Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1915-10-07
FIFTEENTH lNSTALLMENT
CHAPTER xxxV.

SnAF In NNNV.
The first shock was over Craig's
body had been removed and the girls
had taken Mary, half stunned with
grief, to their room. French and
Quest were left alone.
THAT Is some disappointment"
the former remarked. gloomily
1T Ia a disappointment" Quest
said, slowly, which may clear the
way to bigger things"
What's in your mind now" French
inquired.
Quest shook his head.
"A turmoil First of all where is
the professor"
Must have scooted right away
home" French suggested He was
looking pretty sick all the time Guess
1t must have been a powerful shock
for him. and he isn't so young as he
used to be-"
Give me that paper of Craig's
again" Quest asked
The inspector produced the docu-
ment from his inner pocket. and
quest. stretching 1t out upon his knee.
read 1t word for word
Never to communicate or to have
anything to do with anyone OF the
name of Ashleigh. eh?" he remarked.
~ he handed 1t back again. Rather
queer provision, that, French"
I've been thinking that myself" the
inspector admitted.
Quest glanced at the clock.
Well" he said, III you're ready,
inspector. we'll be getting along"
The two men drove to the outskirts
OF the city almost In silence The
professors house seemed more than
ever deserted as they drew up at the
front door. They entered without
ringing and crossed the hall towards
the library. On the threshold Quest
paused and held up his finger
Someone is In there" he whispered.
stepping quickly forward. Gomez"
He threw open the door. The room
was empty. yet both Quest and French
we're conscious of a curious convic.
ton that 1t had been occupied with.
In the last few seconds.
Queer. but 1t seemed to me | heard
someone" French muttered.
Il was sure OF It," Quest replied.
They stood still for a moment and
listened. The silence In the empty
house was almost unnatural. Quest
turned away with a shrug of the
shoulders.
AT any rate" he said. "Craig's dy.
ing thoughts must have been truth.
ful. Come"
He led the way to the fireplace
went down on his knees and passed
his hands over the bricks The third
one he touched, shook He tapped
h-without doubt 1t was hollow.
With his penknife he loosened the
mortar little and drew 1t out easily.
The back WAS open. Inside was the
black box.
"Craig's secret at last" French
muttered. hoarsely. Bring 1t to the
light. Quick!"
They were Unconditional men but the
moment was supreme The key 10
the mystery Of these tragical weeks
was there in their hands! Their eyes
almost devoured those few hastily
scrawled words buried with 80 much
care:
See Page 81, January Number.
AMERICAN Medical journal, 1905.
They looked at one another. They
repeated vaguely this most common
place OF messages. AS the final result
OF their strenuous enterprise. these
cryptic words seemed pitifuliy made
eaate. Quests face darkened. He
erumpled the paper in his fingers.
There must be some meaning in
this hefmuttered. 1T can't be alto
Eether FOOLS game we're on. Wait ;.
He moved towards a table which
usually stood against the wall but
which had obviously been dragged
out recently into the middle of the
room. II was covered with bound
volumes. Quest glanced at one and
exclaimed softly:
American Medical Journal. 1905,
French. there's something in this mes.
sage. after ALL"
He turned over the pages rapidly.
Then he came to stop. Page 81
was there; page So had been neatly
removed. with q pair of scissors.
The professor!" he cried. "Tbs
professor's, been at work hers,"
The two men stood looking at ona
smother across the table. stranxe