The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-01-06
FIFTEENTH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER xxxv,

CHAP En- NAV
The first shock was over. Craig's
body had been removed, and the girls
had taken Mary, half stunned with
grief, to their room. French and
Quest were left alone.
THAT is some disappointment"
the former remarked. gloomily.
ut is a disappointment" Quest
said, slowly, (which may clear the
way to bigger things"
Whats In your mind now?" French
inquired.
Quest shook his head.
"a turmoil. First of oil, where is
the professor"
Must have scooted right away
home" French suggested. "He was
looking pretty sick all the time. Guess
It must have been a powerful shock
for him, and he isn't SO young as he
used to be-"
Give me that paper Of Craig's
again." Quest asked
The Inspector produced the docu-
ment from his inner pocket, and
Quest. stretching II out upon his knee,
read ii word for word.
Never to communicate or to have
anything to do with anyone Of the
name of Ashleigh. ehf" he remarked,
as he handed It back again. Rather
a queer provision, that, French"
"Tvc been thinking that myself" the
Inspector admitted.
Quest glanced at the clock.
WELL" he said. "if you're ready,
Inspector, Wen be getting along"
The two men drove to the outskirts
of the city almost in silence. The
professors house seemed more than
yer deserted as they drew up at the
front door. They entered without
ringing and crossed the hall towards
the library. On the threshold Quest
pausa1 ard he.a up his finger.
-n~ a Is IN there" he whispered.
q D..u quickly forward. Gomez"
,arew open the door. The room
was empty, yet both Quest and French
were conscious of q curious convic-
tion that 1t had been occupied with
In the last few seconds.
Queer. but 1t seemed to me ! heard
someone" French muttered.
II was sure of it," Quest replied,
They stood still for a moment and
listened. The silence In the empty
house was almost unnatural. Quest
turned away with a shrug Of the
shoulders.
Eat any rate" he said, "Craig's dy-
ing thoughts must have been truth
fui. Come"
He led the way To the fireplace,
went down on his knees and passed
his hands owe the bricks. The third
n he touched. shook. He tapped
it-without a doubt it was hollow.
With his penknife he loosened the
mortar a little and drew it out easily.
The back was open. Inside was the
black box.
"Craig's secret at last" French
muttered. hoarsely. Bring 1t to the
Light. Quick!"
They were Unconditional men. but the
moment was supreme. The key to
the mystery of these tragical weeks
was there In their hands! Their eyes
almost devoured those few hastily
scrawied words buried with so much
care:
See Page 81, January Number,
American Medical Journal, 1905. !.
They looked at one another. They
repeated vaguely this most common
place Of messages. As the final result
Of their strenuous enterprise. these
cryptic words seemed pitifully made
euate. Quests face darkened. He
arumpled the paper In his fingers.
There must be some meaning in
1his." he muttered. 1T can't be alto
gether a fools game we're on Wait"
He moved towards q table which
usually stood against the wail, but
which had obviously been dragged
cut recently into the middle Of the
room. It was covered with bound
volumes. Queae glanced at one and
exclaimed soitiy:
American Medical Journal. 1905!
Preach, there's something In this mes
paao. after All
no turned over the pages rapidly.
Then 10 cazas. stop
ms thers; pass - had been neatly
>emovod With : pair o. scissors
Ihe pro(esDor!" - cE1ed. TIA
Wo1c1rngss troo at work horef~
TneStEo 1rellng - -
r1nrn