Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-04-29

"stolsn Thsrs In the Conservatory"
An affair % unusual a this might at-
tract him. You win excuse me-"
Tho professor met the great Grimm
ologist and his assistant In the hall
upon their arrival. He took the for
NOR ut once BY the arm.
Mr. Quest" he began, .'in . sense
/ must apologize for my peremptory
message. am well aware that IN or.
binary jewel robbery does not inter.
cot you. but IN this case the circum-
stances are extraordinary. ventured.
therefore. to summon your aid"
Sanford Quest nodded shortly.
As = rule" he said. Il do not care
to take up one affair until I have .
clean slate There's your skeleton
still bothering me. professor. How
ever. where's the lady who was
robbedf"
Il will take you to her." the profess
sor replied.
Mrs. Rheinholdt's story. by frequent
repetition. had become . little more
coherent, tribe more circumstantial,
the perfection Of simplicity and utter
ly incomprehensible. Quest listened to
Il without remark and finally made
his way to the conservatory. He re-
quested Mrs. Rheinholdt to walk with
him through the door by which she
had entered and stop ut the precise
spot where the assault had been made
upon her. There were one or two
plants knocked down from the tiers
ON the right-hand side, and some dis
turbance In the mold where some large
palms were growing. Quest and Le-.
nora together made a close fnvesti-
CATION of the spot. Afterwards, Quest
walked several times to each OF the
doors leading into the gardens.
There are four entrances alto.
gether." he remarked. as he lit cigar
and glanced around the place. "Two
lead into the gardens--one Is locked
and the other isn't--one connects with
the back OF the house-the one through
which you came. Mrs. Rheinholdt, and
the, other leads into your reception
room. into which you passed after the
assault. shall now be glad II You
will permit me to examine the gardens
outside for few minutes. alone with
my assistant, II you please"
For almost quarter of an hour
Quest and Lenora disappeared. They
all looked eagerly at the criminologist
on his return.
1T seems to me-" he remarked.
that from the back part Of the house
the quickest way to reach Mayton ave-
nue. would be through this conserva-
tory and out of that door. This is
path leading from Just outside straight
to gate in the wall. Does anyone
that you know of use this means Of
EXIT"
Mrs. Rheinholdt shook her head.
"The servants might occasionally"
she remarked doubtfully, .'but not on
nights when l am receiving"
The butler stepped forward. He was
looking little grave.
Il ought. perhaps. to inform you,
madam. and Mr.. Quest" he said, that
did, only short time ago, suggest
to the professors servant--the man
who brought your macintosh. sir" he
added. turning to the professor-"that
he could, II he chose. make use OF this
means of leaving the house. Mr.. Craig
is personal friend of mine. and a
member of very select little club we
have for social purposes"
did he follow your suggestion ?"
Sanford Quest asked.
"of that I am not aware. sir" the
butler replied. 4 left MIR. Craig with
some refreshment expecting that he
would remain until my return, but
few minutes later discovered that he
had left, | will inquire In tire kitchen
II anything is known a. to his move
ments."
He hurried OF Quest turned to the
professor.
"Has he been with you long. this
man Craig. professor" he asked.
The professors smile was iliuminat-
ing. his manner simple but convincing.
Craig" he asserted. lis the best
servant. the most honest mortal who
ever breathed. He would go any dis
lance out OF his way to avoid harming
. fly. cannot even trust him to pro
cure for me the simplest specimens Of
insect life. Apart from this. he is a
man OF some property. which he has
no idea what to do with. He Is,
think may say. too devoted to me to
dream Of ever leaving my service.
you think it would be out Of the
Question. thep.' Quest asked. TO 1850
ciats him with the crime."