Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-03-02
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
The professor reused himself from
what had apparently been a very
gloomy reverie.
Well" he announced. 81 must go
home. Il has been very kind Of you.
Mr.. Quest, to keep me here for SO
long"
Quest glanced at the clock.
Don't hurry, Mr.. Ashleigh." he
said. 1--WE may get some news at any
moment. French Aas a dozen men
out on the search and he has prom.
ised to ring me up Immediately he
hears anything"
The professor sighed.
"A man." he declared, who for
twenty years can deceive his master
as utterly and completely as Craig
has done me. who is capable Of such
diabolical outrages. and who, when
capture stares him in the face, Is
capable of an escape such as he made
today. is outside the laws Of prob
ability. Personally, l do not believe
that l shall ever again see the face
Of my servant, any more than that
you, Quest, will entirely solve the
mystery Of these murders and the
theft Of the R%heinholdt jewels. What
can we do against men who have re-
volving staircases and trolley-loads
Of river pirates waiting for them?
You may be a scientific criminologist,
Quest, but that fellow Craig Is a
scientific criminal, II v e there was
one"
Quest crossed the room towards his
cigar cabinet. and opened it. His little
start was apparent to both Of them.
Lenora laid down the bag which she
had just lifted up. The professor
leaned forward in his chair.
What is 1t, Quest?" he demanded.
Quest stretched out his hand and
picked up from the top of the cigars
a small black box! He laid 1t on the
table.
UNLESS l am very much mistaken"
he said. 1T is another communication
from our mysterious friend"
"Impossible!" the professor ex-
claimed hoarsely.
How can he have been here?" L.
nora cried.
Quest removed the lid from the
box and drew out a circular card.
Around the outside edge was a very
clever pen and ink sketch of a life
buoy, and inside the margin were
several sentences of clear handwrit-
ing. In the middle was the sigma
ture-the clenched hands! Quest
read the message aloud:
In the great scheme Of things, tho
Supreme Ruler Of. the universe di.
vided an inheritance amongst his
children. To one he gave power, to
another strength. to another beauty,
but to his favorite he gave cunning.
, They all looked at one another.
What does 1t mean?' Lenora
gasped.
"A Hfebuoy." the professor muir
INJURED.
They both stared at Quest. who re-
manned silent, chewing hard at the
end Of his cigar.
Every message" he said, speaking
half to himself, has had some sig
niflcance. What does this mean-a
lifebuoy?"
He was silent for a moment. Then
he turned suddenly to the professor.
What did you call those men in the
motortruck. professor-river pirates?
And a lifebuoy! Wait"
He crossed the room towards his
desk and returned with a list in his
hand. He ran his finger down 1t,
stopped and glanced at the date.
1.-THE Durham" he muttered, cargo
cotton. destination Southampton, sails
at high tide on the 18th. Lenora. is
that calendar right?"
"It's the 18th, Mr.. Quest" she an
swered.
Quest crossed the room to the tele-
phone.
"I want number one. CENTRAL" he
said. Thank you! Put me through
to Mr.. French's ONCE. Hello,
French! I've got an idea. Can you
come round here at once and bring
an automobile? I want to get down
to the docks-not where the passen'
ger steamers start from-lower down
i, Good! Well wait"
Quest hung up the receiver.
See here, professor" he continued
that fellow wouldn't dare to send
this message II he weren't pretty sure
Of getting of. He's made all his
plans beforehand, but it's my belize
we shall Just get our hands upon him
after all"
: Presently the heard the automobile
stop outside and French appeared.
Anything doing?" he asked.
. Quest showed him the card and thu
sailing list.
, The inspector glanced at the clock