The Holly chieftain., 1915-08-06

ready IN MS manu. Anu tueu the little
party seemed suddenly turned to
stone For few breathless seconds
not one of them moved. Out into the
clammy night air came the echoes of
a hideous, inhuman, blood-curdling
scream. Quest was the first to re-
cover himself. He leaped from his
seat and rushed back across the emp
ty hall into the study. followed lit
tie way behind by French and the
others. An unsuspected panel door
| which led into the garden stood slight
ly ajar. The professor with his hand
on the back of q chair, was staring
at the fireplace, shaking as though
with some horrible ague, his face dis
torted, his body curiously hunched
up. He seemed suddenly to have
dropped his humanity, to have fallen
back into the world of some strange
creatures He heard their footsteps,
but he did not turn his head. His
hands were stretched out In front
of him as though to keep away from
his sight some hateful object.
Stop him!" he cried, Take him
away! It's Craig-his spirit! He
came to me in the garage, he followed
me through the grounds, he Knocked
at me when l hid in the tree. He's
there now, kneeling before the fire.
place. Why can't kill him! He
| is coming! Stop him, sOmeone!"
No one spoke or moved; no one, in
deed, had the power. Then at last
Quest found words.
There is no one in the room, pro-
| fessor," he said. "except u.s."
The sound of human voice seemed
to produce str, nge effect The pro-
fessor Strengthened himself shook his
head, his hands dropped to his side,
ghastly pale, but his smile was once
more the smile of the amiable natu-
ralist.
"My friends" he said, forgive me.
| am very old, and the events of these
last few hours have unnerved me.
Forgive me-"
He groped for a moment and sank
into a chair.
MY dear friend" he exclaimed,
you have saved me. | have some
thing to tell you, something must tell
you at once, but not here. | loathe
this place. Let me come with you
to your rooms"
"As you please" Quest answered,
calmly.
He gripped Quests arm. In silence
they passed from the room, in silence
they took their places once more
in the automobiles, in silence they
drove without pause to Quests
rooms. The professor made his way
at once to his favorite easy chair.
threw off his overcoat and leaned
back. 9s.r -
Quest" he pronounced, you are
the best friend have in my life! 1t
is you who have rid me of my great
burden. Tell me-help me little
with my story-have you read that
page from the Medical Journal which
Craig has kept locked up all these
years?"
I'VE have all read it." Quest re-
Piled
1T was forged" the professor de-
clared, firmly. forged by Craig. All
the years since he has blackmailed
me. l have been his servant and his
tool. l have been afraid to speak. At
last am free of him. Thank Cod"
Craig, after all" French muttered.
Lenora stood a little apart with
a faint frown upon her forehead.
She touched Quest on the shoulder.
"Mr. Quest" she murmured, "he is
lying!"
What do you mean?" he whispered.
"He is lying Lenora insisted. Il
tell you there's another creature
there, something We don't understand.
Let me bring the electro-thought
transference apparatus; let US read
his mind. If l am wrong, l will go
down on my knees and beg for for
| giveness."
Quest nodded. Lenora fastened to
the farther end of the room, snatched
the cloth from the instrument and
wheeled down the little mirror with
its coils and levers. The professor
watched her. Slowly his face changed.
The benevolence faded away, his teeth
for a moment showed in something
which was almost snarl.
You believe me?" he cried, turn
| ing to Quest. You are not going
to try that horrible thing on me-Pro-
fessor Lord Asheigh? am all broken
| up. l am not fit for It. Look at my
hands, how they shake"
Professor" Quest said. sternly, I'VE
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