The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-04-21

tfI tHt lJuflt Uopi.Sf iHSit Nhb SViio
what prolonged pause. He rang again
Never knew this to happen before
he remarked. "That sort Of secretary
valet OF Mr.. Quest t's-Ross Brown
think he calls himis always on the
spot" They waited for some time
there was still no answer to their sum
mons. The Inspector placed his ear tc
the keyhole. There was not sound
to be heard. He drew back, little
4 puzzled. AT that moment his atten
tion was caught by the fluttering of a
little piece of white material caught In
the door. He pulled it out. 1t was a
fragment Of white embroidery, and on
il were several small stains The in
spector looked at them and looked at
his fingers. His face grew suddenly
| grave.
Seems to me-" he muttered that
there has, been some trouble here, |
| shah have to take a liberty. If you'll
excuse MS, Mrs. Rheinholdt, think it
would be better il you waited in the
car until send out for you"
You don't think the jewels have
been stolen again. she gasped.
The inspector made no reply. He
had drawn from his pocket a little
pass key and was fitting it into the
lock- The door swung open. Once
more they were both conscious Of that
peculiar silence, which seemed to have
in it some unnamable quality He
moved to the foot OF the stairs and
shouted:
Hello! Anyone there2"
There was no reply. He opened the
doors Of the two rooms on the right
hand side, where Quest, when he was
engaged in any widespread affair, kept
stenographer and a telegraph oper-
ator. Both rooms were empty Then
he turned towards Quests study on
the left-hand side. French was man
OF iron nerve. No power on earth
could have kept back the cry which
broke from his lips.
A few feet away from the door was
stretched the body of the secretary
valet. On the other side Of the room,
lying as though she had slipped from
the sofa, her head fallen on one side
III hideous fashion, was the body of
Miss Quigg, the Salvation Army young
woman French set his teeth and
drew back the curtains. In the clear
er light the disorder of the room was
fully revealed. There had been ter
nble struggle. Between whom? How?
There was suddenly piercing
shrek The inspector turned quickly
around. Mrs. Rheinholdt, who had dis
regarded his advice, was standing on
the threshold.
Inspector" she cried. what has
happened2 Oh, my God"
She covered her face with her
hands. French gripped her by the
arm, AT that moment there was the
sound Of an automobile stopping out
side.
Keep quiet for q moment" the in
spector whispered in her car. Pull
yourself together. madam. Go to the
other end OF the room. Don't look.
Stay there for few moments and
then get home as quick as you can"
She obeyed him mutely, pressing
her hands to her eyes, shivering III
every limb. French, stood back inside
the room. He heard the front door
open, he heard Quests voice outside.
Where the devil are you, Ross?"
There was no reply.
The door was pushed open. Quest
entered, followed by the professor and
Craig. The Inspector stood watching
their faces. Quest came to stand
still before he had passed the tnresn-
old He looked upon the floor and he
looked across to the sofa. Then he
looked at French.
"My God!" be muttered
The professor pushed past. He had
looked around the room, and gazed at
the two bodies with an expression of
blank and absolute terror Then he
fell back into Craig's arms.
"The poor girl" he cried. "Horri-
BILE. Horrible, Horriblel"
Know anything about this?" Quest
asked quickly.
Not a thing" the inspector replied.
@We arrived, Mrs. Rheinholdt and |,
at Ave minutes past twelve. There
was no answer to our ring. | used
my pass key and entered This is
what | found"
Quest stood over the body Of his
valet for a moment. The man was OBJ
viously dead The inspector took his
and covered up the head
A few feet away was heavy paper.
weight.
@Killed by a blow from behind,
French remarked grinly, with that
little affair. Look here."
They glanced down at the girl.
Quests eyebrows came together quick !
ly. There were two blue marks upon |
her throat where a mans thumbs |
might have been.
The hands again" he muttered.
The inspector nodded.
Can you make anything of it?"
@Set yet" Quest confessed. u must |
tsilk."
The inspector glanced at him curl
ously.
Where on earth have you been to-"
he demanded.
Been to?" Quest repeated.