Perth Amboy evening news., 1915-05-04
CHAPTER XIX.


some excitement as the carriage
Hamblin park. He acknowledged
with smile the respectful curtsy OF
the woman who held it open
you have now an opportunity. my
dear Mr.. Quest" he said, Hof appre-
ciating one feature of English life not
entirely reproducible In your own
wonderful country. l mean the homo
life and surroundings Of our arlstoc-
lracy. You see these oak trees?" he
went on, with q little wave of his
hand. They we're planted by my an
cestors In the days of Henry VIII /
have been a student of tree life In
South America and in the dense for
ests- Of central Africa, but for real
character, for splendor of growth and
hardness, there is nothing in the
world to touch the Ashleigh oaks
! They're some trees" the criminol-
ogist admitted.
You notice, perhaps, the small
ones, which seem dwarfed Their
tops were cut off by the lord OF Ash
leigh on the day that Lady Jane Grey
was beheaded. Queen Elizabeth heard
OF 1t and threatened to confiscate the
estate. Look at the turf. nay friend.
Ages have gone to the making of that
mossy, velvet carpet"
where's the house?" Quest In
CURED
"A mile farther on yet. The woods
part and make a natural avenue past
the bend OF the river there" the pro-
fessor pointed out. Full of trout, that
river, Quest. How used to whip that
stream when was boy!"
They swept presently round bend
in the avenue. Before them on the
hillside surrounded by trees and with
a great walled garden behind, was
lHamblin house. Quest gave vent to
little exclamation of wonder as he
Hooked at 1t.
This Is where. you've got us beat,
sure" he admitted Our country
places are like gewgaw palaces COM
pared to- this. Makes me kind of
sorry" he went on regretfully, that
= uldh VI LCuOtd dlOuk,
The professor shook his head.
You were very wise," he said. my
brother and Lady Ashleigh have recov-
cred from the shock of poor Lena's
death In a marvellous manner, I be-
lieye, but the sight of the girl might
have brought it back to them. You
have left her with friends, / hope, Mr..
Guest? ?"
"She has an aunt in Hampstead"
the latter explained Il should have
liked to see her safely there my
self. but we should have been an
hour or two later down here, and |
tell you." he went on, his voice gather
Ing note almost of feroeity, I'm
wanting to get my hands on that fell
low Craig! I wonder where they're
holding him"
AT the local police station, l ex-
pect," the professor replied MY
brother is a magistrate, of course. and
hs would see that proper arrange
ments were made. There he is at the
hall door,"
The carriage drew up before the
great front moment or two later.
Lord Ashleigh came forward with out
stretched hands. the genial smile OF
the welcoming host upon his lips. In
his manner. however, there was dis
tinct note Of anxiety.
Edgar, my dear fellow" he ex-
claimed, "I am delighted! Welcome
back to your home! Mr. Quest, I am
very happy to see you here. You have
heard the news, OF course?'
I'VE have heard nothing!" the pro-
fessor replied.
"You didn't go to Scotland Yard?"
Lord Ashleigh asked.
I'VE haven't been to London at ALL"
Quest explained. I'VE got on the boat
train at Plymouth, and your brother
managed to induce one Of the directors
whom he saw on the platform to stop
the train for us at Hamblin road. We
only left the boat two hours ago.
There's nothing wrong with Craig, is
there?"
Lord Ashleigh motioned them to fol-
low him.
please come this way" he invited
He led them across the hali--which,
dimly lit and with it's stained-glass
windows, was almost like the nave of
a cathedral-into TIE library beyond.
He closed the door and turned around
IT have bad news for you both," he
announced. Craig has escaped"
Neither the professor nor Quest be-
trayed any unusual surprise So far
as the latter was concerned, his first
glimpse at Lord Ashleigh's face had
warned him of what was coming.
Dear mel" the professor murt
INJURED, sinking into az easy eifair. |
''This is most Unexpected"
"We1i get him again." Quest de-
clared quickly. Can you let US have
the particulars Of his escape, Lord |
Ashieighf The sooner we get the hang |
of things the better"
"You know. of course" he began, |
that Craig was arrested at Liverpool |
In consequence OF communications |
from the New York police I under |
stand that IL was with great difficulty |
he was discovered, and 1t is quite clear |
that someone ON the ship had been |
heavily bribed. However. he was ar
rested, brought to London, and then
down here for purposes of identifiea- /
tlOn I would have gone tn London