Lenora and Laura looking as though you had them on the
rack. You can drop that, French. I've got Red Gallagher and his mate, got
them here with the Sheriff of Bethel. They went off with my auto and sold
it. We've got that. Also, in less than five minutes my chauffeur will be
here. He's been lying in a farmhouse, unconscious, since that scrap. He
can tell you what time he saw me last. Bring the girls along, French--and
hurry!"

Quest hung up the receiver.

"I've given Inspector French something to think about," he remarked, as he
turned away. "Now, Mr. Sheriff, if you can make yourself at home for a
quarter of an hour or so, French will be here and take these fellows off
your hands. I've still a little more telephoning to do."

"You go right ahead," the Sheriff acquiesced.

Quest rang up the Professor. His response to the call was a little
languid, and his reception of the news of Quest's successful enterprise
was almost querulous.

"My friend," the Professor said, "your news gratifies me, of course. Your
rehabilitation, however, was a matter of certainty. With me life has
become a chaos. You can have no idea, with your independent nature, what
it means to entirely rely upon the ministrations of one person and to be
suddenly deprived of their help."

"No news of Craig, then?" Quest demanded.

"None at all," was the weary reply. "What about your young lady
assistant?"

"She'll be here in five minutes," Quest told him. "You had better come
along and hear her story. It ought to interest you."

"Dear me!" the Professor exclaimed. "I will certainly come--certainly!"

Quest set down the receiver and paced the room thoughtfully for a moment
or two. Although his own troubles were almost over, the main problem
before him was as yet unsolved. The affair with the Gallaghers was, after
all, only an off-shoot. It was the mystery of Lenora's abduction, the
mystery of the black box, which still called for the exercise of all his
ingenuity.

Inspector French was as good, even better, than his word. In a
surprisingly short time he entered the room, followed by Laura and Lenora.
Quest gave them a hand each, but it was into Lenora's eyes that he looked.
Her coming, her few words of greeting, timid though they were, brought him
an immense sense of relief.

"Well, girls," he said, "both full of adventures, eh? What did they do
with you in the Tombs, Laura?"

"Pshaw! What could they do?" Laura replied. "If they're guys enough