Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-11-26

luest Declared.
moment. The picture faded out.
ooh. stop it," Lenora begged.
Haven't we seen enough? We know
the truth now. Stop it or shall die!"
The criminologist made no reply
His eyes were still fixed upon the pro-
fessor, who showed some signs of re-
turning consciousness. I-e was grip
ping at his collar. He seemed to have
difficulty with his breathing. Quest
suddenly braced himself. He pushed
Lenora back.
"One more" he muttered. There's
something growing in his mind. l can
feel it. Waiti"
Again they all turned towards the
mirror. They saw the hallway of Ash
leigh house, the pictures upon the
walls, they could almost feel the quiet
silence of night. They say the pro-
fessor come stealing down the stairs.
He was wearing the black velvet suit
with the cowl in his hand. They
watched him pause before certain
door, draw on the cowl and disappear.
Through the opening they could see
Lord Ashleigh asleep in bed, the moon
light streaming through the open win
dow across the counterpane. They
saw the professor turn with strange.
horrible look in his face and close the
door. Lenora burst into sobs,
mo more!" she shrieked. mo
more, or shall go mad!"
Quest leaned forward and released
their victim. The whole atmosphere
of the place seemed Immediately to
change. Lenora drew long, convul-
sive breath and sank into a chair. The
professor sat up and gazed at them
all with the air of a man who has
just awakened from a dream.
Have /, by any chance, slept?" he
asked. "Or-"
| He never finished his sentence. His
| eyes fell upon the mirror, the metal
band lying by his side. He read the
truth in the faces still turned towards
him. He rose to his feet. There was
another and equally sudden change in
his demeanor and tone. He carried
himself with the calm dignity of the
scientist
"The end of our struggle. pre-
sume?" he said to Quest, pointing tc
| the metal band you will at least ad
NIT that l have shown you fine sport.
No one answered him. Even Quesi
had barely yet recovered himself. The
professor shrugged his shoulders.
81 recognize, of course" he said
gravely. that this is the end. A per
son in extremis has privileges. Viii
you allow me to write just a matter o
twenty lines at your desk?"
Silently Quest assented The profes
sor seated himself in the swing chair
drew sheet of paper towards him
dipped the pen in the ink and begal
to write. Then he turned around an,
reached for his own small black Sas
which Iay upon the table. Ques
caught him by the wrist.
"What do you want out of that, pre-
fessor?'' he inquired.
Merely my own pen and ink" tn
professor expostulated ''If there
anything l detest in the world, it
violet ink. And your pen, too, is e.
ecrable. As they are to be the las
words I shall leave to sorrowin
world, / should like to write them
my own fashion. Open the bag fo
yourself, if you will You can pas
me the things out"
Quest opened the bag. took out
| r1o Of ir11
He handed them to the professor, VIII
stated at once more to write. Ques
watched him for a moment and the
: turned away to French. The profe
sor looked over his shoulder and su
denly barred his wrist. Lenora seize
her employer by the arm.
'Lcok!" she cried. What is he g
ing to do?"
/, Quest swung around, but he was tt
0 late. The professor had dug the pc
: into his arm. He sat in his chair al
= laughed as they all hurried towar'
a him. Then suddenly he sprang to
e feet. Again the change came in
:, his face which they had seen in Il
g mirror. French dashed forward
e wards him. The professor snarle
r. seemed about to spring, then sudden
e once more stretched out his hands
d show that he was helpless and hand
n to Quest the paper upon which he hi
it been writing.
y "You have nothing to fear from me
y he exclaimed. Here is my last me-
e sage to you, Sanford Quest. Read it
N read it aloud. Always remember tn
a this was not your triumph, but mine