
sage" she told him. Il shall return
presently"
Don't CO." he begged suddenly.
Don't leave me! / am innocent. ]
have done nothing wrong. If you keep
me here, you will do more harm than
you can dream of"
ut is for other people to decide
about your innocence Lenora said
calmly. Il have nothing to do with
that. If you are wise you viii stop
here quietly" n
fHave you said anything to Mr..
Ashleigh. miss?" the man asked pite-
ously.
mot Q word" 4
A expression Of relief shone for 4
moment upon his face. Lenora point
ed to . stool.
rSit down there and wait quietly"
she ordered.
He obeyed without word. She
left the place, locked the door Sc
curely. and made her way round to the
other side Of the garage-the side
hidden from the house. Here. at the
Tar corner. she drew q little pocket
wireless from her bag and set It on
the window sill. Very slowly she sent
her message: s
have Craig here In the professors
7arase, locked up. Ktour plan has
succeeded, come at once. ! am wait
ING for you.
There was no reply. She sent the |
message again and again. Suddenly, |
Turing pause. there was little Hash !
lpon the plate. A message was com.
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-06-12
PROLOGUE.

The moonstoIe has first reposed In
the forehead Of an Indian idol. AS
centuries went by. Ill luck following
II. It passed into Mohammedan hands.
but always through the ages three
Brahman priests kept secret watch over,
II. John Herncastie. an English off,
Ger. during the storming Of Seringa-
patam. stole the stone, killing its
guardians. Gabriel Betteredge. house
steward for Julia. Lady verinder. ex-
plains how the stone came into the
house in which he serves. Master
Franklin Blake. n nephew OF Lady
verinder. had been sent abroad to be
educated. On the day he was expected
home Penelope. Betteredge's daughter,
observes three Indian jugglers acting
suspiciously. Franklin arrives earlier
than expected. having eluded a dark
stranger following him in London.
Franklin has the diamond, which has
been willed to his cousin Rachel as a
birthday gift by Colonel Herncastle.
He puts the stone in a bank. The
jugglers make a secret visit to the
house.
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-06-12

Before / could say a word the crash
OF carriage wheels outside struck in
and stopped me. The first of the dinner
company had come. Penelope instantly
ran off. I put on my coat and looked In
the glass. My head was as red al a lob
ster, but in other respects l was as
nicely dressed for the ceremonies of
the evening as a man need be. / got
into the hall just In time to
the first two of the guests. You needn't
feel particularly interested about them.
Only the philanthropists father and
mother. Mr.. and Mrs. Ablewhite.
One on the top Of the other. the rest
of the company followed the Able
whites, till we had the whole tale of
them complete. Including the family.
they were twenty-fonr in all. II was n
noble sight to sec when they were set
tied in their places round the dinner
table and the rector of Frizinghall.
with beautiful elocution. rose and said
grace. Fl
There is no need to worry You with n
list of the guests. You will meet none
OF them a second time-in my part of
the story at any rate-with the excep-
ton of two.
Those two sat on either side Of Miss
Rachel, who as queen of the day was
naturally the great attraction of the par
ty. On this occasion she was more par
%ticularly the center point toward which
everybody's eyes were directed: for, to
my lady's secret annoyance, she wore
her wonderful birthday present. which
eclipsed all the rest-the moonstone. 1t
was without any setting when it had
been placed in her hands, but that uni
versal genius, Mr.. Franklin. had con
trived, with the help of his neat fingers
and a little bit of silver wire. to fix ii
as n brooch in the bosom of her white
dress. Everybody wondered at the pro-
digious size and beauty of the dia-
mond, as a matter of course. But the
only two Of the company who said any
thing out of the common way about it
were those two guests / have mention
ed. who sat by Miss Rachel on her right
hand and on her left.
The guest on her left was Mr.. Candy,
our doctor at Frizinghall.
The other guest. who sat on my
young lady's right hand. was an emf
nent public character, being no other
than the celebrated Indian traveller,
Mr.. Murthwaite. who at risk of his life
had penetrated in disguise where no
European had ever set foot before.
The moonstone was the object that
interested him in the smallest degree.
The fame of it seemed to have reached
him in some of those perilous Indian
places where his wanderings had laid.
After looking at it silently for so long
a time that Miss Rachel began to get
confused he said to her in his cool, i'm
movable way: IF you ever go to India,
Miss Verinder. don't take your uncle's
birthday gift with you. a Hindu dia-
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-06-12

mond is sometimes q part Of a Hindu
religion. l know a certain city and Il
certain temple in that city where,
dressed as you are now, your life
would not be worth five minutes pur-
chase" Miss Rachel, safe in England,
was quite delighted 20 hear of her dan
ger in India. My lady fidgeted in her
chair and changed the subject.
As the dinner got on | became aware,
little by little, that this festival was
not prospecting as other like festivals
had %prospered before it.
Looking back at the birthday now by
the light of what happened afterward
| am half inclined to think that the
cursed diamond must have cast a
blight on the whole company. There
were gaps of silence in the talk as the
dinner got on that made me feel per-
sonally uncomfortable. When they did
use their tongues again they used them
innocently in the most unfortunate
manner and to the worst possible pur-
pose.
Godfrey. though so eloquent in pub
lltt utNilltu W CAtAt AAic III Iiif otN.
Whether he was sulky or whether he
was bashful after his discontinue in
the rose garden l can't say. He kept
all his talk for the private ear of the
lady who sat next to him. She was
one of his committee women, a spirit
ually minded person, with a line show
of collarbone and a pretty taste in
champagne; liked it dry, you under
stand. and plenty of 1T.
Mr.. Franklin again. Surely, YOU will
say, Mr.. Franklin stirred the company
up into making a pleasant evening OF
it?
Nothing of the sort. He had quite
recovered himself, and he was in Won
derful force and spirits. Penelope hav-
ing informed him, l suspect, Of Mr..
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-06-12
The Birthday Party.

~ the 10Th of the mont Miss
Rachel and Mr.. Franklin hit
on Il new method of working
their way together through
the time which might otherwise have
hung heavy on their hands.
Mr.. Frank1in's universal genius, alb
bling in everything, dabbled in what
he called decorative painting He
had invented, he Informed us, a new
mixture TO moisten paint with. which
he described as a vehicle" Miss
Rachel being wild to try her hand at
the new process. Mr.. Franklin sent to
London for the materials, mixed them
up with accompaniment of a smell
which made the very dogs sneeze when
they came into the room, put an apron
and a bib over Miss Rachel's gown and
set her to work decorating her own lit
tie sitting room, called. for want of
English to name ii in, her 'boudoir."
They began with the inside of the
door.
The next date worthy of notice Is
Sunday, the 18th of June.
On that evening we In the servants
hall debated a domestic question for
the first time which, like the decora-
ton of the door, has its bearing on
something that is still to come.
Seeing the pleasure which Mr.. Frank
lin and Miss Rachel took in each 9TH
er's society and noting what a pretty
match they were in all personal re-
spects, we naturally %speculated on the
chance of their putting their heads to-
gether with other objects in view be-
sides the ornamenting of a door. Some
of us said there would be a wedding
In h house before the summer was
over. Others, led by me, admitted il
was likely enough Miss Rachel might
be married. but we doubted whether
her bridegroom would be Mr.. Franklin
Blake.
On the 10Th of June an invitation
from my mistress was sent to Il gen
tleman In London, to come and help
10 Keep Miss Rachel's birthday. This
was the fortunate individual on whom
peieved her heart to be privately set.
Like Mr.. Franklin. he was n cousin of
hers. His name was Mr.. Godfrey Able.
white.
MY iadys second sister had n disap.
pointment in love and taking n hus-
oand afterward, on the neck or moth
ing principle, made what they call :,
misalliance. There was terrible work
In the family when the Honorable
Caroline insisted on marrying Main
Mr.. Ablewhite, the banker at Fri
zinghall. He WAS very rich and very
good tempered. and he begot n pro-
digious large fanily-all In his fa-
Vor, so far. But he had presumed to
raise himself from a low station In the
world. and that was against him. How
ever, time and the progress of modern
enlightenment put things right. and the
misaiiiance passed muster very well.
The Ablewhites lived in n fine house
and grounds a little out of Frizinghall,
very worthy people and greatly re-
spected In the n~eighborhood.
Mr.. Godfrey stood we six feet high.
He had a beautiful red and white col
or, a smooth round face shaved as
bare as your hand, and a head of love-
~ long flaxen hair, falling negligently |
over the poll of his neck. He was n
barrister by profession, a ladies' man
by temperament, and a good Samari- |
tan by choice. Female b~enevolence |
n female restitution could do moth |
ing without him. Wherever there was
y table with u committee of ladies sit !
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-06-12
ITO be continued
Distinction.

"Wha distinction DO you make be-
tween entertainment and 'art?'"
Entertainment" replied the thea
ter manager. lis what people wan
Art is what people want to make 9TH
er people think they want. '-Washing-
ton Star.
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-06-12

Hasty News.
Redd-Do you believe in dreams?
Greene-Some dreams.
swell. you know to dream of a fire
means hasty news"
$50 I've heard"
"Well. last night 1 dreamed Of a fire,
and this morning l read in the paper
that my brother had been fined for
Observation-Disclosures Statesman.
The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-06-12
Why Don't You
Smile andBeH Happy?
obeyins the Sign.

LADY" said the pilot of the club
members who had assisted Horatiu
Hangover to get home, here is your
husband"
but why" she calculated al she
opened the ~door-"why did you bring
him up the back wayg'
The pilot answered, Because there's
a sign out there that says. Deliver All
Packages In the Rear Detroit News.