Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-01-27

| An affair so unusual as this might at
tract him. You will excuse me-"
The professor met the great Grimm
ologist and his assistant in the hall
upon their arrival. He took the for
mer at once by the arm.
MIR. Quest" he began. lin a sense
I must apologize for my peremptory
message. am we'll aware that an or
binary jewel robbery does not inter
est you, but in this cas- the circum'
stances are extraordinary. ventured,
therefore. to summon your aid"
Sanford Quest nodded shortly.
LAS a rule" he said, Il do not care
to take up one affair until ! have a
clean slate. There's your skeleton
still bothering me, professor. How
ever. where's the lady who was
robbed?"
Il will take you to her." the profess
sor replied.
Mrs. Rheinholdt's story, by frequent
repetition, had become a little more
coherent. a trifle more circumstantial,
the perfection of simplicity and utter
ly incomprehensib!e. Quest listened to
it without remark and flnall.' made
his way to the conservatory. He re.
quested Mrs. Rheinholdt to walk with
him through the door by which she
had entered and stop at the precise
spot where the assault had been made
upon her. There were one or two
| plants knocked down from the tiers
on the right-hand side. and some dis.
! turbance il the mold where some large
palms we're growing. Quest and lie.
nora together made a close investi'
CATION of the spot. Afterwards. Quest
! walked several times to each Of the
| doors leading into the gardens.
There are four entrances alto
| gether." he remarked, as he lit a cigar
and glanced around the place. Two
lead into the gardens-one is locked
and the other isn't-one connects with
the back c. the house-the n through
which you came. Mrs. Rheinholdt. and
the other leads into your reception
room, into which you passed after the
assault. / shall now be glad if you
will permit me to examine the gardens
outside for a few minutes, alone with
my assistant. if you please"
For almost a quarter of an hour
Quest and Lenora disappeared. They
all looked eagerly at the criminologist
on his return.
ut seems to me-" he remarked,
that from the back part of the house
the quickest way to reach Mayton ave
u would be through this conserva'
tory and out of that door. This is a
path leading from just outside straight
to a gate in the wall. Does anyone
that you know of use this means of
exit"
Mrs. Rheinholdt shook her head.
THE servants might occasionally"
she remarked doubtfully, but not on
nights when | am receiving
The butler stepped forward. He was
looking a little grave.
II ought. perhaps, to inform you.
madam, and Mr.. Quest" he said. that
I did. only a short time ago. suggest
to the professors ~servant-the man
| who brought your macintosh. sir" he
added, turning to the professor-"that
he could, If he chose, make use Of this
means of leaving the house. Mr. Craig
is a personal friend of mine. and a
member of a very select little club we
have for social purposes"
did he follow your suggestion?'
Sanford Quest asked.
"Of that l am not aware, sir" the
butler replied. 81 left Mr.. Craig with
some refreshment, expecting that he
would remain until my return. but q
| few minutes later | discovered that he
had left. will inquire in the kitchen
IL anything is known as to his move
ments."
He hurried off. Quest turned to the
professor.
Has he been with you long, this
man Craig, professor" he asked.
The professors smile was illuminat.
ing, his manner simple but convincing
Craig" he asserted. "is the best
servant, the most honest mortal who
ever breathed. He would go any dis
lance out Of his way to avoid harming
a fly. cannot even trust him to pro
cure for me the simplest specimens OF
insect lie. Apart from this. he Is a
man Of some property, which he has
no idea what to do with. He Is,
think | may say. too devoted to me to
dream OF ever leaving my service.
"You think 1t would be out Of the
question, then" Quest asked, Ito asso'
ciate him with the crime?"