The Holly chieftain., 1915-06-25

00e. - WAu VINO B06me0 10 DC utEuu
Ing Aimleasly along reading . newspa-
per suddenly Joined them.
We'll. Dixonf. his chief exclaimed.
The man glanced around.
I've GOT three men round at the
back. Mr.. Hardaway." he said. ITS
for anyone to leave the
plaes-"
Hardaway paused to consider mo-
ment.
Look here" Quest suggested. ~they
know all Of you. Of course. and they'll
never let you in until they're forced
to. I'm . stranger. Let me 60. III
get In all right
"All right" he assented. I'VE shall
follow you up pretty closely. though"
Quest stepped back into the taxi and
gave the driver direction. When he
in front of the handsome gray
stone house he seemed to have BE-
come completely transformed. There
was fatueus smile upon his lips. He
crossed the pavement with difllcuIty.
stumbling up the steps. and held on
the knocker with one hand while he
consulted slip of paper. He had
scarcely rung the bell before slightly
parted curtain In the front room fell
together and momen. later the door
was opened by man In the livery Of
q butler. but with the face and ply
sique Of prize-nghter.
Lady of the house," Quest demand
ed. Want to see the lady Of the
house."
Almost Immediately he was con.
scious Of a woman standing In the hall
before him.
You had better come in."-she in
vited. Please do not stand in the
doorway"
Quest, however, who had heard the
footsteps OF the others behind him. lol-
tered there for moment.
Quest, as though stumbling against
the front door. had 1t now wide open.
and In a moment the hall seemed full
The woman shrieked. The butler sud
denly sprang upon the last man to en-.
ter and sent him spinning down the
steps. Almost at that instant there
was q scream from upstairs. Quest
took running jump and went up the
stairs four at time. The butler, who
had 10 far defied arrest, suddenly
snatched the revolver from Hard
away's hand and fired blindly in front
of him, missing Quest only by an inch
or two.
Once more the shrek rang through
the house. Quest rushed to the door
Of the room from whence 1t came, tried
the handle. and found 1t locked. He
ran back = little way and charged It.
From inside he could hear turmoil Of
voices. White with rage and passion.
he pushed and kicked madly. There
was shot from inside, bullet came
through the door within an inch Of his
head, then the crash Of broken crock
cry and a mans groan. With fnal
effort Quest dashed the door in and
staggered into the room. Lenora
was standing in the far corner. the
front Of her dress torn and blood upon
her lips. She held a revolver In her
hand, and was covering a man whose
head and hands we're bleeding. Around
him were the debris Of q broken jug.
"Mr. Quest!" she screamed. Don't
go near him-Tve got him covered.
I'm all right"
Quest drew long breath. The man
who stood glaring at him was we'll
dressed and still young. He was un-
armed, however. and Quest secured
him In moment.
"The girls mad!" he said sullenly.
mo one wanted to do her any HARM"
Hardaway and his men came troop
ing up the stairs. Quest relinquished
his prisoner and went over to Lenora.
"Ive been 80 frightened" she
sobbed. "They got me In here-they
told me that this was the street In
which my aunt lived-and they
wouldn't let me go. The woman was
horrible. And this afternoon this man
came. The brute!"
Quest turned to Hardaway.
"I'll.take the young lady away" he
said. "You know where to find u.s."
Lenora had almost recovered when
they reached the hotel. Walking up
and down they found. the professor
my friend!" he exclaimed-"Mr
Quest! 1t is the devil incarnate
against whom we nght!"
What do you mean?" Quest de-
manded.
The professor wruhg his hands
II put him in our James II pris-
on" he declared. "Why should L