Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-05-19

The thoughts formed themselves
mechanically in her mind. Her eyes
sought the bali which had come crash
ing into the room. There was life
once more in her pulses. She found
a scrap of paper and a pencil in her
pocket. With trembling fingers she
wrote a few words:
Police headquarters. l am Sanford
Quests assistant, abducted and i'm
prisoned here in the room where the
bali has fallen. Helpl / am going
madi"
She twisted the paper. looked
around the room vainly for string, and
finally tore a thin piece of ribbon
from her bosom. She tied the mes
sage round the ball, set her teeth and
threw 1t at the empty skylight. The
first time she was not successful and
the Oall came back. The second time
II passed through the center of the
opening. Sne hefrd it strike the sound
portion of the glass outside. heard it
rumble down the roof. A few seconds
of breathless silencel Her heart al
most stopped beating. Had it rested
in some ledge or fallen into the street
below? Then she heard the boys
voice:
"Geel Here's the ball come back
again."
A new light shone into the room.
She seemed to be breathing a different
atmosphere-the atmosphere of hope
She listened no longer with horror
for creaking upon the stairs. She
walked backwards and forwards until
she was exhausted. Curiously
enough, when the end came she was
asleep, crouched upon the bed and
dreaming wildly, She sprang up to
find Inspector French. with a police
man behind him, standing upon the
threshold.
Inspector" she cried. rush to-
wards him. mr.. French! oh. lank
Godl"
Her feelings carried her away She
threw herself at his feet. She was
laughing and crying and talking inco-
herently, all at the same time. The
inspector assisted her to a chair.
Say, what's all this mean ?" he de
manded.
She told him her story. incoherent-
ly. in broken phrases. French listened
with puzzled frown.
Then he realized that she was on
the point of a nervous breakdown
and in no condition for interrogations
'That'll do" he said. 'I'll take care
of you for time. young lady. and I'll
ask you a few questions later on My
men are searching the house. You
and l will be getting on. If you can
tear yourself away"
The plain-clothes man, who was
lounging in Quests most comfortable
easy chair and smoking one of his
best cigars, suddenly laid down his
paper. He moved to the window. A
large, empty automobile stood in the
street outside, from which the oncu-
pants had presumably just descend
ed. He FASTENED towards the door,
which was opened, however. before he
was halfway across the room. The
cigar slipped from his fingers 1t was
Sanford Quest, who stood there, fol-
lowed by the sheriff Of Bethel, two
country policemen and Red Gallagher
and his mate. heavily handcuffed
Say. aren't you wanted down yon-
der. Mr.. Quest?" the man inquired.
That's all right now" Quest told
him. I'm ringing up Inspector French
myself. You'd better stand by the
other fellows there and keep your
eye on Red Gallagher and his mate"
81 guess Mr.. Quest is all right" the
sheriff interviewed. We're ringing up
headquarters ourselves. anyway"
The plain-clothes man did as he was
told. Quest took up the receiver from
his telephone instrument and arranged
the phototelesme.
Police station No. /, central" he
said-"througn to Mr.. French's Of
fee. II you please. Mr.. Quest
waa.s to speak to him. Yes. San
ford Quest. No need to get excited!
. All right I'm through. am /?
Hello, Inspector"
A rare expression of Joy suddenly
TRANSPORTED Quests face. He was
gazing downward into the little mir
ror.
You've found Lenora. then, in
spector?" lie exclaimed. Bully for
you! What do mean? What
say You forget that am sci
entific man, French. No end of ap-
pliances here you haven't had time
to look at. J can see you sitting there.
and Lenora and Laura looking as
though you had them on the rack. You
can drop that, French. I've got Red
Gallagher and his mate. got them
here with the sheriff of Bethel. They
went of with my auto and sold 1t.
We've got that. Also, in less than
FIVE minutes my chauffeur will be
here. He's been lying in a farmhouse