The Holly chieftain., 1915-06-11
SEVENTH INSTALlMENT
THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY.
CHAPTER XVI.
Copyright, 1915, by OTIS F. Woo


ed in the most comfortable easy
chair. smoking without relish one of
his hosts best cigars, watching with
nervous impatience the closed door.
Laura and Lenora were seated at the
table, dressed for the street. They
had the air of being prepared for
some excursion. Quest, realizing the
professors highly strung state. had
left him alone for a few moments
and was studying map Of New York.
The latter. however. was too Ill at
ease to keep silent for long
Our friend French" he remarked,
gave you no clue, suppose. as to the
direction in which his Investigations
are leading him?"
Quest glanced up from the map.
None at all. know, however, that
the house in which Lenora here was
confined is being watched closely"
The professor glanced across to.
ward the table before which Lenora
was seated
1T seems strange" he continued,
that the young lady should have so
little to tell us about her incarcera-
tion."
Lenora shivered for moment.
What could there be to tell" she
asked, except that it was all horrible,
and that felt things-felt dangers
which l couldn't describe"
The professor gave vent to an i'm
patient little exclamation
Il am not speaking for fancies," he
persisted. "You had food brought to
you, for instance. Could you never
see the hand which placed 1t inside
your room? Could you hear nothing
of the footsteps of the person who
brought it? Could you not even sur
mise whether it were man or
woman?"
Lenora answered him with an evil
dent effort. She had barely, as yet,
recovered from the shock of those
awful hours.
THE person who brought me the
food" she said "came at night-never
in the daytime. l never heard any
thing. The most ever saw was once
II happened to be looking toward
the door and I saw pair Of hands
nothing more setting down tray.
shrieked and called out. think that
I almost tainted. When found cour-
age enough to look, there was nothing
there but the tray upon the floor"
The professor sighed as he turned
away.
whoever took the risk of abduct-
ing her" Quest pointed out grimly.
did it for purpose. That purpose
would probably have been devel-
oped in course of time. However we
look at it, Mr. Ashleigh, there was
only one man who must have been
anxious to get her out of the way, and
that man was Craig. Here comes our
friend French. have an idea that he
has something to tell u.s."
They glanced expectantly towards
the door as French entered. The in
spector, who was looking very spruce
and we'll brushed, wished them a gen.
eral good-morning.
Now, then, French Quest began,
as he returned his greeting, take a
cigar, make yourself comfortable in
that chair and let US have your news.
AS you see, we have obeyed orders.
We are all ready to follow you any
where
1T won't be to the end of the world,
anyway" the inspector remarked, as
he lit his cigar Il am going to pro-
pose little excursion down Gayson
avenue way"
Back to that house?" Lenora ex-
claimed with a grimace.
The Inspector nodded.
1--WE have had those boys at the
station" he went on, "and we have
questioned them carefully. It seems
that after they had picked up the ball,
a man came out of the side entrance
Of the house, saw them reading Miss
Lenora's message, and shouted after
them The boys had sense enough
to scoot. The man ran after them,
but had to give it up. Here is their
description of him."
The inspector took piece of pa
per from his pocket They al! waited
breathlessly
Had to drag this out of the boys,
bit by Bit" the inspector proceeded,
"but boiled i,ovr and put into reason