The Washington times., 1915-05-09

piled. He did not answer. but l
thought, perhaps. that he was sleepy,
I Allied his bath. which. as you see,
opens out Of the room. and then came
down to breakfast returned to his
lordship's room, expecting to find him
| dressed. Instead Of that the room was
silent, the bath still unused. l spoke
to him-there was no answer. Then
I lifted the sheet
They had led Lady Ashleigh from the
room. The professor and Quest stood
face to face. The formers expression.
however. had lost all his amiable SER
entity. His face was white and ptnched.
He looked shriveled up. 1t was as
though some physical stroke had fallen
upon him.
Quest! Questl" he almost sobbed.
my brother!-George, whom I loved
like nobody else on earth! Is he really
dead"
The professor gripped the oak pillar
of the bedstead He seemed on the
point of collapse.
THE mark of the Hands is upon his
throat" Quest pointed out.
The Hands! Oh, my God!" the pro-
fessor groaned.
I'VE must not eat or drink or sleep"
Qrest declared lercely, until we have
brought this matter to an end. Craig
must be found. This Is the supreme
horror of all. Pull yourself together,
Mr.. Ashleigh We shall need every
particle of intelligence we possess. /
begin to think that we are lighting
against something superhuman."
The butler made an apologetic ap-
pearance He spoke In hushed whis-
per.
You are wanted downstairs. gentle
men. Middleton. the head keeper, is
there"
AS though inspired with a common
idea, both Quest and the professor hur-
ried out Of the room and down the
true one. The gamekeeper welcomed
them with a smile of triumph. BY his
side. the picture of abjeCt misery, his
clothes torn and muddy, was Craig =.
i've managed this little 1oo, SIT,
Middleton announced, with a smile of
slow triumph.
manded
Little Idea OF my own the game;
keeper continued. II guessed pretty well
what he'd be up to. He'd tumbled to it
that the usual way off the moor was
pretty well guarded, and he'd doubled
back through the thin line of woods
close to the house. l dug one OF my
with lot of loose stuff That got him
all right. When I went to look this
morning saw where he'd iaiien
through, and there he was, walking
fOunu ana TOuUt az lll' w '''i'' 80 -
Gagged animal. Your servants have tele,
phoned for the police, Mr.. Ashleigh.
he went on. turning to the professor,
but I'd like you Just to point out TO
the Scotland Yard eman-called
us yokels. he did, when he first came
down-that we've few Ideas OF our
own down here"
Quest suddenly whispered to the pro-
fessor Then he turned to the keeper.
Bring him upstairs, Middleton, for
moment" he directed "Follow US
please"
The professor gripped Quests arm as
thew ascended the stairs.
What Ia this?" he asked, hoarsely.
what is II you wish to do?"
"Tt's lust an idea of my own" Quest
roplied. Il rather believe In that sort
Of thing want to confront him with
the result OF his crime
The professor stopped short. His eyes
were half closed.
at is too horrible" he muttered.
Nothing could be too horrible for an
inhuman heing like this Quest ans
wered tersely. II want to see wheth-
he'll commit himself
They nassed into the bedchamber.
Quest signed to the keeper to bring
Craig 20 the side of the four-poster,
Then he drew down the sheet.
rs that your work" he asked. stern
ly
Craig, up till then, had spoken no
word He had shambled to the bedside,
a broken, yet, In a sense, a stolid fig
ure. The sight OF the dead mAA. how