Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-04-20

F, met them in the hall. He. too, seemed
to have lost to some extent his GUS
tomary eQuanimity.
Come this way, my friends" he in.
vited. IF Craig keeps his word. he
| will be here now within a few min
| utes. This way"
They followed him into the library.
Chairs were arranged around the table
in the middle of the room and they
all sat down. The professor took out
his watch. 1t was five minutes to
ten.
I'm a few minutes he continued
solemnly. this weight is to be lifted
from the minds of all of US. Ihave come
to the conclusion that on this occa.
sion Craig will keep his word. l am
not sure, mind. but I believe that he
is in the house at this present moment.
l have heard movements in the room
which belonged to him. ! have not
interfered. l have been content to
wait"
He has at least not tried escape"
Quest remarked. French here brought
news of him. He has been living with
his niece very quietly, but without
any particular attempt at concealment
or any signs of wishing to leave the
city"
81 had that girl brought to my Office
French remarked, barely an hour ago,
but she slipped away while we were
talking. Say, what's that?"
They all rose quickly to their feet.
In a momentary lull OF the storm they
could hear distinctly a girls shrill
calling from outside, followed by the
clamor of angry voices.
Gee! l bet that's the girl" French
exclaimed. Shed been looking up
the professors address in a directory"
They all hurried out into the hall.
The p%lainc!othes maj whom they had
left on guard was standing there with
his hand upon Craig's collar. The
girl, sobbing bitterly, was clinging to
his arm. Craig was making desperate
efforts to escape. Directly he saw the
little party issue from the library, how
ever the strength seemed to pass from
his limbs. He remained in the clutches
of his captor. limp and helpless.
Il caught the girl trying to make her
way into the house, the latter ex-
planned. she called out and this man
came running downstairs, right into
my arms"
1T is quite all right" the professor
said, in a dignified tone. you may
release them both. Craig was on his
way to keep an appointment here at
ten o'clock. Quest, will you and the
inspector bring him in? Let Is re-
sumo our places at the table,
The little procession made its way
down the hall. The girl was still
clinging to her uncle.
What are they going to do to you,
these %people?" she sobbed. They
sha'n't hurt you. They sha'n't!"
Lenora passed her arm around the
girl.
"Of course not, dear" she said,
soothingly. Your uncle has come of
his own free will to answer a few
questions, only l think it would be
better IL you would let me-"
Lenora never finished her sentence.
They had reached the entrance now to
the library. The professor was stand
ing in the doorway with extended
hand, motioning them to take their
places at the table. Then, with no
form Of warning, the room seemed
suddenly filled with a blaze of blue
light. 1t came at first in a thin flash
from the window to the table, became
Immediately multiplied a thousand
times, played round the table in
sparks. which suddenly expanded to
sheets Of leaping, curling flame. The
roar of thunder shock the very foun-
dations OF the house-and then silence.
For several seconds not one. Of them
seemed to have the power of speech.
An amazing thing had happened. The
oak table in the middle of the
was a charred fragment, the chairs
were every n %blackened remnants.
"A thunderbolt!" French gasped at
last.
Quest was the first to cross the
room. From the table to the outside
window was one charred, black line
which had burnt its way through the
carpet. He threw open the window.
The wire whose course he had fol-
lowed ended here with a little lump
of queer substance. He broke 1t off
from the end of the wire, which was
absolutely brittle and natureless, and
brought 1t into the room.
what Is it?" LenOra faltered.