Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-05-26

hand. French waited in the hau be-
low, also armed. Laura grippei Lee
nora's arm in excitement.
They've got him nowl" she ex-
claimed. Got him. sure!"
On the fourth or fifth stair Craig
hesitated. He suddenly saw the pro-
fessor standing below. He gripped
the banisters with one hand The
other he flung out in threatening
gesture
You've given me away to these
bloodhoundsl" he cried-"you, for
whom have toiled and shaved, whom
I have followed all over the world,
whom I have served faithfully with
the last breath of my body and the
last drop of blood In my veins! You
have brought them here-tracked me
down! Youi"
The professor shook his head sor-
rowfully.
Craig" he said. "you have been
the best servant man ever had. II
you are innocent of these crimes you
can clear yourself. If you are guilty
dogs death is none too good for
you"
Craig seemed to sway for moment
upon his feet. Only Lenora. from the
hall, saw that he was fitting his right
foot into what seemed to be a leath.
err loop hanging from the banisters
| Then a wild shout of surprise broke
from the lips of all of them, followed
by a moment Of stupehed wonder
The whole staircase suddenly began
to revolve. Craig. clinging to the
banisters, disappeared In a moment
or two there was a fresh click. An
other set of stairs. identical to the
first, had taken their place.
''The eellari" Quest shouted, rs he
rushed down the stairs. "Quieki"
They wrenched open the wooden
door and hurried down the dark step:
into the gloomy. unlit cellar. The
place was crowded with packing cases
and two large wine barrels stood In
the corner. At the farther end wai
door. Quest rushed for it and stood
guard A moment later. however. hi
called 10 Laura and pressed his re
volver into her hand.
Stand there" he ordered. "Shoo
him IL he tries TO run out I'll searel
in the packing cases. He might b
dangerous"
The professor, out of breath. wal
leaning against one Of the pillars
his arm passed around It for support
Lenora, with Quest and French
searched hastily amongst the packing
cases. Suddenly there was a loui
crack. the sound of falling masonry
followed by a scream from Laura
French, with a roar of anger. rushet
toward her. She was lying on he
side, already half covered by fallinl
bricks and masonry. He dragged he
away, just in time.
my God, she's faintedi" he ez
claimed.
81 haven't" Laura faltered, trying
to open her eyes, "and J'm not goini
to. but think my arms broken, AM
my side hurts
'tThe fellows not down here, any
way" Quest declared. Lets help he
upstairs and get her out of thi
DEVILS house"
They supported her up the step
and found chair for her in the hall
The inspector swung open the tele
phone cupboard md called for an am
bulance. Then Quest, who had bee
examining the staircase, suddenl,
gave a little exclamation.
Hes done u.s." he cried. 'I,ool
here, French, this is the original stair
case. There's the leather loop.
know It because there was a crack Oh
the fourth stair. When we rushe
down the cellar after him, he swunI
the thing round again and simpl
walked out OF the front door. Damn
it. man, it's openl"
| They hurried outside. French bley
Ais whistle. One of the plain-clothe
men came running up from the ave
nue.. He was looking little sheer
ish
What's wrong?" French demand
ed.
Hes gene off," was the unwilling
reply. 81 guess that chaps given u
the slip"
Speak up" French insisted.
THE only place." the man went or
we hadn't our eyes glued on wa
the front door. He must have com
out through that. There's been
motortruck with one or two queer
looking chaps in it at the corner 0
the avenue there for the last ten mir
utes. I'd Just made up my mind u
stroll round and see what it was u
to when Jim, who was on the othe
side, shouted out. A man jumped u
into it and they made of at once"
The inspectors ruhicund countt
nance was white with fury. His hea
kept turning in the direction Of Laura
to whom the professor was busy rer
dering first aid.
"Tf never take another Job ON a
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