Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-07-08

said 0raveIy. "He 10 Deadl"
met them in the hall. He, too. seemed
to have lost to some extent his Gus
tomary equanimity.
Come this way, my friends" he in
vited. IF Craig keeps his word, ne
will be here now within q few min
utes.< This way"
They followed him into the library.
Chairs were arranged around the table
in the middle Of the room and they
all sat down. The professor took out
his watch. It was five minutes to
ten.
I'm q few minutes" he continued
solemnly. "this weight is to be lifted
from the minds of all of us. Ihave come
to the conclusion that on this occa-
sion Craig will keep his word. am
not sure, mind, but l believe that he
is in the house at this present moment.
have heard movements in the room
which belonged to him. have not
interfered. / have been content to
wait"
"He has at least not tried escape"
Quest remarked. French here brought
news of him. He has been living with
his niece very quietly, but without
any particular attempt at concealment
or any signs Of wishing to leave the
city"
''I had that girl brought to my Office"
French remarked, barely an hour ago,
but she slipped away while we were
talking. Say, what's that?"
They all rose quickly to their feet.
In a momentary lull of the storm they
could hear distinctly girls shriH
calling from outside, followed by the
clamor Of angry voices.
Gee! 1 bet that's the girl" French
exclaimed. Shed been looking up
the professors address in directory"
They all hurried out into the hall.
The plainclothes man whom they had
left on guard was standing there with
his hand upon Craig's collar. The
girl, sobbing bitterly, was clinging to
his arm. Craig was making desperate
efforts to escape. Directly he saw the
little party issue from the library, how
ever, the strength seemed to pass from
his limbs. He remained in the clutches
of his captor, limp and helpless.
Il caught the girl trying to make her
way into the house." the latter ex-
planned. "She called out and this man
came running downstairs, right into
my arms"
1T is quite all right" the professor
said, in a dignifed tone. "You may
release them both. Craig was on his
way to keep an appointment here at
ten o'clock. Quest, will you and the
; inspector bring him in? Let US re-
sumo our places at the table"
The little procession made its way
| down the hail. The girl was still
cIinging to her uncle.
what are they going to do to you
these people?" she sobbed. They
. sha'n't hurt you. They sha'n't!"
. Lenora passed her arm around the
girl.
"Of course not, dear" she said
soothingly. "Your uncle has come OF
his own free will to answer few
, questions, only I think it would be
better If you would let me"
| Lenora never finished her sentence
They had reached the entrance now tc
. the library 4 The professor was stand
ing in the doorway with extended
. hand, motioning them to take theil
!. places at the table. Then, with nc
] form of warning, the room seemed
/ suddenly filed with a blaze Of blue
: light It came at first in thin nash
a from the window to the table, became
, Immediately multiplied q thousand
times, played round the table II
. sparks, which suddenly expanded tc
sheets of leaping, curling fame. The
a roar of thunder shook the very foun
dations Of the house-and then silence
a For several seconds not one OF then
Q seemed to have the power OF speech
i. An amazing thing had happened. TINT
a oak table in the middle Of the roon
r was a charred fragment, the chair
were every one blackened remnants.
4 "A thunderbolt!" French gasped o
|. last.
Quest was the first to cross thu
3 room. From the table to the OUTSIDE
I window was one charred, black lint
which had burnt its way through thu
d Garnet. He threw open the window
7 The wire whose course he had fol
& lowed ended here with little lumI
J. Eof queer substance. He broke It OF
b from the end Of the wire, which wa
9 absolutely brittle and natureless, ami
. Il &x~.,,,-Ixk a. into fh0 room.
4 aWhat Is 1T" Lenora faltered