Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-10-01


low, also armed. Laura gripped Le-
nora's arm in excitement.
They've got him now!" sha ex-
claimed. "Got him, sure!"
On the fourth or fifth stair Craig
hesitated. He suddenly saw the pro-
fessor standing below He gripped
the banisters with one hand. The
other he flung out in threatening
gesture.
you've given me away to these
bloodhounds!" he cried-"you, for
whom have toiled and slaved, whom
/ have followed all over the world,
whom l have served faithfully with
the last breath of my body and the
last drop of blood in my veins! You
have brought them here-tracked me
down! You!"
The professor shook his head sor-
rowfully.
"Craig," he said, you have been
the best servant man ever had. If
you are innocent of these crimes you
can clear yourself. If you are guilty
a dogs death is none too good for
you"
Craig seemed to sway for moment
upon his feet. Only Lenora, from the
hall, saw that he was fitting his right
foot into what seemed to be leath-
er loop hanging from the banisters.
Then wild shout of surprise broke
from the lips Of all of them, followed
| by moment Of stupefied wonder.
The whole staircase suddenly began
to revolve. Craig, clinging to the
banisters, disappeared. In moment
or two there was a fresh click. An
other set of stairs, identical to the
first, had taken their place
"The cellar!" Quest shouted, as he
rushed down the stairs. "Quick!"
They wrenched open the wooden
door and hurried down the dark steps
into the gloomy, unlit cellar. The
place was crowded with packing case:
and two large wine barrels stood II
the corner. At the farther end wa.
door, Quest rushed for it and stood
guard. A moment later, however. hs
called to Laura and pressed his re
| V0Iver into her hand.
4 Stand there" he ordered. "Shoo
him if he tries to run out. I'll searcl
in the packing cases. He might b,
dangerous.
The professor, out of breath, wa
leaning against one of the pillars
his arm passed around it for support
Lenora, with Quest and French
searched hastily amongst the packin
cases. Suddenly there was a lou
crack, the sound of falling masonry
followed by scream from Laura
French, with a roar of anger, rushe
toward her. She was lying on he
side, already half covered by fallin
bricks and masonry. He dragged he
away, just in time.
my God, she's tainted" he e,
claimed.
Il haven't" Laura faltered, tryin
to open her eyes, "and I'm not goin
to, but think my arms broken, an
my side hurts"
: "The fellows not down here, an,
way" Quest declared. Lets help he
! upstairs and get her out of thi
: devils house."
They supported her up the ster
J and found a chair for her in the hal
The inspector swung open the tel
phone cupboard and called for an an
bulance. Then Quest, who had bee
examining the staircase, suddenl
gave little exclamation.
r He's done us!" he cried. LOO
here, French, this is the original stat
t case. There's the leather loop.
D know it because there was a crack c
( the fourth stair. When we rushe
D down the cellar after him, he swur
the thing round again and simp
+ walked out of the front door. Dam
4 1t, man, it's open!"
a They hurried outside. French Bile
t his whistle. One of the plain-cloth'
f men came running up from the av
y nue.. He was looking little shee
t ish.
t What's wrong" French deman
J. ed.
v Hes gone off," was the unwilliI
+ reply. 'T guess that chaps given
y the slip"
t. Speak up" French insisted.
It "The only place." the man went Q
,. I'VE hadn't our eyes glued on W
70 the front door. He must have con
IS out through that. There's been
y motortruck with one or two quet
D. looking chaps in it at the corner
the avenue there for the last ten mi
r utes. I'd just made up my mind
W stroll round and see what 1t was
10 to when Jim, who was on the 9th
side, shouted out. A man jumped
y into 1t and they made off at once -
IL The inspectors rubicund coun
a nance was white with fury. His he
to kept turning in the direction of Laul
" to whom the professor was busy re
IN dering first aid.
is "If 1 never take another job on
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,AI nMH HATIIN nnI Enny