Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-03-02
SEVENTH %INSTALLMENT
THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY.
CHAPTER XVI.

Something In the nature OF a con-
ference was proceeding in Quests
study. The professor was there, seat
ed in the most comfortable easy
chair, smoking without relish n Of
his hosts best cigars, watching with
nervous impatience the closed door.
Laura and Lenora were seated at the
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 a few moments
and was studying q 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, I suppose. as to the
direction in which his Investigations
are leading him?"
Quest glanced up from the map.
None at all. l 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.
1T seems strange" he continued,
that the young lady should have 80
little to tell US about her incarcera.
ton"
.Lenora shivered for a moment.
What could there be to tell" she
asked, except that 1t was all horrible,
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," he
persisted. "You had food brought to
you, for instance. Could you never
see the hand which placed 1t inside
your room? Could you hear nothing
OF the footsteps Of the person who
brought it? Could you not even sur
mise whether 1t were a man or q
woman?"
Lenora answered him with an EVIL
dent effort. She had barely, as yet,
recovered from the shock Of those
awful hours.
1.-The person who brought me the
food" she said. came at night-never
in the daytime. I heard any
thing. The most I aver saw was once
Il happened to be looking toward
the door and l saw a pair Of hands
nothing more-setting down a tray. l
shrieked and called out. ! think that
I almost tainted. When I found cour-
age enough to look, there was nothing
there but the tray upon the floor"
The professor sighed as he turned
away.
ut is evident, I am afraid" he said,
that Miss Lenora's evidence will help
no one. AS an expert in these affairs,
Mr.. Quest, does 1t not seem to you
that her imprisonment was just a lit
tie purposeless? There seems to have
been no attempt to harm her In any
way"
Whoever took the risk Of abduct-
ing her." Quest pointed out grimly'
did 1t for a purpose. That purpose
would probably have been devel'
oped In course of time. However we
look at it, Mr.. Ashleigh, there vas
only one man who must have been
anxious to get her out Of the way, and
that man was Craig. Here comes our
friend French. have an idea that he
has something to tell U.s."
They glanced e%xpectantly towards
the door as French entered. The In
spector, who was looking very spruce
and we'll brushed, wished them a gen.
eral Woodworking. His eyes rested
last and longest upon Laura, who
seemed, however, unconscious Of hts
presence.
Now, then. French" Quest began,
as he returned his greeting, take a
cigar, make yourself comfortable IN
that chair and let us have your news.
As you see, we have obeyed orders.
We are all ready to follow you any
where"
ut won't be to the end Of the world,
anyway" the inspector remarked, as
he lit his cigar. Il am going to pro-
nose a little excursion down Gayson
avenue way"
Back to that house?" Lenora e
claimed with q grimace.
The inspector nodded.
1--WE have had those boys at the