Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-05-20
SEVENTH INSTALLMENT
THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY.
CHAPTER XVI.

ference was proceeding In Quests
study. The professor was there, seat
ed in the most comfortable easy
chair, smoking without relish n or
his hosts best cigars, watching with
nervous impatience the closed door.
Laura and Lenora we're seated at tho
table, dressed for the street. They
had the air OF being prepared for
some excursion. Quest, realizing the
professors highly strung state, had
left. him alone for q few moments
and was studying a map Of New York,
The latter, however, was too Ill at
ease to keep silent for long. !
"Our friend French" he remarked,
gave you no clue, suppose. as 10 the
direction in which his Investigations
are leading him"
Quest glanced up from the map.
None at all. I know, however, that
the house in which LenOra here was
confined is being watched closely"
The professor glanced across to-
ward the table before which Lenora
was seated.
ut seems strange" he continued
"that the young lady should have 50
little to tell us about her incarcera'
ton"
Lenora shivered for a moment.
"What could there be to tell" she
asked, except that it was all horrlblc,
and that l felt things--felt dangers
which I couldn't describe
The professor gave vent to an I'M
patient little exclamation.
81 am not speaking for fancies," ne
persisted. "You had food brought tc
YOU. for instance. Could you never
see the hand which placed 1T inside
O Il room? Could you hear nothing
of the footsteps OF the person who
brought it? Could you not even sur
mise whether it were a man or g
woman?" n.u
Lenora answered him with an evl
dent effort. She had barely, as yet
recovered from the shock of those
awful hours.
'::The person who brought me Thu
food" she said, came at night-nevel
in the daytime. I never heard any
thing. The most I ever saw was once
Il happened to be looking toward
the door and l saw a pair OF hands
nothing more-setting down a tray. !
shrieked and called out. l think thai
I almost tainted. When found cour
age enough to look, there was nothing
there but the tray upon the floor" !
The professor sighed as he turned
away. -,
"It is evident, I am afraid" he said
that Miss Lenora's evidence will hell
no one. AS an expert in these affairs
Mr.. Quest, does it not seem to you
that her Imprisonment was just a lit
tie purposeless? There seems to nav
been no attempt to harm her IN any
way" .
whoever took the risk OF abduct
ing her" Quest pointed out grimly
did it for a purpose. That purpose
would probably have been devel
oped in course Of time. However we
look at it, Mr.. Ashleigh, there was
only one man who must have been
anxious to get her out Of the way and
that man was Craig. Here comes oul
friend French. I have an idea that ne
has something to tell US"
they glanced expectantly towards
the door as French entered. The IN
spector, who was looking very spruce
and we'll brushed, wished them a gen
.eral %good-morning. His eyes restee
last and longest upon Laura, whe
seemed, however, unconscious OF NJ:
presence.
Nov, then, French" Quest began
as he, returned his greeting, take :
cigar, make yourself comfortable II
that chair and let us have your news
AS YOU see, we have obeyed orders
We are all ready to follow you any
where" :,
at won't be to the end OF the world
anyway" the inspector remarked a
he lit his cigar. 81 am going to pro
nose a little excursion down Gaysol
avenue way"
"Back to that house?" Lenora ez
claimed with a grimace.
The inspector nodded.
I'VE have had those boys at 70!