,,the ,,gold ,,of ,,the ,,gods ,,by ,,arthur ,b4 ,,reeve ,,frontispiece ,,by ,,will ,,foster ,,contents ,i ,,the ,,peruvian ,,dagger ,,ii ,,the ,,soldier ,,of ,,fortune ,,iii ,,the ,,archaeological ,,detective ,,iv ,,the ,,treasure ,,hunters ,v ,,the ,,wall ,,street ,,promoter ,,vi ,,the ,,curse ,,of ,,mansiche ,,vii ,,the ,,arrow ,,poison ,,viii ,,the ,,anonymous ,,letter ,,ix ,,the ,,paper ,,fibres ,x ,,the ,x-,,ray ,,reader ,,xi ,,the ,,shoe-,,prints ,,xii ,,the ,,evil ,,eye ,,xiii ,,the ,,poisoned ,,cigarette ,,xiv ,,the ,,interferometer ,,xv ,,the ,,weed ,,of ,,madness ,,xvi ,,the ,,ear ,,in ,,the ,,wall ,,xvii ,,the ,,voice ,,from ,,the ,,air ,,xviii ,,the ,,antidote ,,xix ,,the ,,burglar ,,powder ,,xx ,,the ,,pulmotor ,,xxi ,,the ,,telescribe ,,xxii ,,the ,,vanisher ,,xxiii ,,the ,,acetylene ,,torch ,,xxiv ,,the ,,police ,,dog ,,xxv ,,the ,,gold ,,of ,,the ,,gods ,i ,,the ,,peruvian ,,dagger ,there's something weird and mysterious about the robbery1 ,kennedy4 ,they took the very thing ,i treasure most of all1 an ancient ,peruvian dagger4 ,professor ,allan ,norton was very much excited as he dropped into ,craig's laboratory early that forenoon4 ,norton1 ,i may say1 was one of the younger members of the faculty1 like ,kennedy4 ,already1 however1 he had made for himself a place as one of the foremost of ,south ,american explorers and archaeologists4 ,how they got into the ,south ,american section of the ,museum1 though1 ,i don't understand1 he hurried on4 ,but1 once in1 that they should take the most valuable relic ,i brought back with me on this last expedition1 ,i think certainly shows that it was a robbery with a deep-laid1 premeditated purpose4 ,nothing else is gone8 queried ,kennedy4 ,nothing1 returned the professor4 ,that's the strangest part of it--to me4 ,it was a peculiar dagger1 too1 he continued reminiscently4 ,i say that it was valuable1 for on the blade were engraved some curious ,inca characters4 ,i wasn't able to take the time to decipher them1 down there1 for the age of the metal made them almost illegible4 ,but now that ,i have all my stuff unpacked and arranged after my trip1 ,i was just about to try--when along comes a thief and robs me4 ,we can't have the ,university ,museum broken into that way1 you know1 ,kennedy4 ,i should say not1 readily assented ,craig4 ,i'd like to look the place over4 ,just what ,i wanted1 exclaimed ,norton1 heartily delighted1 and leading the way4 ,we walked across the campus with him to the ,museum1 still chatting4 ,norton was a tall1 spare man1 wiry1 precisely the type one would pick to make an explorer in a tropical climate4 ,his features were sharp1 suggesting a clear and penetrating mind and a disposition to make the most of everything1 no matter how slight4 ,indeed that had been his history1 ,i knew4 ,he had come to college a couple of years before ,kennedy and myself1 almost penniless1 and had worked his way through by doing everything from waiting on table to tutoring4 ,to-day he stood forth as a shining example of self-made intellectual man1 as cultured as if he had sprung from a race of scholars1 as practical as if he had taken to mills rather than museums4 ,we entered a handsome white-marble building in the shape of a rectangle1 facing the ,university ,library1 a building1 by the way1 which ,norton had persuaded several wealthy trustees and other donors to erect4 ,kennedy at once began examining the section devoted to ,latin ,america1 going over everything very carefully4 ,i looked about1 too4 ,there were treasures from ,mexico and ,peru1 from every romantic bit of the wonderful countries south of us--blocks of porphyry with quaint grecques and hieroglyphic painting from ,mitla1 copper axes and pottery from ,cuzco1 sculptured stones and mosaics1 jugs1 cups1 vases1 little gods and great1 sacrificial stones1 a treasure house of ,aztec and ,inca lore--enough to keep one occupied for hours merely to look at4 ,yet1 ,i reflected1 following ,norton1 in all this mass of material1 the thief seemed to have selected one1 apparently insignificant1 dagger1 the thing which ,norton prized because1 somehow1 it bore on its blade something which he had not1 as yet1 been able to fathom4 ,though ,kennedy looked thoroughly and patiently1 it seemed as though there was nothing there to tell any story of the robbery1 and he turned his attention at last to other parts of the ,museum4 ,as he made his way about slowly1 ,i noted that he was looking particularly into corners1 behind cabinets1 around angles4 ,what he expected to find ,i could not even guess4 ,further along and on the same side of the building we came to the section devoted to ,egyptology4 ,kennedy paused4 ,standing there1 upright against the wall1 was a mummy case4 ,to me1 even now1 the thing had a creepy look4 ,craig pushed aside the stone lid irreverently and gazed keenly into the uncanny depths of the stone sarcophagus4 ,an instant later he was down on his hands and knees1 carefully examining the interior by means of a pocket lens4 ,i think ,i have made a start1 he remarked1 rising to his feet and facing us with an air of satisfaction4 ,we said nothing1 and he pointed to some almost undiscernible marks in a thin layer of dust that had collected in the sarcophagus4 ,if ,i'm not mistaken1 he went on1 your thief got into the ,museum during the daytime1 and1 when no one was looking1 hid here4 ,he must have stayed until the place was locked up at night4 ,then he could rob at his leisure1 only taking care to confine his operations to the time between the rather infrequent rounds of the night watchman4 ,kennedy bent down again4 ,look1 he indicated4 ,there are the marks of shoes in the dust1 shoes with nails in the heels1 of course4 ,i shall have to compare the marks that ,i have found here with those ,i have collected1 following out the method of the immortal ,bertillon4 ,every make of shoes has its own peculiarities1 both in the number and the arrangement of the nails4 ,offhand1 however1 ,i should say that these shoes were ,american-made--though that1 of course1 does not necessarily mean that an ,american wore them4 ,i may even be able to determine which of a number of individual pairs of shoes made the marks4 ,i cannot tell that yet1 until ,i study them4 ,walter1 ,i wish you'd go over to my laboratory4 ,in the second right-hand drawer of my desk you'll find a package of paper4 ,i'd like to have it4 ,don't you think you ought to preserve the marks8 ,i heard ,norton hint1 as ,i left4 ,he had been watching ,kennedy in open-eyed amazement and interest4 ,exactly what ,i am sending ,walter to do1 he returned4 ,i have some specially prepared paper that will take those dust marks up and give me a perfect replica4 ,i hurried back as fast as ,i could1 and ,kennedy bent to the task of preserving the marks4 ,have you any idea who might have an object in stealing the dagger8 ,kennedy asked1 when he had finished4 ,norton shrugged his shoulders4 ,i believe some weird superstitions were connected with it1 he replied4 ,it had a three-sided blade1 and1 as ,i told you1 both the blade and the hilt were covered with peculiar markings4 ,there seemed to be nothing more that could be discovered from a further examination of the ,museum4 ,it was plain enough that the thief must have let himself out of a side door which had a spring lock on it and closed itself4 ,not a mark or scratch was to be found on any of the window or door locks2 nothing else seemed to have been disturbed4 ,evidently the thief had been after that one1 to him priceless1 object4 ,having got it1 he was content to get away1 leaving untouched the other treasures1 some of which were even intrinsically valuable for the metal and precious stones in them4 ,the whole affair seemed so strange to me1 however1 that1 somehow1 ,i could not help wondering whether ,norton had told us the whole or only half the story as he knew it about the dagger and its history4 ,still talking with the archaeologist1 ,kennedy and ,i returned to his laboratory4 ,we had scarcely reached the door when we heard the telephone ringing insistently4 ,i answered1 and it happened to be a call for me4 ,it was the editor of the ,star endeavouring to catch me1 before ,i started downtown to the office1 in order to give me an assignment4 ,that's strange1 ,i exclaimed1 hanging up the receiver and turning to ,craig4 ,i've got to go out on a murder case-- ,an interesting case8 asked ,craig1 interrupting his own train of investigation with a flash of professional interest4 ,why1 a man has been murdered in his apartment on ,central ,park1 ,west1 ,i believe4 ,luis de ,mendoza is the name1 and it seems-- ,don ,luis de ,mendoza8 repeated ,norton1 with a startled exclamation4 ,why1 he was an influential ,peruvian1 a man of affairs in his country1 and an accomplished scholar4 ,i--,i--if you don't mind1 ,i'd like to go over with you4 ,i know the ,mendozas4 ,kennedy was watching ,norton's face keenly4 ,i think ,i'll go1 too1 ,walter1 he decided4 ,you won't lack assistants on this story1 apparently4 ,perhaps you can be of some assistance to them1 also1 put in ,norton to ,kennedy1 as we left4 ,it was only a short ride downtown1 and our cab soon pulled up before a rather ornate entrance of a large apartment in one of the most exclusive sections of the city4 ,we jumped out and entered1 succeeding in making our way to the sixth floor1 where ,mendoza lived1 without interference from the hallboy1 who had been completely swamped by the rush that followed the excitement of finding one of the tenants murdered4 ,there was no missing the place4 ,the hall had been taken over by the reporters1 who had established themselves there1 terrible as an army with concealed pads and pencils4 ,from one of the morning men already there ,i learned that our old friend ,dr4 ,leslie1 the coroner1 was already in charge4 ,somehow1 whether it was through ,kennedy's acquaintance with ,dr4 ,leslie or ,norton's acquaintance with the ,mendozas and the ,spanish tongue1 we found ourselves beyond the barrier of the door which shut out my rivals4 ,as we stood for a moment in a handsome and tastefully furnished living room a young lady passed through hurriedly4 ,she paused in the middle of the room as she saw us and eyed us tremulously1 as though to ask us why we had intruded4 ,it was a rather awkward situation4 ,quickly ,norton came to the rescue4 ,i hope you will pardon me1 ,senorita1 he bowed in perfect ,spanish1 but-- ,oh1 ,professor ,norton1 it is you6 she cried in ,english1 recognizing him4 ,i'm so nervous that ,i didn't see you at first4 ,she glanced from him to us1 inquiringly4 ,i recollected that my editor had mentioned a daughter who might prove to be an interesting and important figure in the mystery4 ,she spoke in an overwrought1 agitated tone4 ,i studied her furtively4 ,inez de ,mendoza was unmistakably beautiful1 of the dark ,spanish type1 with soft brown eyes that appealed to one when she talked1 and a figure which at any less tragic moment one might have been pardoned for admiring4 ,her soft olive skin1 masses of dark hair1 and lustrous1 almost voluptuous1 eyes contrasted wonderfully with the finely chiselled lines of her nose1 the firm chin1 and graceful throat and neck4 ,here one recognized a girl of character and family in the depths of whose soul smouldered all the passion of a fiery race4 ,i hope you will pardon me for intruding1 ,norton repeated4 ,believe me1 it is not with mere idle curiosity4 ,let me introduce my friend1 ,professor ,kennedy1 the scientific detective1 of whom you have heard1 no doubt4 ,this is his assistant1 ,mr4 ,jameson1 of the ,star4 ,i thought perhaps they might stand between you and that crowd in the hall1 he added1 motioning toward the reporters on the other side of the door4 ,you can trust them absolutely4 ,i'm sure that if there is anything any of us can do to aid you in--in your trouble1 you may be sure that we are at your service4 ,she looked about a moment in the presence of three strangers who had invaded the quietness of what had been1 at least temporarily1 home4 ,she seemed to be seeking some one on whom to lean1 as though some support had suddenly been knocked from under her1 leaving her dazed at the change4 ,oh1 madre de ,dios6 she cried4 ,what shall ,i do8 ,oh1 my father--my poor father6 ,inez ,mendoza was really a pathetic and appealing figure as she stood there in the room1 alone4 ,quickly she looked us over1 as if1 by some sort of occult intuition of woman1 she were reading our souls4 ,then1 instinctively almost1 she turned to ,kennedy4 ,kennedy seemed to recognize her need4 ,norton and ,i retired1 somewhat more than figuratively4 ,you--you are a detective8 she queried4 ,you can read mystery--like a book8 ,kennedy smiled encouragingly4 ,hardly as my friend ,walter here often paints me1 he returned4 ,still1 now and then1 we are able to use the vast knowledge of wise men the world over to help those in trouble4 ,tell me--everything1 he soothed1 as though knowing that to talk would prove a safety-valve for her pent-up emotions4 ,perhaps ,i can help you4 ,for a moment she did not know what to do4 ,then1 almost before she knew it1 apparently1 she began to talk to him1 forgetting that we were in the room4 ,tell me how the thing happened1 all that you know1 how you found it out1 prompted ,craig4 ,oh1 it was midnight1 last night2 yes1 late1 she returned wildly4 ,i was sleeping when my maid1 ,juanita1 wakened me and told me that ,mr4 ,lockwood was in the living room and wanted to see me1 must see me4 ,i dressed hurriedly1 for it came to me that something must be the matter4 ,i think ,i must have come out sooner than they expected1 for before they knew it ,i had run across the living room and looked through the door into the den1 you call it1 over there4 ,she pointed at a heavy door1 but did not1 evidently could not1 let her eyes rest on it4 ,there was my father1 huddled in a chair1 and blood had run out from an ugly wound in his side4 ,i screamed and fell on my knees beside him4 ,but1 she shuddered1 it was too late4 ,he was cold4 ,he did not answer4 ,kennedy said nothing1 but let her weep into her dainty lace handkerchief1 though the impulse was strong to do anything to calm her grief4 ,mr4 ,lockwood had come in to visit him on business1 had found the door into the hall open1 and entered4 ,no one seemed to be about2 but the lights were burning4 ,he went on into the den4 ,there was my father-- ,she stopped1 and could not go on at all for several minutes4 ,and ,mr4 ,lockwood1 who is he8 asked ,craig gently4 ,my father and ,i1 we have been in this country only a short time1 she replied1 trying to speak in good ,english in spite of her emotion1 with his partner in a--a mining venture--,mr4 ,lockwood4 ,she paused again and hesitated1 as though in this strange land of the north she had no idea of which way to turn for help4 ,but once started1 now1 she did not stop again4 ,oh1 she went on passionately1 ,i don't know what it was that came over my father4 ,but lately he had been a changed man4 ,sometimes ,i thought he was--what you call--mad4 ,i should have gone to see a doctor about him1 she added wildly1 her feelings getting the better of her4 ,but it is no longer a case for a doctor4 ,it is a case for a detective--for some one who is more than a detective4 ,you cannot bring him back1 but-- ,she could not go on4 ,yet her broken sentence spoke volumes1 in her pleading1 soft1 musical voice1 which was far more pleasing to the ear than that of the usual ,latin-,american4 ,i had heard that the women of ,lima were famed for their beauty and melodious voices4 ,senorita ,inez surely upheld their reputation4 ,there was an appealing look now in her soft deep-brown eyes1 and her thin1 delicate lips trembled as she hurried on with her strange story4 ,i never saw my father in such a state before1 she murmured4 ,for days all he had talked about was the 'big fish1' the peje grande1 whatever that might mean--and the curse of ,mansiche4 ,the recollection of the past few days seemed to be too much for her4 ,almost before we knew it1 before ,norton1 who had started to ask her a question1 could speak1 she excused herself and fled from the room1 leaving only the indelible impression of loveliness and the appeal for help that was irresistible4 ,kennedy turned to ,norton4 ,but just then the door to the den opened and we saw our friend ,dr4 ,leslie4 ,he saw us1 too1 and took a few steps in our direction4 ,what--you here1 ,kennedy8 he greeted in surprise as ,craig shook hands and introduced ,norton4 ,and ,jameson1 too8 ,well1 ,i think you've found a case at last that will baffle you4 ,as we talked he led the way across the living room and into the den from which he had just come4 ,it is very strange1 he said1 telling at once all that he had been able to discover4 ,senor ,mendoza was discovered here about midnight last night by his partner1 ,mr4 ,lockwood4 ,there seem to be no clues to how or by whom he was murdered4 ,no locks had been broken4 ,i have examined the hall-boy who was here last night4 ,he seems to be off his post a good deal when it is late4 ,he saw ,mr4 ,lockwood come in1 and took him in the elevator up to the sixth floor4 ,after that we can find nothing but the open door into the apartment4 ,it is not at all impossible that some one might have come in when the boy was off his post1 have walked up1 even have walked down1 the stairs again4 ,in fact1 it must have been that way4 ,no windows1 not even on the fire-escape1 have been tampered with4 ,in fact1 the murder must have been done by some one admitted to the apartment late by ,mendoza himself4 ,we walked over to the couch on which lay the body covered by a sheet4 ,dr4 ,leslie drew down the sheet4 ,on the face was a most awful look1 a terrible stare and contortion of the features1 and a deep1 almost purple1 discoloration4 ,the muscles were all tense and rigid4 ,i shall never forget that face and its look1 half of pain1 half of fear1 as if of something nameless4 ,mendoza had been a heavy-set man1 whose piercing black eyes beetled forth1 in life1 from under bushy brows4 ,even in death1 barring that horrible look1 he was rather distinguished-looking1 and his close-cropped hair and moustache set him off as a man of affairs and consequence in his own country4 ,most peculiar1 ,kennedy1 reiterated ,dr4 ,leslie1 pointing to the breast4 ,you see that wound8 ,i can't quite determine whether that was the real cause of death or not4 ,of course1 it's a bad wound1 it's true4 ,but there seems to be something else here1 too4 ,look at the pupils of his eyes1 how contracted they are4 ,the lungs seem congested1 too4 ,he has all the marks of having been asphyxiated4 ,yet there are no indications on his throat of violence such as would be necessary if that were the case4 ,there could have been no such thing as illuminating gas1 nor have we found any trace of any receptacles which might have held poison4 ,i can't seem to make it out4 ,kennedy bent over the body and looked at it attentively for several minutes1 while we stood back of him1 scarcely uttering a word in the presence of this terrible thing4 ,deftly ,kennedy managed to extract a few drops of blood from about the wound and transfer them to a very small test-tube which he carried in a little emergency pocket-case in order to preserve material for future study4 ,you say the dagger was triangular1 ,norton8 he asked finally1 without looking up from his minute examination4 ,yes1 with another blade that shot out automatically when you knew the secret of pressing the hilt in a certain way4 ,the outside triangular blade separated into three to allow an inner blade to shoot out4 ,kennedy had risen and1 as ,norton described the ,inca dagger1 looked from one to the other of us keenly4 ,that blade was poisoned1 he concluded quietly4 ,we have a clue to your missing dagger4 ,mendoza was murdered by it6 ,,ii ,,the ,,soldier ,,of ,,fortune ,i should like to have another talk with ,senorita ,inez1 remarked ,kennedy1 a few minutes later1 as with ,dr4 ,leslie and ,professor ,norton we turned into the living room and closed the door to the den4 ,while ,norton volunteered to send one of the servants in to see whether the young lady was able to stand the strain of another interview1 ,dr4 ,leslie received a hurry call to another case4 ,you'll let me know1 ,kennedy1 if you discover anything8 he asked1 shaking hands with us4 ,i shall keep you informed1 also1 from my end4 ,that poison completely baffles me--so far4 ,you know1 we might as well work together4 ,assuredly1 agreed ,craig1 as the coroner left4 ,that1 he added to me1 as the door closed1 was one word for me and two for himself4 ,i can do the work2 he wants to save his official face4 ,he never will know what that poison was--until ,i tell him4 ,inez had by this time so far recovered her composure that she was able to meet us again in the living room4 ,i'm very sorry to have to trouble you again1 apologized ,kennedy1 but if ,i am to get anywhere in this case ,i must have the facts4 ,she looked at him1 half-puzzled1 and1 ,i fancied1 half-frightened1 too4 ,anything ,i can tell you--of course1 ask me1 she said4 ,had your father any enemies who might desire his death8 shot out ,kennedy1 almost without warning4 ,no1 she answered slowly1 still watching him carefully1 then adding hastily3 ,of course1 you know1 no one who tries to do anything is absolutely without enemies1 though4 ,i mean1 repeated ,craig1 carefully noting a certain hesitation in her tone1 was there any one who1 for reasons best known to himself1 might have murdered him in a way peculiarly likely under the circumstances1 say1 with a dagger8 ,inez flashed a quick glance at ,kennedy1 as if to inquire just how much or how little he really knew4 ,i got the impression from it1 at least1 that she was holding back some suspicion for a reason that perhaps she would not even have admitted to herself4 ,i saw that ,norton was also following the line of ,kennedy's questioning keenly1 though he said nothing4 ,before ,kennedy could take up the lead again1 her maid1 ,juanita1 a very pretty girl of ,spanish and ,indian descent1 entered softly4 ,mr4 ,lockwood1 she whispered1 but not so low that we could not hear4 ,won't you ask him to come in1 ,nita8 she replied4 ,a moment later a young man pushed open the door--a tall1 clean-cut young fellow1 whose face bore the tan of a sun much stronger than any about ,new ,york4 ,as ,i took his appraisal1 ,i found him unmistakably of the type of ,american soldier of fortune who has been carried by the wander-spirit down among the romantic republics to the south of our own4 ,professor ,kennedy1 began ,senorita ,mendoza1 presenting us all in turn1 let me introduce ,mr4 ,lockwood1 my father's partner in several ventures which brought us to ,new ,york4 ,as we shook hands ,i could not help feeling that the young mining engineer1 for such he proved to be by ostensible profession1 was something more to her than a mere partner in her father's schemes4 ,i believe ,i've met ,professor ,norton1 he remarked1 as they shook hands4 ,perhaps he remembers when we were in ,lima4 ,perfectly1 replied ,norton1 returning the penetrating glance in kind4 ,also in ,new ,york1 he added4 ,lockwood turned abruptly4 ,are you quite sure you are able to stand the strain of this interview8 he asked ,inez in a low tone4 ,norton glanced at ,kennedy and raised his eyebrows just the fraction of an inch1 as if to call attention to the neat manner in which ,lockwood had turned the subject4 ,inez smiled sadly4 ,i must1 she said1 in a forced tone4 ,i fancied that ,lockwood noted and did not relish an air of restraint in her words4 ,it was you1 ,i believe1 ,mr4 ,lockwood1 who found ,senor ,mendoza last night8 queried ,kennedy1 as if to read the answer into the record1 although he already knew it4 ,yes1 replied ,lockwood1 without hesitation1 though with a glance at the averted head of ,inez1 and choosing his words very carefully1 as if trying hard not to say more than she could bear4 ,yes4 ,i came up here to report on some financial matters which interested both of us1 very late1 perhaps after midnight4 ,i was about to press the buzzer on the door when ,i saw that the door was slightly ajar4 ,i opened it and found lights still burning4 ,the rest ,i think you must already know4 ,even that tactful reference to the tragedy was too much for ,inez4 ,she suppressed a little convulsive sob1 but did not1 this time1 try to flee from the room4 ,you saw nothing about the den that aroused any suspicions8 pursued ,kennedy4 ,no bottle1 no glass8 ,there wasn't the odour of any gas or drug8 ,lockwood shook his head slowly1 fixing his eyes on ,kennedy's face1 but not looking at him4 ,no1 he answered2 ,i have told ,dr4 ,leslie just what ,i found4 ,if there had been anything else ,i'm sure ,i would have noticed it while ,i was waiting for ,miss ,inez to come in4 ,his answers seemed perfectly frank and straight-forward4 ,yet somehow ,i could not get over the feeling that he1 as well as ,inez1 was not telling quite all he knew--perhaps not about the murder1 but about matters that might be related to it4 ,norton evidently felt the same way4 ,you saw no weapon--a dagger8 he interrupted suddenly4 ,the young man faced ,norton squarely4 ,to me it seemed as if he had been expecting the question4 ,not a thing1 he said deliberately4 ,i looked about carefully1 too4 ,whatever weapon was used must have been taken away by the murderer1 he added4 ,juanita entered again1 and ,inez excused herself to answer the telephone1 while we stood in the living room chatting for a few minutes4 ,what is this 'curse of ,mansiche' which the ,senorita has mentioned8 asked ,kennedy1 seeing a chance to open a new line of inquiry with ,lockwood4 ,oh1 ,i don't know1 he returned1 impatiently flicking the ashes of a cigarette which he had lighted the moment ,inez left the room1 as though such stories had no interest for the practical mind of an engineer4 ,some old superstition1 ,i suppose4 ,lockwood seemed to regard ,norton with a sort of aversion1 if not hostility1 and ,i fancied that ,norton1 on his part1 neglected no opportunity to let the other know that he was watching him4 ,i don't know much about the story1 resumed ,lockwood a moment later as no one said anything4 ,but ,i do know that there is treasure in that great old ,chimu mound near ,truxillo4 ,don ,luis has the government concession to bore into the mound1 too1 and we are raising the capital to carry the scheme through to success4 ,he had come to the end of a sentence4 ,yet the inflection of his voice showed plainly that it was not the end of the idea that had been in his mind4 ,if you knew where to dig1 suddenly supplied ,norton1 gazing keenly into the eyes of the soldier of fortune4 ,lockwood did not answer1 though it was evident that that had been the thought unexpressed in his remarks4 ,the return of the ,senorita to the room seemed to break the tension4 ,it was the house telephone1 she said1 in a quiet voice4 ,the hall-boy didn't know whether to admit a visitor who comes with his sympathy4 ,then she turned from us to ,lockwood4 ,you must know him1 she said1 somewhat embarrassed4 ,senor ,alfonso de ,moche4 ,lockwood suppressed a frown1 but said nothing1 for1 a moment later1 a young man came in4 ,almost in silence he advanced to ,inez and took her hand in a manner that plainly showed his sympathy in her bereavement4 ,i have just heard1 he said simply1 and ,i hastened around to tell you how much ,i feel your loss4 ,if there is anything ,i can do-- ,he stopped1 and did not finish the sentence4 ,it was unnecessary4 ,his eyes finished it for him4 ,alfonso de ,moche was1 ,i thought1 a very handsome fellow1 though not of the ,spanish type at all4 ,his forehead was high1 with a shock of straight black hair1 his skin rather copper-coloured1 nose slightly aquiline1 chin and mouth firm2 in fact1 the whole face was refined and intellectual1 though tinged with melancholy4 ,thank you1 she murmured1 then turned to us4 ,i believe you are acquainted with ,mr4 de ,moche1 ,professor ,norton8 she asked4 ,you know he is taking post-graduate work at the ,university4 ,slightly1 returned ,norton1 gazing at the young man in a manner that plainly disconcerted him4 ,i believe ,i have met his mother in ,peru4 ,senorita ,mendoza seemed to colour at the mention of ,senora de ,moche4 ,it flashed over me that1 in his greeting ,alfonso had said nothing of his mother4 ,i wondered if there might be a reason for it4 ,could it be that ,senorita ,mendoza had some antipathy which did not include the son8 ,though we did not seem to be making much progress in this way in solving the mystery1 still ,i felt that before we could go ahead we must know the little group about which it centred4 ,there seemed to be currents and cross-currents here which we did not understand1 but which must be charted if we were to steer a straight course4 ,and ,professor ,kennedy8 she added1 turning to us4 ,i think ,i have seen ,mr4 de ,moche about the campus1 said ,craig1 as ,i1 too1 shook hands with him1 although you are not in any of my classes4 ,no1 ,professor1 concurred the young man1 who was1 however1 considerably older than the average student taking courses like his4 ,i found it quite enough to watch the faces of those about me just then4 ,between ,lockwood and de ,moche it seemed that there existed a latent hostility4 ,the two eyed each other with decided disfavour4 ,as for ,norton1 he seemed to be alternately watching each of them4 ,an awkward silence followed1 and de ,moche seemed to take the cue1 for after a few more remarks to ,inez he withdrew as gracefully as he could1 with a parting interchange of frigid formalities with ,lockwood4 ,it did not take much of a detective to deduce that both of the young men might have agreed on one thing1 though that caused the most serious of differences between them--their estimation of ,inez de ,mendoza4 ,inez1 on her part1 seemed also to be visibly relieved at his departure1 though she had been cordial enough to him4 ,i wondered what it all meant4 ,lockwood1 too1 seemed to be ill at ease still4 ,but it was a different uneasiness1 rather directed at ,norton than at us4 ,once before ,i had thought he was on the point of excusing himself1 but the entrance of de ,moche seemed to have decided him to stay at least as long as his rival4 ,i beg your pardon1 ,senorita1 he now apologized1 but ,i really must go4 ,there are still some affairs which ,i must attend to in order to protect the interests we represent4 ,he turned to us4 ,you will excuse me1 ,i know1 he added1 but ,i have a very important appointment4 ,you know ,don ,luis and ,i were assisting in organizing the campaign of ,stuart ,whitney to interest ,american manufacturers1 and particularly bankers1 in the chances in ,south ,america which lie at hand1 if we are only awake to take advantage of them4 ,i shall be at your service1 ,senorita1 as soon as the meeting is over4 ,i presume ,i shall see you again8 he nodded to ,kennedy4 ,quite likely1 returned ,kennedy drily4 ,if there is any assistance ,i can render in clearing up this dreadful thing1 went on ,lockwood1 in a lower tone to us1 you may count on me absolutely4 ,thank you1 returned ,craig1 with a significant glance4 ,i may have to take up that offer4 ,do so1 by all means1 he reiterated1 bowing to ,norton and backing out of the door4 ,alone again with ,inez ,mendoza1 ,kennedy turned suddenly4 ,who is this ,senor de ,moche8 he asked4 ,i gather that you must have known him in ,peru4 ,yes1 she agreed4 ,i knew him in ,lima2 then adding1 as if by way of confession1 when he was a student at the ,university4 ,there was something in both her tone and manner that would lead one to believe that she had only the kindliest feelings toward de ,moche1 whatever might be the case1 as it seemed1 with his mother4 ,for a moment ,kennedy now advanced and took ,senorita ,inez by the hand4 ,i must go now1 he said simply4 ,if there is anything which you have not told me1 ,i should like to know4 ,no--nothing1 she answered4 ,he did not take his eyes from hers4 ,if you should recall anything else1 he persisted1 don't hesitate to tell me4 ,i will come here1 or you may come to the laboratory1 whichever is more convenient4 ,i shall do so1 she replied4 ,and thank you a thousand times for the trouble you are going to in my behalf4 ,you may be sure that ,i appreciate it4 ,norton also bade her farewell1 and she thanked him for having brought us over4 ,i noticed also that ,norton1 though considerably older than any of us1 had apparently succumbed to the spell of her wonderful eyes and face4 ,i also would be glad to help you1 he promised4 ,you can usually find me at the ,museum4 ,thank you all1 she murmured4 ,you are all so kind to me4 ,an hour ago ,i felt that ,i had not a friend in all this big city--except ,mr4 ,lockwood4 ,now ,i feel that ,i am not quite all alone4 ,she said it to ,norton1 but it was really meant for ,kennedy4 ,i know ,craig shared my own feelings4 ,it was a rare pleasure to work for her4 ,she seemed most appreciative of anything that was done for her in her defenceless position4 ,as we passed out of the apartment house and sought our cab again1 ,kennedy was the first to speak1 and to ,norton4 ,do you know anything more about these men1 ,lockwood and de ,moche8 he queried1 as we sped uptown4 ,i don't know a thing1 he replied cautiously4 ,i--,i'd much prefer not to talk of suspicions4 ,but the dagger1 insisted ,kennedy4 ,have you no suspicions of what became of it and who took it8 ,i'd prefer not to talk of mere suspicions1 he repeated4 ,little was said as we turned in at the campus and at last drew up before ,norton's wing of the ,museum4 ,you will let me know of any development1 no matter how trivial8 asked ,kennedy1 as we parted4 ,your dagger seems to have stirred up more trouble than there was any reason to suppose when you came to me first4 ,i should say so1 he agreed4 ,i don't know how to repay the interest you have shown in its recovery4 ,if anything else materializes1 ,i shall surely get word to you immediately4 ,as we turned to leave1 ,i could not help thinking of the manner of ,lockwood and ,norton toward each other4 ,the name ,stuart ,whitney ran through my head4 ,stuart ,whitney was a trustee of the ,university who had contributed heavily1 among other things1 to ,norton's various expeditions to ,south ,america4 ,was it that ,norton felt a peculiar loyalty to ,whitney1 or was he jealous that any one else should succeed in interesting his patron in things ,south ,american8 ,the actions of the two young men1 ,lockwood and de ,moche1 recurred to me4 ,well1 ,i remarked1 as we walked along1 what do you think it is--a romance or a simple crime-hunt8 ,both1 ,i suspect1 replied ,craig abstractedly4 ,only not simple4 ,,iii ,,the ,,archaeological ,,detective ,i think ,i'll go into the ,university ,library1 ,craig remarked1 as we left ,norton before his building4 ,i want to refresh my mind on some of those old ,peruvian antiquities and traditions4 ,what the ,senorita hinted at may prove to be very important4 ,i suppose you will have to turn in a story to the ,star soon8 ,yes1 ,i agreed1 ,i'll have to turn in something1 although ,i'd prefer to wait4 ,try to get an assignment to follow the case to the end1 suggested ,craig4 ,i think you'll find it worth while4 ,anyhow1 this will give you a chance for a breathing space1 and1 if ,i have this thing doped out right1 you won't get another for some time4 ,i'll meet you over in the laboratory in a couple of hours4 ,craig hurried up the long flight of white-marble steps to the library and disappeared1 while ,i jumped on the subway and ran downtown to the office4 ,it took me1 as ,i knew it would1 considerably over a couple of hours to clear things up at the ,star1 so that ,i could take advantage of a special arrangement which ,i had made1 so that ,i could1 when a case warranted it1 co-operate with ,kennedy4 ,my story was necessarily brief1 but that was what ,i wanted just now4 ,i did not propose to have the whole field of special-feature writers camping on my preserve4 ,uptown ,i hurried again1 afraid that ,kennedy had finished and might have been called away4 ,but when ,i reached the laboratory he was not there1 and ,i found that he had not been4 ,up and down ,i paced restlessly4 ,there was nothing else to do but wait4 ,if he was unable to keep his appointment here with me1 ,i knew that he would soon telephone4 ,what was it1 ,i wondered1 that kept him delving into the archaeological lore of the library8 ,i had about given him up1 when he hurried into the laboratory in a high state of excitement4 ,what did you find8 ,i queried4 ,has anything happened8 ,let me tell you first what ,i found in the library1 he replied1 tilting his hat back on his head and alternately thrusting and withdrawing his fingers in his waistcoat pockets1 as if in some way that might help him to piece together some scattered fragments of a story which he had just picked up4 ,i've been looking up that hint that the ,senorita dropped when she used those words peje grande1 which mean1 literally1 'big fish1' he resumed4 ,walter1 it fires the imagination4 ,you have read of the wealth that ,pizarro found in ,peru1 of course4 ,visions of ,prescott flashed through my mind as he spoke4 ,well1 where are the gold and silver of the conquistadores8 ,gone to the melting-pot1 centuries ago4 ,but is there none left8 ,the ,indians in ,peru believe so1 at any rate4 ,and1 ,walter1 there are persons who would stop at nothing to get at the secret4 ,it is a matter of history that soon after the conquest a vast fortune was unearthed of which the ,king of ,spain's fifth amounted to five million dollars4 ,that treasure was known as the peje chica--the little fish4 ,one version of the story tells that an ,inca ruler1 the great ,cacique ,mansiche1 had observed with particular attention the kindness of a young ,spaniard toward the people of the conquered race4 ,also1 he had observed that the man was comparatively poor4 ,at any rate1 he revealed the secret of the hiding-place of the peje chica1 on condition that a part of the wealth should be used to advance the interests of the ,indians4 ,the most valuable article discovered was in the form of a fish of solid gold and so large that the ,spaniards considered it a rare prize4 ,but the ,cacique assured his young friend that it was only the little fish1 that a much greater treasure existed1 worth many times the value of this one4 ,the sequel of the story is that the ,spaniard forgot his promise1 went off to ,spain1 and spent all his gold4 ,he was returning for the peje grande1 of which he had made great boasts1 but before he could get it he was killed4 ,prescott1 ,i believe1 gives another version1 in which he says that the ,spaniard devoted a large part of his wealth to the relief of the ,indians and gave large sums to the ,peruvian churches4 ,other stories deny that it was ,mansiche who told the first secret1 but that it was another ,indian4 ,one may1 ,i suppose1 pay his money and take his choice4 ,but the point1 as far as we are concerned in this case1 is that there is still believed to be the great fish1 which no one has found4 ,who knows8 ,perhaps1 somehow1 ,mendoza had the secret of the peje grande8 ,kennedy paused1 and ,i could feel the tense interest with which his delving into the crumbling past had now endowed this already fascinating case4 ,and the curse8 ,i put in4 ,about that we do not know1 he replied4 ,except that we do know that ,mansiche was the great ,cacique or ruler of northern ,peru4 ,the natives are believed to have buried a far greater treasure than even that which the ,spaniards carried off4 ,mansiche is said to have left a curse on any native who ever divulged the whereabouts of the treasure1 and the curse was also to fall on any ,spaniard who might discover it4 ,that is all we know--yet4 ,gold was used lavishly in the temples4 ,that great hoard is really the ,gold of the ,gods4 ,surely1 as we have seen it so far in this case1 it must be cursed4 ,there was a knock on the laboratory door1 and ,i sprang to open it1 expecting to find that it was something for ,kennedy4 ,instead there stood one of the office boys of the ,star4 ,why1 hello1 ,tommy1 ,i greeted him4 ,what seems to be the matter now8 ,a letter for you1 ,mr4 ,jameson1 he replied1 handing over a plain envelope4 ,it came just after you left4 ,the ,boss thought it might be important--something about that story1 ,i guess4 ,anyhow1 he told me to take it up to you on my way home1 sir4 ,i looked at it again4 ,it bore simply my name and the address of the ,star1 not written1 but1 strange to say1 printed in ungainly1 rough characters1 as though some one were either not familiar with writing ,english or desired to conceal his handwriting4 ,where did it come from--and how8 ,i asked1 as ,i tore the envelope open4 ,i don't know where1 sir1 replied ,tommy4 ,a boy brought it4 ,said a man uptown gave him a quarter to deliver it to you4 ,i looked at the contents in blank amazement4 ,there was nothing in the letter except a quarter sheet of ordinary size note paper such as that used in typewritten correspondence4 ,printed on it1 in characters exactly like those on the outside of the envelope1 were the startling words3 ,,beware ,,the ,,curse ,,of ,,mansiche ,,on ,,the ,,gold ,,of ,,the ,,gods4 ,underneath this inscription appeared the rude drawing of a dagger in which some effort had evidently been made to make it appear three-sided4 ,well1 of all things1 what do you think of that8 ,i cried1 tossing the thing over to ,kennedy4 ,he took it and read it2 his face puckered deeply4 ,i'm not surprised1 he said1 a moment later1 looking up4 ,do you know1 ,i was just about to tell you what happened at the library4 ,i had a feeling all the time ,i was there of being watched4 ,i don't know why or how1 but1 somehow1 ,i felt that some one was interested in the books ,i was reading4 ,it made me uncomfortable4 ,i was late1 anyhow1 and ,i decided not to give them the satisfaction of seeing me any more--at least in the library4 ,so ,i have had a number of the books on ,peru which ,i wanted reserved1 and they'll be sent over later1 here4 ,no1 ,i'm not surprised that you received this4 ,would you remember the boy8 he asked of ,tommy4 ,i think so1 replied ,tommy4 ,he didn't have on a uniform1 though4 ,it wasn't a messenger4 ,there was no use to question him further4 ,he had evidently told all that he knew1 and finally we had to let him go1 with a parting injunction to keep his eyes open and his mouth shut4 ,kennedy continued to study the note on the quarter sheet of paper long after the boy had gone4 ,you know1 he remarked thoughtfully1 after a while1 as nearly as ,i can make the thing out with the slender information that we have so far1 the weirdest superstitions seem to cluster about that dagger which ,norton lost4 ,i wouldn't be surprised if it took us far back into the dim past of the barbaric splendour of the lost ,inca civilization of ,peru4 ,he waved the sheet of paper for emphasis4 ,you see1 some one has used it here as a sign of terror4 ,perhaps somehow it bore the secret of the big fish--who knows8 ,none of the writers and explorers have ever found it4 ,the most they can say is that it may be handed down from father to son through a long line4 ,at any rate1 the secret of the hiding-place seems to have been safely kept4 ,no one has ever found the treasure4 ,it would be strange1 wouldn't it1 if it remained for some twentieth-century civilized man to unearth the thing and start again the curse that historians say was uttered and seems always to have followed the thing8 ,kennedy1 this affair is getting on my nerves already4 ,while ,craig was speaking the door of the laboratory had opened without our hearing it1 and there stood ,norton again4 ,he had waited until ,craig had finished before he had spoken4 ,we looked at him1 startled1 ourselves4 ,i had some work to do after ,i left you1 went on ,norton1 without stopping4 ,in my letter-box were several letters1 but ,i forgot to look at them until just now1 when ,i was leaving4 ,then ,i picked them up--and--look at this thing that was among them4 ,norton laid down on the laboratory table a plain envelope and a quarter sheet of paper on which were printed1 except for his own name instead of mine1 an almost exact replica of the note which ,i had received4 ,,beware ,,the ,,curse ,,of ,,mansiche ,,on ,,the ,,gold ,,of ,,the ,,gods4 ,kennedy and ,i looked at him4 ,already1 evidently1 he had seen that ,kennedy held in his hand the note that had come to me4 ,i can't make anything out of it1 went on ,norton1 evidently much worried4 ,first ,i lose the dagger4 ,next you say it was used to murder ,mendoza4 ,then ,i get this4 ,now1 if any one can get into the ,museum to steal the dagger1 they could get in to carry out any threat of revenge1 real or fancied4 ,looked at in that respect1 ,i felt that it was indeed a real cause of worry for ,norton4 ,but1 then1 it flashed over me1 was not my own case worse8 ,i was to be responsible for telling the story4 ,might not some unseen hand strike at me1 perhaps sooner than at him8 ,kennedy had taken the two notes and was scanning them eagerly4 ,just then an automobile drew up outside1 and a moment later we heard a tap at the door which ,kennedy had closed after the entrance of ,norton4 ,i opened it4 ,is ,professor ,kennedy here8 ,i heard a voice inquire4 ,i'm one of the orderlies at the ,city ,hospital1 next to the ,morgue1 where ,dr4 ,leslie has his laboratory4 ,i've a message for ,professor ,kennedy1 if he's in4 ,kennedy took the envelope1 which bore the stamp of ,dr4 ,leslie's department1 and tore it open4 ,my dear ,kennedy1 he read1 in an undertone4 ,i've been engaged in investigating that poison which probably surrounds the wound in the ,mendoza case1 but as yet have nothing to report4 ,it is certainly none of the things which we ordinarily run up against4 ,enclosed you will find a slip of paper and the envelope which it came in--something1 ,i take it1 that has been sent me by a crank4 ,would you treat it seriously or disregard it8 ,leslie4 ,as ,kennedy had unfolded ,leslie's own letter a piece of paper had fluttered to the floor4 ,i picked it up mechanically1 and only now looked at it1 as ,craig finished reading4 ,on it was another copy of the threat that had been sent to both ,norton and myself6 ,the hospital orderly had scarcely gone when another tap came at the door4 ,your books from the library1 ,professor1 announced a student who was employed in the library as part payment of his tuition4 ,i've signed the slip for them1 sir4 ,he deposited the books on a desk1 a huge pile of them1 which reached from his outstretched arms to his chin4 ,as he did so the pressure of his arms released the pile of books and the column collapsed4 ,from a book entitled ,new and ,old ,peru1 which fell with the pile1 slipped a plain white envelope4 ,kennedy saw it before either of us1 and seized it4 ,here's one for me1 he said1 tearing it open4 ,sure enough1 in the same rude printing on a quarter sheet were the words3 ,,beware ,,the ,,curse ,,of ,,mansiche ,,on ,,the ,,gold ,,of ,,the ,,gods4 ,we could only stare at each other and at that tell-tale sign of the ,inca dagger underneath4 ,what did it mean8 ,who had sent the warnings8 ,kennedy alone seemed to regard the affair as if with purely scientific interest4 ,he took the four pieces of paper and laid them down before him on the table4 ,then he looked up suddenly4 ,they match perfectly1 he said quietly1 gathering them up and placing them in a wallet which he carried4 ,all the indentures of the tearing correspond4 ,four warnings seem to have been sent to those who are likely to find out something of the secret4 ,norton seemed to have gained somewhat of his composure now that he had been able to talk to some one4 ,what are you going to do--give it up8 he asked tensely4 ,nothing could have insured my sticking to it harder1 answered ,craig grimly4 ,then we'll all have to stick together1 said ,norton slowly4 ,we all seem to be in the same boat4 ,as he rose to go he extended a hand to each of us4 ,i'll stick1 repeated ,kennedy1 with that peculiar bulldog look of intensity on his face which ,i had come to know so well4 ,,iv ,,the ,,treasure ,,hunters ,norton had scarcely gone1 and ,kennedy was still studying the four pieces of paper on which the warning had been given1 when our laboratory door was softly pushed open again4 ,it was ,senorita ,mendoza1 looking more beautiful than ever in her plain black mourning dress1 the unnatural pallor of her face heightening the wonderful lustrous eyes that looked about as though half frightened at what she was doing4 ,i hope nothing has happened1 greeted ,kennedy1 placing an easy-chair for her4 ,but ,i'm glad to see that you have confidence enough to trust me4 ,she looked about doubtfully at the vast amount of paraphernalia which ,craig had collected in his scientific warfare on crime4 ,though she did not understand it1 it seemed to impress her4 ,no1 she murmured1 nothing new has happened4 ,you told me to call on you if ,i should think of anything else4 ,she said it with an air as if confessing something4 ,it was apparent that1 whatever it was1 she had known it all the time and only after a struggle had brought herself to telling it4 ,then you have thought of something8 prompted ,craig4 ,yes1 she replied in a low tone4 ,then with an effort she went on3 ,i don't know whether you know it or not1 but my family is an old one1 one of the oldest in ,peru4 ,kennedy nodded encouragingly4 ,back in the old days1 after ,pizarro1 she hurried on1 no longer able to choose her words1 but blurting the thing out directly1 an ancestor of mine was murdered by an ,inca dagger4 ,she stopped again and looked about1 actually frightened at her own temerity1 evidently4 ,kennedy and his twentieth-century surroundings seemed again to reassure her4 ,i can't tell you the story1 she resumed4 ,i don't know it4 ,my father knew it4 ,but it was some kind of family secret1 for he never told me4 ,once when ,i asked him he put me off2 told me to wait until ,i was a little older4 ,and you think that may have something to do with the case8 asked ,kennedy1 trying to draw out anything more that she knew4 ,i don't know1 she answered frankly4 ,but don't you think that it is strange--an ancestor of mine murdered and now1 hundreds of years afterward1 my father1 the last of his line in direct descent1 murdered in the same way1 by an ,inca dagger that has disappeared8 ,then you were listening while ,i was talking to ,professor ,norton8 shot out ,kennedy1 not unkindly1 but rather as a surprise test to see what she would say4 ,you cannot blame me for that1 she returned simply4 ,hardly1 smiled ,kennedy4 ,and ,i appreciate your reticence--as well as your coming here finally to tell me4 ,indeed1 it is strange4 ,surely you must have some other suspicions1 he persisted1 something that you feel1 even though you do not know8 ,kennedy was leaning forward1 looking deeply into her eyes1 as if he would read what was passing in her mind4 ,she met his gaze for a moment1 then looked away4 ,you heard ,mr4 ,lockwood say that he had become associated with a ,mr4 ,whitney1 ,mr4 ,stuart ,whitney1 down in ,wall ,street8 she ventured4 ,kennedy did not take his eyes from her face as he sought to extract the reluctant words from her4 ,mr4 ,whitney has been largely interested in ,peru1 in business and in mining1 she went on slowly4 ,he has given large sums to scholars down there1 to ,professor ,norton's expeditions from ,new ,york4 ,i--,i'm afraid of that ,mr4 ,whitney6 ,her quiet tone had risen to a pitch of tremulous excitement4 ,her face1 which had been pale from the strain of the tragedy1 was now full of colour1 and her breast rose and fell with suppressed emotion4 ,afraid of him--why8 asked ,kennedy4 ,there was no more reticence4 ,once having said so much1 she seemed to feel that she must go on and tell her fears4 ,because1 she went on1 he--he knows a woman--whom my father knew4 ,a sudden flash of fire seemed to light up her dark eyes4 ,a woman of ,truxillo1 she continued1 ,senora de ,moche4 ,de ,moche1 repeated ,kennedy1 recalling the name and a still unexplained incident of our first interview4 ,who is this ,senora de ,moche8 he asked1 studying her as if she had been under a lens4 ,a ,peruvian of an old ,indian family1 she replied1 in a low tone1 as if the words were forced from her4 ,she has come to ,new ,york with her son1 ,alfonso4 ,you remember--you met him4 ,he is studying here at the ,university4 ,again ,i noted the different manner in which she spoke the two names of mother and son4 ,evidently there was some feud1 some barrier between her and the elder woman1 which did not extend to ,alfonso4 ,kennedy reached for the ,university catalogue and found the name1 ,alfonso de ,moche4 ,he was1 as he had told us1 a post-graduate student in the engineering school and1 therefore1 not in any of ,kennedy's own classes4 ,you say your father knew the ,senora8 asked ,kennedy4 ,yes1 she replied1 in a low voice1 he had had some dealings with her4 ,i cannot say just what they were2 ,i do not know4 ,socially1 of course1 it was different4 ,they did not belong to the same circle as ours in ,lima4 ,from her tone ,i gathered that there existed a race prejudice between those of old ,spanish descent and the descendants of the ,indians4 ,that1 however1 could not account for her attitude4 ,at least with her the prejudice did not extend to ,alfonso4 ,senora de ,moche is a friend of ,mr4 ,whitney8 queried ,kennedy4 ,yes1 ,i believe she has placed some of her affairs in his hands4 ,the de ,moches live at the ,prince ,edward ,albert ,hotel1 and ,mr4 ,whitney lives there1 too4 ,i suppose they see more or less of each other4 ,h-m1 mused ,kennedy4 ,you know ,mr4 ,whitney1 ,i suppose8 ,not very well1 she answered4 ,of course1 ,i have met him4 ,he has been to visit my father1 and my father has been down at his office1 with ,mr4 ,lockwood4 ,but ,i do not know much about him1 except that he is what you ,americans call a promoter4 ,apparently1 ,inez was endeavouring to be frank in telling her suspicions1 much more so even than ,norton had been4 ,but ,i could not help feeling that she was trying to shield some one1 though not to the extent of consciously putting us on a wrong scent4 ,i shall try to see ,mr4 ,whitney as soon as possible1 said ,kennedy1 as she rose to go4 ,and ,senora de ,moche1 too4 ,i fancied that ,senorita ,inez1 although she had not told us much1 felt relieved4 ,again she murmured her thanks as she left and again ,kennedy repeated his injunction to tell everything that happened that could possibly have any bearing on the case4 ,that's a rather peculiar phase1 he considered1 when we were alone1 this de ,moche affair4 ,yes1 ,i agreed4 ,do you suppose that woman could be using ,whitney for some purpose8 ,or ,whitney using her1 suggested ,kennedy4 ,there's so much to be done at once that ,i hardly know where to begin4 ,we must see both of them as soon as possible4 ,meanwhile1 that message from ,dr4 ,leslie about the poison interests me4 ,i must at least start my tests of the blood samples that ,i extracted4 ,walter1 may ,i ask you to leave me here in the laboratory undisturbed8 ,i had some writing on my news story to do1 and went into the room next to the laboratory1 where ,i was soon busily engaged tapping my typewriter4 ,suddenly ,i became conscious of that feeling1 which ,kennedy had hinted at1 of being watched4 ,perhaps ,i had heard a footstep outside and was not consciously aware of it4 ,but1 at any rate1 ,i had the feeling4 ,i stopped tapping the keys and wheeled unexpectedly about in my chair4 ,i am sure that ,i caught just a fleeting glimpse of a face dodging back from the window1 which was on the first floor4 ,whose face it was ,i am not prepared to assert exactly4 ,but there was a face1 and the fleeting glimpse of the eyes and forehead was just enough to give me the impression that they were familiar1 without enabling me to identify them4 ,at any rate1 the occurrence made me feel decidedly uncomfortable1 especially after the warning letters that we had all received4 ,i sprang to my feet and ran to the door4 ,but it was too late4 ,the intruder had disappeared4 ,still1 the more ,i thought about it1 the more determined ,i was to try to verify an indistinct suspicion1 if possible4 ,i put on my hat and walked hurriedly over to the office of the registrar4 ,sure enough1 ,i found that ,alfonso de ,moche had been at the ,university that day1 must have attended a lecture an hour or so before4 ,having nothing else to do1 ,i hunted up some of his professors and tried to quiz them about him4 ,as ,i had expected1 they told me that he was an excellent student1 though very quiet and reserved4 ,his mind seemed to run along the line of engineering1 and particularly mining4 ,i could not help coming to the conclusion that undoubtedly he1 too1 was infected by the furore for treasure hunting1 in spite of his ,indian ancestry4 ,yet there seemed to be surprisingly little known about him outside of the lecture room and laboratory4 ,the professors knew that he lived with his mother at a hotel downtown4 ,he seemed to have little or nothing to do with the other students outside of class work4 ,altogether he was an enigma1 as far as the social life of the ,university went4 ,it looked very much as though he had come to ,new ,york quietly to prepare himself for the search for the buried treasure4 ,had the ,gold of the ,gods lured him into its net1 too8 ,reflecting on the tangle of events1 the strange actions of ,lockwood and the ambitions of ,whitney1 ,i retraced my steps in the direction of the laboratory1 convinced that de ,moche had employed at least a part of his time lately in spying on us4 ,perhaps he had seen ,inez going in and out4 ,suddenly it flashed over me that the interchange of glances between de ,moche and ,lockwood indicated that she was more to him than a mere acquaintance4 ,perhaps it had been jealousy as well as treasure hunting that had prompted his eavesdropping4 ,still reflecting1 ,i decided to turn in at the ,museum and have a chat with ,norton4 ,i found him nervously pacing up and down the little office that had been accorded him in his section of the building4 ,i can't rid my mind of that warning1 he remarked anxiously1 pausing in his measured tread4 ,it seems inconceivable to me that any one would take the trouble to send four such warnings unless he meant it4 ,quite so1 ,i agreed1 relating to him what had just happened4 ,i thought of something like that1 he acquiesced1 and ,i have already taken some precautions4 ,norton waved his hand at the windows1 which ,i had not noticed before4 ,though they were some distance above the ground1 ,i saw now that he had closed and barred them at the expense of ventilation4 ,the warnings seemed to have made more of an impression on him than on any of the rest of us4 ,one never can tell where or when a blow will fall with these people1 he explained4 ,you see1 ,i've lived among them4 ,they are a hot-blooded race4 ,besides1 as you perhaps have read1 they have some queer poisons down in ,south ,america4 ,i mean to run no unnecessary chances4 ,i suppose you suspected all along that the dagger had something to do with the ,gold of the ,gods1 did you not8 ,i hinted4 ,norton paused before answering1 as though to weigh his words4 ,suspected--yes1 he replied4 ,but1 as ,i told you1 ,i have had no chance to read the inscription on it4 ,i can't say that ,i took it very seriously--until now4 ,it's not possible that ,stuart ,whitney1 who1 ,i understand1 is deeply interested in ,south ,america1 may have had some inkling of the value of the dagger1 is it8 ,i asked thoughtfully4 ,for a full minute ,norton gazed at me4 ,i hadn't thought of that1 he admitted at length4 ,that's a new idea to me4 ,yet somehow ,i knew that ,norton had thought of it1 though he had not yet spoken about it4 ,was it through loyalty to the man who had contributed to financing his expeditions to ,south ,america8 ,do you know ,senora de ,moche well8 ,i ventured1 a moment later4 ,fairly well1 he replied4 ,why8 ,what do you think of her8 ,rather a clever woman1 he replied noncommittally4 ,i suppose all the people in ,new ,york who were interested in ,peru knew her1 ,i pursued1 adding1 ,mr4 ,whitney1 ,mendoza1 ,lockwood4 ,norton hesitated1 as though he was afraid of saying too much4 ,while ,i could not help admiring his caution1 ,i found that it was most exasperating4 ,still1 ,i was determined to get at his point of view1 if possible4 ,alfonso seems to be a worthy son1 then1 ,i remarked4 ,i can't quite make out1 though1 why the ,senorita should have such an obvious prejudice against her4 ,it doesn't seem to extend to him4 ,i believe1 replied ,norton reluctantly1 that ,mendoza had been on rather intimate terms with her4 ,at least1 ,i think you'll find the woman very ambitious for her son4 ,i don't think she would have stopped at much to advance his interests4 ,you must have noticed how much ,alfonso thinks of the ,senorita4 ,but ,i don't think there was anything that could have overcome the old ,castilian's prejudice4 ,you know they pride themselves on never intermarrying4 ,with ,lockwood it would have been different4 ,i thought ,i began to get some glimmering of how things were4 ,whitney knows her pretty well now1 doesn't he8 ,i shot out4 ,norton shrugged his shoulders4 ,but he could not have acquiesced better than by his very manner4 ,mr4 ,lockwood and ,mr4 ,whitney know best what they are doing1 he remarked1 at length4 ,why don't you and ,kennedy try to see ,senora de ,moche8 ,i'm a scientist1 you know4 ,i dislike talking about speculations4 ,i'd prefer only to express opinions about things that are certainties4 ,perhaps ,norton wished to convey the impression that the subjects ,i had broached were worth looking into4 ,at least it was the impression ,i derived4 ,still1 he continued slowly1 ,i think ,i am justified in saying this much3 ,i myself have been interested in watching both ,alfonso de ,moche and ,lockwood when it comes to the case of the ,senorita4 ,all's fair1 they say1 in love and war4 ,if ,i am any judge1 there are both in this case1 somewhere4 ,i think you had better see the ,senora and judge for yourself4 ,she's a clever woman1 ,i know4 ,but ,i'm sure that ,kennedy could make her out1 even if the rest of us can't4 ,i thanked ,norton for the hint that he had given1 and after chatting a few moments more left him alone in his office4 ,in my room again1 ,i went back to finish my writing4 ,nothing further occurred1 however1 to excite my suspicions1 and at last ,i managed to finish it4 ,i was correcting what ,i had written when the door opened from the laboratory and ,craig entered4 ,he had thrown off his old1 acid-stained laboratory smock and was now dressed to venture forth4 ,have you found out anything about the poison8 ,i asked4 ,nothing definite yet1 he replied4 ,that will take some time now4 ,it's a strange poison--an alkaloid1 ,i'm sure1 but not one that one ordinarily encounters4 ,still1 ,i've made a good beginning4 ,it won't take long to determine it now4 ,craig listened with deep interest1 though without comment1 when ,i related what had happened1 both ,norton's conversation and about the strange visitor whom we had had peering into our windows4 ,some one seems to be very much interested in what we are doing1 ,walter1 he concluded simply4 ,i think we'd better do a little more outside work now1 while we have a chance4 ,if you are ready1 so am ,i4 ,i want to see what sort of treasure hunter this ,stuart ,whitney is4 ,i'd like to know whether he is in on this secret of the ,gold of the ,gods1 too4 ,v ,,the ,,wall ,,street ,,promoter ,lockwood1 as we now knew1 had become allied in some way with a group of ,wall ,street capitalists1 headed by ,stuart ,whitney4 ,already ,i had heard something of ,whitney4 ,in the ,street he was well known as an intensely practical man1 though far above the average exploiter both in cleverness and education4 ,as a matter of fact1 ,whitney had been far-sighted enough to see that scholarship could be capitalized1 not only as an advertisement1 but in more direct manners4 ,just at present one of his pet schemes was promoting trade through the canal between the east coast of ,north ,america and the west coast of ,south ,america4 ,he had spent a good deal of money promoting friendship between men of affairs and wealth in both ,new ,york and ,lima4 ,it was a good chance1 he figured1 for his investments down in ,peru were large1 and anything that popularized the country in ,new ,york could not but make them more valuable4 ,norton seemed rather averse to talking about ,whitney1 ,i ventured to ,craig1 as we rode downtown4 ,that may be part of ,whitney's cleverness1 he returned thoughtfully4 ,as a patron of art and letters1 you know1 a man can carry through a good many things that otherwise would be more critically examined4 ,kennedy did not say it in a way that implied that he knew anything very bad about ,whitney4 ,still1 ,i reflected1 it was astute in the man to insure the cooperation of such people as ,norton4 ,a few thousand dollars judiciously spent on archaeology might cover up a multitude of sins of high finance4 ,nothing more was said by either of us1 and at last we reached the financial district4 ,we entered a tall skyscraper on ,wall ,street just around the corner from ,broadway and shot up in the elevator to the floor where ,whitney and his associates had a really palatial suite of offices4 ,as we opened the door we saw that ,lockwood was still there4 ,he greeted us with a rather stiff bow4 ,professor ,kennedy and ,mr4 ,jameson1 he said simply1 introducing us to ,whitney1 friends of ,professor ,norton1 ,i believe4 ,i met them to-day up at ,mendoza's4 ,that is a most incomprehensible affair1 returned ,whitney1 shaking hands with us4 ,what do you make out of it8 ,kennedy shrugged his shoulders and turned the remark aside without committing himself4 ,stuart ,whitney was a typical promoter1 a large1 full-blooded man1 with a face red and inclined to be puffy from the congested veins4 ,his voice alone commanded respect1 whether he said anything worth while or not4 ,in fact1 he had but to say that it was a warm day and you felt that he had scored a telling point in the conversation4 ,professor ,norton has asked me to look into the loss of an old ,peruvian dagger which he brought back from his last expedition1 explained ,kennedy1 endeavouring to lead the conversation in channels which might arrive somewhere4 ,yes1 yes1 remarked ,whitney1 with a nod of interest4 ,he has told me of it4 ,very strange1 very strange4 ,when he came back he told me that he had it1 along with a lot of other important finds4 ,but ,i had no idea he set such a value on it--or1 rather1 that any one else might do so4 ,it would have been easy to have safeguarded it here1 if we had known1 he added1 with a wave of his hand in the direction of a huge chrome steel safe of latest design in the outer office4 ,lockwood1 ,i noted1 was listening intently1 quite in contrast with his former cavalier manner of dismissing all consideration of ancient ,inca lore as academic or unpractical4 ,did he know something of the dagger8 ,i'm very much interested in old ,peruvian antiquities myself1 remarked ,kennedy1 a few minutes later1 though not1 of course1 a scholar like our friend ,norton4 ,indeed8 returned ,whitney2 and ,i noticed for the first time that his eyes seemed fairly to glitter with excitement4 ,they were prominent eyes1 a trifle staring1 and ,i could not help studying them4 ,then1 he exclaimed1 rising1 you must know of the ruins of ,chan-,chan1 of ,chima--those wonderful places8 ,kennedy nodded4 ,and of ,truxillo and the legend of the great fish and the little fish1 he put in4 ,whitney seemed extraordinarily pleased that any one should be willing to discuss his hobby with him4 ,his eyes by this time were apparently starting from their sockets1 and ,i noticed that the pupils were dilated almost to the size of the iris4 ,we must sit down and talk about ,peru1 he continued1 reaching for a large box of cigarettes in the top drawer of his big desk4 ,lockwood seemed to sense a long discussion of archaeology4 ,he rose and mumbled an excuse about having something to do in the outer office4 ,oh1 it is a wonderful country1 ,professor ,kennedy1 went on ,whitney1 throwing himself back in his chair4 ,i am deeply interested in it--its mines1 its railroads1 as well as its history4 ,let me show you a map of our interests down there4 ,he rose and passed into the next room to get the map4 ,the moment his back was turned1 ,kennedy reached over to a typewriter desk that stood in a corner of the office1 left open by the stenographer1 who had gone4 ,he took two thin second sheets of paper and a new carbon sheet4 ,a hasty dab or two of the library paste completed his work4 ,carefully ,craig laid the prepared paper on the floor just a few inches from the door into the outer office and scattered a few other sheets about1 as though the wind had blown them off the desk4 ,as ,whitney returned1 a big map unrolled in his hands1 ,i saw his foot fall on the double sheet that ,craig had laid by the door4 ,kennedy bent down and began picking up the papers4 ,oh1 that's all right1 remarked ,whitney brusquely4 ,never mind that4 ,here's where some of our interests lie1 in the north4 ,i don't think ,i paid much more attention to the map than did ,kennedy as we three bent over it4 ,his real attention was on the paper which he had placed on the floor1 as though fixing in his mind the exact spot on which ,whitney had stepped4 ,as ,whitney talked rapidly about the country1 we lighted the cigarettes4 ,they seemed to be of a special brand4 ,i puffed mine for a moment4 ,there was a peculiar taste about it1 however1 which ,i did not exactly like4 ,in fact1 ,i think that the ,latin-,american cigarettes do not seem to appeal to most ,americans very much1 anyhow4 ,while we talked1 ,i noticed that ,kennedy evidently shared my own tastes1 for he allowed his cigarette to go out1 and1 after a puff or two1 ,i did the same4 ,for the sake of my own comfort1 ,i drew one of my own from my case as soon as ,i could do so politely1 and laid the stub of the other in an ash-tray on ,whitney's desk4 ,mr4 ,lockwood and ,senor ,mendoza had some joint interests in the country1 too1 didn't they8 queried ,kennedy1 his eye still on the pieces of paper near the door4 ,yes1 returned ,whitney4 ,lockwood6 ,what is it8 came ,lockwood's voice from outside4 ,show ,professor ,kennedy where you and ,mendoza have those concessions4 ,the young engineer strode into the room1 and ,i saw a smile of gratification cross ,kennedy's face as his foot1 also1 fell on the paper by the door4 ,unlike ,whitney1 however1 ,lockwood bent over to gather up the sheets4 ,but before he could actually do so ,kennedy reached down and swept them just out of his reach4 ,quite breezy1 ,kennedy covered up his action1 turning to restore the paper to the desk4 ,craig had his back to them1 but not to me1 and ,i saw him fumble for an instant with the papers4 ,quickly he pressed his thumb-nail on one side1 as though making a rough ,w1 while on the other side he made what might be an ,l4 ,then he shoved the two sheets and the carbon into his pocket4 ,i glanced up hastily4 ,fortunately1 neither ,whitney nor ,lockwood had noted his action4 ,for the first time1 now1 ,i noticed as ,i watched him that ,lockwood's eyes1 too1 were a trifle stary1 though not so noticeable as ,whitney's4 ,let me see1 continued ,whitney1 your concessions are all about here1 in the north1 aren't they8 ,lockwood drew a pencil from his pocket and made several cross-marks over the names of some towns on the large map4 ,those are the points that we had proposed to work1 he said simply1 before this terrible tragedy to ,mendoza4 ,mining1 you understand1 explained ,whitney4 ,then1 after a pause1 he resumed quickly4 ,of course1 you know that much has been said about the chances for mining investments and about the opportunities for fortunes for persons in ,south ,america4 ,peru has been the ,mecca for fortune hunters since the days of ,pizarro4 ,but where one person has been successful thousands have failed because they don't know the game4 ,why1 ,i know of one investment of hundreds of thousands that hasn't yielded a cent of profit just because of that4 ,lockwood said nothing1 evidently not caring to waste time or breath on any one who was not a possible investor4 ,but ,whitney had the true promoter's instinct of booming his scheme on the chance that the interest inspired might be carried to some third party4 ,american financiers1 it is true1 he went on excitedly1 taking out a beautifully chased gold cigarette case1 have lost millions in mining in ,peru4 ,but that is not the scheme that our group1 including ,mr4 ,lockwood now1 has4 ,we are going to make more millions than they ever dreamed of--because we are simply going to mine for the products of centuries of labour already done--for the great treasure of ,truxillo4 ,one could not help becoming infected by ,whitney's enthusiasm4 ,kennedy was following him closely1 while a frown of disapproval spread over ,lockwood's face4 ,then you know the secret of the hiding-place of the treasure8 queried ,kennedy abruptly4 ,whitney shook his head in the negative4 ,it is my idea that we don't have to know it1 he answered4 ,with the hints that we have collected from the natives1 ,i think we can locate it with the expenditure of comparatively little time and money4 ,senor ,mendoza has obtained the concession from the government to hunt for it on a large scale in the big mounds about ,truxillo4 ,we know it is there4 ,is not that enough8 ,if it had been any one less than ,whitney1 we should probably have said it was not4 ,but it took more than that to deny anything he asserted4 ,lockwood's face was a study4 ,i cannot say that it betrayed anything except disapproval of the mere discussion of the subject4 ,in fact1 it left me in doubt as to whether ,whitney himself might not have been bluffing1 in the certainty of finding the treasure--perhaps had already the secret he denied having and was preparing to cover it up by stumbling on it1 apparently1 in some other way4 ,i recognized in ,stuart ,whitney as smooth an individual as ever we had encountered4 ,his was all the sincerity of a crook4 ,yet he contrived to leave the whole matter in doubt4 ,perhaps in this case he actually knew what he was talking about4 ,the telephone rang and ,lockwood answered it4 ,though he did not mention her name1 ,i knew from his very tone and manner that it was ,senorita de ,mendoza who was calling up4 ,evidently his continued absence had worried her4 ,there's absolutely nothing to worry about1 we heard him say4 ,nothing has changed4 ,i shall be up to see you as soon as ,i can get away from the office4 ,there was an air of restraint about ,lockwood's remarks1 not as though he were keeping anything from the ,senorita1 but as though he were reluctant for us to overhear anything about his affairs4 ,lockwood had been smoking1 too1 and he added the stubs of his cigarettes to the pile in the ash-tray on ,whitney's desk4 ,once ,i saw ,craig cast a quick glance at the tray1 and ,i understood that in some way he was anxious to have a chance to investigate those cigarettes4 ,you saw the dagger which ,norton brought back1 did you not8 asked ,kennedy of ,whitney4 ,only as ,i saw the rest of the stuff after it was unpacked1 he replied easily4 ,he brought back a great many interesting objects on this last trip4 ,it was apparent that whether he actually knew anything about the secret of the ,inca dagger or not1 ,whitney was not to be trapped into betraying it4 ,i had an idea that ,lockwood was interested in knowing that fact1 too4 ,at any rate1 one could not be sure whether these two were perfectly frank with each other1 or were playing a game for high stakes between themselves4 ,lockwood seemed eager to get away and1 with a hasty glance at his watch1 rose4 ,if you wish to find me1 ,i shall be with ,senorita de ,mendoza1 he said1 taking his hat and stick1 and bowing to us4 ,whitney rose and accompanied him to the door in the outer office1 his arm on his shoulder1 conversing in a low tone that was inaudible to us4 ,no sooner1 however1 had the two passed through the door1 with their backs toward us1 than ,kennedy reached over quickly and swept the contents of the ash-tray1 cigarette stubs1 ashes1 and all1 into an empty envelope which was lying with some papers4 ,then he sealed it and shoved it into his pocket1 with a sidelong glance of satisfaction at me4 ,evidently ,mr4 ,lockwood and the ,senorita are on intimate terms1 hazarded ,kennedy1 as ,whitney rejoined us4 ,poor little girl1 soliloquized the promoter4 ,yes1 indeed4 ,and ,lockwood is a lucky dog1 too4 ,such eyes1 such a figure--did you ever see a more beautiful woman8 ,one could not help recognizing that whatever else ,whitney might have said that did not ring true his admiration for the unfortunate girl was genuine4 ,that was not so remarkable1 however4 ,it could hardly have been otherwise4 ,you are acquainted1 ,i suppose1 with a ,senora de ,moche8 ventured ,kennedy again1 taking a chance shot4 ,whitney looked at him keenly4 ,yes1 he agreed1 ,i have had some dealings with her4 ,she was an acquaintance of old ,mendoza's--a woman of the world1 clever1 shrewd4 ,i think she has but one ambition--her son4 ,you have met her8 ,not the ,senora1 admitted ,craig1 but her son is a student at the ,university4 ,oh1 yes1 to be sure1 said ,whitney4 ,a fine fellow--but not of the type of ,lockwood4 ,why he should have coupled the names was not clear for the moment4 ,but he had risen1 and was moving deliberately up and down the office1 his thumbs in his waistcoat pockets1 as though he were thinking of something very perplexing4 ,if ,i were younger1 he remarked finally1 of a sudden1 ,i would give both of them a race for that girl4 ,she is the greatest treasure that has ever come out of the country4 ,ah1 well--as it is1 ,i would not place my money on young de ,moche6 ,kennedy had risen to go4 ,i trust you will be able to unearth some clue regarding that dagger1 said ,whitney1 as we moved toward the door4 ,it seems to have worried ,norton considerably1 especially since you told him that ,mendoza was undoubtedly murdered with it4 ,evidently ,norton kept in close touch with his patron1 but ,kennedy did not appear to be surprised at it4 ,i am doing my best1 he returned4 ,i suppose ,i may count on your help as the case develops8 ,absolutely1 replied ,whitney1 accompanying us out into the hall to the elevator4 ,i shall back ,norton in anything he wants to keep the ,peruvian collection intact and protected4 ,our questions were as yet unanswered4 ,not only had we no inkling as to the whereabouts of the dagger1 but the source of the four warnings that had been sent us was still as much shrouded in mystery4 ,kennedy beckoned to a passing taxicab4 ,the ,prince ,edward ,albert1 he directed briefly4 ,,vi ,,the ,,curse ,,of ,,mansiche ,we entered the ,prince ,edward ,albert a few minutes later1 one of the new and beautiful family hotels uptown4 ,before making any inquiries1 ,craig gave a hasty look about the lobby4 ,suddenly ,i felt him take my arm and draw me over to a little alcove on one side4 ,i followed the direction of his eyes4 ,there ,i could see young ,alfonso de ,moche talking to a woman much older than himself4 ,that must be his mother1 whispered ,craig4 ,you can see the resemblance4 ,let's sit here awhile behind these palms and watch4 ,they seemed to be engaged in an earnest conversation about something4 ,even as they talked1 though we could not guess what it was about1 it was evident that ,alfonso was dearer than life to the woman and that the young man was a model son4 ,though ,i felt that ,i must admire them each for it1 still1 ,i reflected1 that was no reason why we should not suspect them--perhaps rather a reason for suspecting4 ,senora de ,moche was a woman of well-preserved middle age1 a large woman1 with dark hair and contrasting full1 red lips4 ,her face1 in marked contradiction to her ,parisian costume and refined manners1 had a slight copper swarthiness about it which spoke eloquently of her ancestry4 ,but it was her eyes that arrested and held one's attention most4 ,whether it was in the eyes themselves or in the way that she used them1 there could be no mistake about the almost hypnotic power that their owner possessed4 ,i could not help wondering whether she might not have exercised it on ,don ,luis1 perhaps was using it in some way to influence ,whitney4 ,was that the reason why the ,senorita so evidently feared her8 ,fortunately1 from our vantage point1 we could see without being in any danger of being seen4 ,there's ,whitney1 ,i heard ,craig mutter under his breath4 ,i looked up and saw the promoter enter from his car4 ,at almost the same instant the roving eyes of the ,senora seemed to catch sight of him4 ,he came over and spoke to the de ,moches1 standing with them several minutes4 ,i fancied that not for an instant did she allow the gaze of any one else to distract her in the projection of whatever weird ocular power nature had endowed her with4 ,if it were a battle of eyes1 ,i recollected the strange look that ,i had noted about those of both ,whitney and ,lockwood4 ,that1 however1 was different from the impression one got of the ,senora's4 ,i felt that she would have to be pretty clever to match the subtlety of ,whitney4 ,whatever it was they were talking about1 one could see that ,whitney and ,senora de ,moche were on very familiar terms4 ,at the same time1 young de ,moche appeared to be ill at ease4 ,perhaps he did not approve of the intimacy with ,whitney4 ,at any rate1 he seemed visibly relieved when the promoter excused himself and walked over to the desk to get his mail and then out into the cafe4 ,i'd like to get a better view of her1 remarked ,kennedy1 rising4 ,let us take a turn or two along the corridor and pass them4 ,we sauntered forth from our alcove and strolled down among the various knots of people chatting and laughing4 ,as we passed the woman and her son1 ,i was conscious again of that strange feeling1 which psychologists tell us1 however1 has no real foundation1 of being stared at from behind4 ,at the lower end of the lobby ,kennedy turned suddenly and we started to retrace our steps4 ,alfonso's back was toward us now4 ,again we passed them1 just in time to catch the words1 in a low tone1 from the young man1 ,yes1 ,i have seen him at the ,university4 ,every one there knows that he is-- ,the rest of the sentence was lost4 ,but it was not difficult to reconstruct4 ,it referred undoubtedly to the activities of ,kennedy in unravelling mysteries4 ,it's quite evident1 ,i suggested1 that they know that we are interested in them now4 ,yes1 he agreed4 ,there wasn't any use of watching them further from under cover4 ,i wanted them to see me1 just to find out what they would do4 ,kennedy was right4 ,indeed1 even before we turned again1 we found that the ,senora and ,alfonso had risen and were making their way slowly to the elevators1 still talking earnestly4 ,the lifts were around an angle1 and before we could place ourselves so that we could observe them again they were gone4 ,i wish there was some way of adding ,alfonso's shoe-prints to my collection1 observed ,craig4 ,the marks that ,i found in the dust of the sarcophagus in the ,museum were those of a man's shoes4 ,however1 ,i suppose ,i must wait to get them4 ,he walked over to the desk and made inquiries about the de ,moches and ,whitney4 ,each had a suite on the eighth floor1 though on opposite sides and at opposite ends of the hall4 ,there's no use wasting time trying to conceal our identity now1 remarked ,kennedy finally1 drawing a card from his case4 ,besides1 we came here to see them1 anyhow4 ,he handed the card to the clerk4 ,senora de ,moche1 please1 he said4 ,the clerk took the card and telephoned up to the de ,moche suite4 ,i must say that it was somewhat to my surprise that the ,senora telephoned down to say that she would receive us in her own sitting room4 ,that's very kind1 commented ,craig1 as ,i followed him into the elevator4 ,it saves planning some roundabout way of meeting her and comes directly to the point4 ,the elevator whisked us up directly to the eighth floor and we stepped out into the heavily carpeted hallway1 passing down to ,room #haj1 which was the number of her suite4 ,further on1 in #hbe1 was ,whitney's4 ,alfonso was not there4 ,evidently he had not ridden up with his mother1 after all1 but had gone out through another entrance on the ground floor4 ,the ,senora was alone4 ,i hope that you will pardon me for intruding1 began ,craig1 with as plausible an explanation as he could muster1 but ,i have become interested in an opportunity to invest in a ,peruvian venture1 and ,i have heard that you are a ,peruvian4 ,your son1 ,alfonso1 ,i have already met1 once4 ,i thought that perhaps you might be able to give me some advice4 ,she looked at us keenly1 but said nothing4 ,i fancied that she detected the subterfuge4 ,yet she had not tried1 and did not try now to avoid us4 ,either she had no connection with the case we were investigating or she was an adept actress4 ,on closer view1 her eyes were really even more remarkable than ,i had imagined at a distance4 ,they were those of a woman endowed with an abundance of health and energy1 eyes that were full of what the old character readers used to call amativeness1 denoting a nature capable of intense passion1 whether of love or hate4 ,yet ,i confess that ,i could not find anything especially abnormal about them1 as ,i had about the eyes of ,lockwood and ,whitney4 ,it was some time before she replied1 and ,i gave a hasty glance about the apartment4 ,of course1 it had been rented furnished1 but she had rearranged it1 adding some touches of her own which gave it quite a ,peruvian appearance1 due perhaps more to the pictures and the ornaments which she had introduced rather than anything else4 ,i suppose1 she replied1 at length1 slowly1 and looking at us as if she would bore right through into our minds1 ,i suppose you mean the schemes of ,mr4 ,lockwood--and ,mr4 ,whitney4 ,kennedy was not to be taken by surprise4 ,i have heard of their schemes1 too1 he replied noncommittally4 ,peru seems to be a veritable storehouse of tales of buried treasure4 ,let me tell you about it1 she hastened1 nodding at the very words buried treasure4 ,i suppose you know that the old ,chimu tribes in the north were the wealthiest at the time of the coming of the ,spaniards8 ,craig nodded1 and a moment later she resumed1 as if trying to marshal her thoughts in a logical order4 ,they had a custom then of burying with their dead all their movable property4 ,graves were not dug separately4 ,therefore1 you see1 sometimes a common grave1 or huaca1 as it is called1 would be given to many4 ,that huaca would become a cache of treasure in time4 ,it was sacred to the dead1 and hence it was wicked to touch it4 ,the ,senora's face betrayed the fact that1 whatever modern civilization had done for her1 it had not yet quite succeeded in eliminating the old ideas4 ,back in the early part of the seventeenth century1 she continued1 leaning forward in her chair eagerly as she talked1 a ,spaniard opened a ,chimu huaca and found gold that is said to have been worth more than a million dollars4 ,an ,indian told him about it4 ,who the ,indian was does not matter4 ,but the ,spaniard was an ancestor of ,don ,luis de ,mendoza1 who was found murdered to-day4 ,she stopped short1 seeming to enjoy the surprised look on our faces at finding that she was willing to discuss the matter so intimately4 ,after the ,indian had shown the ,spaniard the treasure in the mound1 she pursued1 the ,indian told the ,spaniard that he had given him only the little fish1 the peje chica1 but that some day he would give him the big fish1 the peje grande4 ,i see that you already know at least a part of the story1 anyhow4 ,yes1 admitted ,kennedy1 ,i do know something of it4 ,but ,i should rather get it more accurately from your lips than from the hearsay of any one else4 ,she smiled quietly to herself4 ,i don't believe1 she added1 that you know that the peje grande was not ordinary treasure4 ,it was the temple gold4 ,why1 some of the temples were literally plated over heavily with pure gold4 ,that gold1 as well as what had been buried in the huacas1 was sacred4 ,mansiche1 the supreme ruler1 laid a curse on it1 on any ,indian who would tell of it1 on any ,spaniard who might learn of it4 ,a curse lies on the finding--yes1 even on the searching for the sacred ,gold of the ,gods4 ,it is one of the most awful curses that have ever been uttered1 that curse of ,mansiche4 ,even as she spoke of it she lowered her voice4 ,i felt that no matter how much education she had1 there lurked back in her brain some of the primitive impulses1 as well as beliefs4 ,either the curse of ,mansiche on the treasure was as real to her as if its mere touch were poisonous1 or else she was going out of her way to create that impression with us4 ,somehow1 she continued1 in a low tone1 that ,spaniard1 the ancestor of ,don ,luis ,mendoza1 obtained some idea of the secret4 ,he died1 she said solemnly1 flashing a glance at ,craig from her wonderful eyes to stamp the idea indelibly4 ,he was stabbed by one of the members of the tribe4 ,on the dagger1 so ,i have heard1 was marked the secret of the treasure4 ,i felt that in a bygone age she might have made a great priestess of the heathen gods4 ,now1 was she more than a clever actress8 ,she paused1 then added1 ,that is my tribe--my family4 ,again she paused4 ,for centuries the big fish was a secret1 is still a secret--or1 at least1 was until some one got it from my brother down in ,peru4 ,the tradition and the dagger had been intrusted to him4 ,i don't know how it happened4 ,somehow he seemed to grow crazy--until he talked4 ,the dagger was stolen from him4 ,how it happened1 how it came into ,professor ,norton's hands1 ,i do not know4 ,but1 at any rate1 she continued1 in the same solemn tone1 the curse has followed it4 ,after my brother had told the secret of the dagger and lost it1 his mind left him4 ,he threw himself one day into ,lake ,titicaca4 ,her voice broke dramatically in her passionate outpouring of the tragedies that had followed the hidden treasure and the ,inca dagger4 ,now1 here in ,new ,york1 comes this awful death of ,senor ,mendoza1 she cried4 ,i don't know1 no one knows1 whether he had obtained the secret of the gold or not4 ,at any rate1 he must have thought he had it4 ,he has been killed suddenly1 in his own home4 ,that is my answer to your inquiry about the treasure-hunting company you mentioned1 whatever it may be4 ,i need say no more of the curse of ,mansiche4 ,is the ,gold of the ,gods worth it8 ,there could be no denying that it was real to her1 whatever we might think of the story4 ,i recollected the roughly printed warnings that had been sent to ,norton1 ,leslie1 ,kennedy1 and myself4 ,had they1 then1 some significance8 ,i had not been able to convince myself that they were the work of a crank1 alone4 ,there must be some one to whom the execution of vengeance of the gods was an imperative duty4 ,unsuperstitious as ,i was1 ,i saw here a real danger4 ,if some one1 either to preserve the secret for himself or else called by divine mandate to revenge1 should take a notion to carry out the threats in the four notes1 what might not happen8 ,i cannot tell you much more of fact than you probably already know1 she remarked1 watching our faces intently and noting the effect of every word4 ,you know1 ,i suppose1 that the treasure has always been believed to be in a large mound1 a tumulus ,i think you call it1 visible from our town of ,truxillo4 ,many people have tried to open it1 but the mass of sand pours down on them and they have been discouraged4 ,no one has ever stumbled on the secret8 queried ,kennedy4 ,she shook her head4 ,there have been those who have sought1 there are even those who are seeking1 the point just where to bore into the mounds4 ,if they could find it1 they plan to construct a well-timbered tunnel to keep back the sand and to drive it at the right point to obtain this fabulous wealth4 ,she vouchsafed the last information with a sort of quiet assurance that conveyed the idea1 without her saying it directly1 that any such venture was somehow doomed to failure1 that desecrators were merely toying with fate4 ,all through her story one could see that she felt deeply the downfall and betrayal of her brother1 followed by the tragedy to him after the age-old secret had slipped from his grasp4 ,was there still to be vengeance for his downfall8 ,surely1 ,i thought to myself1 ,don ,luis de ,mendoza could not have been in possession of the secret1 unless he had arrived at it1 with ,lockwood1 in some other way than by deciphering the almost illegible marks of the dagger4 ,i thought of ,whitney4 ,had he perhaps had something to do with the nasty business8 ,i happened to glance at a huge pile of works on mining engineering on the table1 the property of ,alfonso4 ,she saw me looking at them1 and her eyes assumed a far-away1 dreamy impression as she murmured something4 ,you must know that we real ,peruvians have been so educated that we never explore ruins for hidden treasure1 not even if we have the knowledge of engineering to do so4 ,it is a sort of sacrilege to us to do that4 ,the gold was not our gold1 you see4 ,some of it belongs to the spirits of the departed4 ,but the big treasure belonged to the gods themselves4 ,it was the gold which lay in sheets over the temple walls1 sacred4 ,no1 we would not touch it4 ,i wondered cynically what would happen if some one at that moment had appeared with the authenticated secret4 ,she continued to gaze at the books4 ,there are plenty of rare chances for a young mining engineer in ,peru without that4 ,apparently she was thinking of her son and his studies at the ,university as they affected his future career4 ,one could follow her thoughts1 even1 as they flitted from the treasure1 to the books1 to her son1 and1 finally1 to the pretty girl for whom both he and ,lockwood were struggling4 ,we are a peculiar race1 she ruminated4 ,we seldom intermarry with other races4 ,we are as proud as ,senor ,mendoza was of his ,castilian descent1 as proud of our unmixed lineage as any descendant of a 'belted earl4' ,senora de ,moche made the remarks with a quiet dignity which left no doubt in my mind that the race feeling cut deeply4 ,she had risen now1 and in place of the awesome fear of the curse and tragedy of the treasure her face was burning and her eyes flashed4 ,old ,don ,luis thought ,i was good enough to amuse his idle hours1 she cried4 ,but when he saw that ,alfonso was in love with his daughter1 that she might return that love1 then ,i found out bitterly that he placed us in another class1 another caste4 ,kennedy had been following her closely1 and ,i could see now that the cross-currents of superstition1 avarice1 and race hatred in the case presented a tangle that challenged him4 ,there was nothing more that we could extract from her just then4 ,she had remained standing1 as a gentle reminder that the interview had already been long4 ,kennedy took the hint4 ,i wish to thank you for the trouble you have gone to1 he bowed1 after we1 too1 had risen4 ,you have told me quite enough to make me think seriously before ,i join in any such undertaking4 ,she smiled enigmatically4 ,whether it was that she had enjoyed penetrating our rather clumsy excuse for seeing her1 or that she felt that the horror of the curse had impressed us1 she seemed well content4 ,we bowed ourselves out1 and1 after waiting a few moments about the hotel without seeing ,whitney anywhere1 ,craig called a car4 ,they were right1 was his only comment4 ,a most baffling woman1 indeed4 ,,vii ,,the ,,arrow ,,poison ,back again in the laboratory1 ,kennedy threw off his coat and plunged again into his investigation of the blood sample he had taken from the wound in ,mendoza's body4 ,we had scarcely been back half an hour before the door opened and ,dr4 ,leslie's perplexed face looked in on us4 ,he was carrying a large jar1 in which he had taken away the materials which he wished to examine4 ,well1 asked ,kennedy1 pausing with a test-tube poised over a ,bunsen burner1 have you found anything yet8 ,i haven't had time to get very far with my own tests yet4 ,not a blessed thing1 returned the coroner4 ,i'm desperate4 ,one of the chemists suggested cyanide1 another carbon monoxide4 ,but there is no trace of either4 ,then he suggested nux vomica4 ,it wasn't nux vomica2 but my tests show that it must have been something very much like it4 ,i've looked for all the ordinary known poisons and some of the little-known alkaloids1 but1 ,kennedy1 ,i always get back to the same point4 ,there must have been a poison there4 ,he did not die primarily of the wound4 ,it was asphyxia due to a poison that really killed him1 though the wound might have done so1 but not quite so quickly4 ,i could tell by the look that crossed ,kennedy's face that at last a ray of light had pierced the darkness4 ,he reached for a bottle on the shelf labelled spirits of turpentine4 ,then he poured a little of the blood sample from the jar which the coroner had brought into a clean tube and added a few drops of the spirits of turpentine4 ,a cloudy1 dark precipitate formed4 ,he smiled quietly1 and said1 half to himself1 ,i thought so4 ,what is it8 asked the coroner eagerly1 nux vomica8 ,craig shook his head as he stared at the black precipitate4 ,you were perfectly right about the asphyxiation1 ,doctor1 he remarked slowly1 but wrong as to the cause4 ,it was a poison--one you would never dream of4 ,what is it8 ,leslie and ,i asked simultaneously4 ,let me take all these samples and make some further tests1 he said4 ,i am quite sure of it1 but it is new to me4 ,by the way1 may ,i trouble you and ,leslie to go over to the ,museum of ,natural ,history with a letter8 ,it was evident that he wanted to work uninterrupted1 and we agreed readily1 especially because by going we might also be of some use in solving the mystery of the poison4 ,he sat down and wrote a hasty note to the director of the ,museum1 and a few moments later we were speeding over in ,leslie's car4 ,at the big building we had no trouble in finding the director and presenting the note4 ,he was a close friend of ,kennedy's and more than willing to aid him in any way4 ,you will excuse me a moment8 he apologized4 ,i will get from the ,south ,american exhibit just what he wants4 ,we waited several minutes in the office until finally he returned carrying a gourd1 incrusted on its hollow inside surface with a kind of blackish substance4 ,that is what he wants1 ,i think1 the director remarked1 wrapping it up carefully in a box4 ,i don't need to ask you to tell ,professor ,kennedy to watch out how he handles the thing4 ,he understands all about it4 ,we thanked the director and hurried out into the car again1 carrying the package1 after his warning1 as though it were so much dynamite4 ,altogether1 ,i don't suppose that we could have been gone more than an hour4 ,we burst into the laboratory1 but1 to my surprise1 ,i did not see ,kennedy at his table4 ,i stopped short and looked around4 ,there he was over in the corner1 sprawled out in a chair1 a tank of oxygen beside him1 from which he was inhaling laboriously copious draughts4 ,he rose as he saw us and walked unsteadily toward the table4 ,why--what's the matter8 ,i cried1 certain that m our absence an attempt had been made on his life1 perhaps to carry out the threat of the curse4 ,n-nothing1 he gasped1 with an attempt at a smile4 ,only ,i--think ,i was right--about the poison4 ,i did not like the way he looked4 ,his hand was unsteady and his eyes looked badly4 ,but he seemed quite put out when ,i suggested that he was working too hard over the case and had better take a turn outdoors with us and have a bite to eat4 ,you--you got it8 he asked1 seizing the package that contained the gourd and unwrapping it nervously4 ,he laid the gourd on the table1 on which were also several jars of various liquids and a number of other chemicals4 ,at the end of the table was a large1 square package1 from which sounds issued1 as if it contained something alive4 ,tell me1 ,i persisted1 what has happened4 ,has any one been here since we have been gone8 ,not a soul1 he answered1 working his arms and shoulders as if to get rid of some heavy weight that oppressed his chest4 ,then what has happened that makes you use the oxygen8 ,i repeated1 determined to get some kind of answer from him4 ,he turned to ,leslie4 ,it was no ordinary asphyxiation1 ,doctor1 he said quickly4 ,leslie nodded4 ,i could see that1 he admitted4 ,we have to deal in this case1 continued ,kennedy1 his will-power overcoming his weakness1 with a poison which is apparently among the most subtle known4 ,a particle of matter so minute as to be hardly distinguishable by the naked eye1 on the point of a lancet or needle1 a prick of the skin not anything like that wound of ,mendoza's1 were necessary4 ,but1 fortunately1 more of the poison was used1 making it just that much easier to trace1 though for the time the wound1 which might itself easily have been fatal1 threw us off the scent4 ,but given these things1 not all the power in the world--unless one was fully prepared--could save the life of the person in whose flesh the wound was made4 ,craig paused a moment1 and we listened breathlessly4 ,this poison1 ,i find1 acts on the so-called endplates of the muscles and nerves4 ,it produces complete paralysis1 but not loss of consciousness1 sensation1 circulation1 or respiration until the end approaches4 ,it seems to be one of the most powerful agents of which ,i have ever heard4 ,when introduced in even a minute quantity it produces death finally by asphyxiation--by paralyzing the muscles of respiration4 ,this asphyxia is what puzzled you1 ,leslie4 ,he reached over and took a white mouse from the huge box on the corner of the table4 ,let me show you what ,i have found1 he said4 ,i am now going to inject a little of the blood serum of the murdered man into this white mouse4 ,he took a needle and injected some of a liquid which he had isolated4 ,the mouse did not even wince1 so lightly did he touch it4 ,but as we watched1 its life seemed gently to ebb away1 without pain1 without struggle4 ,its breath simply seemed to stop4 ,next he took the gourd which we had brought and with a knife scraped off just the minutest particle of the black1 licorice-like stuff that incrusted it4 ,he dissolved the particle in some alcohol1 and with a sterilized needle repeated his experiment on a second mouse4 ,the effect was precisely similar to that produced by the blood on the first4 ,i was intent on what ,craig was doing when ,dr4 ,leslie broke in with a question4 ,may ,i ask1 he queried1 whether1 admitting that the first mouse died at least apparently in the same manner as the second1 you have proved that the poison is the same in both cases8 ,and if it is the same1 can you show that it affects human beings in the same way1 that enough of it has been discovered in the blood of ,mendoza to have caused his death8 ,in other words1 ,i want the last doubt set aside4 ,if ever ,craig startled me1 it was by his quiet reply3 ,i've isolated it in his blood1 extracted it1 sterilized it1 and ,i've tried it on myself4 ,in breathless amazement1 with eyes riveted on him1 we listened4 ,then that was what was the matter8 ,i blurted out4 ,you had been trying the poison on ,,yourself8 ,he nodded unconcernedly4 ,altogether1 he explained1 as ,leslie and ,i listened1 speechless1 ,i was able to recover from both blood samples six centigrams of the poison4 ,it is almost unknown4 ,i could only be sure of what ,i discovered by testing the physiological effects4 ,i was very careful4 ,what else was there to do8 ,i couldn't ask you fellows to try it1 if ,i was afraid4 ,good heavens6 gasped ,leslie1 and alone1 too4 ,you wouldn't have let me do it1 if ,i hadn't got rid of you1 he smiled quietly4 ,leslie shook his head4 ,tried it on the dog and made himself the dog6 exclaimed ,leslie4 ,i need the credit of a successful case--but ,i'll not take this one4 ,kennedy laughed4 ,starting with two centigrams of the stuff as a moderate dose1 he pursued1 while ,i listened1 stunned at his daring1 ,i injected it into my right arm subcutaneously4 ,then ,i slowly worked my way up to three and then four centigrams4 ,you see what ,i had recovered was far from the real thing4 ,they did not seem at first to produce any very appreciable results other than to cause some dizziness1 slight vertigo1 a considerable degree of lassitude1 and an extremely painful headache of rather unusual duration4 ,good night6 ,i exclaimed4 ,didn't that satisfy you8 ,five centigrams considerably improved on it1 he continued1 paying no attention to me4 ,it caused a degree of lassitude and vertigo that was most distressing1 and six centigrams1 the whole amount which ,i had recovered from the samples of blood1 gave me the fright of my life right here in this laboratory a few minutes before you came in4 ,leslie and ,i looked at each other and shook our heads4 ,perhaps ,i was not wise in giving myself so large an injection on a day when ,i was overheated and below par otherwise1 because of the strain ,i have been under in handling this case1 as well as other work4 ,however that may be1 the added centigram produced so much more on top of the five centigrams ,i had previously taken that for a time ,i had reason to fear that that additional centigram was just the amount needed to bring my experiments to a permanent close4 ,within three minutes of the time of injection the dizziness and vertigo had become so great as to make walking seem impossible4 ,in another minute the lassitude rapidly crept over me1 and the serious disturbance of my breathing made it apparent to me that walking1 waving my arms1 anything1 was imperative4 ,my lungs felt glued up1 and the muscles of my chest refused to work4 ,everything swam before my eyes1 and ,i was soon reduced to walking up and down the laboratory floor with halting steps1 only preventing falling on the floor by holding fast to the edge of the table4 ,i thought of the tank of oxygen1 and managed to crawl over and turn it on4 ,i gulped at it4 ,it seemed to me that ,i spent hours gasping for breath4 ,it reminded me of what ,i once experienced in the ,cave of the ,winds of ,niagara1 where water is more abundant in the atmosphere than air4 ,yet my watch afterward indicated only about twenty minutes of extreme distress4 ,but that twenty minutes is one period ,i shall never forget4 ,i advise you1 ,leslie1 if you are ever so foolish as to try the experiment1 to remain below the five-centigram limit4 ,believe me1 ,i'd rather lose my job1 returned ,leslie4 ,how much of the stuff was administered to ,mendoza1 went on ,kennedy1 ,i cannot say4 ,but it must have been a good deal more than ,i took4 ,six centigrams which ,i recovered from these small samples are only nine-tenths of a grain4 ,you see what effect that much had4 ,i trust that answers your question8 ,dr4 ,leslie was too overwhelmed to reply4 ,what is this deadly poison that was used on ,mendoza8 ,i managed to ask4 ,you have been fortunate enough to obtain a sample of it from the ,museum of ,natural ,history1 returned ,craig4 ,it comes in a little gourd1 or often a calabash4 ,this is in a gourd4 ,it is a blackish1 brittle stuff1 incrusting the sides of the gourd just as if it was poured in in the liquid state and left to dry4 ,indeed1 that is just what has been done by those who manufacture it after a lengthy and somewhat secret process4 ,he placed the gourd on the edge of the table1 where we could see it closely4 ,i was almost afraid even to look at it4 ,the famous traveller1 ,sir ,robert ,schomburgk1 first brought it into ,europe1 and ,darwin has described it4 ,it is now an article of commerce1 and is to be found in the ,united ,states ,pharmacoepia as a medicine1 though1 of course1 it is used in only very minute quantities1 as a heart stimulant4 ,craig opened a book to a place he had marked4 ,here's an account of it1 he said4 ,two natives were one day hunting4 ,they were armed with blow-pipes and quivers full of poisoned darts made of thin1 charred pieces of bamboo1 tipped with this stuff4 ,one of them aimed a dart4 ,it missed the object overhead1 glanced off the tree1 and fell down on the hunter himself4 ,this is how the other native reported the result3 ',quacca takes the dart out of his shoulder4 ,never a word4 ,puts it in his quiver and throws it in the stream4 ,gives me his blow-pipe for his little son4 ,says to me good-bye for his wife and the village4 ,then he lies down4 ,his tongue talks no longer4 ,no sight in his eyes4 ,he folds his arms4 ,he rolls over slowly4 ,his mouth moves without sound4 ,i feel his heart4 ,it goes fast and then slow4 ,it stops4 ,quacca has shot his last woorali dart4' ,leslie and ,i looked at ,kennedy1 and the horror of the thing sank deep into our minds4 ,woorali4 ,what was it8 ,woorali1 or curare1 explained ,craig slowly1 is the well-known poison with which the ,south ,american ,indians of the upper ,orinoco tip their arrows4 ,its principal ingredient is derived from the ,strychnos toxifera tree1 which yields also the drug nux vomica1 which you1 ,dr4 ,leslie1 have mentioned4 ,on the tip of that ,inca dagger must have been a large dose of the dread curare1 this fatal ,south ,american ,indian arrow poison4 ,say1 ejaculated ,leslie1 this thing begins to look eerie to me4 ,how about that piece of paper that ,i sent to you with the warning about the curse of ,mansiche and the ,gold of the ,gods4 ,what if there should be something in it8 ,i'd rather not be a victim of this curare1 if it's all the same to you1 ,kennedy4 ,kennedy was thinking deeply4 ,who could have sent the messages to us all8 ,who was likely to have known of curare8 ,i confess that ,i had not even an idea4 ,all of them1 any of them1 might have known4 ,the deeper we got into it1 the more dastardly the crime against ,mendoza seemed4 ,involuntarily1 ,i thought of the beautiful little ,senorita1 about whom these terrible events centred4 ,though ,i had no reason for it1 ,i could not forget the fear that she had for ,senora de ,moche1 and the woman as she had been revealed to us in our late interview4 ,i suppose a ,peruvian of average intelligence might know of the arrow poison of ,indians of another country1 ,i ventured to ,craig4 ,quite possible1 he returned1 catching immediately the drift of my thoughts4 ,but the shoe-prints indicated that it was a man who stole the dagger from the ,museum4 ,it may be that it was already poisoned1 too4 ,in that case the thief would not have had to know anything of curare1 would not have needed to stab so deeply if he had known4 ,i must confess that ,i was little further along in the solution of the mystery than ,i had been when ,i first saw ,mendoza's body4 ,kennedy1 however1 did not seem to be worried4 ,leslie had long since given up trying to form an opinion and1 now that the nature of the poison was finally established1 was glad to leave the case in our hands4 ,as for me1 ,i was inclined to agree with ,dr4 ,leslie1 and1 long after he had left1 there kept recurring to my mind those words3 ,,beware ,,the ,,curse ,,of ,,mansiche ,,on ,,the ,,gold ,,of ,,the ,,gods4 ,,viii ,,the ,,anonymous ,,letter ,i think ,i will drop in to see ,senorita ,mendoza1 considered ,kennedy1 as he cleared up the materials which he had been using in his investigation of the arrow poison4 ,she is a study to me--in fact1 the reticence of all these people is hard to combat4 ,as we entered the apartment where the ,mendozas lived1 it was difficult to realize that only a few hours had elapsed since we had first been introduced to this strange affair4 ,in the hall1 however1 were still some reporters waiting in the vain hope that some fragment of a story might turn up4 ,let's have a talk with the boys1 suggested ,craig1 before we entered the ,mendoza suite4 ,after all1 the newspaper men are the best detectives ,i know4 ,if it wasn't for them1 half our murder cases wouldn't ever be solved4 ,as a matter of fact1 'yellow journals' are more useful to a city than half the detective force4 ,most of the newspaper men knew ,craig intimately1 and liked him1 possibly because he was one of the few people to-day who realized the very important part these young men played in modern life4 ,they crowded about1 eager to interview him4 ,but ,craig was clever4 ,in the rapid fire of conversation it was really he who interviewed them4 ,lockwood has been here a long time1 volunteered one of the men4 ,he seems to have constituted himself the guardian of ,inez4 ,no one gets a look at her while he's around4 ,well1 you can hardly blame him for that1 smiled ,craig4 ,jealousy isn't a crime in that case4 ,say1 put in another1 there'd be an interesting quarter of an hour if he were here now4 ,that other fellow--de ,mooch--whatever his name is1 is here4 ,de ,moche--with her1 now8 queried ,kennedy1 wheeling suddenly4 ,the reporter smiled4 ,he's a queer duck4 ,i was coming up to relieve our other man1 when ,i saw him down on the street1 hanging about the corner1 his eyes riveted on the entrance to the apartment4 ,i suppose that was his way of making love4 ,he's daffy over her1 all right4 ,i stopped to watch him4 ,of course1 he didn't know me4 ,just then ,lockwood left4 ,the ,spaniard dived into the drug store on the corner as though the devil was after him4 ,you should have seen his eyes4 ,if looks were bullets1 ,i wouldn't give much for ,lockwood's life4 ,with two such fellows about1 you wouldn't catch me making goo-goo eyes at that chicken--not on your life4 ,kennedy passed over the flippant manner in view of the importance of the observation4 ,what do you think of ,lockwood8 he asked4 ,pretty slick1 replied another of the men4 ,he's the goods1 all right4 ,why1 what has he done8 asked ,kennedy4 ,nothing in particular4 ,but he came out to see us once4 ,you can't blame him for being a bit sore at us fellows hanging about4 ,but he didn't show it4 ,instead he almost begged us to be careful of how we asked questions of the girl4 ,of course1 all of us could see how completely broken up she is4 ,we haven't bothered her4 ,in fact1 we'd do anything we could for her4 ,but ,lockwood talks straight from the shoulder4 ,you can see he's used to handling all kinds of situations4 ,but did he say anything1 has he done anything8 persisted ,kennedy4 ,n-no1 admitted the reporter4 ,i can't say he has4 ,craig frowned a bit4 ,i thought not1 he remarked4 ,these people aren't giving away any hints1 if they can help it4 ,it's my idea1 ventured another of the men1 that when this case breaks1 it will break all of a sudden4 ,i shouldn't wonder if we are in for one of the sensations of the year1 when it comes4 ,kennedy looked at him inquiringly4 ,why8 he asked simply4 ,no particular reason1 confessed the man4 ,only the regular detectives act so chesty4 ,they haven't got a thing1 and they know it1 only they won't admit it to us4 ,o',connor was here4 ,what did he say8 ,nothing4 ,he went through all the motions--',now1 pens lifted1 boys1' and all that--talked a lot--and after it was all over he might have been sure no one would publish a line of his confidences4 ,there wasn't a stick of copy in the whole thing4 ,kennedy laughed4 ,o',connor's all right1 he replied4 ,we may need him sorely before we get through4 ,after all1 nothing can take the place of the organization the police have built up4 ,you say de ,moche is in there yet8 ,yes4 ,he seemed very anxious to see her4 ,we never get a word out of him4 ,i've been thinking what would happen if we tried to get him mad4 ,maybe he'd talk4 ,more likely he'd pull a gun1 cautioned another4 ,excuse ,,me4 ,kennedy said nothing1 evidently content to let the newspaper men go their own sweet way4 ,he nodded to them1 and pressed the buzzer at the ,mendoza door4 ,tell ,senorita ,mendoza that it is ,professor ,kennedy1 he said to ,juanita1 who opened the door1 keeping it on the chain1 to be sure it was no unwelcome intruder4 ,evidently she had had orders to admit us1 for a second later we found ourselves again in the little reception room4 ,we sat down1 and ,i saw that ,craig's attention had at once been fixed on something4 ,i listened intently1 too4 ,on the other side of the heavy portieres that cut us off from the living room ,i could distinguish low voices4 ,it was de ,moche and ,inez4 ,whatever the ethics of it1 we could not help listening4 ,besides there was more at stake than ethics4 ,evidently the young man was urging her to do something that she did not agree with4 ,no1 we heard her say finally1 in a quiet tone1 ,i cannot believe it1 ,alfonso4 ,mr4 ,whitney is ,mr4 ,lockwood's associate now4 ,my father and ,mr4 ,lockwood approved of him4 ,why should ,i do otherwise8 ,de ,moche was talking earnestly but in a very muffled voice4 ,we could not make out anything except a few scattered phrases which told us nothing4 ,once ,i fancied he mentioned his mother4 ,whatever it was that he was urging1 ,inez was firm4 ,no1 ,alfonso1 she repeated1 her voice a little higher and excited4 ,it cannot be4 ,you must be mistaken4 ,she had risen1 and now moved toward the hall door1 evidently forgetting that the folding doors behind the portieres were open4 ,professor ,kennedy and ,mr4 ,jameson are here1 she said4 ,would you care to meet them8 ,he replied in the negative4 ,yet as he passed the reception room he could not help seeing us4 ,as ,inez greeted us1 ,i saw that ,alfonso was making a desperate effort to control his expression4 ,he seemed to be concealing a bitter disappointment4 ,seeing us1 he bowed stiffly1 and1 with just the murmur of a greeting1 excused himself4 ,he had no sooner closed the door to run the gauntlet of the sharp eyes in the hall than the ,senorita faced us fully4 ,she was pale and nervous4 ,evidently something that he had said to her had greatly agitated her4 ,yet with all her woman's skill she managed to hide all outward traces of emotion that might indicate what it was that racked her mind4 ,you have something to report8 she asked1 a trifle anxiously4 ,nothing of any great importance1 admitted ,craig4 ,was it actually a look of relief that crossed her face8 ,try as ,i could1 it seemed to me to be an anomalous situation4 ,she wanted the murderer of her father caught1 naturally4 ,yet she did not seem to be offering us the natural assistance that was to be expected4 ,could it be that she suspected some one perhaps near and dear to her of having some knowledge1 which1 now that the deed was done1 would do more harm than good if revealed8 ,it was the only conclusion to which ,i could come4 ,i was surprised at ,kennedy's next question4 ,was the same idea in his mind1 also8 ,we have seen ,mr4 ,whitney1 he ventured4 ,just what are ,mr4 ,lockwood's relations with him--and yours8 ,merely that ,mr4 ,lockwood and my father were partners1 she answered hastily4 ,they had decided that their interests would be more valuable by some arrangement with ,mr4 ,whitney1 who controls so much down in ,peru4 ,do you think that ,senora de ,moche exercises a very great influence on ,mr4 ,whitney8 asked ,craig1 purposely introducing the name of the ,indian woman to see what effect it might have on her4 ,oh1 she cried1 with a little exclamation of alarm1 ,i hope not4 ,yet it was evident that she feared so4 ,why is it that you fear it8 insisted ,kennedy4 ,what has she done to make you fear it8 ,i don't like her1 returned ,inez1 with a frown4 ,my father knew her--too well4 ,she is a schemer1 an adventuress4 ,once she has a hold on a man1 one cannot say-- ,she paused1 then went on in a different tone4 ,but ,i would rather not talk about the woman4 ,i am afraid of her4 ,never does she talk to me that she does not get something out of me that ,i do not wish to tell her4 ,she is uncanny4 ,personally1 ,i could not blame ,inez for her opinion4 ,i could understand it4 ,those often baleful eyes had a penetrating power that one might easily fall a victim to4 ,but you can trust ,mr4 ,lockwood1 he returned4 ,surely he is proof against her1 against any woman4 ,inez flushed4 ,it was evident that of all the men who were interested in the little beauty1 ,lockwood was first in her mind4 ,yet when ,kennedy put the question thus she hesitated4 ,yes1 she replied1 of course1 ,i trust him4 ,it is not that woman whom ,i fear with him4 ,she said it with an air almost of defiance4 ,there was some kind of struggle going on in her mind1 and she was too proud to let us into the secret4 ,kennedy rose and bowed4 ,for the present he had come to the conclusion that if she would not let us help her openly the only thing to do was to help her blindly4 ,half an hour later we were at ,norton's apartment1 not far from the ,university campus4 ,he listened intently as ,kennedy told such parts of what we had done as he chose4 ,at the mention of the arrow poison1 he seemed startled beyond measure4 ,you are sure of it8 he asked anxiously4 ,positive1 now1 reiterated ,kennedy4 ,norton's face was drawn in deep lines4 ,if some one has the secret1 he cried hastily1 who knows when and on whom next he may employ it8 ,coming from him so soon after the same idea had been hinted at by the coroner1 ,i could not but be impressed by it4 ,the very novelty of the thing is our best protection1 asserted ,kennedy confidently4 ,once having discovered it1 if ,walter gives the thing its proper value in the ,star1 ,i think the criminal will be unlikely to try it again4 ,if you had had as much experience in crime as ,i have had1 you would see that it is not necessarily the unusual that is baffling4 ,that may be the surest way to trace it4 ,often it is because a thing is so natural that it may be attributed to any person among several1 equally well4 ,norton eyed us keenly1 and shook his head4 ,you may be right1 he said doubtfully4 ,only ,i had rather that this person1 whoever he may be1 had fewer weapons4 ,speaking of weapons1 broke in ,kennedy1 you have had no further idea of why the dagger might have been taken8 ,there seems to have been so much about it that ,i did not know1 he returned1 that ,i am almost afraid to have an opinion4 ,i knew that its three-sided sheath inclosed a sharp blade1 yet who would have dreamed that that blade was poisoned8 ,you are lucky not to have scratched yourself with it by accident while you were studying it4 ,possibly ,i might have done it1 if ,i had had it in my possession longer4 ,it was only lately that ,i had leisure to study it4 ,you knew that it might offer some clue to the hidden treasure of ,truxillo8 suggested ,kennedy4 ,have you any recollection of what the inscriptions on it said8 ,yes1 returned ,norton1 ,i had heard the rumours about it4 ,but ,peru is a land of tales of buried treasure4 ,no1 ,i can't say that ,i paid much more attention to it than you might have done if some one asserted that he had another story of the treasure of ,captain ,kidd4 ,i must confess that only when the thing was stolen did ,i begin to wonder whether1 after all1 there might not be something in it4 ,now it is too late to find out4 ,from the moment when ,i found that it was missing from my collection ,i have heard no more about it than you have found out4 ,it is all like a dream to me4 ,i cannot believe even yet that a mere bit of archaeological and ethnological specimen could have played so important a part in the practical events of real life4 ,it does seem impossible1 agreed ,kennedy4 ,but it is even more remarkable than that4 ,it has disappeared without leaving a trace1 after having played its part4 ,if it had been a mere robbery1 considered ,norton1 one might look for its reappearance1 ,i suppose1 in the curio shops4 ,for to-day thieves have a keen appreciation of the value of such objects4 ,but1 now that you have unearthed its use against ,mendoza--and in such a terrible way--it is not likely that that will be what will happen to it4 ,no1 we must look elsewhere4 ,i thought ,i would tell you1 concluded ,kennedy1 rising to go4 ,perhaps after you have considered it over night some idea may occur to you4 ,perhaps1 said ,norton doubtfully4 ,but ,i haven't your brilliant faculty of scientific analysis1 ,kennedy4 ,no1 ,i shall have to lean on you1 in that1 not you on me4 ,we left ,norton1 apparently now more at sea than ever4 ,at the laboratory ,kennedy plunged into some microphotographic work that the case had suggested to him1 while ,i dashed off1 under his supervision1 an account of the discovery of curare1 and telephoned it down to the ,star in time to catch the first morning edition1 in the hope that it might have some effect in apprising the criminal that we were hard on his trail1 which he had considered covered4 ,i scanned the other papers eagerly in the morning for ,kennedy1 hoping to glean at least some hints that others who were working on the case might have gathered4 ,but there was nothing1 and1 after a hasty bite of breakfast1 we hurried back to take up the thread of the investigation where we had laid it down4 ,to our surprise1 on the steps of the ,chemistry ,building1 as we approached1 we saw ,inez ,mendoza already waiting for us in a high state of agitation4 ,her face was pale1 and her voice trembled as she greeted us4 ,such a dreadful thing has come to me1 she cried1 even before ,kennedy could ask her what the trouble was4 ,from her handbag she drew out a crumpled1 dirty piece of paper in an envelope4 ,it came in the first mail1 she explained4 ,i could not wait to send it to you4 ,i brought it myself4 ,what can it mean8 ,kennedy unfolded the paper4 ,printed in large characters1 in every way similar to the four warnings that had been sent to us1 was just one ominous line4 ,we read3 ,beware the man who professes to be a friend of your father4 ,i glanced from the note to ,kennedy1 then to ,inez4 ,one name was in my mind1 and before ,i knew it ,i had spoken it4 ,lockwood8 ,i queried inadvertently4 ,her eyes met mine in sharp defiance4 ,impossible1 she exclaimed4 ,it is some one trying to injure him with me4 ,beware of ,mr4 ,lockwood8 ,how absurd6 ,yet it must have meant ,lockwood4 ,no one else could have been meant4 ,it was he1 most of all1 who might be called a friend of her father4 ,she seemed to see the implication without a word from us4 ,i could not help sympathizing with the brave girl in her struggle between the attack against ,lockwood and her love and confidence in him4 ,it did not need words to tell me that evidence must be overwhelming to convince her that her lover might be involved in any manner4 ,,ix ,,the ,,paper ,,fibres ,kennedy examined the anonymous letter carefully for several minutes1 while we watched him in silence4 ,too clever to use a typewriter1 he remarked1 still regarding the note through the lens of a hand-glass4 ,almost any one would have used a machine4 ,that would have been due to the erroneous idea that typewriting cannot be detected4 ,the fact is that the typewriter is perhaps a worse means of concealing identity than is disguised handwriting1 especially printing like this4 ,it doesn't afford the effective protection to the criminal that one supposes4 ,on the contrary1 the typewriting of such a note may be the direct means by which it can be traced to its source4 ,we can determine what kind of machine it was done with1 then what particular machine was used can be identified4 ,he paused and indicated a number of little instruments which he had taken from a drawer and laid on the table1 as he tore off a bit of the corner of the sheet of paper and examined it4 ,there is one thing ,i can do now1 though1 he continued4 ,i can study the quality of the paper in this sheet4 ,if it were only torn like those warnings we have already received1 it might perhaps be mated with another piece as accurately as if the act had been performed before our eyes4 ,he picked up a little instrument with a small curved arm and a finely threaded screw that brought the two flat surfaces of the arm and the end of the screw together4 ,there is no such good fortune in this case1 however1 he resumed1 placing the paper between the two small arms4 ,but by measurements made by this vernier micrometer caliper ,i can find the precise thickness of the paper as compared to the other samples4 ,he turned to a microscope and placed the corner of the paper under it4 ,then he drew from the drawer the four scraps of paper which had already been sent to us1 as well as a pile of photographs4 ,under ordinary circumstances1 he explained1 ,i should think that what ,i am doing would be utterly valueless as a clue to anything4 ,but we are reduced to the minutiae in this affair4 ,and to-day science is not ready to let anything pass as valueless4 ,he continued to look at the various pieces of paper under the microscope4 ,i find under microscopic examination1 he went on1 addressing ,inez1 but not looking up from the eye-piece as he shifted the papers1 that the note you have received1 ,senorita ,mendoza1 is written on a rather uncommon linen bond paper4 ,later ,i shall take a number of microphotographs of it4 ,i have here1 also1 about a hundred microphotographs of the fibres in other kinds of paper1 many of them bonds4 ,these ,i have accumulated from time to time in my study of the subject4 ,none of them1 as you can see1 shows fibres resembling this one in question1 so that we may conclude that it is of uncommon quality4 ,here ,i have the fibres1 also1 of four pieces of paper that have already figured in the case4 ,these four correspond1 as well as the indentures of the torn edges4 ,as for the fibres1 lest you should question the accuracy of the method1 ,i may say that ,i know of a case where a man in ,germany was arrested1 charged with stealing a government bond4 ,he was not searched until later4 ,there was no evidence1 save that after the arrest a large number of spitballs were found around the courtyard under his cell window4 ,this method of comparing the fibres of the regular government paper was used1 and by it the man was convicted of stealing the bond4 ,i think it is unnecessary to add that in the present case ,i can see definitely that not only the four pieces of paper that bore warnings to us were the same kind1 but that this whole sheet1 with its anonymous warning to you1 is also the same4 ,inez ,mendoza looked at ,kennedy as though he possessed some weird power4 ,her face1 which had already been startled into an expression of fear at his mention of ,lockwood1 now was pale4 ,other warnings8 she repeated tremulously4 ,quickly ,kennedy explained what had already happened to us1 watching the effect on her as he read of the curse of ,mansiche and the ,gold of the ,gods4 ,oh1 she cried1 mastering her emotion with a heroic effort1 ,i wish my father had never become mixed up in the business4 ,ever since ,i was a little girl ,i have heard these vague stories of the big fish and the little fish1 the treasure1 and the curse4 ,but ,i never thought they were anything but fairy tales4 ,you remember1 when ,i first saw you1 ,i did not even tell them to you4 ,yes1 returned ,kennedy4 ,i remember4 ,but had you no other reason8 ,did you1 down in your heart1 think them really fairy tales8 ,she shuddered4 ,perhaps not1 she murmured4 ,but ,i have heard enough of you detectives to know that you do not think a woman's fears exactly evidence4 ,still they might lead to evidence1 suggested ,kennedy4 ,she looked at him1 more startled than ever1 for already he had given her a slight exhibition of his powers4 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 she exclaimed1 ,i am positively afraid of you1 afraid that every little thing ,i do may lead to something ,i don't intend4 ,there was a frankness about the remark that would have been flattering from a man1 but from her excited sympathy4 ,no1 she went on1 ,i have nothing tangible--only my feelings4 ,i fear ,i must admit that my father had enemies1 though who they are ,i cannot tell you4 ,no1 it is all in my heart--not in my head4 ,there are those whom ,i dislike--and there are those whom ,i like and trust4 ,you may call me foolish1 but ,i cannot help trusting--,mr4 ,lockwood4 ,she had not meant to say his name1 and ,kennedy and ,i looked at her in surprise4 ,you see8 she continued4 ,every time ,i talk ,i say something1 convey some impression that is the opposite of what ,i wish4 ,oh--what shall ,i do8 ,have ,i no one to trust8 ,she was crying4 ,you may trust me1 ,senorita1 said ,kennedy1 in a low tone1 pausing before her4 ,at least ,i have no other interest than finding the truth and helping you4 ,there--there4 ,we have had enough to-day4 ,i cannot ask you to try to forget what has happened4 ,that would be impossible4 ,but ,i can ask you1 ,senorita1 to have faith--faith that it will all turn out better1 if you will only trust me4 ,when you feel stronger--then come to me4 ,tell me your fears--or not--whichever does you the most good4 ,only keep your mind from brooding4 ,face it all as you know your father would have you do4 ,kennedy's words were soothing4 ,he seemed to know that tears were the safety-valve she needed4 ,mr4 ,jameson will see that you get home safely in a taxicab1 he continued4 ,you can trust him as you would myself4 ,i can imagine circumstances under which ,i would have enjoyed escorting ,inez to her home1 but today was not one of the times4 ,yet she seemed so helpless1 so grateful for everything we did for her that ,i did not need even the pressure of her little hand as she hurried into the apartment from the car with a hasty word of thanks4 ,you will tell ,mr4 ,kennedy--you will both be--so careful8 she hesitated before leaving me4 ,i assured her that we would1 wondering what she might fear for us1 as ,i drove away again4 ,there did not happen to be any of the newspaper men about at the time1 and ,i did not stop4 ,back in the laboratory1 ,i found ,kennedy arranging something under the rug at the door as ,i came up the hall4 ,don't step there1 ,walter1 he cautioned4 ,step over the rug4 ,i'm expecting visitors4 ,how was she when she arrived home8 ,i told him of her parting injunction4 ,not bad advice1 he remarked4 ,i think there's a surprise back of those warnings4 ,they weren't sent just for effect4 ,he had closed the door1 and we were standing by the table1 looking at the letters1 when we heard a noise at the door4 ,it was ,norton again4 ,i've been thinking of what you told me last night1 he explained1 before ,kennedy had a chance to tell him to step over the rug4 ,has anything else happened8 ,kennedy tossed over the anonymous letter1 and ,norton read it eagerly4 ,whom does it mean8 he asked1 quickly glancing up1 then adding1 ,it might mean any of us who are trying to help her4 ,exactly1 returned ,kennedy4 ,or it might be ,lockwood1 or even de ,moche4 ,by the way1 you know the young man pretty well1 don't you8 ,i wonder if you could find him anywhere about the ,university this morning and persuade him to visit me8 ,i will try1 agreed ,norton4 ,but these people are so very suspicious just now that ,i can't promise4 ,norton went out a few minutes later to see what he could do to locate ,alfonso1 and ,kennedy replaced another blank sheet of paper for that under the rug on which ,norton had stepped before we could warn him4 ,no sooner had he gone than ,kennedy reached for the telephone and called ,whitney's office4 ,lockwood was there1 as he had hoped1 and1 after a short talk1 promised to drop in on us later in the morning4 ,it was fully half an hour before ,norton returned1 having finally found ,alfonso4 ,de ,moche entered the laboratory with a suspicious glance about1 as though he thought something might have been planted there for him4 ,i had a most interesting talk with your mother yesterday1 began ,kennedy1 endeavouring by frankness to put the young man at ease4 ,and this morning1 already1 ,senorita ,mendoza has called on me4 ,de ,moche was all attention at the words4 ,but before he could say anything ,kennedy handed him the anonymous letter4 ,he read it1 and his face clouded as he handed it back4 ,you have no idea who could have sent such a note8 queried ,craig1 or to whom it might refer8 ,he glanced at ,norton1 then at us4 ,it was clear that some sort of suspicion had flashed over him4 ,no1 he said quickly1 ,i know no one who could have sent it4 ,but whom does it mean8 asked ,kennedy1 holding him to the part that he avoided4 ,the young man shrugged his shoulders4 ,she has many friends1 he answered simply4 ,yes1 persisted ,kennedy1 but few against whom she might be warned in this way4 ,you do not think it is ,professor ,norton1 for instance--or myself8 ,oh1 no1 no--hardly1 he replied1 then stopped1 realizing that he had eliminated all but ,lockwood1 ,whitney1 and himself4 ,it could not be ,mr4 ,lockwood8 demanded ,craig4 ,who sent it8 he asked1 looking up4 ,no--whom it warns against4 ,de ,moche had known what ,kennedy meant1 but had preferred to postpone the answer4 ,it was native never to come to the point unless he was forced to do so4 ,he met our eyes squarely4 ,he had not the penetrating power that his mother possessed1 yet his was a sharp faculty of observation4 ,mr4 ,lockwood is very friendly with her1 he admitted1 then seemed to think something else necessary to round out the idea4 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 ,i might have told her the same myself4 ,senorita ,mendoza has been a very dear friend--for a long time4 ,i had been so used to having him evasive that now ,i did not exactly know what to make of such a burst of confidence4 ,it was susceptible of at least two interpretations4 ,was he implying that it was sent to cast suspicion on him1 because he felt that way himself or because he himself was her friend8 ,there have been other warnings1 pursued ,kennedy1 both to myself and ,mr4 ,jameson1 as well as ,professor ,norton and ,dr4 ,leslie4 ,surely you must have some idea of the source4 ,de ,moche shook his head4 ,none that ,i can think of1 he replied4 ,have you asked my mother8 ,not yet1 admitted ,kennedy4 ,de ,moche glanced at his watch4 ,i have a lecture at this hour1 he remarked1 evidently glad of an excuse to terminate the interview4 ,as he left1 ,kennedy accompanied him to the door1 careful himself to step over the mat4 ,hello1 what's new8 we heard a voice in the hall4 ,it was ,lockwood1 who had come up from downtown4 ,catching sight of de ,moche1 however1 he stopped short4 ,the two young men met face to face4 ,between them passed a glance of unconcealed hostility1 then each nodded stiffly4 ,de ,moche turned to ,kennedy as he passed down the hall4 ,perhaps it may have been sent to divert suspicion--who can tell8 he whispered4 ,kennedy nodded appreciatively1 noting the change4 ,at the sound of ,lockwood's voice both ,norton and ,i had taken a step further after them out into the hall1 ,norton somewhat in advance4 ,as de ,moche disappeared for his lecture1 ,kennedy turned to me from ,lockwood and caught my eye4 ,i read in his glance that fell from me to the mat that he wished me quietly to abstract the piece of paper which he had placed under it4 ,i bent down and did so without ,lockwood seeing me4 ,why was he here8 demanded ,lockwood1 with just a trace of defiance in his voice1 as though he fancied the meeting had been framed4 ,i have been showing this to every one who might help me1 returned ,kennedy1 going back into the laboratory after giving me an opportunity to dispose of the shoe-prints4 ,he handed the anonymous letter and the other warnings to the young soldier of fortune1 with a brief explanation4 ,why don't they come out into the open1 whoever they are8 commented ,lockwood1 laying the papers down carelessly again on the table4 ,i'll meet them--if they mean me4 ,who8 asked ,kennedy4 ,lockwood faced ,norton and ourselves4 ,i'm not a mind reader1 he said significantly4 ,but it doesn't take much to see that some one wants to throw a brick at me4 ,when ,i have anything to say ,i say it openly4 ,inez ,mendoza without friends just now would be a mark1 wouldn't she8 ,his strong face and powerful jaw were set in a menacing scowl4 ,he would be a bold man who would have come between ,lockwood and the lady under the circumstances4 ,you are confident of ,mr4 ,whitney8 inquired ,kennedy4 ,ask ,norton1 replied ,lockwood briefly4 ,he knew him long before ,i did4 ,norton smiled quietly4 ,mr4 ,kennedy should know what my opinion of ,mr4 ,whitney is1 ,i think1 replied ,norton confidently4 ,i trust that you will succeed in running these blackmailers down1 pursued ,lockwood1 still standing4 ,if ,i did not have more than ,i can attend to already since the murder of ,mendoza ,i'd like to take a hand myself4 ,it begins to look to me1 after reading that letter1 as though there was nothing too low for them to attempt4 ,i shall keep this latest matter in mind4 ,if either ,mr4 ,whitney or myself get any hint1 we'll turn it over to you4 ,norton left shortly after ,lockwood1 and ,kennedy again picked up the letter and scanned it4 ,i could learn something1 ,i suppose1 if ,i analyzed this printing1 he considered1 but it is a tedious process4 ,let me see that envelope again4 ,h-m1 postmarked by the uptown sub-station1 mailed late last night4 ,whoever sent it must have done so not very far from us here4 ,lockwood seemed to take it as though it applied to himself very readily1 didn't he8 ,much more so than de ,moche4 ,only for the fact that the fibres show it to be on paper similar to the first warnings1 ,i might have been inclined to doubt whether this was bona fide4 ,at least1 the sender must realize now that it has produced no appreciable effect--if any was intended4 ,kennedy's last remark set me thinking4 ,could some one have sent the letter not to produce the effect apparently intended1 but with the ultimate object of diverting suspicion from himself8 ,lockwood1 at least1 had not seemed to take the letter very seriously4 ,x ,,the ,x-,,ray ,,reader ,i think ,i'll pay another visit to ,whitney1 in spite of all that ,norton and ,lockwood say about him1 remarked ,kennedy1 considering the next step he would take in his investigation4 ,accordingly1 half an hour later we entered his ,wall ,street office1 where we were met by a clerk1 who seemed to remember us4 ,mr4 ,whitney is out just at present1 he said1 but if you will be seated ,i think ,i can reach him by telephone4 ,as we sat in the outer office while the clerk telephoned from ,whitney's own room the door opened and the postman entered and laid some letters on a table near us4 ,kennedy could not help seeing the letter on top of the pile1 and noticed that it bore a stamp from ,peru4 ,he picked it up and read the postmark1 ,lima1 and the date some weeks previous4 ,in the lower corner1 underscored1 were the words ,personal--,urgent4 ,i'd like to know what is in that1 remarked ,craig1 turning it over and over4 ,he appeared to be considering something1 for he rose suddenly1 and with a nod of his head to himself1 as though settling some qualm of conscience1 shoved the letter into his pocket4 ,a moment later the clerk returned4 ,i've just had ,mr4 ,whitney on the wire1 he reported4 ,i don't think he'll be back at least for an hour4 ,is he at the ,prince ,edward ,albert8 asked ,craig4 ,i don't know1 returned the clerk1 oblivious to the fact that we must have seen that in order to know the telephone number he must have known whether ,mr4 ,whitney was there or elsewhere4 ,i shall come in again1 rejoined ,kennedy1 as we bowed ourselves out4 ,then to me he added1 ,if he is with ,senora de ,moche and they are at the ,edward ,albert1 ,i think ,i can beat him back with this letter if we hurry4 ,a few minutes later1 in his laboratory1 ,kennedy set to work quickly over an ,x-ray apparatus4 ,as ,i watched him1 ,i saw that he had placed the letter in it4 ,these are what are known as 'low tubes1' he explained4 ,they give out 'soft rays4' ,he continued to work for several minutes1 then took the letter out and handed it to me4 ,now1 ,walter1 he said brusquely1 if you will just hurry back down there to ,whitney's office and replace that letter1 ,i think ,i will have something that will astonish you--though whether it will have any bearing on the case remains to be seen4 ,at least ,i can postpone seeing ,whitney himself for a while4 ,i made the trip down again as rapidly as ,i could4 ,whitney was not back when ,i arrived1 but the clerk was there1 and ,i could not very well just leave the letter on the table again4 ,mr4 ,kennedy would like to know when he can see ,mr4 ,whitney1 ,i said1 on the spur of the moment4 ,can't you call him up again8 ,the clerk1 as ,i had anticipated1 went into ,whitney's office to telephone4 ,instead of laying the letter on the table1 which might have excited suspicion1 ,i stuck it in the letter slot of the door1 thinking that perhaps they might imagine that it had caught there when the postman made his rounds4 ,a moment later the clerk returned4 ,mr4 ,whitney is on his way down now1 he reported4 ,i thanked him1 and said that ,kennedy would call him up when he arrived1 congratulating myself on the good luck ,i had had in returning the letter4 ,what is it8 ,i asked1 a few minutes later1 when ,i had rejoined ,craig in the laboratory4 ,he was poring intently over what looked like a negative4 ,the possibility of reading the contents of documents inclosed in a sealed envelope1 he replied1 still studying the shadowgraph closely1 has already been established by the well-known ,english scientist1 ,dr4 ,hall ,edwards4 ,he has been experimenting with the method of using ,x-rays recently discovered by a ,german scientist1 by which radiographs of very thin substances1 such as a sheet of paper1 a leaf1 an insect's body1 may be obtained4 ,these thin substances1 through which the rays used formerly to pass without leaving an impression1 can now be easily radiographed4 ,i looked carefully as he traced out something on the queer negative4 ,on it1 it was easily possible1 following his guidance1 to read the words inscribed on the sheet of paper inside4 ,so admirably defined were all the details that even the gum on the envelope and the edges of the sheet of paper inside the envelope could be distinguished4 ,it seems incredible1 ,i exclaimed1 scarcely believing what ,i actually saw4 ,it is almost like second sight4 ,kennedy smiled4 ,any letter written with ink having a mineral base can be radiographed1 he added4 ,even when the sheet is folded in the usual way1 it is possible1 by taking a radiograph1 as ,i have done1 stereoscopically4 ,then every detail can be seen standing out in relief4 ,besides1 it can be greatly magnified1 which aids in deciphering it if it is indistinct or jumbled up4 ,some of it looks like mirror-writing4 ,ah1 he continued1 here's something interesting4 ,together we managed to trace out the contents of several paragraphs laboriously1 the gist of which ,i give here3 ,,lima1 ,,peru4 ,,dear ,,whitney3 ,matters are progressing very favorably here1 considering the stoppage of business due to the war4 ,i am doing everything in my power to conserve our interests1 and now and then1 owing to the scarcity of money1 am able to pick up a concession cheaply1 which will be of immense value to us later4 ,however1 it is not so much of business that ,i wish to write you at the present time4 ,you know that my friend ,senora de ,moche1 with her son1 ,alfonso1 is at present in ,new ,york4 ,doubtless she has already called on you and tried to interest you in her own properties here4 ,i need not advise you to be very careful in dealing with her4 ,the other day ,i heard a rumour that may prove interesting to you1 regarding ,norton and his work here on his last trip4 ,as we know1 he has succeeded in finding and getting out of the country an ,inca dagger which1 ,i believe1 bears a very important inscription4 ,i do not know anything definite about it1 as these people are very reticent4 ,but no doubt he has told you all about it by this time4 ,if it should prove of value1 ,i depend on you to let me know1 so that ,i may act at this end accordingly4 ,what ,i am getting at is this3 ,i understand that from rumours and remarks of the ,senora she believes that ,norton took an unfair advantage during her absence4 ,what the inscription is ,i don't know1 but from the way these people down here act one would think that they all had a proprietary interest in the relic4 ,what it is all about ,i don't know4 ,but you will find the ,senora both a keen business woman and an accomplished antiquarian1 if you have not already discovered it4 ,in regard to ,lockwood and ,mendoza1 if we can get them in on our side1 it ought to prove a winning combination4 ,there are stories here of how de ,moche has been playing on ,mendoza's passions--she's thoroughly unscrupulous and ,don ,luis is somewhat of a ,don ,juan4 ,i write this to put you on guard4 ,her son1 ,alfonso1 whom you perhaps have met also1 is of another type1 though ,i have heard it said that he laid siege to ,inez ,mendoza in the hope of becoming allied with one of the oldest families4 ,such1 at least1 is the gossip down here4 ,i cannot presume to keep you posted at such a distance1 but thought ,i had better write what is in every one's mouth4 ,as for the inscribed dagger which ,norton has taken with him1 ,i rely on you to inform me4 ,there seems to be a great deal of mystery connected with it1 and ,i am unable even to hazard a guess as to its nature4 ,fortunately1 you are on the spot ,very sincerely yours1 ,,haggerty4 ,so1 remarked ,kennedy1 as he read over the translation of the skiagraph which he had jotted down as we picked out the letters and words1 that's how the land lies4 ,everybody seems to have appreciated the importance of the dagger4 ,except ,norton1 ,i could not help putting in in disgust4 ,and now it's gone1 he continued1 just as though some one had dropped it overboard4 ,i believe ,i will keep that appointment you made for me with ,whitney1 after all4 ,thus it happened that ,i found myself a third time entering ,whitney's building4 ,i was about to step into the elevator1 when ,kennedy tugged at my arm and pulled me back4 ,hello1 ,norton1 ,i heard him say1 as ,i turned and caught sight of the archaeologist just leaving an elevator that had come down4 ,norton's face plainly showed that he was worried4 ,what the matter8 asked ,kennedy1 putting the circumstances together4 ,what has ,whitney been doing8 ,norton seemed reluctant to talk1 but having no alternative motioned to us to step aside in the corridor4 ,it's the first time ,i've talked with him since the dagger was stolen--that is1 about the loss1 he said nervously4 ,he called me up half an hour ago and asked me to come down4 ,i looked at ,kennedy significantly4 ,evidently it must have been just after his return to the office and receipt of the letter which ,i had stuck in the letter slot4 ,he was very angry over something1 continued ,norton4 ,i'm sure it was not my fault if the dagger was stolen1 and ,i'm sure that managing an expedition in that ,god-forsaken country doesn't give you time to read every inscription1 especially when it is almost illegible1 right on the spot4 ,there was work enough for months that ,i brought back1 along with that4 ,sometimes ,whitney's unreasonable4 ,you don't think he could have known something about the dagger all along8 ventured ,craig4 ,norton puckered his eyes4 ,he never said anything1 he replied4 ,if he had asked me to drop other things for that1 why1 of course1 ,i would have done so4 ,we can't afford to lose him as a contributor to the exploration fund4 ,confound it--,i'm afraid ,i've put my foot in it this time4 ,kennedy said nothing1 and ,norton continued1 growing more excited3 ,everybody's been talking to ,whitney1 telling him all kinds of things--,lockwood1 the de ,moches1 heaven knows who else4 ,why don't they come out and face me8 ,i've a notion to try to carry on my work independently4 ,nothing plays hob with scholarship like money4 ,you'd think he owned me body and soul1 and the collection1 too1 if you heard him talk4 ,why1 he accused me of carelessness in running the ,museum1 and heaven knows ,i'm not the curator--,i'm not even the janitor6 ,norton was excited1 but ,i could not help feeling that he was also relieved4 ,i've been preparing for the time when ,i'd have to cut loose1 he went on finally4 ,now1 ,i suppose it is coming4 ,ah1 well1 perhaps it will be better--who can tell8 ,i may not do so much1 but it will all be mine1 with no strings attached4 ,perhaps1 after all1 it is for the best4 ,talking over his troubles seemed to do ,norton some good1 for ,i am sure that he left us in a better frame of mind than we had found him4 ,kennedy wished him good-luck1 and we again entered the lift4 ,we found ,whitney in an even greater state of excitement than ,norton had been4 ,i am sure that if it had been any one else than ,kennedy he would have thrown him out1 but he seemed to feel that he must control himself in our presence4 ,what do you know about that fellow ,norton1 up at your place8 he demanded1 almost before we had seated ourselves4 ,a very hard-working1 ambitious man his colleagues tell me1 returned ,kennedy1 purposely ,i thought1 as if it had been a red rag flaunted before a bull4 ,hard-working--yes1 bellowed ,whitney4 ,he has worked me hard4 ,i send him down to ,peru--yes1 ,i put up most of the money4 ,then what does he do8 ,just kids me along1 makes me think he's accomplishing a whole lot--when he's actually so careless as to let himself be robbed of what he gets with my money4 ,i tell you1 you can't trust anybody4 ,they all double-cross you4 ,i swear1 ,i think ,lockwood and ,i ought to go it alone4 ,i'm glad ,i found that fellow out4 ,let himself be robbed--a fine piece of work6 ,why1 that fellow couldn't see through a barn door--after the horse was stolen1 he concluded1 mixing his metaphors in his anger4 ,evidently some one has been telling you something1 remarked ,kennedy4 ,we tried to see you twice this morning1 but couldn't find you4 ,his tone was one calculated to impress ,whitney with the fact that he had been watching and had some idea of where he really was4 ,whitney shot a sharp glance at ,craig1 whose face betrayed nothing4 ,ambitious--,i should say so1 repeated ,whitney1 reverting to ,norton to cover up this new change of the subject4 ,well--let him be ambitious4 ,we can get along without him4 ,i tell you1 ,kennedy1 no one is indispensable4 ,there is always some way to get along--if you can't get over an obstacle1 you can get around it4 ,i'll dispense with ,mr4 ,norton4 ,he's an expensive luxury1 anyhow4 ,i'm just as well satisfied4 ,there was real vexation in ,whitney's voice1 yet as he talked he1 too1 seemed to cool down4 ,i could not help thinking that both ,norton and ,whitney were perhaps just a bit glad at the break4 ,had both of them got out of each other all that they wanted--,norton his reputation and ,whitney--what8 ,he cooled down so rapidly now that almost ,i began to wonder whether his anger had been genuine4 ,did he know more about the dagger than appeared8 ,was this his cover--to disown ,norton8 ,it seems to me that ,senora de ,moche is ambitious for her son1 too1 remarked ,kennedy1 tenaciously trying to force the conversation into the channel he chose4 ,how's that8 demanded ,whitney1 narrowing his eyes down into a squint at ,kennedy's face1 a proceeding that served by contrast to emphasize the abnormal condition of the pupils which ,i had already noticed both in his eyes and ,lockwood's4 ,i don't think she'd object to having him marry into one of the leading families in ,peru1 ventured ,kennedy1 paraphrasing what we had already read in the letter4 ,perhaps ,senorita ,mendoza herself can be trusted to see to that1 ,whitney replied with a quick laugh4 ,to say nothing of ,mr4 ,lockwood1 suggested ,craig4 ,whitney looked at him quizzically1 as though in doubt just how much this man knew4 ,senora de ,moche puzzles me1 went on ,kennedy4 ,i often wonder whether superstition or greed would rule her if it came to the point in this matter of the ,gold of the ,gods1 as they all seem to call the buried treasure at ,truxillo4 ,she's a fascinating woman1 but ,i can't help feeling that with her one is always playing with fire4 ,whitney eyed us knowingly4 ,i had long ago taken his measure as a man quite susceptible to a pretty face1 especially if accompanied by a well-turned ankle4 ,i never discuss politics during business hours1 he laughed1 with a self-satisfied air4 ,you will excuse me8 ,i have some rather important letters that ,i must get off4 ,kennedy rose1 and ,whitney walked to the door with us1 to call his stenographer4 ,we had scarcely said good-bye and were about to open the outer door when it was pushed open from outside1 and ,lockwood bustled in4 ,no more anonymous letters1 ,i hope8 he queried1 in a tone which ,i could not determine whether serious or sarcastic4 ,kennedy answered in the negative4 ,not unless you have one4 ,i8 ,i rather think the ready letter-writers know better than to waste time on me4 ,that little billet doux seems to have quite upset the ,senorita1 though4 ,i don't know how many times she has called me up to see if ,i was all right4 ,i begin to think that whoever wrote it has done me a good turn1 after all4 ,lockwood did not say it in a boastful way1 but one could see that he was greatly pleased at the solicitude of ,inez4 ,she thinks it referred to you1 then8 asked ,kennedy4 ,evidently1 he replied2 then added1 ,i won't say but that ,i have taken it seriously1 too4 ,he slapped his hip pocket4 ,under the tail of his coat bulged a blue-steel automatic4 ,you still have no idea who could have sent it1 or why8 ,lockwood shook his head4 ,whoever he is1 ,i'm ready1 he replied grimly1 bowing us out4 ,,xi ,,the ,,shoe-,,prints ,i'm afraid we've neglected the ,senorita a bit1 in our efforts to follow up what clues we have in the case1 remarked ,kennedy1 as we rode uptown again4 ,she needs all the protection we can give her4 ,i think we'd better drop around there1 now that she is pretty likely to be left alone4 ,accordingly1 instead of going back to the laboratory1 we dropped off near the apartment of the ,mendozas and walked over from the subway4 ,as we turned the corner1 far down the long block ,i could see the entrance to the apartment4 ,there she is now1 ,i said to ,kennedy1 catching sight of her familiar figure1 clad in sombre black1 as she came down the steps4 ,i wonder where she can be going4 ,she turned at the foot of the steps and1 as chance would have it1 started in the opposite direction from us4 ,let us see1 answered ,kennedy1 quickening his pace4 ,she had not gone very far before a man seemed to spring up from nowhere and meet her4 ,he bowed1 and walked along beside her4 ,de ,moche1 recognized ,kennedy4 ,alfonso had evidently been waiting in the shadow of an entrance down the street1 perhaps hoping to see her1 perhaps as our newspaper friend had seen before1 to watch whether ,lockwood was among her callers4 ,as we walked along1 we could see the little drama with practically no fear of being seen1 so earnestly were they talking4 ,even during the few minutes that the ,senorita was talking with him no one would have needed to be told that she really had a great deal of regard for him1 whatever might be her feelings toward ,lockwood4 ,i should say that she wants to see him1 yet does not want to see him1 observed ,kennedy1 as we came closer4 ,she seemed now to have become restive and impatient1 eager to cut the conversation short4 ,it was quite evident at the same time that ,alfonso was deeply in love with her1 that though she tried to put him off he was persistent4 ,i wondered whether1 after all1 some of the trouble had not been that during his lifetime the proud old ,castilian ,don ,luis could never have consented to the marriage of his daughter to one of ,indian blood4 ,had he left a legacy of fear of a love forbidden by race prejudice8 ,in any event1 the manner of ,alfonso's actions about the ,mendoza apartment was such that one could easily imagine his feelings toward ,lockwood1 whom he saw carrying off the prize under his very eyes4 ,as for his mother1 the ,senora1 we had already seen that ,peruvians of her caste were also a proud old race4 ,her son was the apple of her eye4 ,might not some of her feelings be readily accounted for8 ,who were these to scorn her race1 her family8 ,we had walked along at a pace that finally brought us up with them4 ,as ,kennedy and ,i bowed1 ,alfonso seemed at first to resent our intrusion1 while ,inez seemed rather to welcome it as a diversion4 ,can we not expect you8 the young man repeated4 ,it will be only for a few minutes this afternoon1 and my mother has something of very great importance to tell4 ,he was half pleading1 half apologizing4 ,inez glanced hastily around at ,kennedy1 uncertain what to say1 and hoping that he might indicate some course4 ,surreptitiously1 ,kennedy nodded an affirmative4 ,very well1 then1 she replied reluctantly1 not to seem to change what had been her past refusal too suddenly4 ,i may ask ,professor ,kennedy1 too8 ,he could scarcely refuse before us4 ,of course1 he agreed1 quickly turning to us4 ,we were speaking about meeting this afternoon at four in the tea room of the ,prince ,edward4 ,you can come8 ,though the invitation was not over-gracious1 ,kennedy replied1 ,we should be delighted to accompany ,miss ,inez1 ,i am sure4 ,we happened to be passing this way and thought we would stop in to see if anything new had happened4 ,just as we turned the corner we saw you disappearing down the street1 and followed4 ,i trust everything is all right8 ,nothing more has happened since this morning1 she returned1 with a look that indicated she understood that ,kennedy referred to the anonymous letter4 ,i had a little shopping to do4 ,if you will excuse me1 ,i think ,i will take a car4 ,this afternoon--at four4 ,she nodded brightly as we assisted her into a taxicab and left us three standing there on the curb4 ,for a moment it was rather awkward4 ,to ,alfonso her leaving was somewhat as though the sun had passed under a cloud4 ,are you going up toward the ,university8 inquired ,kennedy4 ,yes1 responded the young man reluctantly4 ,then suppose we walk4 ,it would take only a few more minutes1 suggested ,kennedy4 ,alfonso could not very well refuse1 but started off at a brisk pace4 ,i suppose these troubles interfere seriously with your work1 pursued ,craig1 as we fell into his stride4 ,yes1 he admitted1 although much of my work just now is only polishing off what ,i have already learned--getting your ,american point of view and methods4 ,you see1 ,i have had an idea that the canal will bring both countries into much closer relations than before4 ,and if you will not learn of us1 we must learn of you4 ,it is too bad we ,americans don't take more interest in the countries south of us1 admitted ,craig4 ,i think you have the right idea1 though4 ,such men as ,mr4 ,whitney are doing their best to bring the two nations closer together4 ,i watched the effect of the mention of ,whitney's name4 ,it seemed distasteful1 only in a lesser degree than ,lockwood's4 ,we do not need to be exploited1 he ventured4 ,my belief is that we should not attract capital in order to take things out of the country4 ,if we might keep our own earnings and transform them into capital1 it would be better4 ,that is why ,i am doing what ,i am at the ,university4 ,i could not believe that it explained the whole reason for his presence in ,new ,york4 ,without a doubt the girl who had just left us weighed largely in his mind1 as well as his and his mother's ambitions1 both personal and for ,peru4 ,quite reasonable1 accepted ,kennedy4 ,peru for the ,peruvians4 ,yet there seems to be such untold wealth in the country that taking out even quite large sums would not begin to exhaust the natural resources4 ,but they are ours1 they belong to us1 hastened de ,moche1 then caught the drift of ,kennedy's remarks1 and was on his guard4 ,buried treasure1 like that which you call the ,gold of the ,gods1 is always fascinating1 continued ,kennedy4 ,the trouble with such easy money1 however1 is that it tends to corrupt4 ,in the early days history records its taint4 ,and ,i doubt whether human nature has changed much under the veneer of modern civilization4 ,the treasure seems to leave its trail even as far away as ,new ,york4 ,it has at least one murder to its credit already4 ,there has been nothing but murder and robbery from the time that the peje chica was discovered1 asserted the young man sadly4 ,you are quite right4 ,truly it would seem to have been cursed1 added ,craig4 ,the spirit of ,mansiche must1 indeed1 watch over it4 ,i suppose you know of the loss of the old ,inca dagger from the ,university ,museum and that it was that with which ,don ,luis was murdered8 ,it was the first time ,kennedy had broached the subject to de ,moche1 and ,i watched closely to see what was its effect4 ,perhaps it was a warning1 commented ,alfonso1 in a solemn tone1 that left me in doubt whether it was purely superstitious dread or in the nature of a prophecy of what might be expected from some quarter of which we were ignorant4 ,you have known of the existence of the dagger always1 ,i presume1 continued ,kennedy4 ,have you or any one you know ever sought to discover its secret and search it out8 ,i think my mother told you we never dig for treasure1 he answered4 ,it would be sacrilegious4 ,besides1 there is more treasure buried by nature than that dedicated to the gods4 ,there is only one trouble that may hurt our natural resources--the get-rich-quick promoter4 ,i would advise looking out for him4 ,he flourishes in a newly opened country like ,peru4 ,that curse1 ,i suppose1 is much better understood by ,americans than the curse of ,mansiche4 ,but as for me1 you must remember that the curse is part of my religion1 as it were4 ,we had reached the campus by this time1 and parted at the gate1 each to go his way4 ,you will drop in on me if you hear anything8 invited ,craig4 ,yes1 promised ,alfonso4 ,we shall see you at four4 ,with this parting reminder he turned toward the ,school of ,mines while we debouched off toward the ,chemistry ,building4 ,the de ,moches are nobody's tools1 ,i remarked4 ,that young man seems to have a pretty definite idea of what he wants to do4 ,at least he puts it so before us1 was all that ,kennedy would grant4 ,he seems to be as well informed of what passed at that visit to the ,senora as though he had been there too4 ,we had scarcely opened the laboratory door when the ringing of the telephone told us that some one had been trying to get in touch for some time4 ,it was ,norton1 said ,kennedy1 hanging up the receiver4 ,i imagine he wants to know what happened after we left him and went up to see ,whitney4 ,that was1 in fact1 just what ,norton wanted1 as well as to make clear to us how he felt on the subject4 ,really1 ,kennedy1 he remarked1 it must be fine to feel that your chair in the ,university is endowed rather than subsidized4 ,you saw how ,whitney acted1 you say4 ,why1 he makes me feel as if ,i were his hired man1 instead of head of the ,university's expedition4 ,i'm glad it's over4 ,still1 if you could find that dagger and have it returned it might look better for me4 ,you have no clue1 ,i suppose8 ,i'm getting closer to one1 replied ,craig confidently1 though on what he could base any optimism ,i could not see4 ,the same idea seemed to be in ,norton's mind4 ,you think you will have something tangible soon8 he asked eagerly4 ,i've had more slender threads than these to work on1 reassured ,kennedy4 ,besides1 ,i'm getting very little help from any of you4 ,you yourself1 ,norton1 at the start left me a good deal in the dark over the history of the dagger4 ,i couldn't do otherwise1 he defended4 ,you understand now1 ,i guess1 how ,i have always been tied1 hand and foot1 by the ,whitney influence4 ,you'll find that ,i can be of more service1 now4 ,just how did you get possession of the dagger8 asked ,kennedy1 and there flashed over me the recollection of the story told by the ,senora1 as well as the letter which we had purloined4 ,just picked it up from an ,indian who had an abnormal dislike to work4 ,they said he was crazy1 and ,i guess perhaps he was4 ,at any rate1 he later drowned himself in the lake1 ,i have heard4 ,could he have been made insane1 do you think8 ruminated ,craig4 ,it's possible that he was the victim of somebody1 ,i understand4 ,the insanity might have been real enough without the cause being natural4 ,that's an interesting story1 returned ,norton4 ,offhand1 ,i can't seem to recall much about the fellow1 although some one else might have known him very well4 ,evidently he either did not know the tale as well as the ,senora1 or was not prepared to take us entirely into his confidence4 ,who is ,haggerty8 asked ,craig1 thinking of the name signed to the letter we had read4 ,an agent of ,whitney and his associates1 who manages things in ,lima1 explained ,norton4 ,why8 ,nothing--only ,i have heard the name and wondered what his connection might be4 ,i understand better now4 ,kennedy seemed to be anxious to get to work on something1 and1 after a few minutes1 ,norton left us4 ,no sooner had the door closed than he took the glass-bell jar off his microscope and drew from a table drawer several scraps of paper on which ,i recognized the marks left by the carbon sheets4 ,he set to work on another of those painstaking tasks of examination1 and ,i retired to my typewriter1 which ,i had moved into the next room1 in order to leave ,kennedy without anything that might distract attention from his work4 ,one after another he examined the sheets which he had marked1 starting with a hand-lens and then using one more powerful4 ,at the top of the table lay the specially prepared paper on which he had caught and preserved the marks in the dust of the ,egyptian sarcophagus in the ,museum4 ,besides these things1 ,i noticed that he had innumerable photographs1 many of which were labelled with the stamp of the bureau in the ,paris ,palais de ,justice1 over which ,bertillon had presided4 ,one after another he looked at the carbon prints1 comparing them point by point with the specially prepared copy of the shoe-prints in the sarcophagus4 ,it was1 after all1 a comparatively simple job4 ,we had the prints of de ,moche and ,lockwood1 as well as ,whitney1 all of them crossed by steps from ,norton4 ,well1 what do you think of that8 ,i heard him mutter4 ,i quit my typewriter1 with a piece of paper still in it1 and hurried into the main room4 ,have you found anything8 ,i should say ,i had1 he replied1 in a tone that betrayed his own astonishment at the find4 ,look at that1 he indicated to me1 handing over one of the sheets4 ,compare it with this ,museum foot-print4 ,with his pencil ,kennedy rapidly indicated the tell-tale points of similarity on the two shoe-prints4 ,i looked up at him1 convinced now of some one's identity4 ,who was it8 ,i asked1 unable to restrain myself longer4 ,kennedy paused a minute1 to let the importance of the surprise be understood4 ,the man who entered the ,museum and concealed himself in the sarcophagus in the ,egyptian section adjoining ,norton's treasures1 replied ,kennedy slowly1 was ,lockwood himself6 ,,xii ,,the ,,evil ,,eye ,completely at sea as a result of the unexpected revelation of the shoe-prints we had found in the ,museum1 and with suspicions now thoroughly aroused against ,lockwood1 ,i accompanied ,kennedy to keep our appointment with the ,senorita at the ,prince ,edward ,albert4 ,we were purposely a bit early1 in order to meet ,inez1 so that she would not have to be alone with the ,senora1 and we sat down in the lobby in a little angle from which we could look into the tea room4 ,we had not been sitting there very long when ,kennedy called my attention to ,whitney1 who had just come in4 ,almost at the same time he caught sight of us1 and walked over4 ,i've been thinking a good deal of your visit to me just now1 he began1 seating himself beside us4 ,perhaps ,i should not have said what ,i did about your friend ,norton4 ,but ,i couldn't help it4 ,i guess you know something about that dagger he lost1 don't you8 ,i have heard of the 'great fish' and the 'little fish' and the 'curse of ,mansiche1' replied ,kennedy1 if that is what you mean4 ,somehow the ,inca dagger seems to have been mixed up with them4 ,yes--with the peje grande1 ,i believe1 went on ,whitney4 ,beneath his exterior of studied calm ,i could see that he was very much excited4 ,if ,i had not already noted a peculiar physical condition in him1 ,i might have thought he had stopped in the cafe with some friends too long4 ,but his eyes were not those of a man who has had too much to drink4 ,just then ,senorita ,mendoza entered1 and ,kennedy rose and went forward to greet her4 ,she saw ,whitney1 and flashed an inquiring glance at us4 ,we were waiting for ,senorita ,mendoza1 explained ,kennedy to both ,whitney and her1 when ,mr4 ,whitney happened along4 ,i don't see ,senora de ,moche in the tea room4 ,perhaps we may as well sit out here in the corridor until she comes4 ,it was evidently his desire to see how ,whitney and ,inez would act1 for this was the first time we had ever seen them together4 ,we were talking of the treasure1 resumed ,whitney1 omitting to mention the dagger4 ,kennedy1 we are not the only ones who have sought the peje grande1 or rather are seeking it4 ,but we are1 ,i believe1 the only ones who are seeking it in the right place1 and1 he added1 leaning over confidentially1 your father1 ,senorita1 was the only one who could have got the concession1 the monopoly1 from the government to seek in what ,i am convinced will be the right place4 ,others have found the 'little fish4' ,we shall find the 'big fish4' ,he had raised his voice from the whisper1 and ,i caught ,inez looking anxiously at ,kennedy1 as much as to say1 ,you see8 ,he is like the rest4 ,his mind is full of only one subject4 ,we shall find it1 too1 he continued1 still speaking in a high-pitched key1 no matter what obstacles man or devil put in our way4 ,it shall be ours--for a simple piece of engineering--ours6 ,the curse of ,mansiche--pouf6 ,he snapped his fingers defiantly as he said it4 ,there was an air of bravado about his manner4 ,i could not help feeling that perhaps in his heart he was not so sure of himself as he would have others think4 ,i watched him closely1 and could see that he had suddenly become even more excited than before4 ,it was as though some diabolical force had taken possession of his brain1 and he fought it off1 but was unable to conquer4 ,kennedy followed the staring glance of ,whitney's eyes1 which seemed almost to pop out of his head1 as though he were suffering from the disease exophthalmic goitre4 ,i looked also4 ,senora de ,moche had come from the elevator1 accompanied by ,alfonso1 and was walking slowly down the corridor4 ,as she looked to the right and left1 she had caught sight of our little group1 all except ,whitney1 with our backs toward her4 ,she was now looking fixedly in our direction1 paying no attention to anything else4 ,whitney was a study4 ,i wondered what could be the relations between these two1 the frankly voluptuous woman and the calculating full-blooded man4 ,whitney1 for his part1 seemed almost fascinated by her gaze4 ,he rose as she bowed1 and1 for a moment1 ,i thought that he was going over to speak to her1 as if drawn by that intangible attraction which ,poe has so cleverly expressed in his ,imp of the ,perverse4 ,for1 clearly1 one who talked as ,whitney had just been talking would have to be on his guard with that woman4 ,instead1 however1 he returned her nod and stood still1 while ,kennedy bowed at a distance and signalled to her that we would be in the tea room directly4 ,i glanced up in time to see the anxious look on the face of ,inez change momentarily into a flash of hatred toward the ,senora4 ,at the same moment ,alfonso1 who was on the other side of his mother1 turned from looking at a newsstand which had attracted his attention and caught sight of us4 ,there was no mistaking the ardent glance which he directed at the fair ,peruvian at my side4 ,i fancied1 too1 that her face softened a bit4 ,it was only for a moment1 and then ,inez resumed her normal composure4 ,i won't detain you any longer1 remarked ,whitney4 ,somehow1 when ,i start to talk about my--our plans down there at ,truxillo ,i could go on all night4 ,it is marvellous1 marvellous4 ,we haven't any idea of what the future holds in store4 ,no one else in all this big city has anything like the prospect which is before us4 ,gradually we are getting everything into shape4 ,when we are ready to go ahead1 it will be the sensation of ,wall ,street--and1 believe me1 it takes much to arouse the ,street4 ,he may have been talking wildly1 but it was worth while to listen to him4 ,for1 whatever else he was1 ,whitney was one of the most persuasive promoters of the day4 ,more than that1 ,i could well imagine how any one possessed of an imagination susceptible to the influence of mystery and tradition would succumb to the glittering charm of the magic words1 peje chica1 and feel all the gold-hunter's enthusiasm when ,whitney brought him into the atmosphere of the peje grande4 ,as he talked1 visions of hidden treasure seemed to throw a glamour over everything4 ,one saw golden4 ,you will excuse us8 apologized ,kennedy1 taking ,inez by the arm4 ,if you are about1 ,mr4 ,whitney1 ,i shall stop to chat with you again on the way out4 ,remember--she is a very remarkable woman1 said ,whitney1 as we left him and started for the tea room4 ,his tone was not exactly one of warning1 yet it seemed to have cost him an effort to say it4 ,i could not reconcile it with any other idea than that he was trying to use her in his own plans1 but was still in doubt of the outcome4 ,we parted from him and entered the darkened tea room1 with its wicker tables and chairs1 and soft lights1 glowing pinkly1 to simulate night in the broad light of afternoon outside4 ,a fountain splashed soothingly in the centre4 ,everything was done to lend to the place an exotic air of romance4 ,alfonso and his mother had chosen a far corner1 deeper than the rest in the shadows1 where two wicker settees were drawn up about a table1 effectually cutting off inquisitive eyes and ears4 ,alfonso rose as we approached and bowed deeply4 ,i could not help watching the two women as they greeted each other4 ,won't you be seated8 he asked1 pulling around one of the wicker chairs4 ,it was then that ,i saw how he had contrived to sit next to ,inez1 while ,kennedy manoeuvred to sit on the end1 where he could observe them all best4 ,it was a rather delicate situation1 and ,i wondered how ,kennedy would handle it1 for1 although ,alfonso had done the inviting1 it was really ,craig who was responsible for allowing ,inez to accept4 ,the ,senora seemed to recognize it1 also1 for1 although she talked to ,inez1 it was plain she had him in mind4 ,i have heard from ,alfonso about the cruel death of your father1 she began1 in a softened tone1 and ,i haven't had a chance to tell you how deeply ,i sympathize with you4 ,of course1 ,i am a much older woman than you1 have seen much more trouble4 ,but ,i know that never in life do troubles seem keener than when life is young4 ,and yours has been so harsh4 ,i could not let it pass without an opportunity to tell you how deeply ,i feel4 ,she said it with an air of sincerity that was very convincing1 so convincing1 in fact1 that it shook for the moment the long chain of suspicion that ,i had been forging both of her and her son4 ,could she be such a heartless woman as to play on the very heartstrings of one whom she had wronged8 ,i was shaken1 moreover1 by the late discovery by ,kennedy of the foot-prints4 ,the ,senorita murmured her thanks for the condolences in a broken voice4 ,it was evident that whatever enmity she bore against the ,senora it was not that of suspicion that she was the cause of her father's death4 ,i can sympathize with you the more deeply1 she went on1 because only lately ,i have lost a very dear brother myself4 ,already ,i have told ,professor ,kennedy something about it4 ,it was a matter of which ,i felt ,i must speak to you1 for it may concern you1 in the venture in which ,mr4 ,lockwood and your father were associated1 and into which now ,mr4 ,whitney has entered4 ,inez said nothing1 and ,craig bowed1 as though he1 too1 wished her to go on4 ,it is about the 'big fish' and the concession which your father has obtained from the government to search for it4 ,the ,senorita started and grew a bit pale at the reference1 but she seemed to realize that it was something she ought to hear1 and steeled herself to it4 ,yes1 she murmured1 ,i understand4 ,as you no doubt know1 resumed the ,senora1 no one has had the secret of the hiding-place4 ,it has been by mere tradition that they were going to dig4 ,that secret1 you may know or may not know now1 was in reality contained in the inscriptions on an old ,inca dagger4 ,inez shuddered at the mention of the weapon1 a shudder that was not lost on the ,senora4 ,i have already told ,professor ,kennedy that both the tradition and the dagger were handed down in my own family1 coming at last to my brother4 ,as ,i said1 ,i don't know how it happened1 but somehow he seemed to be getting crazy1 until he talked1 and the dagger was stolen from him4 ,it came finally into ,professor ,norton's hands1 from whom it was in turn stolen4 ,she looked at ,inez searchingly1 as if to discover just what she knew4 ,i wondered whether the ,senora suspected the presence of ,lockwood's footprints in the sarcophagus in the ,museum--what she would do if she did4 ,after he lost it1 she continued reminiscently1 my brother threw himself one day into ,lake ,titicaca4 ,everywhere the trail of that dagger1 of the secret of the ,gold of the ,gods has been stained by blood4 ,to-day the world scoffs at curses4 ,but surely that gold must be cursed4 ,it has been cursed for us and ours4 ,she spoke bitterly2 yet might she not mean that the loss of the dagger1 the secret1 was a curse1 too8 ,there is one other thing ,i wish to say1 and then ,i will be through4 ,far back1 when your ancestors came into the country of mine1 an ancestor of your father lost his life over the treasure4 ,it seems as if there were a strange fatality over it1 as if the events of to-day were but living over the events of yesterday4 ,it is something that we cannot escape--fate4 ,she paused a moment1 then added1 ,yet it might be possible that the curse could be removed if somehow we1 who were against each other then1 might forget and be for each other now4 ,but ,senorita ,mendoza has not the dagger1 put in ,kennedy1 watching her face keenly1 to read the effect of his remark4 ,she has no idea where it may be4 ,then it is pure tradition on which ,mr4 ,lockwood and ,mr4 ,whitney depend in their search for the treasure8 flashed back the ,senora quickly4 ,kennedy did not know1 but he did not confess it4 ,until we know differently1 we must take their word for it1 he evaded4 ,it was not that that ,i meant1 however1 replied ,senora de ,moche4 ,i meant that we might stop the curse by ceasing to hunt for the treasure4 ,it has never done any one good2 it never will4 ,why tempt fate1 then8 ,why not pause before it is too late8 ,i could not quite catch the secondary implication of her plan4 ,did it mean that the treasure would then be left for her family8 ,or was she hinting at ,inez accepting ,alfonso's suit8 ,somehow ,i could not take the ,senora at her face value4 ,i constantly felt that there was an ulterior motive back of her actions and words4 ,i saw ,craig watching the young man's face1 and followed his eyes4 ,there was no doubt of how he took the remark4 ,he was gazing ardently at ,inez4 ,if there had ever been any doubt of his feelings1 which1 of course1 there had not1 this would have settled it4 ,one thing more1 added the ,senora1 as though she had had an afterthought1 and that is about ,mr4 ,lockwood and ,mr4 ,whitney4 ,let me ask you to think it over4 ,suppose they have not the dagger4 ,then are their chances better than others8 ,and if they have--she paused to emphasize it--what does that mean8 ,kennedy had turned his attention to the ,senorita4 ,it was evident that the dilemma proposed by de ,moche was not without weight4 ,she had now coloured a flaming red4 ,the woman had struck her in a vital spot4 ,mr4 ,lockwood is not here to defend himself1 ,inez said quietly4 ,i will not have him attacked by innuendo4 ,she had risen4 ,neither the ardour of ,alfonso nor the seeds of doubt of the ,senora had shaken her faith4 ,it was a test that ,kennedy evidently was glad to have witnessed4 ,for some day she might learn the truth about the foot-prints4 ,he understood her character better4 ,the ,senora1 too1 had learned that if she were to bring pressure on the girl she might break her1 but she would not bend4 ,without another word ,inez1 scarcely bowing stiffly1 moved out of the tea room1 and we followed1 leaving the mother and son there1 baffled4 ,i hope you will pardon me for allowing you to come here1 said ,kennedy1 in a low voice4 ,i did it because there are certain things that you ought to hear4 ,it was in fairness to you4 ,i would not have you delude yourself about ,mr4 ,whitney1 about--,mr4 ,lockwood1 even4 ,i want you to feel that1 no matter what you hear or see1 you can come to me and know that ,i will tell you the truth4 ,it may hurt1 but it will be best4 ,i thought he was preparing the way for a revelation about the foot-prints1 but he said nothing more4 ,oh1 that woman6 she exclaimed1 as if to change the subject4 ,i do not know1 ,i cannot say1 why she affects me so4 ,i saw a change in my father1 when he knew her4 ,i have told you how he was1 how sometimes ,i thought he was mad4 ,did you notice a change in ,mr4 ,whitney1 or haven't you known him long enough8 ,and lately ,i have fancied that ,i see the same sort of change beginning in ,mr4 ,lockwood4 ,at times they become so excited1 their eyes seem staring1 as if some fever were wasting them away4 ,father seemed to see strange visions1 and hear voices1 was worse when he was alone than when he was in a crowd4 ,oh1 what is it8 ,i could think of nothing else1 not even what she was saying1 all the time ,i was with her4 ,then you fear that in some way she may be connected with these strange changes8 asked ,kennedy4 ,i don't know1 she temporized2 but the tone of her answer was sufficient to convey the impression that in her heart she did suspect something1 she knew not what4 ,oh1 ,professor ,kennedy1 she cried finally1 can't you see it8 ,sometimes--when she looks out of those eyes of hers--she almost makes people do as she pleases4 ,we had come to the taxicab stand before the hotel1 and ,kennedy had already beckoned to a cab to take her home4 ,as he handed her in she turned with a little shiver4 ,don't please1 think me foolish1 she added1 with bated breath1 but often ,i fear that it is1 as we call it1 the mal de ojo--the evil eye6 ,,xiii ,,the ,,poisoned ,,cigarette ,there was not a grain of superstition in ,kennedy1 yet ,i could see that he was pondering deeply what ,inez ,mendoza had just said4 ,was it possible that there might be something in it--not objectively1 but subjectively8 ,might that very fear which the ,senorita had of the ,senora engender a feeling that would produce the very result that she feared8 ,i knew that there were strange things that modern psychology was discovering4 ,could there be some scientific explanation of the evil eye8 ,kennedy turned and went back into the hotel1 to keep his appointment with ,whitney1 and as he did so ,i reflected that1 whatever credence might be given the evil-eye theory1 there was something now before us that was a fact--the physical condition which ,inez had observed in her father before his death1 saw now in ,whitney1 and foresaw in ,lockwood4 ,surely that in itself constituted enough of a problem4 ,we found ,whitney in the cafe1 sitting alone in a leather-cushioned booth1 and smoking furiously4 ,i observed him narrowly4 ,his eyes had even more than before that peculiar1 staring look4 ,by the manner in which his veins stood out ,i could see that his heart action must be very rapid4 ,well1 he remarked1 as we seated ourselves1 how did you come out in your tete-a-tete8 ,about as ,i expected1 answered ,kennedy nonchalantly4 ,i let it go on merely because ,i wanted ,senorita ,mendoza to hear certain things1 and ,i thought that the ,senora could tell them best4 ,one of them related to the history of that dagger4 ,i thought ,whitney's eyes would pop out of his head4 ,what about it8 he asked4 ,well1 replied ,kennedy briefly1 there was the story of how her brother had it and was driven crazy until he gave it up to somebody1 then committed suicide by throwing himself into ,titicaca4 ,the other was the tradition that in the days after ,pizarro a ,mendoza was murdered by it1 just as her father has now been murdered4 ,whitney was listening intently1 and seemed to be thinking deeply of something4 ,do you know1 he said finally1 with a nod to indicate that he knew what it was that ,kennedy referred to1 ,i've been thinking of that de ,moche woman a good deal since ,i left you with her4 ,i've had some dealings with her4 ,he looked at ,kennedy shrewdly1 as though he would have liked to ask whether she had said anything about him1 but did not because he knew ,kennedy would not tell4 ,he was trying to figure out some other way of finding out4 ,sometimes ,i think she is trying to double-cross me1 he said1 at length4 ,i know that when she talks to others about me she says many things that aren't so4 ,yet when she is with me everything is fine1 and she is ready soon to join us1 use her influence with influential ,peruvians2 in fact1 there isn't anything she won't do--manana1 to-morrow4 ,all that ,whitney said we now knew to be true4 ,she has one interesting dilemma1 however1 which ,i do not mind telling you1 remarked ,kennedy at length4 ,she cannot expect me to keep secret what she said before all of us4 ,inez ,mendoza would mention it1 anyhow4 ,what was that8 queried ,whitney1 dissembling his interest4 ,why1 replied ,kennedy slowly1 it was that1 with the plans for digging for the treasure which you say you have1 suppose you and ,lockwood and your associates have not the dagger--how are you better off than previous hunters8 ,and supposing you have it--what does that imply8 ,whitney thought a moment over the last proposition of the dilemma4 ,imply8 he repeated slowly4 ,then the significance of it seemed to dawn on him1 the possession of the dagger and its implication in regard to the murder of ,mendoza4 ,well1 he answered1 we haven't the dagger4 ,you know that4 ,but1 on the other hand1 we think our plans for getting at the treasure are better than any one else has ever had1 more certain of success4 ,yet the possession of the dagger1 with its inscription1 is the only thing that absolutely insures success1 observed ,kennedy4 ,that's true enough1 agreed ,whitney4 ,confound that man ,norton4 ,how could he be such a boob as to let the chance slip through his fingers8 ,he never told you of it8 asked ,kennedy4 ,yes1 he told me of the dagger1 but hadn't read the inscription1 he said1 answered ,whitney4 ,i was so busy at the time with ,lockwood and ,mendoza1 who had the concession to dig for the treasure1 that ,i didn't pay much attention to what ,norton brought back4 ,i thought that could wait until ,lockwood had been persuaded to join the interests ,i represent4 ,did ,lockwood or ,mendoza know about the dagger and its importance8 suggested ,craig4 ,if they did1 they never said anything about it1 returned ,whitney promptly4 ,mendoza is dead4 ,lockwood tells me he knew nothing about it until very lately--since the murder1 ,i suppose4 ,you suppose8 persisted ,kennedy4 ,are you sure that he knew nothing about it before8 ,no1 confessed ,whitney1 ,i'm not sure4 ,only ,i say that he told me nothing of it4 ,then he might have known8 ,might have4 ,but ,i don't think it very probable4 ,whitney seemed to be turning something over in his mind4 ,suddenly he brought his fist down on the little round table before us1 rattling the glasses4 ,do you know1 he exclaimed1 the more ,i think about it1 the more convinced ,i am that ,norton ought to be held to account for that loss6 ,he ought to have known4 ,then the presumption is that he did know4 ,by heaven1 ,i'm going to have that fellow watched4 ,i'm going to do it to-day1 too4 ,i don't trust him4 ,he shall not double-cross me--even if that woman does6 ,i wondered whether ,whitney was bluffing4 ,if he was1 he was making a lot of fuss over it4 ,he talked more and more wildly1 as he grew more excited over his latest idea4 ,i'll have detectives put on his trail1 he blustered4 ,i'll talk it over with ,lockwood4 ,he never liked the man4 ,what did ,lockwood say about ,norton8 asked ,kennedy casually4 ,whitney eyed us a moment4 ,say1 he ejaculated1 it was ,norton brought you into this case1 wasn't it8 ,i cannot deny that1 returned ,kennedy quietly1 meeting his eyes4 ,but it is ,inez ,mendoza now that keeps me in it4 ,so--you're another rival1 are you8 purred ,whitney sarcastically4 ,lockwood and de ,moche aren't enough4 ,i have a sneaking suspicion that ,norton himself is one of them4 ,now it's you1 too4 ,i suppose ,mr4 ,jameson is another4 ,well1 if ,i was ten years younger1 ,i'd cut you all out1 or know the reason why4 ,oh1 ,,yes1 ,i think ,i will ,,not tell you what ,mr4 ,lockwood suspects4 ,with every sentence the veins of ,whitney's forehead stood out further1 until now they were like whipcords4 ,his eyes and face were fairly apoplectic4 ,slowly the conviction was forced on me4 ,the man acted for all the world like one affected by a drug4 ,well1 he went on1 you may tell ,norton for me that ,i am going to have him watched4 ,that will throw a scare into him4 ,at least it showed that the breach between ,whitney and ,norton was deep4 ,kennedy listened without saying much1 but ,i knew that he was gratified4 ,he was playing ,lockwood against de ,moche1 the ,senora against ,inez4 ,now if ,whitney would play himself against ,norton1 out of the tangle might emerge just the clues he needed4 ,for when people get fighting among themselves the truth comes out4 ,very well1 remarked ,craig1 rising1 with a hurried glance at ,whitney's apoplectic face1 go as far as you like4 ,i think we understand each other better1 now4 ,whitney said nothing1 but1 rising also1 turned on his heel and walked deliberately out of the cafe into the corridor of the ,prince ,edward ,albert1 leaving us standing there4 ,kennedy leaned over and swept up the ashes of ,whitney's cigarettes which lay in the ash-tray1 placing them1 stubs and all1 in an envelope1 as he had done before4 ,we have one sample1 already1 he said4 ,another won't hurt4 ,you can never have too much material to work with4 ,let us see where he is going4 ,slowly we followed in the direction which ,whitney had taken from the cafe4 ,there was ,whitney standing by the cigar-stand1 gazing intently down the corridor4 ,kennedy and ,i moved over so that we could see what he was gazing at4 ,just then he started to walk hurriedly in the direction in which he was looking4 ,senora de ,moche6 exclaimed ,craig1 drawing me toward a palm4 ,it was indeed she4 ,she had left the tea room and gone to her own room4 ,now she was alighting from the elevator1 and had started toward the main dining-room1 when her eyes had rested on ,whitney4 ,in spite of all that he had said to us about her1 he had received the glance as a signal and was fluttering over to her like a moth to a flame4 ,what was the reason back of it all1 ,i asked1 as ,i thought of those wonderful eyes of hers8 ,was it a sort of auto-hypnotism8 ,there was1 ,i knew1 a form of illusion known as ophthalmophobia--fear of the eye4 ,it ranged from mere aversion at being gazed at all the way to the subjective development of real physical action from an otherwise trivial objective cause4 ,perhaps ,inez was right about the eyes4 ,one might fear them1 and that fear might cause the precise thing to happen which the owner of the eyes intended4 ,still1 as ,i reflected before1 there was a much more important problem regarding eyes before us1 that of the drug that was evidently being used in the cigarettes4 ,what was it8 ,there was no chance of our gleaning anything now from these two who made such a strange pair4 ,kennedy turned and went out of the nearest entrance of the hotel4 ,central ,park1 ,west1 he directed a cab driver1 as we climbed in his machine2 then to me1 after giving the number1 ,i must see ,inez ,mendoza again before ,i can go ahead4 ,inez was not expecting us so soon after leaving her at the hotel1 yet ,i think was just a little glad that we had come4 ,did anything happen after ,i left8 she asked eagerly4 ,we went back and saw ,mr4 ,whitney1 returned ,craig4 ,i believe you are right4 ,he is acting queerly4 ,alfonso called me up1 she volunteered4 ,was it about anything ,i should know8 queried ,craig4 ,well1 she hesitated1 he said he hoped that nothing that had taken place would change our own relations4 ,that was about all4 ,he was the dutiful son1 and made no attempt to explain anything that was said4 ,kennedy smiled4 ,you have not seen ,mr4 ,lockwood since1 ,i suppose8 he asked4 ,you always make me tell what ,i hadn't intended1 she confessed1 smiling back4 ,yes1 ,i couldn't help it4 ,at least1 ,i didn't see him4 ,i called him up4 ,i wanted to tell him what she had said and that it hadn't made any difference to me4 ,what did he say8 ,i can't remember just how he put it1 but ,i think he meant that it was something very much like that anonymous letter ,i received4 ,we both feel that there is some one who wants to make trouble between us1 and we are not going to let it happen4 ,if she had known of ,kennedy's discovery of the shoe-prints1 ,i feel sure that1 as far as we were concerned1 the case would have ended there4 ,she was in no mood to be convinced by such a thing1 would probably have insisted that some one was wearing a second-hand pair of his shoes4 ,kennedy's eye had been travelling around the room as though searching for something4 ,may ,i have a cigarette out of that case over there8 he asked1 indicating a box of them on a table4 ,why--that is ,mr4 ,lockwood's1 she replied4 ,he left it here the last time he was here and ,i forgot to send it to him4 ,wait a minute4 ,let me get you some of father's4 ,she left the room4 ,the moment the door closed ,kennedy reached over and took one from the case4 ,i have some of ,lockwood's already1 but another won't matter1 as long as ,i can get it1 he said4 ,i thought it was her father's4 ,when she brings them1 smoke one with me1 and be careful to save the stub4 ,i want it4 ,a moment later she entered with a metal box that must have held several hundred4 ,kennedy and ,i each took one and lighted it1 then for several minutes chatted as an excuse for staying4 ,as for myself1 ,i was glad enough to leave a pretty large stub1 for ,i did not like it4 ,these cigarettes1 like those ,whitney had offered us1 had a peculiar flavour which ,i had not acquired a liking for4 ,you must let me know whether anything else develops from the meeting in the tea room1 said ,kennedy finally1 rising4 ,i shall be at the laboratory some time1 ,i think4 ,,xiv ,,the ,,interferometer ,norton was waiting for us at the laboratory when we returned1 evidently having been there some time4 ,i was on my way to my apartment1 he began1 when ,i thought ,i'd drop in to see how things are progressing4 ,slowly1 returned ,kennedy1 throwing off his street clothes and getting into his laboratory togs4 ,have you seen ,whitney since ,i had the break with him8 asked ,norton1 a trifle anxiously4 ,i wondered whether ,kennedy would tell ,norton what to expect from ,whitney4 ,he did not1 however4 ,yes1 he replied1 just now we had an appointment with ,senora de ,moche and some others and ran into him at the hotel for a few moments4 ,what did he say about me8 queried ,norton4 ,he hadn't changed his mind1 evaded ,kennedy4 ,have you heard anything from him8 ,not a syllable4 ,the break is final4 ,only ,i was wondering what he was telling people about me4 ,he'll tell them something--his side of the case4 ,well1 considered ,kennedy1 as though racking his brain for some remark which he remembered1 while ,norton watched him eagerly1 ,i do recall that he was terribly sore about the loss of the dagger1 and seemed to think that it was your fault4 ,i thought so1 ,i knew it1 replied ,norton bitterly4 ,i can see it coming4 ,all the trustees will hear of my gross negligence in letting the ,museum be robbed4 ,i suppose ,i ought to sit up there all night4 ,oh1 by the way1 there's another thing ,i wanted to ask you4 ,have you ever done anything with those shoe-prints you found in the dust of the mummy case8 ,i glanced at ,kennedy1 wondering whether he felt that the time had come to reveal what he had discovered4 ,he said nothing for a moment1 but reached into a drawer and pulled out the papers1 which ,i recognized4 ,here they are1 he said1 picking out the original impression which he had taken4 ,yes1 repeated ,norton1 but have you been able to do anything toward identifying them8 ,i found it rather hard to collect prints of the shoes of all of those ,i wished to compare4 ,but ,i have them at last4 ,and8 demanded ,norton1 leaning forward tensely4 ,i find that there is one person whose shoe-prints are precisely the same as those we found in the ,museum1 went on ,kennedy1 tossing over the impression he had taken4 ,norton scanned the two carefully4 ,i'm not a criminologist1 he said excitedly1 but to my untrained eye it does seem as though you had here a replica of the first prints1 all right4 ,he laid them down and looked squarely at ,kennedy4 ,do you mind telling me whose feet made these prints8 ,turn the second over4 ,you will see the name written on it4 ,lockwood6 exclaimed ,norton in a gasp as he read the name4 ,no--you don't mean it4 ,i mean nothing less1 repeated ,kennedy firmly4 ,i do not say what happened afterwards1 but ,lockwood was in the ,museum1 hiding in the mummy case1 that night4 ,norton's mind was evidently working rapidly4 ,i wish ,i had your power of deduction1 ,kennedy1 he said1 at length4 ,i suppose you realize what this means8 ,what does it mean to you8 asked ,kennedy1 changing front4 ,norton hesitated4 ,well1 he replied1 it means to me1 ,i suppose1 what it means to any one who stops to think4 ,if ,lockwood was there1 he got the dagger4 ,if he had the dagger--it was he who used it6 ,the inference was so strong that ,craig could not deny it4 ,whether it was his opinion or not was another matter4 ,it fits in with other facts1 too1 continued ,norton4 ,for instance1 it was ,lockwood who discovered the body of ,mendoza4 ,but the elevator boy took ,lockwood up himself1 objected ,craig1 more for the sake of promoting the discussion than to combat ,norton4 ,yes--when he 'discovered' the thing4 ,but it must have been done long before4 ,who knows8 ,he may have entered4 ,the deed might have been done4 ,he may have left4 ,no one saw him come or go4 ,what then more likely to cover himself up than to return when he knew that his entrance would be known1 and find the thing himself8 ,norton's reasoning was clever and plausible4 ,yet ,kennedy scarcely nodded his head1 one way or the other4 ,you were acquainted with ,lockwood8 he asked finally4 ,i mean to say1 of course1 before this affair4 ,yes1 ,i met him in ,lima just as ,i was starting out on my expedition4 ,he was preparing to come to ,new ,york4 ,what did you think of him then8 ,oh1 he was all right1 ,i suppose4 ,he wasn't the sort who would care much for an archaeologist4 ,he cared more for a prospector going off into the hills than he did for me4 ,and ,i--,i admit that ,i am impossible4 ,archaeology is my life4 ,norton continued to study the prints4 ,i can hardly believe my eyes1 he murmured2 then he looked up suddenly4 ,does ,whitney know about this--or ,lockwood8 ,kennedy shook his head negatively4 ,because1 pursued ,norton1 an added inference to that ,i spoke of would be that the reason why they are so sure that they will find the treasure is that they are not going on tradition1 as they say1 but on the fact itself4 ,a fair conclusion1 agreed ,craig4 ,i wish the break could have been postponed1 continued ,norton4 ,then ,i might have been of some service in my relation to ,whitney4 ,it's too late for me to be able to help you in that direction now1 however4 ,there is something you can do1 though1 said ,craig4 ,i shall be delighted1 hastened ,norton4 ,what is it8 ,you know ,senora de ,moche and ,alfonso8 ,yes4 ,i wish that you would cultivate their acquaintance4 ,i feel that they are very suspicious of me4 ,perhaps they may not be so with you4 ,is there any special thing you want to find out8 ,yes--only ,i have slight hopes of doing so4 ,you know that she is on most intimate terms with ,whitney4 ,i'm afraid ,i can't do much for you1 then4 ,she'll fight shy of me4 ,he'll tell her his story4 ,that will make no difference4 ,she has already warned me against him4 ,he has warned against her4 ,it's a most remarkable situation4 ,he is trying to get her into some kind of deal1 yet all the time he is afraid she is double-crossing him4 ,and at the same time he obeys her--well1 like ,alfonso would ,inez if she'd only let him4 ,norton frowned4 ,i don't like the way they hover about ,inez ,mendoza1 he remarked4 ,perhaps the ,senora is after ,whitney1 while her son is after ,inez4 ,lockwood seems to be impervious to her4 ,yes1 ,i'll undertake that commission for you1 only ,i can't promise what success ,i'll have4 ,kennedy restored the shoe-prints to the drawer4 ,i think that's gratifying progress1 went on ,norton4 ,first we know who stole the dagger4 ,we know that the dagger killed ,mendoza4 ,you have even determined what the poison on the blade was4 ,it seems to me that it remains only to determine who struck the actual blow4 ,i tell you1 ,kennedy1 ,whitney will regret the day that he ever threw me over on so trivial a pretext4 ,norton was pacing up and down excitedly now4 ,my only fear is1 he went on1 what the shock of such a thing will be on that poor little girl4 ,first her father1 then ,lockwood4 ,why--the blow will be terrible4 ,you must be careful1 ,kennedy4 ,never fear about that1 reassured ,craig4 ,not a word of this has been breathed to her yet4 ,we are a long way from fixing the guilt of the murder2 inference is one thing1 fact another4 ,we must have facts4 ,and the facts ,i want1 which you may be able to get1 relate to the strange actions of the de ,moches4 ,norton scanned ,kennedy's face for some hint of what was back of the remark4 ,but there was nothing there4 ,they will bear watching1 all right1 he said1 as he rose to go4 ,old ,mendoza was never quite the same after he became so intimate with her4 ,and ,i think ,i can see a change in ,whitney4 ,what do you attribute it to8 asked ,kennedy1 without admitting that it had attracted his attention1 too4 ,i haven't the slightest idea1 confessed ,norton4 ,inez is as afraid of her as any of the rest1 remarked ,kennedy thoughtfully4 ,she says it is the evil eye4 ,not an uncommon belief among ,latin-,americans1 commented ,norton4 ,in fact1 ,i suppose there are people among us who believe in the evil eye yet4 ,still1 you can hardly blame that little girl for believing it is almost anything4 ,well1 ,i won't keep you any longer4 ,i shall let you know of anything ,i find out from the de ,moches4 ,i think you are getting on remarkably4 ,norton left us1 his face much brighter than it had been when we met him at the door4 ,kennedy1 alone at last in the laboratory1 went over to a cabinet and took out a peculiar-looking apparatus1 which seemed1 as nearly as ,i can describe it1 to consist of a sort of triangular prism1 set with its edge vertically on a rigid platform attached to a massive stand of brass4 ,norton seems to have suddenly become quite solicitous of the welfare of ,senorita ,mendoza1 ,i hazarded1 as he worked over the adjustment of the thing4 ,kennedy smiled4 ,every one seems to be--even ,whitney1 he returned1 twisting a set-screw until he had the alignment of the various parts as he wanted it4 ,the telephone bell rang4 ,do you want to answer it8 ,i asked ,craig4 ,no1 he replied1 not even looking up from his work4 ,find out who it is4 ,unless it is something very important say ,i am out on an investigation and that you have heard from me2 that ,i shall not be either at the laboratory or the apartment until tomorrow morning4 ,i must get this done to-night4 ,i took down the receiver4 ,hello1 is this ,professor ,kennedy8 ,i recognized a voice4 ,no1 ,i replied4 ,is there any message ,i can take8 ,this is ,mr4 ,lockwood1 came back the information ,i had already guessed4 ,when do you expect him8 ,it's ,lockwood1 ,i whispered to ,craig1 my hand over the transmitter4 ,see what he wants1 returned ,craig4 ,tell him what ,i told you4 ,i repeated ,kennedy's message4 ,well1 that's too bad1 replied ,lockwood4 ,i've just seen ,mr4 ,whitney1 and he tells me that ,kennedy and you are pretty friendly with ,norton1 ,of course1 ,i knew that4 ,i saw you at the ,mendozas' together the first time4 ,i'd like to have a talk with him about that man4 ,i suppose he has told you all his side of the story of his relations with ,whitney4 ,i am1 if anything1 a good listener1 and so ,i said nothing1 not even that he had better tell it to ,kennedy in the morning1 for it was such a novelty to have any of these people talk voluntarily that ,i really didn't much care whether ,i believed what they said or not4 ,i used to know him down in ,lima1 you know1 went on ,lockwood4 ,what ,i want to say has to do with that dagger he says was stolen4 ,i want to tell what ,i know of how he got it4 ,there was an ,indian mixed up in it who committed suicide--well1 you tell ,kennedy ,i'll see him in the morning4 ,lockwood rang off1 and ,i repeated what he had told me1 as ,kennedy continued to adjust the apparatus4 ,say1 ,i exclaimed1 as ,i finished4 ,that was a harry's of a commission you gave ,norton just now1 watching the de ,moches4 ,why1 they'd eat him alive if they got a chance1 and ,i don't know that all's like a ,sunday school on his part4 ,lockwood doesn't seem to think so4 ,kennedy smiled quietly4 ,that was why ,i asked him to do it1 he returned4 ,i thought that he wouldn't let much escape him4 ,they all seem so down on him1 he'll have to watch out4 ,it will keep him busy1 too1 and that means a chance for us to work4 ,he had finished setting up the machine1 and now went over to another drawer1 from which he took the envelope of stubs which we had taken down at ,whitney's office first4 ,then from the pocket of his street coat he drew both the second envelope of ashes and stubs1 the whole cigarette from ,lockwood's case1 and the stubs which both of us had saved from the cigarettes that had once belonged to ,mendoza4 ,carefully he separated and labelled them all1 so that there would be no chance for them to get mixed up4 ,then he picked up one of the stubs and lighted it4 ,the smoke curled up in wreaths between a powerful light and the peculiar instrument1 while ,craig peered through a lens1 manipulating the thing with exhaustless patience and skill4 ,i watched him curiously1 but said nothing1 for he was studying something carefully1 and ,i did not want to interrupt his train of thought4 ,finally he beckoned me over4 ,can you make anything out of that8 he asked4 ,i looked through the eye-piece1 also4 ,on a sort of fine grating all ,i could see was a number of strange lines4 ,if you want an opinion from me1 ,i said1 with a laugh1 you'll have to tell me first what ,i am looking at4 ,that1 he explained1 as ,i continued to gaze1 is one of the latest forms of the spectroscope1 known as the interferometer1 with delicately ruled gratings in which power to resolve the straight1 close lines in the spectrum is carried to the limit of possibility4 ,a small watch is delicate4 ,but it bears no comparison to the delicacy of these defraction spectroscopes4 ,every substance1 you know1 is1 when radiating light1 characterized by what at first appears to be almost haphazard sets of spectral bands without relation to one another4 ,but they are related by mathematical laws1 and the apparent haphazard character is only the result of our lack of knowledge of how to interpret the results4 ,he resumed his place at the eye-piece to check over his results4 ,walter1 he said finally1 looking up at me with a twinkle in his eye1 ,i wish that you'd go out and find me a cat4 ,a cat8 ,i repeated4 ,yes1 a cat--felis domesticus1 if it sounds better that way--a plain1 ordinary cat4 ,i jammed on my hat and1 late as it was1 sallied forth on this apparently ridiculous mission4 ,several belated passers-by and a policeman watched me as though ,i were a house-breaker1 and ,i felt like a fool1 but at last1 by perseverance and tact1 ,i managed to capture a fairly good specimen of the species1 and carried it in my arms to the laboratory with some profanity and many scratches4 ,,xv ,,the ,,weed ,,of ,,madness ,in my absence ,craig had set to work on a peculiar apparatus1 as though he were distilling something from several of the cigarette stubs which he had been studying by means of the interferometer4 ,here's your confounded cat1 ,i ejaculated1 as ,i placed the unhappy feline in a basket and waited patiently until finally he seemed to be rewarded for his patient labours4 ,it was well along toward morning when he obtained in a test-tube a few drops of a colourless1 odourless liquid4 ,my interferometer gave me a clue1 he remarked1 as he held the tube up with satisfaction4 ,without the tell-tale line in the spectrum which ,i was able to discover by its use ,i might have been hunting yet for it4 ,it is so rare that no one would ever have thought1 offhand1 ,i suppose1 to look for it4 ,but here it is1 ,i'm sure1 only ,i wanted to be able to test it4 ,so you are not going to try it on yourself1 ,i said sarcastically1 referring to his last experiment with a poison4 ,this time you are going to make the cat the dog4 ,the cat will be better to test it on than a human being1 he replied1 with a glance that made me wince1 for1 after his performance with the curare1 ,i felt that once the scientific furore was on him ,i might be called upon to become an unwilling martyr to science4 ,it was with an air of relief1 both for himself and my own peace and safety1 that ,i saw him take the cat out of the basket and hold her in his arms1 smoothing her fur gently1 to quiet the feelings that ,i had severely ruffled4 ,then with a dropper he sucked up a bit of the liquid from the test-tube4 ,i watched him intently as he let a small drop fall into the eye of the cat4 ,the cat blinked a moment1 and ,i bent over to observe it more closely4 ,it won't hurt the cat1 he explained1 and it may help us4 ,as ,i looked at the cat's eye it seemed to enlarge1 even under the glare of a light1 shining forth1 as it were1 like the proverbial cat's eye under a bed4 ,what did it mean8 ,was there such a thing1 ,i wondered hastily1 as the drug of the evil eye8 ,what have you found8 ,i queried4 ,something very much like the so-called 'weed of madness1' ,i think1 he replied slowly4 ,the weed of madness8 ,i repeated4 ,yes4 ,it is similar to the ,mexican toloache and the ,hindu datura1 which you must have heard about4 ,i had heard of these weird drugs1 but they had always seemed to be so far away and to belong rather to the atmosphere of civilizations different from ,new ,york4 ,yet1 ,i reflected1 what was to prevent the appearance of anything in such a cosmopolitan city1 especially in a case so unusual as that which had so far baffled even ,kennedy's skill8 ,you know the jimson weed--the ,jamestown weed1 as it is so often called8 he continued1 explaining4 ,it grows almost everywhere in the world1 but most thrivingly in the tropics4 ,all the poisons that ,i have mentioned are related to it in some way1 ,i believe4 ,i've seen the thing in lots and fields1 ,i replied1 but ,i never thought it was of much importance4 ,well1 he resumed1 the jimson weed on the ,pacific coast1 in some parts of the ,andes1 has large white flowers which exhale a faint1 repulsive odour4 ,it is a harmless-looking plant1 with its thick tangle of leaves1 a coarse green growth1 with trumpet-shaped flowers4 ,but to one who knows its properties it is quite too dangerously convenient for safety4 ,but what has that to do with the evil eye8 ,i asked4 ,nothing2 but it has much to do with the cigarettes that ,whitney is smoking1 he went on positively4 ,those cigarettes have been doped6 ,doped8 ,i interrogated1 in surprise4 ,with this weed of madness1 as you call it8 ,no1 it isn't toloache that was used1 he corrected4 ,i think it must be some particularly virulent variety of the jimson weed that was used1 though that same weed in ,mexico is1 ,i am sure1 what there they call toloache4 ,perhaps its virulence in this case lies in the method of concentration in preparing it4 ,for instance1 the seeds of the stramonium1 which is the same thing1 contain a much higher percentage of poison than the leaves and flowers4 ,perhaps the seeds were used4 ,i can't say4 ,but1 then1 that isn't at all necessary4 ,it is the fact of its use that concerns us most now4 ,he took a drop of the liquid which he had isolated and added a drop of nitric acid4 ,then he evaporated it by gentle heat and it left a residue slightly yellow4 ,next he took from the shelf over his table a bottle marked ,alcoholic ,solution--,potassium ,hydrate4 ,he opened it and let a drop fall on the place where the liquid had evaporated4 ,instantly the residue became a beautiful purple1 turning rapidly to violet1 then to dark red1 and1 finally1 it disappeared altogether4 ,stramonium1 all right1 he nodded1 with satisfaction at the achievement of his night's labours4 ,that was known as ,vitali's test4 ,yes1 there was stramonium in those cigarettes--datura stramonium--perhaps a trace of hyoscyamine4 ,i tried to look wise1 but all ,i could think of was that1 whatever his science showed me now1 my instinct had been enough to prompt me not to smoke those cigarettes1 though1 of course1 only ,kennedy's science could tell what it was that caused that instinctive aversion4 ,they are all like atropine1 mydriatic alkaloids1 he proceeded1 so called from the effect they have on the eye4 ,why1 one-one hundred thousandth of a grain will affect the eye of a cat4 ,you saw how it acted on our subject4 ,it is more active in that way than atropine4 ,better yet1 you remember how ,whitney's eyes looked1 how ,inez said her father stared1 and how she feared for ,lockwood8 ,i remember1 ,i said1 still not able to detach the evil-eye idea quite from my mind4 ,how about the ,senora's eyes8 ,what makes them so--well1 effective8 ,oh1 ,craig answered quickly1 her pupils were normal enough4 ,didn't you notice that8 ,it was the difference in ,whitney's and the others' that first suggested making some tests4 ,what is the effect8 ,i asked1 wondering whether it might have contributed to the cause of ,mendoza's death4 ,the concentrated poison which has been used in these cigarettes does not kill--at least not outright4 ,it is worse than that4 ,slowly it accumulates in the system4 ,it acts on the brain4 ,i was listening1 spellbound1 as he made his disclosure4 ,no wonder1 ,i thought1 even a scientific criminal stood in awe of ,craig4 ,of all the dangers to be met with in superstitious countries1 these mydratic alkaloids are among the worst4 ,they offer a chance for crimes of the most fiendish nature--worse than with the gun or the stiletto4 ,they are worse because there is so little fear of detection4 ,that crime is the production of insanity6 ,horrible though the idea1 and repulsive1 ,i could not doubt it in the face of ,craig's investigations and what ,i had already seen with my own eyes4 ,in fact1 it was necessary for me only to recall the mild sensations ,i myself had experienced1 in order to be convinced of the possible effect intended by the insidious poison contained in the many cigarettes which ,whitney1 for instance1 had smoked4 ,but don't you suppose they know it8 ,i wondered4 ,can't they tell it8 ,i suppose they have gradually become accustomed to it1 ,craig ventured4 ,if you have ever smoked one particular brand of cigarette you must have noticed how the manufacturer can gradually substitute a cheaper grade of tobacco without any large number of his patrons knowing anything about it4 ,i imagine it might have been done in some way like that4 ,but you would think they'd feel the effect and attribute it to smoking4 ,perhaps they do feel the effect4 ,but when it comes to tracing causes1 some people are loath to admit that tobacco and liquor can be the root of the evil4 ,no1 some one is slipping these cigarettes in on them1 perhaps substituting the doped brand for those that are ordered4 ,if you will notice1 both ,whitney and ,lockwood have cigarettes that are made especially for them4 ,so had ,mendoza4 ,it is a circumstance which some one has turned to account1 though how and by whom the substitution has been made ,i cannot say yet4 ,i wish ,i had time to follow out this one line1 to the exclusion of everything else4 ,but ,i've got to keep my fingers on every rope at once1 else the thing will pull away from me4 ,it is enough for the present that we know what the poison is4 ,i shall take up the tracing of the person who is administering it the moment ,i get a hint4 ,it was almost daylight before ,craig and ,i left the laboratory after his discovery of the manner of the cigarette poisoning by stramonium4 ,but that was the only way in which he was able to make progress--taking time for each separate point by main force4 ,i was thoroughly tired1 though not so much so that my dreams were not haunted by a succession of baleful eyes peering at me from the darkness4 ,i slept late1 but was awakened by a knocking on the door4 ,as ,i rose to answer it ,i saw through the open door of ,kennedy's room that he had been about early and must already be at the laboratory4 ,how he did it ,i don't know4 ,my own newspaper experience had made me considerable of a nighthawk4 ,but ,i always paid for it by sleeping the next day4 ,with ,kennedy1 when he was on a case1 even five hours of sleep was more than he seemed able to stand4 ,hello1 ,jameson1 greeted a voice1 as ,i opened the door4 ,is ,kennedy in--oh1 he hasn't come back yet8 ,it was ,lockwood1 at first eager to see ,craig1 then naturally crestfallen because he saw that he was not there4 ,yes1 ,i replied1 rubbing my eyes4 ,he must be at the laboratory4 ,if you'll wait a minute while ,i slip on my clothes1 ,i'll walk over there with you4 ,while ,i completed my hasty toilet1 ,lockwood sat in our living room1 gazing about with fascination at the collection of trophies of the chase of criminals4 ,this is positively a terrifying array of material1 ,jameson1 he declared1 as at last ,i emerged4 ,between what ,kennedy has here and what he has stowed away in that laboratory of his1 ,i wonder that any one dares be a crook4 ,i could not help eying him keenly4 ,could he have spoken so heartily if he had known what it was1 damning to himself1 that ,kennedy had tucked away in the laboratory8 ,if he knew1 he must have been a splendid actor1 one of those whom only the minute blood-pressure test of the sphygmograph could induce to give up a secret1 and then only in spite of himself4 ,it is wonderful1 ,i agreed4 ,are you ready8 ,we left the apartment and walked along in the bracing morning air toward the campus and the ,chemistry ,building4 ,sure enough1 as ,i had expected1 ,kennedy was in his laboratory4 ,as we entered he was verifying his experiments and checking over his results1 carefully endeavouring to isolate any of the other closely related mydriatic alkaloids that might be contained in the noxious fumes of the poisoned tobacco4 ,though ,craig was already convinced of what was going on1 ,i knew that he always considered it a matter of considerable medico-legal importance to be exact1 for if the affair ever came to the stage of securing an indictment the charge could be sustained only by specific proof4 ,as we appeared in the door1 however1 he laid aside his work1 and greeted us4 ,i suppose ,jameson has already told you that ,i called you up last night--and what ,i said8 began ,lockwood4 ,kennedy nodded4 ,it was something about ,norton1 wasn't it8 ,lockwood leaned over impressively and almost whispered3 ,of course1 you are in no position to know1 but there are ugly rumours current down in ,lima among the natives regarding that dagger4 ,kennedy did not appear to be particularly impressed4 ,is that so8 he said merely4 ,what are they8 ,well1 resumed ,lockwood1 ,i wasn't in ,lima at the time4 ,i was up here4 ,but they tell me that there was something crooked about the way that that dagger was got away from an ,indian--a brother of ,senora de ,moche4 ,yes1 replied ,kennedy1 ,i know something about it4 ,he committed suicide4 ,but what has that to do with ,norton8 ,lockwood hesitated1 then shrugged his shoulders4 ,i should think the inference was plain1 he insinuated4 ,then1 looking at ,craig fixedly1 as though to take his measure1 he added1 ,we are not out of touch with what is going on down there1 even if we are several thousand miles away4 ,i wondered whether he had any information more than we had already obtained by ,x-raying the letter to ,whitney signed ,haggerty4 ,if he had1 it was not his purpose1 evidently1 yet to disclose it4 ,i felt from his manner that he was not playing a trump-card1 but was just feeling us out by this lead4 ,there was some crooked business about that dagger down there as well as here1 he pursued4 ,there are many interests connected with it4 ,don't you think that it would be worth while watching ,norton8 he paused1 then added3 ,we do--and we're going to do it4 ,thank you very much1 returned ,kennedy quietly4 ,mr4 ,whitney has already told me he intended to do so4 ,lockwood eyed us critically1 as though not quite sure what to make of the cool manner in which ,craig took it4 ,i think if ,i were you1 he said at length1 ,i'd keep a close watch on the de ,moches1 both of them1 too4 ,exactly1 agreed ,craig1 without showing undue interest4 ,lockwood had risen4 ,well1 he snapped1 you may not think much of what ,i am telling you now4 ,but just wait until ,,our detectives begin to dig up facts4 ,no sooner had he left than ,i turned to ,craig4 ,what was that8 ,i asked4 ,a plant8 ,perhaps1 he returned1 clearing up the materials which he had been using4 ,the telephone rang4 ,hello1 ,norton1 ,i heard ,craig answer4 ,what's that8 ,you are shadowed by some one--you think it is by ,whitney8 ,i had been expecting something of the sort1 and listened attentively1 but it was impossible to gather the drift of the one-sided conversation4 ,as ,kennedy hung up the receiver ,i remarked1 ,so it was not a bluff1 after all4 ,i think my plan is working1 he remarked thoughtfully4 ,you heard what he said8 ,he guesses right the first time1 that it is ,whitney4 ,the last thing he said was1 ',i'll get even6 ,i'll take some action6' and then he rang off4 ,i think we'll hear something soon4 ,instead of going out1 ,kennedy pulled out the several unsigned letters we had collected1 and began the laborious process of studying the printing1 analyzing it1 in the hope that he might discover some new clue4 ,,xvi ,,the ,,ear ,,in ,,the ,,wall ,perhaps an hour later our laboratory door was flung open suddenly1 and both ,kennedy and ,i leaped to our feet4 ,there was ,inez ,mendoza1 alone1 pale and agitated4 ,tell me1 ,professor ,kennedy1 she cried1 her hands clasped before her in frantic appeal1 tell me--it isn't true--is it8 ,he wasn't there--no--no--no6 ,she would have fainted if ,craig had not sprung forward and caught her in time to place her in our only easy-chair4 ,walter1 he said1 quick--that bottle of aromatic spirits of ammonia over there--the second from the left4 ,i handed it to him1 and threw open the window to allow the fresh air to blow in4 ,as ,i did so one of the papers ,kennedy had been studying blew off the table1 and1 as luck would have it1 fell almost before her4 ,she saw it1 and in her hypersensitive condition recognized it instantly4 ,oh--that anonymous letter6 she cried4 ,tell me--you do not think that--the friend of my father's that it warned me to beware of--was-- ,she did not finish the sentence4 ,she did not need to do so4 ,please1 ,senorita1 pleaded and soothed ,kennedy1 try to be calm4 ,what has happened8 ,tell me4 ,what is it8 ,the ammonia and the fresh air seemed to have done their work1 for she managed to brace herself1 gripping the arms of the chair tightly and looking up searchingly into ,craig's face4 ,it's about ,chester1 she managed to gasp2 then seemed unable to go on4 ,it was the first time ,i had ever heard her use ,lockwood's first name1 and ,i knew that something had stirred her emotions more deeply than at any time since the death of her father4 ,yes1 prompted ,kennedy4 ,go on4 ,i have heard that you found foot-prints1 shoe-prints1 in the dust in the ,museum after the dagger was stolen1 she said1 speaking rapidly1 suppressing her feelings heroically4 ,since then you have been collecting prints of shoes--and ,i've heard that the shoe-prints that were found are those of--of ,mr4 ,lockwood4 ,oh1 ,professor ,kennedy1 it cannot be--there must be some mistake4 ,for a moment ,kennedy did not say anything4 ,he was evidently seeking some way in which to lead up to the revelation of the truth without too much shock4 ,you remember that time in the tea room when we were sitting with ,senora de ,moche8 he asked finally4 ,yes1 she said shortly1 as though the very recollection were disagreeable to her4 ,kennedy1 however1 had a disagreeable task1 and he felt that it must be performed in the kindest manner4 ,you remember then that she said she had one thing more to say1 that it was about ,mr4 ,whitney and ,mr4 ,lockwood4 ,she was about to interrupt1 but he hurried on1 giving her no chance to do so4 ,she asked you to think it over4 ,suppose they did not have the dagger1 she said4 ,then were their chances of finding the treasure any better than any one else had8 ,and if they did have it1 she asked what that meant4 ,it is a dilemma1 my dear ,senorita1 which you must meet some time4 ,why not meet it now8 ,her face was set4 ,you will remember1 also1 ,professor ,kennedy1 she said1 with a great effort controlling her voice1 that ,i said that ,mr4 ,lockwood was not there to defend himself and ,i would not have him attacked by innuendo4 ,i meant it to the ,senora--,i mean it to you6 ,she had also meant it to defy him2 but as she proceeded her voice broke1 and before she knew it her nature had triumphed1 and she was alternately sobbing and pleading4 ,for a minute or two ,kennedy let her give vent to her emotions4 ,it cannot be4 ,it cannot be1 she sobbed over and over4 ,he could not have been there4 ,he could not have done it4 ,it was a terrible thing to have to disillusion her1 but it was something now that had to be done4 ,kennedy had not sought to do so4 ,he had postponed it in the hope of finding some other way4 ,but now the thing was forced upon him4 ,who told you8 he asked finally4 ,i was trying to read1 to keep my mind occupied1 as you asked me1 when ,juanita told me that there was some one in the living room who wanted to see me--a man4 ,i thought it was either you or ,mr4 ,jameson4 ,but it was--,professor ,norton-- ,kennedy and ,i exchanged glances4 ,that was the action in revenge to ,lockwood and ,whitney which he had contemplated over the telephone4 ,it was so cruel and harsh that ,i could have hated him for it1 the more so as ,i recollected that it was he himself who had cautioned us against doing the very thing which now he had done in the heat of passion4 ,oh1 she wailed1 he was very kind and considerate about it4 ,he said he felt that it was his duty to tell me1 that he would be anything1 like an older brother1 to me2 that he could not see me blinded any longer to what was going on1 and everybody knew1 but had not love enough for me to tell4 ,it was such a shock4 ,i could not even speak4 ,i simply ran from the room without another word to him1 and ,juanita found me lying on the bed4 ,then--,i decided--,i would come to you4 ,she paused1 and her great1 deep eyes looked up pathetically4 ,and you1 she added bitterly1 you are going to tell me that he was right1 that it is true4 ,you can't prove it4 ,show me what it is that you have4 ,i defy you6 ,somehow1 as she rested and relieved her feelings1 a new strength seemed to come to her4 ,it was what ,kennedy had been waiting for1 the reaction that would leave her able for him to go on and plan for the future4 ,he reached into a drawer of a cabinet and pulled out the various shoe-prints which he had already shown ,norton1 and which he had studied and restudied so carefully4 ,that is the print of the shoe in the dust of the ,egyptian sarcophagus of the ,museum1 he said quietly4 ,some one got in during the daytime and hid there until the place was locked4 ,that is the print of ,alfonso de ,moche's shoe1 that of ,mr4 ,whitney's1 and that of ,mr4 ,lockwood's4 ,he said it quickly1 as though trying to gloss it over4 ,but she would not have it that way4 ,she felt stronger1 and she was going to see just what there was there4 ,she took the prints and studied them1 though her hand trembled4 ,hers was a remarkable mind4 ,it took only seconds to see what others would have seen only in minutes4 ,but it was not the reasoning faculty that was aroused by what she saw4 ,it sank deep into her heart4 ,she flung the papers down4 ,i don't believe it6 she defied4 ,there is some mistake4 ,no--it cannot be true6 ,it was a noble exhibition of faith4 ,i think ,i have never seen any instant more tense than that in ,kennedy's laboratory4 ,there stood the beautiful girl declaring her faith in her lover1 rejecting even the implication that it might have been he who had taken the dagger1 perhaps murdered her father to insure the possession of her father's share of the treasure as well as the possession of herself4 ,kennedy did not try to combat it4 ,instead he treated her very intuitions with respect4 ,in him there was room for both fact and feeling4 ,senorita1 he said finally1 in a voice that was deep and thrilling with feeling1 have ,i ever been other than a friend to you8 ,have ,i ever given you cause to suspect even one little motive of mine8 ,she faced him1 and they looked into each other's eyes an instant4 ,but it was long enough for the man to understand the woman and she to understand him4 ,no1 she murmured1 glancing down again4 ,then trust me just this once4 ,do as ,i ask you4 ,for an instant she struggled with herself4 ,what would he ask8 ,what is it8 she questioned1 raising her eyes to him again4 ,have you seen ,mr4 ,lockwood8 ,no4 ,then1 ,i want you to see him4 ,surely you wish to have no secrets from him any more than you would wish him to have anything secret from you4 ,see him4 ,ask him frankly about it all4 ,it is the only fair thing to him--it is only fair to yourself4 ,senorita ,mendoza was no coward4 ,i--,i will1 she almost whispered4 ,splendid6 exclaimed ,kennedy in admiration4 ,i knew that you would4 ,you are not the woman who could do otherwise4 ,may ,i see that you get home safely8 ,walter1 call a taxicab4 ,senorita ,mendoza was calmer1 though pale and still nervous1 when ,i returned4 ,kennedy handed her into the car and then returned to the laboratory for two rather large packages1 which he handed to me4 ,you must come along with us1 ,walter1 he said4 ,we shall need you4 ,scarcely a word was spoken as we jolted over the city pavements and at last reached the apartment4 ,inez and ,craig entered and ,i followed1 carrying just one of the packages as ,craig had indicated by dumb show1 leaving the other in the car1 which was to wait4 ,i think you had better write him a note1 suggested ,craig1 as we entered the living room4 ,i don't want you to see him until you feel better--and1 by the way1 see him here4 ,she nodded with a wan smile1 as though thinking how unusual it was for a meeting of lovers to be an ordeal1 then excused herself to write the note4 ,she had no sooner disappeared than ,kennedy unwrapped the package which ,i had brought4 ,from it he took a cedar box1 oblong1 with a sort of black disc fixed to an arm on the top4 ,in the face of the box were two little square holes1 with sides of cedar which converged inward into the box1 making a pair of little quadrangular pyramidal holes which ended in a small black circle in the interior4 ,he looked about the room quickly4 ,beside a window that opened out over a house several stories below stood a sectional bookcase4 ,into this bookcase1 back of the books1 in the shadow1 he shoved the little box1 to which he had already attached a spool of twisted wires4 ,then he opened the window and dropped the spool out1 letting it unwind of its own weight until it fell on the roof far below4 ,he shut the window and rejoined me without a word4 ,a moment later she returned with the dainty note which she had written4 ,shall ,i send it by a messenger8 she asked4 ,yes1 please1 answered ,kennedy1 rising4 ,as he moved a step to the door he held out his hand to her4 ,senorita ,mendoza1 he said simply1 in a tone that meant more than words1 you are a wonderful woman4 ,she took his hand without a word1 and a moment later we were whisked down in the elevator4 ,i must get on that roof on some pretext1 remarked ,kennedy1 as we reached the street and he got his bearings4 ,let me see1 that house which backs up to the apartment is around the corner4 ,have the man drive us around there4 ,we located the house and mounted the steps4 ,on the wall beside the brownstone door was pasted a little slip of paper1 ,furnished ,rooms4 ,splendid6 exclaimed ,kennedy1 as he read it4 ,dismiss the taxi and meet me inside with the other package4 ,by the time ,i had paid the man and come up the steps again ,kennedy had made a dicker with the landlady for a double room on the third floor for both of us1 and1 by payment of a week's rent1 we were to have immediate possession4 ,our baggage will follow to-day1 he explained1 as we mounted the stairs to the room4 ,i thought the landlady would never get through expatiating upon what a select place she ran1 and thus leave us alone in our room1 but at last even her flood of words was stilled by demands from a servant downstairs who must be instructed if the selectness of the establishment were to be maintained4 ,no sooner were we alone than ,kennedy tiptoed into the hall and made sure that we were not watched4 ,it was then the work of only a few seconds to mount a ladder to a scuttle1 unhook it1 and gain the roof4 ,there1 dangling down from the dizzy height above1 swayed the twisted wire4 ,he seized it1 unrolled it some more1 and sent me downstairs to catch it1 as he swung it over the edge of the roof to one of our own windows4 ,then he rejoined me4 ,the other package1 which had been heavier1 consisted of another of those mysterious boxes1 as well as several dry cells4 ,quickly he attached the wires to the box1 placing the dry cells in the circuit4 ,then he began adjusting the mechanism of the box4 ,so far ,i had only a vague idea of just what he had in mind1 but gradually it began to dawn on me4 ,it was perhaps half an hour1 perhaps longer1 after we had left the ,senorita1 before1 sure that everything was all right with his line and the batteries which he had brought1 ,kennedy turned a little lever that moved in a semicircle1 touching one after another of a series of buttons on the face of the cedar box1 meanwhile holding a little black disc from the back of the box to his ear as he adjusted the thing4 ,nothing seemed to happen1 but ,i could tell by the look of intentness on his face that he was getting along all right and was not worrying4 ,suddenly the look on his face changed to one of extreme satisfaction4 ,he dropped the disc he was holding to his ear back into its compartment and turned to me4 ,all at once it seemed as if the room in which we were was peopled by spirits4 ,there was the sound of voices1 loud1 clear1 distinct4 ,it was uncanny4 ,he has just come in1 remarked ,craig4 ,who8 ,i asked4 ,lockwood--can't you recognize his voice8 ,listen4 ,i did listen intently1 and the more my ears became adjusted1 the more plainly ,i could distinguish two voices1 that of a man and that of a woman4 ,it was indeed ,lockwood and the ,senorita1 far above us4 ,i would have uttered an exclamation of amazement1 but ,i could not miss what they were saying4 ,then you--you believe what he says8 asked ,lockwood earnestly4 ,professor ,kennedy has the prints1 replied ,inez tremulously4 ,you saw them8 ,yes4 ,and you believe what ,,he says1 too8 ,there was a silence4 ,what is it8 ,i asked1 tapping the box lightly4 ,a vocaphone1 replied ,kennedy4 ,the little box that hears and talks4 ,can they hear us8 ,i asked1 in an awestruck whisper4 ,not unless ,i want them to hear1 he replied1 indicating a switch4 ,you remember1 of course1 the various mechanical and electrical ears1 such as the detectaphone1 which we have used for eavesdropping in other cases8 ,i nodded4 ,well1 this is a new application which has been made of the detectaphone4 ,when ,i was using that disc from the compartment there1 ,i had really a detectaphone4 ,but this is even better4 ,you see how neat it all is8 ,this is the detective service1 and more4 ,we can 'listen in' and we don't have to use ear-pieces1 either1 for this is a regular loud-speaking telephone--it talks right out in meeting4 ,those square holes with the converging sides act as a sort of megaphone to the receivers1 those little circles back there inside magnifying the sound and throwing it out here in the room1 so that we can hear just as well as if we were up there in the room where they are talking4 ,listen--,i think they are talking again4 ,i suppose you know that ,whitney and ,i have placed detectives on the trail of ,norton1 we could hear ,lockwood say4 ,you have8 came back the answer in a voice which for the first time sounded cold4 ,lockwood must have recognized it4 ,he had made a mistake4 ,it was no sufficient answer to anything that he had done to assert that some one else had also done something4 ,inez1 he said1 and we could almost hear his feet as he moved over the floor in her direction in a last desperate appeal1 can't you trust me1 when ,i tell you that everything is all right1 that they are trying to ruin me--with you8 ,there was a silence1 during which we could almost hear her quick breath come and go4 ,women--not even ,peruvian women are like the women of the past1 ,chester1 she said at length4 ,we are not playthings4 ,perhaps we have hearts--but we also have heads4 ,we are not to be taken up and put down as you please4 ,we may love--but we also think4 ,chester1 ,i have been to see ,professor ,kennedy1 and-- ,she stopped4 ,it hurt too much to repeat what she had seen4 ,inez1 he implored4 ,there was evidently a great struggle of love and suspicion going on in her1 her love of him1 her memory of her father1 the recollection of what she had heard and seen4 ,no one could have been as we were without wishing to help her4 ,yet no one could help her4 ,she must work out her own life herself4 ,yes1 she said finally1 the struggle ended4 ,what is it8 ,do you want me to tell you the truth8 ,yes1 she murmured4 ,his voice was low and tense4 ,i was there--yes--but the dagger was gone6 ,,xvii ,,the ,,voice ,,from ,,the ,,air ,do you believe it8 ,i asked ,kennedy1 as the voices died away1 leaving us with a feeling that some one had gone out of the very room in which we were4 ,he shrugged his shoulders and said nothing4 ,but ,i cannot say that he seemed ill pleased at the result of the interview4 ,we'll just keep this vocaphone in1 he remarked4 ,it may come in handy some time4 ,now1 ,i think we had better go back to the laboratory6 ,things have begun to move4 ,on the way back he stopped to telephone ,norton to meet us and a few minutes after we arrived1 the archaeologist entered4 ,kennedy lost no time in coming directly to the point1 and ,norton could see1 in fact seemed to expect and be prepared for what was coming4 ,well1 exclaimed ,kennedy1 you've done it1 this time6 ,i know what you are going to ask1 returned ,norton4 ,you are going to ask me why ,i did it4 ,and ,i'm going to tell you4 ,after ,i left you1 the other day1 ,i thought about it a long time4 ,the more ,i thought1 the more of a shame it seemed to me that a girl like that should be made a victim of her feelings4 ,it wasn't so much what they have done to me that made me do it4 ,i would have acted the same if it had been de ,moche instead of ,lockwood who was playing on her heart4 ,i was afraid1 to tell the truth1 that you wouldn't tell her until it was too late4 ,and she's too good to throw herself away and allow her fortune to be wasted by a couple of speculators4 ,very well1 said ,craig4 ,for the sake of argument1 let us admit all that4 ,what did you expect to accomplish by it8 ,why--put an end to it1 of course4 ,but do you think she was going to accept as truth what you told her8 ,would that be natural for one so high-strung8 ,perhaps not--right away4 ,but ,i supposed she would come to you--as ,i see she has1 for you know about it4 ,after that1 it was only a question of time4 ,it may have been a heroic remedy1 but the disease was critical4 ,suppose1 suggested ,craig1 that1 after all1 he told her that he was there in the ,museum1 but that he did not get the dagger4 ,and suppose that she believed it4 ,what then8 ,norton looked up quickly4 ,did he tell her that8 ,i am supposing that he did1 repeated ,craig1 declining to place himself in a position which might lead to disclosing how he found out4 ,then ,i should say that he was a great deal cleverer than ,i gave him credit for being1 returned ,norton4 ,well1 it's done now1 and can't be undone4 ,have you found out anything about the de ,moches8 ,not very much1 ,i must admit4 ,of course1 you know ,i'm not on the best of terms with them1 for some reason or other4 ,but ,i've been around the ,prince ,edward ,albert a good deal1 and ,i don't think they've been able to do much that ,i haven't some kind of line on4 ,alfonso seems to be moping4 ,his professors here tell me that he has been neglecting his work sadly for the past few days4 ,the ,senora and ,whitney seem to be as friendly as ever4 ,i should say that they were going the pace fast1 and it shows on him4 ,i glanced significantly at ,kennedy1 but he betrayed nothing that might lead one to suppose he had discovered the cause4 ,evidently he was not ready yet to come out into the open and expected further developments on the poisoned cigarette clue4 ,the telephone rang and ,craig took down the receiver4 ,yes1 this is ,kennedy1 he answered4 ,oh1 hello1 ,lockwood4 ,what's that8 ,you've been trying to get me all day8 ,i just came in4 ,why1 yes1 ,i can see you in about half an hour4 ,i guess ,i'd better clear out1 said ,norton with a bitter laugh1 as ,kennedy hung up the receiver4 ,there have been enough crimes committed without adding another murder to the list4 ,keep on watching the de ,moches1 requested ,kennedy as ,norton made his way to the door4 ,yes1 agreed ,norton4 ,they will bear it--particularly ,alfonso4 ,they are hot-blooded4 ,you never know what they are going to do1 and they keep their own counsel4 ,i might hope that ,lockwood would forget2 but a de ,moche--never4 ,i cannot say that ,i envied him very much1 for doubtless what he said was true1 though his danger might be mitigated by the fact that the dagger was no longer in his ,museum4 ,still1 it would never have left ,peru1 ,i reflected1 if it had not been for him1 and there is1 even in the best of us1 a smouldering desire for revenge4 ,lockwood was more than prompt4 ,i had expected that he would burst into the laboratory prepared to clean things out4 ,instead he came in as though nothing at all had happened4 ,there's no use mincing words1 ,kennedy1 he began4 ,you know that ,i know what has happened4 ,that scoundrel1 ,norton1 has told ,inez that you had shoe-prints of some one who was in the ,museum the night of the robbery and that those shoe-prints correspond with mine4 ,as a matter of fact1 ,kennedy1 ,i was there4 ,i was there to get the dagger4 ,but before ,i could get it1 some one else must have done so4 ,it was gone4 ,i wanted to believe ,lockwood4 ,as for ,craig he said nothing4 ,then1 when ,i did have a chance to get away that night1 he continued1 ,i went over to ,mendoza's4 ,the rest you know4 ,you have told ,inez that8 asked ,kennedy in order to seem properly surprised4 ,yes--and ,i think she believes me4 ,i can't say4 ,things are strained with her4 ,it will take time4 ,i'm not one of those who can take a girl by main force and make her do what she won't do4 ,i wish ,i could smooth things over4 ,let me see the prints4 ,kennedy handed them over to him4 ,he looked at them1 long and closely1 then handed back the damning evidence against himself4 ,i know it would be no use to destroy these1 he remarked4 ,in the first place that would really incriminate me4 ,and in the second ,i suppose you have copies4 ,craig smiled blandly4 ,but ,i can tell you1 he exclaimed1 bringing his fist down on the laboratory table with a bang1 that before ,i lose that girl1 somebody will pay for it--and there won't be any mistakes made1 either4 ,the scowl on his face and the menacing look in his eye showed that now1 with his back up against the wall1 he was not bluffing4 ,he seemed to get little satisfaction out of his visit to us1 and in fact ,i think he made it more in a spirit of bravado than anything else4 ,lockwood had scarcely gone before ,kennedy pulled out the ,university schedule1 and ran his finger down it4 ,alfonso ought to be at a lecture in the ,school of ,mines1 he said finally1 folding up the paper4 ,i wish you'd go over and see if he is there1 and1 if he is1 ask him to step into the laboratory4 ,the lecture was in progress all right1 but when ,i peered into the room it was evident that de ,moche was not there4 ,norton was right4 ,the young man was neglecting his work4 ,evidently the repeated rebuffs of ,inez had worked havoc with him4 ,nor was he at the hotel1 as we found out by calling up4 ,there was only one other place that ,i could think of where he would be likely to be and that was at the apartment of ,inez4 ,apparently the same idea occurred to ,kennedy1 for he suggested going back to our observation point in the boarding-house and finding out4 ,all the rest of the day we listened through the vocaphone1 but without finding out a thing of interest4 ,now and then we would try the detective instrument1 the little black disc in the back1 but with no better success4 ,then we determined to listen in relays1 one listening1 while the other went out for dinner4 ,it must have been just a bit after dark that we could hear ,inez talking in a low tone with ,juanita4 ,a buzzing noise indicated that there was some one at the hall door4 ,if it's any one for me1 we heard ,inez say1 tell them that ,i will be out directly4 ,i'm not fit to be seen now4 ,the door was opened and a voice which we could not place asked for the senorita4 ,a moment later ,juanita returned and asked the visitor to be seated a few moments4 ,it was not long before we were suddenly aware that there was another person in the room4 ,we could hear whispers4 ,the faithful little vocaphone even picked them up and shot them down to us4 ,is everything all right8 whispered one1 a new voice which was somewhat familiar ,i thought1 but disguised beyond recognition4 ,yes4 ,she'll be out in a minute4 ,now1 remember what ,i told you4 ,if this thing works you get fifty dollars more4 ,i'd better put this mask on--damn it6--the slit's torn4 ,it'll do4 ,i'll hide here as soon as we hear her4 ,that's a pretty nice private ambulance you have down there4 ,did you tell the elevator boy that she had suddenly been taken ill8 ,that's all fixed1 then4 ,i've got the stuff--amyl nitrite--she'll go off like a shot4 ,but we'll have to work quick4 ,it only keeps her under a few minutes4 ,i can't wear this mask down and ,i'm afraid some one will recognize me4 ,oh1 you brought a beard4 ,good4 ,i'll give you the signal4 ,there must be no noise4 ,yes1 ,i saw the stretcher where you left it in the hall4 ,all right1 ,doc1 returned the first and unfamiliar voice4 ,it all happened so quickly that we were completely bowled over for the moment4 ,who was the man addressed as ,doc8 ,there was no time to find out1 no time to do anything1 apparently1 so quickly had the plot been sprung4 ,i looked at ,kennedy1 aghast1 not knowing what to do in this unexpected crisis4 ,a moment later we heard a voice1 ,i'm sorry to have had to keep you waiting1 but what is it that ,i can do for you8 ,good ,god6 exclaimed ,kennedy4 ,it is ,inez herself6 ,it was altogether too late to get over there to warn her1 perhaps even to rescue her4 ,what could we do8 ,if we could only shout for help4 ,but what good would that do1 around a corner and so far away8 ,the vocaphone itself6 ,quickly ,kennedy turned another switch1 of a rheostat1 which accentuated a whisper to almost a shout4 ,don't be alarmed1 ,senorita1 he cried4 ,this is ,kennedy talking4 ,look under the bookcase by the window4 ,you will find a cedar box4 ,it is a detective vocaphone through which ,i can hear you and which is talking out to you4 ,i have heard something just there just now-- ,yes1 yes4 ,go on6 ,you are threatened4 ,shout6 ,shout6 ,just then there came a sound of a scuffle and a muffled cry which was not much above a whisper1 as though a strong hand was clapped over her mouth4 ,what could we do8 ,juanita--,juanita--help6--police6 shouted ,craig himself through the vocaphone4 ,an instant later we could hear other screams as ,juanita heard and spread the alarm1 not a second too soon4 ,come on1 ,walter1 shouted ,kennedy dashing out of the room1 now that he was assured the alarm had been given4 ,we hurried around the corner1 and into the apartment4 ,one of the elevators was up1 and no one was running the other1 but we opened the gates and ,kennedy ran it up by himself4 ,in the ,mendoza apartment all was a babel of voices1 every one talking at once4 ,did you get them8 ,craig asked1 looking about4 ,no1 sir1 replied the elevator boy4 ,one of them came in from the ambulance and told me ,miss ,mendoza was suddenly taken sick4 ,he rode up with the stretcher4 ,the other one must have walked up4 ,do you know him8 ,has he ever been here before8 ,i can't say1 sir4 ,i didn't see him4 ,at least1 sir1 when ,i heard the screams ,i ran in from the elevator1 which the other one told me to wait with--left the door open4 ,just as ,i ran in1 they dodged out past me1 jumped into the car and rode down4 ,i guess they must have had the engine of the ambulance motor running1 sir1 if they got away without you seeing them4 ,we were too late to head them from speeding off4 ,but1 at least1 we had saved the ,senorita4 ,she was terribly upset by the attack1 much shaken1 but really all right4 ,have you any idea who it could be8 asked ,craig as the faithful ,juanita cared for her4 ,i don't know the man who was waiting and ',nita never saw him1 either1 she replied4 ,the one who jumped out from behind the portieres had on a mask and a false beard4 ,but ,i didn't recognize anything about him4 ,sudden as the attack had been and serious as might have been the outcome1 we could not but feel happy that it had been frustrated4 ,yet it seemed that some one ought to be delegated to see that such a thing could not occur again4 ,we must think up some means of protecting you1 soothed ,kennedy4 ,let me see1 ,mr4 ,lockwood and ,mr4 ,whitney seem to be the closest to you4 ,if you don't mind ,i'll call them up4 ,i wonder if you'd object if we had a little luncheon up here1 to-morrow8 ,i have a special reason for asking it4 ,i want to insure your safety and we may as well meet on common ground4 ,there isn't the slightest objection in the world1 she replied1 as ,kennedy reached for the telephone4 ,we had some little difficulty in locating both ,lockwood and ,whitney1 but finally after a time managed to find them and arrange for the conference on the ,senorita's safety for the next day4 ,outside ,kennedy gave instructions to the officer on the beat to watch the apartment particularly1 and there was no reason now to fear a repetition of the attempt1 at least that night4 ,,xviii ,,the ,,antidote ,early the following morning ,kennedy left me alone in the laboratory and made a trip downtown1 where he visited a ,south ,american tobacco dealer and placed a rush order for a couple of hundred cigarettes exactly similar in shape and quality to those which ,mendoza had smoked and which the others seemed also to prefer1 except1 however1 that the deadly drug was left out4 ,while he was gone1 it occurred to me to take up again the hunt for ,alfonso4 ,norton was not in his little office1 nor could ,i find ,alfonso anywhere about the campus4 ,in fact he seemed to have almost dropped out of his ,university work for the time4 ,accordingly1 ,i turned my steps toward the ,prince ,edward ,albert ,hotel1 in the hope that he might be there4 ,inquiries of the clerk at the desk told me that he had been there1 but was out just at that moment4 ,i did not see ,whitney around1 nor the ,senora1 so ,i sat down to wait1 having nothing better to do until ,kennedy's return4 ,i was about to give it up and go1 when ,i heard a cab drive up to the door and1 looking up1 ,i saw ,alfonso get out4 ,he saw me about the same time and we bowed4 ,i do not think he even tried to avoid me4 ,i haven't seen you for some time1 ,i remarked1 searching his face1 which seemed to me to be paler than it had been4 ,no1 he replied4 ,i haven't been feeling very well lately and ,i've been running up into the country now and then to a quiet hotel--a sort of rest cure1 ,i suppose you would call it4 ,how are you8 ,how is ,senorita ,inez8 ,very well1 ,i replied1 wondering whether he had said what he did in the hope of establishing a complete alibi for the events of the night before4 ,briefly ,i told him what had happened1 omitting reference to the vocaphone and our real part in it4 ,that is terrible1 he exclaimed4 ,oh1 if she would only allow me to take care of her--,i would take her back to our own country1 where she would be safe1 far away from these people who seek to prey on all of us4 ,he paced up and down nervously1 and ,i could see that my information had added nothing to his peace of mind1 though1 at the same time1 he had betrayed nothing on his part4 ,i was just passing through1 ,i said finally1 looking at my watch1 and happened to see you4 ,i hope your mother is well8 ,as well as is to be expected1 surrounded by people who watch every act1 he replied1 ,i thought with a rap at us for having ,norton about and so active1 though ,i could not be sure4 ,we separated1 and ,i hastened back to the laboratory to report to ,craig that ,alfonso was rusticating for his health4 ,kennedy1 on his part1 had had an experience1 though it was no more conclusive than my own4 ,after he had left the tobacco district1 he had walked up ,wall ,street to the subway4 ,in the crowd he had seen ,senora de ,moche1 although she had not seen him4 ,he had turned and followed her until she entered the building in which ,whitney and his associates had their offices4 ,whether it indicated that she was still leading them a chase1 or they her1 was impossible to determine1 but it at least showed that they were still on friendly terms with each other4 ,in the laboratory he could always find something to do on the case1 either in perfecting his chemical tests of the various drugs we had discovered1 or in trying to decipher some similarities in the rough printing of the four warnings and the anonymous letter with the known handwriting of those connected with the case1 many specimens of which he bad been quietly collecting4 ,that in itself was a tremendously minute job1 entailing not only a vast amount of expert knowledge such as he had collected in his years of studying crime scientifically1 but the most exact measurements and careful weighing and balancing of trifles1 which to the unscientific conveyed no meanings at all4 ,still1 he seemed to be forging ahead1 though he never betrayed what direction the evidence seemed to be taking4 ,the package of cigarettes which he had ordered downtown was delivered about an hour after his return and seemed to be the signal for him to drop work1 for the meeting with ,lockwood and ,whitney had been set early4 ,he stowed the package in his pockets and then went over to a cabinet in which he kept a number of rather uncommon drugs4 ,from it he took a little vial which he shoved into his waistcoat pocket4 ,are you ready1 ,walter8 he asked4 ,whenever you are1 ,i said1 laying aside my writing4 ,together we made our way down to the ,mendoza apartment which had been the scene of the near-tragedy the night before4 ,outside1 he paused for several moments to make inquiries about any suspicious persons that might have been seen lurking about the neighbourhood4 ,none of the attendants in the apartment remembered having seen any1 and they were now very alert after the two events1 the murder and the attempted abduction4 ,not a clue seemed to have been left by the villain who had been called ,doc4 ,how do you feel after your thrilling experience8 greeted ,craig pleasantly1 as ,juanita admitted us and ,inez came forward4 ,oh1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 she answered1 with a note of sadness in her tone4 ,it makes me feel so alone in the world4 ,if it were not for ',nita--and you1 ,i don't know what ,i should do4 ,doesn't ,mr4 ,lockwood count8 asked ,kennedy observantly4 ,of course--everything1 she answered hastily4 ,but he has to be away so much on business1 and-- ,she paused and sighed4 ,i could not help wondering whether1 after all1 his explanation of the dagger episode had been enough to satisfy her4 ,had she really accepted it8 ,neither ,lockwood nor ,whitney had arrived1 and ,kennedy improved the opportunity to have a quiet talk aside with her1 at which1 ,i imagine1 he was arranging a programme of what was to happen at this meeting and her part in it to co-operate with him4 ,she had left the room for a moment and we were alone4 ,it was evidently a part of his plan1 for no sooner was she gone than he opened the package of cigarettes which he had ordered and took out from the box in which ,mendoza had kept his cigarettes those that were there1 substituting those he had brought4 ,we had not long to wait1 now4 ,lockwood and ,whitney came together4 ,i was interested to see the greeting of ,inez and her lover4 ,was it pure fancy1 or did ,i detect a trace of coldness as though there had sprung up something between them8 ,as far as ,lockwood was concerned1 ,i felt sure that he was eager to break down any barrier that kept them from being as they had been4 ,whitney took her hand and held it1 in a playful sort of way4 ,i wish ,i were a young buck1 he smiled4 ,no one would dare look at you--much less try to carry you off4 ,yes1 we must be more careful of our little beauty1 or we shall lose her4 ,they turned to greet us4 ,i felt1 as we shook hands1 that it was much the same sort of handshake that one sees in the prize ring--to be followed by the clang of a bell1 then all going to it1 in battle royal1 with the devil after the hindmost4 ,there was scarcely a chance for a preliminary bout before luncheon was announced1 and we entered the cozy little dining-room to seat ourselves at the daintiest of tables4 ,one could feel the hostess radiating hospitality1 even on such a cross-current set of guests as we were1 and for the time1 ,i almost felt that it had been ,kennedy's purpose to promote a love-feast instead of an armed truce4 ,nothing was said about the main cause of our being together for some time1 and the small talk almost lifted for a time the incubus that had settled down on all our lives since the tragedy in the den at the other end of the suite4 ,but the fact could not be blinked4 ,tacitly every one seemed to wait on ,kennedy to sound the gong4 ,finally he did so4 ,of course1 he began1 clearing his throat1 there is no use making believe about anything4 ,i think we all understand each other better now than we have ever done before4 ,as for me1 ,i am in this case under a promise to stick to it and fight it to the end4 ,i suppose the rest of you are1 also4 ,but that need not prevent us agreeing on one thing4 ,we can work together to protect ,senorita ,mendoza1 at least1 from such danger as threatened her last night4 ,it's a dastardly shame1 ,lockwood exclaimed angrily1 that a man who would attempt a thing like that should go unpunished4 ,show me how to trace him and ,i'll guarantee the punishment1 rejoined ,craig drily4 ,i am not a detective1 replied ,lockwood4 ,kennedy forebore to reply in kind1 though ,i knew there was a ready answer on his tongue for the lover4 ,ever since they had arrived1 the ,senorita had seen that they were well supplied with cigarettes from the case in which she and they supposed were the genuine ,south ,american brand of her father4 ,kennedy and ,i smoked them1 too1 although neither of us liked them very much4 ,the others were smoking furiously4 ,however1 resumed ,kennedy1 ,i do not feel that ,i want to intrude myself in this matter without being perfectly frank and having the approval of ,senorita ,mendoza4 ,she has known both of you longer and more intimately than she has known me1 although she has seen fit to place certain of her affairs in my hands1 for which ,i trust ,i shall render a good account of my stewardship4 ,it seems to me1 though1 that if there is1 as we now know there is1 some one whom we do not know--he paused--who has sunk so low as to wish to carry her off1 apparently where she shall be out of the influence of her friends1 it is only right that precautions should be taken to prevent it4 ,what is your suggestion8 demanded ,whitney1 rather contentiously4 ,would there be any objection1 asked ,kennedy1 if ,i should ask my old friend1--or any of you may do it1--,deputy ,commissioner ,o',connor to detail a plainclothesman to watch this house and neighbourhood1 especially at night8 ,we watched the faces of the others4 ,but it was really of no use4 ,i think that is an excellent plan1 decided ,inez herself4 ,i shall feel much safer and surely none of you can be jealous of the city detectives4 ,kennedy smiled4 ,she had cut the ,gordian knot with a blow4 ,neither ,lockwood nor ,whitney could object4 ,the purpose of the luncheon was accomplished4 ,in fact he did not wait for further consideration1 but excused himself from the table for a moment to call up our old friend ,o',connor and tell him how gravely his man was needed4 ,it was a matter of only a few minutes when he returned from the other room4 ,he will detail ,burke for this special service as long as we want him1 reported ,craig1 sitting down again4 ,inez was delighted1 naturally1 for the affair had been a terrific shock to her4 ,i could see how relieved she felt1 for ,i was sitting directly next to her4 ,the maid had1 meanwhile brought in the coffee and ,inez had been waiting to pour until ,kennedy returned4 ,she did not do so1 now1 either1 however4 ,it seemed as if she were waiting for some kind of signal from ,kennedy4 ,what a splendid view of the park you get here1 remarked ,kennedy turning toward the long1 low windows that opened on a balustraded balcony4 ,just look at that stream of automobiles passing on the west drive4 ,common politeness dictated that all should turn and look1 although there was no novelty in the sight for any of us4 ,as ,i have said1 ,i was sitting next to ,inez4 ,to me she was a far more attractive sight than any view of the park4 ,i barely looked out of the window4 ,imagine my surprise1 then1 at seeing her take advantage of the diversion to draw from the folds of her dress a little vial and pour a bit of yellowish1 syrupy liquid into the cup of coffee which she was preparing for ,whitney4 ,i could not help looking at her quickly4 ,she saw that ,i had seen her and raised her other hand with a finger to her lips and an explanatory glance at ,kennedy who was keeping the others interested4 ,instantly1 ,i recognized the little vial which ,craig had shoved into his waistcoat pocket4 ,that had been the purpose of his whispered conference with her when we arrived4 ,i said nothing1 but determined to observe more closely4 ,more coffee and more cigarettes followed1 always from the same box which was now on the table4 ,the luncheon developed almost a real conversation4 ,for the time1 under the spell of our hostess1 we nearly forgot that we were in reality bitter enemies4 ,my real interest1 as time passed1 centred in ,whitney and ,i could not help watching him closely4 ,was it a fact1 or was it merely my imagination8 ,he seemed quite different4 ,the pupils of his eyes did not seem to be quite so dilated as they had been at other times1 or even when he arrived4 ,even his heart action appeared to be more normal4 ,i think ,inez noticed it1 too4 ,there was none of the wildness in his conversation1 such as there often had been at other times4 ,our party was prolonged beyond the time we had expected1 but1 although he had much on his mind1 ,kennedy made no move to break it up4 ,in fact he did everything to encourage it4 ,at last1 however1 the others did notice the time1 and ,i think it was with sincere regret that the truce was broken4 ,even then1 no parting shots were indulged in4 ,as we left1 ,inez thanked ,kennedy for his consideration1 and ,i am sure that that in itself was reward enough4 ,we parted from ,lockwood1 who wished to remain a little while1 and rode down in the elevator with ,whitney1 a changed man4 ,i'll walk over to the elevated with you1 he said4 ,i was going to my hotel1 but ,i think ,i'll go down to the office instead4 ,evidently he had got ,senora de ,moche out of his mind1 at least temporarily1 ,i thought4 ,then for the first time ,i recalled that during the whole luncheon there had been no reference to either the ,senora or ,alfonso1 though both must have been in our minds often4 ,what was it you had ,inez drop into ,whitney's coffee8 ,i asked ,craig as we parted from him and rode uptown4 ,you saw that8 he smiled4 ,it was pilocarpine1 jaborandi1 a plant found largely in ,brazil1 one of the antidotes for stramonium poisoning4 ,it doesn't work with every one4 ,but it seems to have done so with him4 ,besides1 the caffeine in the coffee probably aided the pilocarpine4 ,then1 too1 ,i made them smoke cigarettes without the dope that is being fed them4 ,lockwood's case1 for some reason1 hasn't gone far4 ,but did you notice how the treatment contracted the pupils of ,whitney's eyes almost back to normal again8 ,i had and said so1 adding1 ,but what was your idea8 ,i think ,i've got at the case from a brand-new angle1 he replied4 ,unless ,i am greatly mistaken1 when the person who is doing the doping sees that ,whitney is getting better--why1 ,i think you all noticed it1 ,inez and ,lockwood as well as you--it will mean another attempt to substitute more cigarettes doped with that drug4 ,i think it's by substitution that it's being done4 ,we'll see4 ,at the laboratory1 ,kennedy called ,norton and described briefly what had happened1 especially to ,whitney4 ,now is your chance1 ,norton1 he added1 to do some real good work4 ,i want some one to watch the ,senora1 see if she1 too1 notes the difference in him4 ,understand8 ,perfectly1 returned ,norton4 ,that is something ,i think ,i can do4 ,,xix ,,the ,,burglar ,,powder ,it was not until after dinner that we heard again from ,norton4 ,he had evidently spent the time faithfully hanging about the ,prince ,edward ,albert1 but ,whitney had not come in1 although the ,senora and ,alfonso were about4 ,i saw them leaving the dining-room1 he reported to us in the laboratory directly afterward1 just as ,whitney came in4 ,they could not see me4 ,i took good care of that4 ,but1 say1 there is a change in ,whitney1 isn't there8 ,i wonder what caused it8 ,it's as noticeable as that8 asked ,kennedy4 ,and did she notice it8 ,i'm sure of it1 replied ,norton confidently4 ,she couldn't help it4 ,besides1 after he left her and went into the dining-room himself she and ,alfonso seemed to be discussing something4 ,i'm sure it was that4 ,kennedy said nothing1 except to thank ,norton and compliment him on his powers of observation4 ,norton took the praise with evident satisfaction1 and after a moment excused himself1 saying that he had some work to do over in the ,museum4 ,he had no sooner gone than ,kennedy took from a drawer a little packet of powder and an atomizer full of liquid1 which he dropped into his pocket4 ,i think the ,prince ,edward ,albert will be the scene of our operations1 to-night1 ,walter1 he announced1 reaching for his hat4 ,he seemed to be in a hurry and it was not many minutes before we entered4 ,as he passed the dining-room he glanced in4 ,there was ,whitney1 not half through a leisurely dinner4 ,neither of the de ,moches seemed to be downstairs4 ,kennedy sauntered over to the desk and looked over the register4 ,we already knew that ,whitney and the ,senora had suites on the eighth floor1 on opposite sides and at opposite ends of the hall4 ,the de ,moche suite was under the number #haj4 ,that of ,whitney was #hbe4 ,is either #hbc or #hbg vacant8 asked ,kennedy as the clerk came over to us4 ,he turned to look over his list4 ,yes1 #hbg is vacant1 he found4 ,i'd like to have it1 said ,kennedy1 making some excuse about our luggage being delayed1 as he paid for it for the night4 ,front6 called the clerk1 and a moment later we found ourselves in the elevator riding up4 ,the halls were deserted at that time in the evening except for a belated theatre-goer1 and in a few minutes there would ensue a period in which there was likely to be no one about4 ,we entered the room next to ,whitney's without being observed by any one of whom we cared4 ,the boy left us1 and it was a simple matter after that to open a rather heavy door that communicated between the two suites and was not protected by a ,yale lock4 ,instead of switching on the lights1 ,kennedy first looked about carefully until he was assured that there was no one there4 ,it seemed to me to be an unnecessary caution1 for we knew ,whitney was down-stairs and would probably be there a long time4 ,but he seemed to think it necessary4 ,positive that we were alone1 he made a hasty survey of the rooms4 ,then he seemed to select as a starting-point a table in one corner of the sitting-room on which lay a humidor and a heavy metal box for cigarettes4 ,quickly he sprinkled on the floor1 from the hall door to the table on which the case of cigarettes lay1 some of the powder which ,i had seen him wrap up in the laboratory before we left4 ,then1 with the atomizer1 he sprayed over it something that had a pungent1 familiar odour--walking backwards from the hall door to the table1 as he sprayed4 ,don't you want more light8 ,i asked1 starting to cross to a window to let the moonlight stream in4 ,don't walk on it1 ,walter1 he whispered1 pushing me back4 ,no1 ,i don't need any more light4 ,what are you doing8 ,i asked1 mystified at his actions4 ,first ,i sprinkled some powdered iodine on the floor1 he replied1 and then sprayed over just enough ammonia to moisten it4 ,it will evaporate quickly1 leaving what ,i call my anti-burglar powder4 ,i'm sure ,i wouldn't be thought one of the fraternity for the world1 ,i observed1 stepping aside to give him all the room he wanted in which to operate4 ,he had finished his work by this time and now the evening wind was blowing away the slight fumes that had arisen4 ,for a few moments he left our door into ,whitney's room open1 in order to insure clearing away the odour4 ,then he quietly closed it1 but did not lock it again4 ,we waited a few minutes1 then ,craig leaned over to me4 ,i wish you'd go down and see how near ,whitney is through dinner1 he said4 ,if he is through1 do something1 anything to keep him down there4 ,only be as careful as you can not to be seen by any one who knows us4 ,i rode down in an empty elevator and cautiously made my way to the dining-room4 ,whitney had finished much sooner than ,i had expected and was not there4 ,much as ,i wanted not to be seen1 ,i found that it was necessary to make a tour of the hotel to find him and ,i did so1 wondering what expedient ,i would adopt to keep him down there if ,i found him4 ,i did not have to adopt any1 however4 ,whitney was almost alone in the writing-room1 and a big pile of letters beside him showed me that he would be busy for some time4 ,i rode back to the room to tell ,craig1 flattering myself that ,i had not been seen4 ,good1 he exclaimed4 ,i don't think we'll have to wait much longer1 if anything at all is going to happen4 ,in the darkness we settled ourselves for another vigil that was to last we knew not how long4 ,neither of us spoke as we half crouched in the shadow of our room1 listening4 ,slowly the time passed4 ,would any one take advantage of the opportunity to tamper with the box of cigarettes on the table8 ,i fell to speculating4 ,who could it possibly have been that had conceived this devilish plot8 ,what was back of it all8 ,i wondered whether it were possible that ,lockwood1 now that ,mendoza was out of the way1 could desire to remove ,whitney1 the sole remaining impediment to possessing the whole of the treasure as well as ,inez8 ,then there were the ,senora and ,alfonso1 the one with a deep race and family grievance1 the other a rejected suitor4 ,what might not they do with some weird ,south ,american poison8 ,once or twice we heard the elevator door clang and waited expectantly1 but nothing happened4 ,i began to wonder whether1 even if some one had a pass-key to the suite1 we could hear him enter if he was quiet4 ,the outside hall was thickly carpeted1 and deadened every footfall if one exercised only reasonable care4 ,the rooms themselves were much the same4 ,don't you think we might have the door ajar a little8 ,i suggested anxiously4 ,sh6 was ,kennedy's only comment in the negative4 ,i glanced now and then at my watch and by straining my eyes was surprised to see how early it was yet4 ,the minutes were surely leaden-footed4 ,in the darkness1 ,i fell again to reviewing the weird succession of events4 ,i am not by nature superstitious1 but in the black silence ,i could well imagine a staring succession of eyes1 beginning with the dilated pupils of ,whitney and passing on to the corpse-like expression of ,mendoza1 but always ending with the remarkable1 piercing1 black eyes of the ,indian woman with the melancholy-visaged son1 as they had impressed me the first time ,i saw them and1 in fact1 ever since4 ,was it a freak of my mind1 or was there some reason for it8 ,suddenly ,i heard in the next room what sounded like a series of little explosions1 as though some one were treading on match heads4 ,my burglar powder works1 muttered ,craig to me in a hoarse whisper4 ,every step1 even those of a mouse running across1 sets it off6 ,he rose quickly and threw open the door into ,whitney's suite4 ,i sprang after him4 ,there1 in the shadows1 ,i saw a dark form1 starting back in quick retreat4 ,but we were too late4 ,he was cat-like1 too quick for us4 ,in the dim light of the little explosions we could catch a glimpse of the person who had been craftily working with the dread drug to drive ,whitney and others insane4 ,but the face was masked6 ,he banged shut the door after him and fled down the hall1 making a turn to a flight of steps4 ,we followed1 and at the steps paused a moment4 ,you go up1 ,walter1 shouted ,kennedy4 ,i'll go down4 ,it was fifteen minutes later before we met downstairs1 neither of us with a trace of the intruder4 ,he seemed to have vanished like smoke4 ,must have had a room1 like ourselves1 remarked ,craig somewhat chagrined at the outcome of his scheme4 ,and if he was clever enough to have a room1 he is clever enough to have a disguise that would fool the elevator boys for a minute4 ,no1 he has gone4 ,but ,i'll wager he won't try any more substitutions of stramonium-poisoned cigarettes for a while4 ,it was too close to be comfortable4 ,we were baffled again1 and this time by a mysterious masked man4 ,could it be the same whom we heard over the vocaphone addressed as ,doc8 ,perhaps it was1 but that gave us no hint as to his identity4 ,he seemed just as far away as ever4 ,we waited around the elevators for some time1 but nothing happened4 ,kennedy even sought out the manager of the hotel1 and after telling who he was1 had a search made of the guests who might be suspected4 ,the best we could do was to leave word that the employees might be put on the lookout for anything of a suspicious nature4 ,whitney1 the innocent cause of all this commotion1 was still in the writing-room with his letters4 ,i think ,i ought to tell him1 decided ,kennedy as we passed down the lobby4 ,he seemed surprised to see us1 as we strolled up to his writing desk1 but pushed aside the few letters which he had not finished and asked us to sit down4 ,i don't know whether you have noticed it1 began ,craig1 but ,i wonder how you feel8 ,whitney had expected something else rather than his health as the subject of a quiz4 ,pretty good now1 he answered before he knew it1 although ,i must admit that for the past few days ,i have wondered whether ,i wasn't slowing up a bit--or rather going too fast4 ,would you like to know why you feel that way8 asked ,craig4 ,whitney was now genuinely puzzled4 ,it was perfectly evident1 as it had been all the time1 that he had not the slightest inkling of what was going on4 ,as ,craig briefly unfolded what we had discovered and the reason for it1 ,whitney watched him aghast4 ,poisoned cigarettes1 he repeated slowly4 ,well1 who would ever have thought it4 ,you can bet your last jitney ,i'll be careful what ,i smoke in the future1 if ,i have to smoke only original packages4 ,and it was that1 partly1 that ailed ,mendoza8 ,kennedy nodded4 ,don't take any pilocarpine1 just because ,i told you that was what ,i used4 ,you have given yourself the best prescription1 just now4 ,be careful what you smoke4 ,and1 don't get excited if you seem to be stepping on matches up there in your room for a little while1 either4 ,it's nothing4 ,whitney's only known way of thanking anybody was to invite them to adjourn to the cafe1 and accordingly we started across the hall1 after he had gathered up his correspondence4 ,the information had made more work that night impossible for him4 ,as we crossed from the writing-room1 we saw ,alfonso de ,moche coming in from the street4 ,he saw us and came over to speak4 ,was it a coincidence1 or was it merely a blind8 ,was he the one who had got away and now calculated to come back and throw us off guard8 ,whitney asked him where he had been1 but he replied quickly that his mother had not been feeling very well after dinner and had gone to bed1 while he strolled out and had dropped into a picture show4 ,that1 ,i felt1 was at least clever4 ,the intruder had been a man4 ,de ,moche excused himself1 and we continued our walk to the cafe1 where ,whitney restored his shattered peace of mind somewhat4 ,what's the result of your detective work on ,norton8 ventured ,kennedy at last1 seeing that ,whitney was in a more expansive frame of mind1 and taking a chance4 ,oh1 returned ,whitney1 he's scared1 all right4 ,why1 he has been hanging around this hotel--watching me4 ,he thinks ,i don't know it1 ,i suppose1 but ,i do4 ,kennedy and ,i exchanged glances4 ,but he's slippery1 went on ,whitney4 ,he knows that he is being shadowed and the men tell me that they lose him1 now and then4 ,to tell the truth ,i don't trust most of these private detectives4 ,i think their little tissue paper reports are half-faked1 anyhow4 ,he seemed to want to say no more on the subject1 from which ,i took it that he had discovered nothing of importance4 ,one thing1 though1 he recollected1 after a moment4 ,he has been going to see ,inez ,mendoza1 they tell me4 ,yes8 queried ,kennedy4 ,confound him4 ,he pretty nearly got ,lockwood in bad with her1 too1 said ,whitney1 then leaning over confidentially added1 ,say1 ,kennedy1 honestly1 now1 you don't believe that shoe-print stuff1 do you8 ,i see no reason to doubt it1 returned ,kennedy with diplomatic firmness4 ,why8 ,well1 continued ,whitney1 still confidential1 we haven't got the dagger--that's all4 ,there--,i never actually asserted that before1 though ,i've given every one to understand that our plans are based on something more than hot-air4 ,we haven't got it1 and we never had it4 ,then who has it8 asked ,kennedy colourlessly4 ,whitney shook his head4 ,i don't know1 he said merely4 ,and these attacks on you--this cigarette business--how do you explain that1 asked ,craig1 if you haven't the dagger8 ,jealousy1 pure jealousy1 replied ,whitney quickly4 ,they are so afraid that we will find the treasure4 ,that's my dope4 ,who is afraid8 ,that's a serious matter1 he evaded4 ,i wouldn't say anything that ,i couldn't back up in a case of that kind4 ,i'd get into trouble4 ,there was nothing to be gained by prolonging the conversation and ,kennedy made a move as though to go4 ,just give us a square deal1 said ,whitney as we left4 ,that's all we want--a square deal4 ,kennedy and ,i walked out of the ,prince ,edward ,albert and turned down the block4 ,well1 have you found out anything more8 asked a voice in the shadow beside us4 ,we turned4 ,it was ,norton4 ,i saw you talking to ,whitney in the writing-room1 he said1 with a laugh1 then in the cafe1 and ,i saw ,alfonso come in4 ,he still has those shadows on me4 ,i wouldn't be surprised if there was one of them around in a doorway1 now4 ,no1 returned ,kennedy1 he didn't say anything that was important4 ,they still say they haven't the dagger4 ,of course1 said ,norton4 ,you'll wait around a little longer8 asked ,kennedy as we came to a corner and stopped4 ,i think so1 returned ,norton4 ,i'll keep you posted4 ,kennedy and ,i walked on a bit4 ,i'm going around to see how ,burke1 ,o',connor's man1 is getting on watching the ,mendoza apartment1 ,walter1 he said at length4 ,then ,i have two or three other little outside matters to attend to4 ,you look tired4 ,why don't you go home and take a rest8 ,i shan't be working in the laboratory to-night1 either4 ,i think ,i will1 ,i agreed1 for the strain of the case was beginning to tell on me4 ,,xx ,,the ,,pulmotor ,i went directly to our apartment after ,craig left me and for a little while sat up1 speculating on the probabilities of the case4 ,senora de ,moche had told us of her ancestor who had been intrusted with the engraved dagger1 of how it had been handed down1 of the death of her brother2 she had told us of the murder of the ancestor of ,inez ,mendoza1 of the curse of ,mansiche4 ,was this1 after all1 but a reincarnation of the bloody history of the ,gold of the ,gods8 ,there were the shoe-prints in the mummy case4 ,they were ,lockwood's4 ,how about them8 ,was he telling the truth8 ,now had come the poisoned cigarettes4 ,all had followed the threats3 ,,beware ,,the ,,curse ,,of ,,mansiche ,,on ,,the ,,gold ,,of ,,the ,,gods4 ,several times ,i had been forced already to revise my theories of the case4 ,at first ,i had felt that it pointed straight toward ,lockwood4 ,but did it seem to do so now8 ,suppose ,lockwood had stolen the dagger from the ,museum1 although he denied even that4 ,did that mean1 necessarily that he committed the murder with it1 that he now had it8 ,might he not have lost it8 ,might not some one else--the ,senora1 or ,alfonso1 or both--have obtained it8 ,might not ,mendoza have been murdered with it by some other hand to obtain or to hide the secret on its bloody blade8 ,i went to bed1 still thinking1 no nearer a conclusion than before1 prepared to dream over it4 ,that is the last ,i remember4 ,when ,i regained consciousness1 ,i was lying on the bed still1 but ,craig was bending over me4 ,he had just taken a rubber cap off my face1 to which was attached a rubber tube that ran to a box perhaps as large as a suitcase1 containing a pump of some kind4 ,i was too weak to notice these things right away1 too weak to care much about them1 or about anything else4 ,are you all right now1 old man8 he asked1 bending over me4 ,y-,yes1 ,i gasped1 clutching at the choking sensation in my throat4 ,what has happened8 ,perhaps ,i had best tell it as though ,i were not the chief actor2 for it came to me in such disjointed fragmentary form1 that it was some time before ,i could piece it together4 ,craig had seen ,burke1 and had found that everything was all right4 ,then he had made the few little investigations that he intended4 ,but he had not been to the laboratory4 ,there had been no light there that night4 ,at last when he arrived home1 he had found a peculiar odour in the hall1 but had thought nothing of it1 until he opened our door4 ,then there rushed out such a burst of it that he had to retreat1 almost fainting1 choking and gasping for breath4 ,his first thought was for me2 and protecting himself as best he could he struggled through to my room1 to find me lying on the bed1 motionless1 almost cold4 ,he was by this time too weak to carry me4 ,but he managed to reach the window and throw it wide open4 ,as the draught cleared the air1 he thought of the telephone and with barely strength enough left called up one of the gas companies and had a pulmotor sent over4 ,now that the danger was past for me1 and he felt all right1 his active mind began at once on the reconstruction of what had happened4 ,what was it--man or devil8 ,could a human fly have scaled the walls1 or an aeroplane have dropped an intruder at the window ledge8 ,the lock on the door did not seem to have been tampered with4 ,nor was there any way by which entrance could have been gained from a fire escape4 ,it was not illuminating gas4 ,every one agreed on that4 ,no1 it was not an accident4 ,it was an attempt at murder4 ,some one was getting close to us4 ,every other weapon failing1 this was desperation4 ,i had been made comfortable1 and he was engaged in one of his characteristic searches1 with more than ordinary eagerness1 because this was his own apartment1 and it was ,i who had been the victim4 ,i followed him languidly as he went over everything1 the furniture1 the walls1 the windows1 the carpets--there looking for finger-prints1 there for some trace of the poisonous gas that had filled the room4 ,but he did not have the air of one who was finding anything4 ,i was too tired to reason4 ,this was but another of the baffling mysteries that confronted us4 ,a low exclamation caused me to open my eyes and try to discover what was the cause4 ,he was bending over the lock of the door looking at it intently4 ,broken8 ,i managed to say4 ,no--corroded1 he replied4 ,you keep still4 ,save your energy4 ,i've got strength enough for two1 for a while4 ,he came over to the bed and bent over me4 ,i won't hurt you1 he encouraged1 but just let me get a drop of your blood4 ,he took a needle and ran it gently into my thumb beside the nail4 ,a drop or two of blood oozed out and he soaked it up with a piece of sterile gauze4 ,try to sleep1 he said finally4 ,and you8 ,i asked4 ,it's no use4 ,i'm going over to the laboratory4 ,i can't sleep4 ,there's a cop down in front of the house4 ,you're safe enough4 ,by ,george1 if this case goes much further we'll have half the force standing guard4 ,here--drink that4 ,i had made up my mind not to go to sleep1 if he wouldn't1 but ,i slipped up when ,i obeyed him that time4 ,i thought it was a stimulant but it turned out to be a sedative4 ,i did not wake up until well along in the morning1 but when ,i did ,i was surprised to find myself so well4 ,before any one could stop me1 ,i was dressed and had reached the door4 ,a friend of ours who had volunteered to stay with me was dozing on a couch as ,i came out4 ,too late1 ,johnson1 ,i called1 trying hard to be gay1 though ,i felt anything but like it4 ,thank you1 old man1 for staying with me4 ,but ,i'm afraid to stop4 ,you're stronger than ,i am this morning--and besides you can run faster4 ,i'm afraid you'll drag me back4 ,he did try to do it1 but with a great effort of will-power ,i persuaded him to let me go4 ,out in the open air1 too1 it seemed to do me good4 ,the policeman who had been stationed before the house gazed at me as though he saw a ghost1 then grinned encouragingly4 ,still1 ,i was glad that the laboratory was only a few blocks away1 for ,i was all in by the time ,i got there1 and hadn't even energy enough to reply to ,kennedy's scolding4 ,he was working over a microscope1 while by his side stood in racks1 innumerable test-tubes of various liquids4 ,on the table before him lay the lock of our door which he had cut out after he gave me the sleeping draught4 ,what was it8 ,i asked4 ,i feel as if ,i had been on a bust1 without the recollection of a thing4 ,he shook his head as if to discourage conversation1 without taking his eyes off the microscope through which he was squinting4 ,his lips were moving as if he were counting4 ,i waited in impatient silence until he seemed to have finished4 ,then1 still without a word1 he took up a test-tube and dropped into it a little liquid from a bottle on a shelf above the table4 ,his face lighted up1 and he regarded the reaction attentively for some time4 ,then he turned to me1 still holding the tube4 ,you have been on a bust1 he said with a smile as if the remark of a few minutes before were still fresh4 ,only it was a laughing gas jag--nitrous oxide4 ,nitrous oxide8 ,i repeated4 ,how--what do you mean8 ,i mean simply that a test of your blood shows that you were poisoned by nitrous oxide gas4 ,you remember the sample of blood which ,i squeezed from your thumb8 ,i took it because ,i knew that a gas--and it has proved to be nitrous oxide--is absorbed through the lungs into the circulation and its presence can be told for a considerable period after administration4 ,he paused a moment1 then went on3 ,to be specific in this case ,i found by microscopic examination that the number of corpuscles in your blood was vastly above the normal1 something like between seven and eight million to a drop that should have had somewhat more than only half that number4 ,you were poisoned by gas that-- ,yes1 ,i interrupted1 but how1 with all the doors locked8 ,i was coming to that1 he said quietly1 picking up the lock and looking at it thoughtfully4 ,he had already placed it in a porcelain basin1 and in this basin he had poured some liquids4 ,then he passed the liquids through a fine screen and at last took up a tube containing some of the resulting liquid4 ,i have already satisfied myself1 he explained1 but for your benefit1 seeing that you're the chief sufferer1 ,i'll run over a part of the test4 ,you saw the reaction which showed the gas a moment ago4 ,i have proved chemically as well as microscopically that it is present in your blood4 ,now if ,i take this test-tube of liquid derived from my treatment of the lock and then test it as you saw me do with the other1 isn't that enough for you8 ,see--it gives the same reaction4 ,it did1 indeed1 but my mind did not react with it4 ,nitrous oxide1 he continued1 in contact with iron1 leaves distinct traces of corrosion1 discernible by chemical and microscopic tests quite as well as the marks it leaves in the human blood4 ,manifestly1 if no one could have come in by the windows or doors1 the gas must have been administered in some way without any one coming into the room4 ,i found no traces of an intruder4 ,it was a tough one4 ,never much good at answering his conundrums when ,i was well1 ,i could not even make a guess now4 ,the key-hole1 of course6 he explained4 ,i cut away the entire lock1 and have submitted it to these tests which you see4 ,i don't see it all yet1 ,i said4 ,some one came to our door in the night1 after gaining entrance to the hall--not a difficult thing to do1 we know4 ,that person found our door locked1 knew it would be locked1 knew that ,i always locked it4 ,knowing that such was the case1 this person came prepared1 bringing perhaps1 a tank of compressed nitrous oxide1 certainly the materials for making the gas expeditiously4 ,i began to understand how it had been done4 ,through the keyhole1 he resumed1 a stream of the gas was injected4 ,it soon rendered you unconscious1 and that would have been all1 if the person had been satisfied4 ,a little bit would have been harmless enough4 ,but the person was not satisfied4 ,the intention was not to overcome1 but to kill4 ,the stream of gas was kept up until the room was full of it4 ,only my return saved you1 for the gas was escaping very slowly4 ,even then1 you had been under it so long that we had to resort to the wonderful little pulmotor after trying both the ,sylvester and ,schaefer methods and all other manual means to induce respiration4 ,at any rate we managed to undo the work of this fiend4 ,i looked at him in surprise1 ,i1 who didn't think ,i had an enemy in the world4 ,but who could it have been8 ,i asked4 ,we are pretty close to that criminal1 was the only reply he would give1 providing we do not spread the net in sight of the quarry4 ,why should he have wanted to get me8 ,i repeated4 ,don't flatter yourself1 replied ,craig4 ,he wanted me1 too4 ,there wasn't any light in the laboratory last night4 ,there was a light in our apartment4 ,what more natural than to think that we were both there8 ,you were caught in the trap intended for both of us4 ,i looked at him1 startled4 ,surely this was a most desperate criminal4 ,to cover up one murder--perhaps two--he did not hesitate to attempt a third1 a double murder4 ,the attack had been really aimed at ,kennedy4 ,it had struck me alone4 ,but it had miscarried and ,craig had saved my life4 ,as ,i reflected bitterly1 ,i had but one satisfaction4 ,wretched as ,i felt1 ,i knew that it had spared ,craig from slowing up on the case at just the time when he was needed4 ,the news of the attempt spread quickly1 for it was a police case and got into the papers4 ,it was not half an hour after ,i reached the laboratory that the door was pushed open by ,inez ,mendoza1 followed by a boy spilling with fruit and flowers like a cornucopia4 ,i drove to the apartment1 she cried1 greatly excited and sympathetic1 but they told me you had gone out4 ,oh1 ,i was glad to hear it4 ,then ,i knew it wasn't so serious4 ,for1 somehow1 ,i feel guilty about it4 ,it never would have happened if you hadn't met me4 ,i'm sure it's worth more than it cost1 ,i replied gallantly4 ,she turned toward ,kennedy4 ,i'm positively frightened1 she exclaimed4 ,first they direct their attacks against my father--then against me--now against you4 ,what will it be next8 ,oh--it is that curse--it is that curse6 ,never fear1 encouraged ,kennedy1 we'll get you out--we'll get all of us out1 now1 ,i should say4 ,it's just because they are so desperate that we have these things4 ,as long as there is nothing to fear a criminal will lie low4 ,when he gets scared he does things4 ,and it's when he does things that he begins to betray himself4 ,she shuddered4 ,i feel as though ,i was surrounded by enemies1 she murmured4 ,it is as if an unseen evil power was watching over me all the time--and mocking me--striking down those ,i love and trust4 ,where will it end8 ,kennedy tried his best to soothe her1 but it was evident that the attack on us could not have had more effect1 if it had been levelled direct at her4 ,please1 ,senorita1 he pleaded1 stand firm4 ,we are going to win4 ,don't give in4 ,the ,mendozas are not the kind to stop defeated4 ,she looked at him1 her eyes filled with tears4 ,it was my father's way1 she choked back her emotion4 ,how could you1 a stranger1 know8 ,i didn't know1 returned ,kennedy4 ,i gathered it from his face4 ,it is also his daughter's way4 ,yes1 she said1 straightening up and the fire flashing from her eyes1 we are a proud1 old1 unbending race4 ,good-bye4 ,i must not interrupt your work any longer4 ,we are also a race that never forgets a friend4 ,a moment later she was gone4 ,a wonderful woman1 repeated ,kennedy absently4 ,then he turned again to his table of chemicals4 ,the telephone had begun to tinkle almost continuously by this time1 as one after another of our friends called us up to know how we were getting on and be assured of our safety4 ,in fact ,i didn't know that it was possible to resuscitate so many of them with a pulmotor4 ,by ,george1 ,i'm glad it wasn't any more serious1 came ,norton's voice from the doorway a moment later4 ,i didn't see a paper this morning4 ,the curator of the ,museum just told me4 ,how did it happen8 ,kennedy tried to pass it off lightly1 and ,i did the same1 for as ,i was up longer ,i really did feel better4 ,norton shook his head gravely1 however4 ,no1 he said1 there were four of us got warnings4 ,they are a desperate1 revengeful people4 ,i looked at him quickly4 ,did he mean the de ,moches8 ,,xxi ,,the ,,telescribe ,i decided that discretion was the better part of valour and that ,i had better go slow that day and regain my strength1 a fortunate decision1 as it turned out4 ,kennedy1 also1 spent most of the time in the laboratory1 so that1 after all1 ,i did not feel that ,i was missing very much4 ,it was along in the afternoon that the telephone began acting strangely1 as it will do sometimes when a long distance connection is being made4 ,twice ,kennedy answered1 without getting any response4 ,confound that central1 he muttered4 ,what do you suppose is the matter8 ,again the bell rang4 ,hello1 shouted ,kennedy1 exasperated4 ,who's this8 ,there was a pause4 ,just a minute1 he replied4 ,quickly he jammed the receiver down on a little metal base which he had placed near the instrument4 ,three prongs reaching upward from the base engaged the receiver tightly1 fitting closely about it4 ,then he took up a watch-case receiver to listen through in place of the regular receiver4 ,who is it8 he answered4 ,apparently the voice at the other end of the wire replied rather peevishly1 for ,kennedy endeavoured to smooth over the delay4 ,i wondered what was going on1 why he was so careful4 ,his face showed that1 whatever it was1 it was most important4 ,as he restored the telephone to its normal condition1 he looked at me puzzled4 ,i wonder whether that was a frame-up6 he exclaimed1 pulling a little cylinder off the instrument into which he had inserted the telephone receiver4 ,i thought it might be and ,i have preserved the voice4 ,this is what is known as the telescribe--a recent invention of ,edison which records on a specially prepared phonograph cylinder all that is said--both ways--over a telephone wire4 ,what was it about8 ,i asked eagerly4 ,he shoved the cylinder on a phonograph and started the instrument4 ,professor ,kennedy8 called an unfamiliar voice4 ,yes1 answered a voice that ,i recognized as ,craig's4 ,this is the detective agency employed by ,mr4 ,whitney4 ,he has instructed us to inform you that he has obtained the ,peruvian dagger for which you have been searching4 ,that's all4 ,good-bye4 ,i looked at ,kennedy in blank surprise4 ,they rang off before ,i could ask them a question1 said ,craig4 ,central tells me it was a pay station call4 ,there doesn't seem to be any way of tracing it4 ,but1 at least ,i have a record of the voice4 ,what are you going to do8 ,i queried4 ,it may be a fake4 ,yes1 but ,i'm going to investigate it4 ,do you feel strong enough to go down to ,whitney's with me8 ,the startling news had been like a tonic4 ,of course1 ,i replied1 seizing my hat4 ,kennedy paused only long enough to call ,norton4 ,the archaeologist was out1 and we hurried on downtown to ,whitney's4 ,whitney was not there and his clerk was just about to close the office4 ,all the books were put away in the safe and the desks were closed4 ,now and then there echoed up the hall the clang of an elevator door4 ,where is ,mr4 ,whitney8 demanded ,craig of the clerk4 ,i can't say4 ,he went out a couple of hours ago4 ,did he have a visit from one of his detectives8 shot out ,craig suddenly4 ,the clerk looked up suspiciously at us4 ,no1 he replied defiantly4 ,walter--stand by that door1 shouted ,craig4 ,let no one in until they break it down4 ,his blue-steel automatic gleamed a cold menace at the clerk4 ,a downtown office after office hours is not exactly the place to which one can get assistance quickly4 ,the clerk started back4 ,did he have a visit from one of his detectives8 ,yes4 ,what was it about8 ,the clerk winced4 ,i don't know1 he replied1 honest--,i don't4 ,craig waved the gun for emphasis4 ,open the safe1 he said4 ,reluctantly the clerk obeyed4 ,under the point of the gun he searched every compartment and drawer of the big chrome steel strong-box which ,whitney had pointed out as the safest place for the dagger on our first visit to him4 ,but there was absolutely no trace of it4 ,had we been hoaxed and was all this risk in vain8 ,where did ,mr4 ,whitney go8 demanded ,craig1 as he directed the clerk to shut the door and lock the safe again1 baffled4 ,if ,i should try to tell you1 returned the man1 very much frightened1 ,i would be lying4 ,you would soon find out4 ,mr4 ,whitney doesn't make a confidant of me1 you know4 ,it was useless4 ,if he had the dagger1 at least we knew that it was not at the office4 ,we had learned only one thing4 ,he had had a visit from one of his detectives4 ,as fast as the uptown trend of automobiles and surface cars during the rush hour would permit1 ,kennedy and ,i hurried in a taxicab to the ,prince ,edward ,albert in the hope of surprising him there4 ,it's no use to inquire for him1 decided ,craig as we entered the hotel4 ,i still have the key to that room1 #hbg1 next to his4 ,we'll ride right up in the elevator boldly and get in4 ,no one said anything to us1 as we let ourselves into the room next to ,whitney's4 ,a new lock had been placed on the door between the suites1 but1 aside from the additional time it took to force it1 it presented no great difficulty4 ,he wouldn't leave the dagger here1 of course1 remarked ,kennedy1 as at last we stepped into ,whitney's suite4 ,but we may as well satisfy ourselves4 ,hello--what's this8 ,the room was all upset1 as though some one had already gone through it4 ,for a moment ,i thought we had been forestalled4 ,packed a grip hastily1 ,craig remarked1 pointing to the marks on the bedspread where it had rested while he must literally have thrown things into it4 ,we made a hasty search ourselves1 but we knew it was hopeless4 ,two things we had learned4 ,whitney had had a visit from his detectives1 and he had gone away hurriedly4 ,an anonymous telephone message had been sent to ,kennedy4 ,had it been for the purpose of throwing us off the track8 ,the room telephone rang4 ,quickly ,craig jumped to it and took down the receiver4 ,hello1 he called4 ,yes1 this is ,mr4 ,whitney4 ,a silence ensued during which1 of course1 ,i could not gather any idea of what was going on over the wire4 ,the deuce6 exclaimed ,kennedy1 working the hook up and down but receiving no response4 ,the fellow caught on4 ,something must have happened to ,norton1 too4 ,how's that8 ,i asked4 ,why1 he replied1 some one just called up ,whitney and said that ,norton had got away from him4 ,perhaps they're trying to keep him out of the way just as they are with us1 ,i suggested4 ,i think the thing is a plant4 ,down the hall1 ,kennedy stopped and tapped lightly at the door of #haj1 the de ,moche suite4 ,i think he was surprised when the ,senora's maid opened it4 ,tell ,senora de ,moche it is ,professor ,kennedy1 he said quickly1 and that ,i must see her4 ,the maid admitted us into the sitting-room where we had had our first interview with her and a moment later she appeared4 ,she was evidently not dressed for dinner1 although it was almost time1 and ,i saw ,kennedy's eye travel from her to a chair in the corner over which was draped a linen automobile coat and a heavy veil4 ,had she been preparing to go somewhere1 too8 ,the door to ,alfonso's room was open and he clearly was not there4 ,what did it all mean8 ,have you heard anything of a report that the dagger has been found8 demanded ,kennedy abruptly4 ,why--no1 she replied1 greatly surprised1 apparently4 ,you were going out8 asked ,kennedy with a significant glance at the coat and veil4 ,only for a little ride with ,alfonso1 who has gone to hire a car1 she answered quickly4 ,i felt sure that she had heard something about the dagger4 ,we had no further excuse for staying and on the way out1 now that he had satisfied himself that ,whitney was not there1 ,craig inquired at the office for him4 ,they could tell us nothing of his whereabouts1 except that he had left in his car late in the afternoon in a great hurry4 ,kennedy stepped into a telephone booth and called up ,lockwood1 but no one answered4 ,inquiry in the garages in the neighbourhood finally located that at which ,lockwood kept his car4 ,there1 all that they could tell us was that the car had been filled with gas and oil as if for a trip4 ,lockwood was gone1 too4 ,kennedy hastily ordered a touring car himself and placed it at a corner of the ,prince ,edward ,albert where he could watch two of the entrances1 while ,i waited on the next corner where ,i could see the entrance on the other street4 ,for some time we waited and still she did not come out4 ,had she telephoned to ,alfonso and had he gone alone8 ,perhaps she had already been out and had taken this method of detaining us1 knowing that we would wait to watch her4 ,it must have been a mixture of both motives1 for at length ,i was rewarded by seeing her come cautiously out of the rear entrance of the hotel alone and start to walk hurriedly up the street4 ,i signalled to ,craig who shot down and picked me up4 ,by this time the ,senora had reached a public cab stand and had engaged a hack4 ,sinking back in the shadows of the top1 which was up1 ,craig directed our driver to follow the hack cautiously1 keeping a couple of blocks behind4 ,there was some satisfaction1 though slight1 in it1 at least4 ,we felt the possibility of the trail leading somewhere1 now4 ,on uptown the hack went1 while we kept discreetly in the rear4 ,we had reached a part of the city where it was sparsely populated1 when the hack suddenly turned and doubled back on us4 ,there was not time for us to turn and we trusted that by shrinking back in the shadow we might not be observed4 ,as the hack passed us1 however1 the ,senora leaned out until it was perfectly evident that she must recognize us4 ,she said nothing but ,i fancied ,i saw a smile of satisfaction as she settled back into the cushions4 ,she was deliberately going back along the very road by which she had led us out4 ,it had been an elaborate means of wasting our time4 ,she did not have the satisfaction1 however1 of shaking us off1 for we followed all the way back to the hotel and saw her go in4 ,then ,kennedy placed the car where we had it before and left the driver with instructions to follow her regardless of time if she should come out again4 ,surely1 ,i reasoned1 there must be something very queer going on1 if they were all in it to eliminate us and ,norton4 ,what had happened to him8 ,kennedy hastened back to the campus1 late as it was1 there to start anew4 ,norton was not in his quarters and1 on the chance that he might have sought to elude ,whitney's detectives by doing the unexpected and going to the ,museum1 ,kennedy walked over that way4 ,there was nothing to indicate that anybody had been at the ,museum1 but1 as we passed our laboratory1 we could hear the telephone ringing inside1 as though some one had been trying to get us for a long time4 ,kennedy opened the door and switched on the lights4 ,waiting only long enough to jam the receiver down into place on the telescribe1 he answered the call4 ,the deuce you will6 ,i heard him exclaim1 then apparently whoever was talking rang off and he could not get them back4 ,another of those confounded telephone messages1 he said1 turning to me and taking the cylinder off4 ,it looks as though the ready-letter writer who used to send warnings had learned his lesson and taken to the telephone as leaving fewer clues than handwriting4 ,he placed the record on the phonograph so that ,i could hear it4 ,it was brief and to the point1 as had been the first4 ,hello1 is that you1 ,kennedy8 ,we've got ,norton4 ,next we'll get you4 ,good-bye4 ,kennedy repeated the first message4 ,it was evident that both had been spoken by the same voice4 ,whose is it8 ,i asked blankly4 ,what does it mean8 ,before ,craig could answer there was a knock at our door and he sprang to open it4 ,,xxii ,,the ,,vanisher ,it was ,juanita1 ,inez ,mendoza's maid1 frantic and almost speechless4 ,why1 ,juanita1 encouraged ,kennedy1 what's the matter8 ,the ,senorita6 she gasped1 breaking down now and sobbing over and over again4 ,the ,senorita6 ,yes1 yes1 repeated ,kennedy1 but what about her8 ,is there anything wrong8 ,oh1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 sobbed the poor girl1 ,i don't know4 ,she is gone4 ,i have had no word from her since this afternoon4 ,gone6 we exclaimed together4 ,where was ,burke--that man that the police sent up to protect her8 ,he is gone1 too--now1 replied ,juanita in her best ,english1 sadly broken by the excitement4 ,kennedy and ,i looked at each other aghast4 ,this was the hardest blow of all4 ,we had thought that1 at least1 ,inez would be safe with a man like ,burke1 whom we could trust1 detailed to watch her4 ,tell me1 urged ,kennedy1 how did it happen8 ,did they carry her off--as they tried to do the other time8 ,no1 no1 sobbed ,juanita4 ,i do not know4 ,i do not know even whether she is gone4 ,she went out this afternoon for a little walk4 ,but she did not come back4 ,after it grew dark1 ,i was frightened4 ,i remembered that you were here and called up1 but you were out4 ,then ,i saw that policeman4 ,i told him4 ,he has others working with him now4 ,but ,i could not find you--until now ,i saw a light here4 ,oh1 my poor1 little girl1 what has become of her8 ,where have they taken her8 ,oh1 ,,madre ,,de ,,dios1 it is terrible6 ,had that been the purpose for which we had been sent on wild-goose chases8 ,was ,inez really kidnapped this time8 ,i knew not what to think4 ,it seemed hardly possible that all of them could have joined in it4 ,if she were kidnapped1 it must have been on the street in broad daylight4 ,such things had happened4 ,it would not be the first disappearance of the kind4 ,quickly ,kennedy called up ,deputy ,o',connor4 ,it was only too true4 ,burke had reported that she had disappeared and the police1 especially those at the stations and ferries and in the suburbs had been notified to look for her4 ,all this seemed to have taken place in those hours when the mysterious telephone calls had sent us on the wrong trail4 ,kennedy said nothing1 but ,i could see that he was doing some keen thinking4 ,just then the telephone rang again4 ,it was from the man whom we had left at the ,prince ,edward ,albert4 ,senora de ,moche had gone out and driven rapidly to the ,grand ,central4 ,he had not been able to find out what ticket she bought1 but the train was just leaving4 ,kennedy paced up and down1 muttering to himself4 ,whitney first--then ,lockwood--and ,alfonso4 ,the ,senora takes a train4 ,suppose the first message were true8 ,gas and oil for a trip4 ,he seized the telephone book and hastily turned the pages over4 ,at last his finger rested on a name in the suburban section4 ,i read3 ,whitney1 ,stuart4 ,res4 #agd-;,j ,rockledge4 ,quickly he gave central the number1 then shoved the receiver again into the telescribe4 ,hello1 is ,mr4 ,whitney there8 ,i heard later as he placed the record again in the phonograph for repetition4 ,no--who is this8 ,his head clerk4 ,tell him ,i must see him4 ,kennedy has been to the office and-- ,say--get off the line4 ,we had that story once4 ,that's it6 exclaimed ,craig4 ,don't you see--they've all gone up to ,whitney's country place4 ,that clerk was faking4 ,he has already telephoned4 ,and listen4 ,do you see anything peculiar8 ,he was running all three records which we had on the telescribe4 ,as he did so1 ,i saw unmistakably that it was the same voice on all three4 ,whitney must have had a servant do the telephoning for him4 ,don't fret1 ,juanita1 reassured ,kennedy4 ,we shall find your mistress for you4 ,she will be all right4 ,you had better go back to the apartment and wait4 ,walter look up the next train to ,rockledge while ,i telephone ,o',connor4 ,we had an hour to wait before the next train left and in the meantime we drove ,juanita back to the ,mendoza apartment4 ,it was a short run to ,rockledge by railroad1 but it seemed to me that it took hours4 ,kennedy sat in silence most of the time1 his eyes closed1 as if he were trying to place himself in the position of the others and figure out what they would do4 ,at last we arrived1 the only passengers to get off at the little old station4 ,which way to turn we had not the slightest idea4 ,we looked about4 ,even the ticket office was closed4 ,it looked as though we might almost as well have stayed in ,new ,york4 ,down the railroad we could see that a great piece of engineering was in progress1 raising the level of the tracks and building a steel viaduct1 as well as a new station1 and at the same time not interrupting the through traffic1 which was heavy4 ,surely there must be some one down there1 observed ,kennedy1 as we picked our way across the steel girders1 piles of rails1 and around huge machines for mixing concrete4 ,we came at last to a little construction house1 a sort of general machine-and work-shop1 in which seemed to be everything from a file to a pneumatic riveter4 ,hello6 shouted ,craig4 ,there came a sound from a far corner of a pile of ties and a moment later a night-watchman advanced suspiciously swinging his lantern4 ,hello yourself1 he growled4 ,which way to ,stuart ,whitney's estate8 asked ,craig4 ,my heart sank as he gave the directions4 ,it seemed miles away4 ,just then the blinding lights of a car flashed on us as it came down the road parallel to the tracks4 ,he waved his light and the car stopped4 ,it was empty1 except for a chauffeur evidently returning from a joy ride4 ,take these gentlemen as far as ,smith's corner1 will you8 asked the watchman4 ,then show 'em the turn up to ,whitney's4 ,the chauffeur was an obliging chap1 especially as it cost him nothing to earn a substantial tip with his master's car4 ,however1 we were glad enough to ride in anything on wheels1 and not over-particular at that hour about the ownership4 ,mr4 ,whitney hasn't been out here much lately1 he volunteered as he sped along the beautiful oiled road1 and the lights cast shadows on the trees that made driving as easy as in daylight4 ,no1 he has been very busy1 returned ,craig glad to turn to account the opportunity to talk with a chauffeur1 for it is the chauffeur in the country who is the purveyor of all knowledge and gossip4 ,his car passed us when ,i was driving up from the city4 ,my boss won't let me speed or ,i wouldn't have taken his dust4 ,gee1 but he does wear out the engines in his cars1 ,whitney4 ,was he alone8 asked ,craig4 ,yes--and then ,i saw him driving back again when ,i went down1 to the station for some new shoes we had expressed up4 ,just a flying trip1 ,i guess--or does he expect you8 ,i don't think he does1 returned ,craig truthfully4 ,i saw a couple of other cars go up there4 ,house party8 ,maybe you'd call it that1 returned ,craig with a twinkle of the eye4 ,did you see any ladies8 ,no1 returned the chauffeur4 ,just a man driving his own car and another with a driver4 ,there wasn't a lady with ,mr4 ,whitney8 asked ,craig1 now rather anxious4 ,neither time4 ,i saw what he was driving at4 ,the ,senora might have got up there in any fashion without being noticed4 ,but for ,inez not to be with ,whitney1 nor with the two who must evidently have been ,lockwood and ,alfonso1 was indeed strange4 ,could it be that we were only half right--that they had gathered here but that ,inez had really disappeared8 ,the young man set us down at ,smith's ,corner and it proved to be only about an eighth of a mile up the road and up-hill when ,whitney's house burst in sight1 silhouetted against the sky4 ,there were lights there and it was evident that several people had gathered for some purpose4 ,we made our way up the path and paused a moment to look through the window before springing the little surprise4 ,there we could see ,lockwood1 ,alfonso1 and ,senora de ,moche1 who had arrived1 after all and probably been met at the station by her son4 ,they seemed like anything but a happy party4 ,never on the best of terms1 they could not be expected to be happy4 ,but now1 if ever1 one would have thought they might do more than tolerate each other1 assuming that some common purpose had brought them here4 ,kennedy rang the bell and we could see that all looked surprised1 for they had heard no car approach4 ,a servant opened the door and before he knew it1 ,kennedy had pushed past him1 taking no chances at a rebuff after the experience over the wire4 ,kennedy6 exclaimed ,lockwood and ,alfonso together4 ,where is ,inez ,mendoza8 demanded ,craig1 without returning the greeting4 ,inez8 they repeated blankly4 ,kennedy faced them squarely4 ,come1 now4 ,where is she8 ,this is a show-down4 ,you may as well lay your cards on the table4 ,where is she--what have you done with her8 ,the de ,moches looked at ,lockwood and he looked at them1 but neither spoke for a moment4 ,walter1 ordered ,kennedy1 there's the telephone4 ,get the managing editor of the ,star and tell him where we are4 ,every newspaper in the ,united ,states1 every police officer in every city will have the story1 in twelve hours1 if you precious rascals don't come across4 ,there--,i give you until central gets die ,star4 ,why--what has happened8 asked ,lockwood1 who was the first to recover his tongue4 ,don't stand there asking me what has happened1 cried ,kennedy impatiently4 ,tickle that hook again1 ,walter4 ,you know as well as ,i do that you have planned to get ,inez ,mendoza away from my influence--to kidnap her1 in other words-- ,we kidnap her8 gasped ,lockwood4 ,what do you mean1 man8 ,i know nothing of this4 ,is she gone8 ,he wheeled on the de ,moches4 ,this is some of your work4 ,if anything happens to that girl--there isn't an ,indian feud can equal the vengeance ,i will take6 ,alfonso was absolutely speechless4 ,senora de ,moche started to speak1 but ,kennedy interrupted her4 ,that will do from you1 he cut short4 ,you have passed beyond the bounds of politeness when you deliberately went out of your way to throw me on a wrong trail while some one was making off with a young and innocent girl4 ,you are a woman of the world4 ,you will take your medicine like a man1 too4 ,i don't think ,i have ever seen ,kennedy in a more towering rage than he was at that moment4 ,when it was only a matter of a paltry poisoned dagger at stake and a fortune that may be mythical or may be like that of ,croesus1 for all ,i care1 we could play the game according to rules1 he exclaimed4 ,but when you begin to tamper with a life like that of ,inez de ,mendoza--you have passed the bounds of all consideration4 ,you have the ,star8 ,telephone the story anyhow4 ,we'll arbitrate afterward4 ,i think1 as ,i related the facts to my editor1 it sobered us all a great deal4 ,kennedy1 appealed ,lockwood at last1 as ,i hung up the receiver1 will you listen to my story8 ,it is what ,i am here for1 replied ,craig grimly4 ,believe it or not1 as far as ,i am concerned1 asserted ,lockwood1 this is all news to me4 ,my ,god--where is she8 ,then how came you here8 demanded ,craig4 ,i can speak only for myself1 hastened ,lockwood4 ,if you had asked where ,whitney was1 ,i could have understood1 but-- ,well1 where is he8 ,we don't know4 ,early this afternoon ,i received a hurried message from him--at least ,i suppose it was from him--that he had the dagger and was up here4 ,he said--,i'll be perfectly frank--he said that he was arranging a conference at which all of us were to be present to decide what to do4 ,meanwhile ,i was to be kept away at any cost1 supplied ,kennedy sarcastically4 ,where did he get it8 ,he didn't say4 ,and you didn't care1 as long as he had it1 added ,craig1 then1 turning to the de ,moches1 ,and what is your tale8 ,senora de ,moche did not lose her self-possession for an instant4 ,we received the same message4 ,when you called1 ,i thought it would be best for ,alfonso to go alone1 so ,i telephoned and caught him at the garage and when my train arrived here1 he was waiting4 ,none of you have seen ,whitney here8 asked ,kennedy1 to which all nodded in the negative4 ,well1 you seem to agree pretty well in your stories1 anyhow4 ,let me take a chance with the servants4 ,it is no easy matter to go into another's household and without any official position quiz and expect to get the truth out of the servants4 ,but ,kennedy's very wrath seemed to awe them4 ,they answered in spite of themselves4 ,it seemed clear that as far as they went both guests and servants were telling the truth4 ,whitney had made the run up from the city earlier in the afternoon1 had stayed only a short time1 then had gone back1 leaving word that he would be there again before his guests arrived4 ,they all professed to be as mystified as ourselves now over the outcome of the whole affair4 ,he had not come back and there had been no word from him4 ,one thing is certain1 remarked ,craig1 watching the faces before him as he spoke4 ,inez is gone4 ,she has been spirited away without even leaving a trace4 ,her maid ,juanita told me that4 ,now if ,whitney is gone1 too1 it looks as if he had planned to double-cross the whole crowd of you and leave you safely marooned up here with nothing left but your common hatred of me4 ,much good may it do you4 ,lockwood clenched his fists savagely1 not at ,kennedy but at the thought that ,craig had suggested4 ,his face set itself in tense lines as he swore vengeance on all jointly and severally if any harm came to ,inez4 ,i almost forgot my suspicions of him in admiration4 ,nothing like this would ever have happened if she had stayed in ,peru1 exclaimed ,alfonso bitterly4 ,oh1 why did her father ever bring her here to this land of danger8 ,the idea seemed novel to me to look on ,america as a lawless1 uncultured country1 until ,i reflected on the usual ,latin-,american opinion of us as barbarians4 ,lockwood frowned but said nothing1 for a time4 ,then he turned suddenly to the ,senora1 ,you were intimate enough with him1 he said4 ,did he tell you any more than he told us8 ,it was clear that ,lockwood felt now that every man's hand was against him4 ,i thought ,i could discover a suppressed gleam of satisfaction in her wonderful eyes as she answered1 ,nothing more4 ,it was only that ,i carried out what he asked me4 ,could it be that she was taking a subtle delight in the turn of events--the working out of a curse on the treasure-secret which the fatal dagger bore8 ,i could not say4 ,but it would not have needed much superstition to convince any one that the curse on the ,gold of the ,gods was as genuine as any that had ever been uttered1 as it heaped up crime on crime4 ,we waited in silence1 the more hopeless as the singing of the night insects italicized our isolation from the organized instruments of man for the righting of wrong4 ,here we were1 each suspecting the other1 in the home of a man whom all mistrusted4 ,there's no use sitting here doing nothing1 exclaimed ,lockwood in whose mind was evidently the same thought1 not so long as we have the telephone and the automobiles4 ,these1 at least1 were our last bonds with the great world that had wrapped a dark night about a darker mystery4 ,there are many miles of wire--many miles of road4 ,which way shall we turn8 ,senora de ,moche seemed to take a fiendish delight in the words as she said them4 ,it was as though she challenged our helplessness in the face of a power that was greater than us all4 ,lockwood flashed a look of suspicion in her direction4 ,as for myself1 ,i had never been able to make the woman out4 ,to-night she seemed like a sort of dea ex machina1 who sat apart1 playing on the passions of a group of puppet men whom she set against each other until all should be involved in a common ruin4 ,it was impossible1 in the silence of this far-off lonely place in the country1 not to feel the weirdness of it all4 ,once ,i closed my eyes and was startled by the uncanny vividness of a mind-picture that came unbidden4 ,it was of a scrap of paper on which1 in rough capitals was printed3 ,,beware ,,the ,,curse ,,of ,,mansiche ,,on ,,the ,,gold ,,of ,,the ,,gods4 ,,xxiii ,,the ,,acetylene ,,torch ,do you suppose he really had the dagger1 or was that a lie8 ,i asked1 with an effort shaking off the fateful feeling that had come over me as if some one were casting a spell4 ,there is one way to find out1 returned ,craig1 as though glad of the suggestion4 ,though they hated him1 they seemed forced to admit1 for the time1 his leadership4 ,he rose and the rest followed as he went into ,whitney's library4 ,he switched on the lights4 ,there in a corner back of the desk stood a safe4 ,somehow or other it seemed to defy us1 even though its master was gone4 ,i looked at it a moment4 ,it was a most powerful affair1 companion to that in the office of which ,whitney was so proud1 built of layer on layer of chrome steel1 with a door that was air tight and soup-proof1 bidding defiance to all yeggmen and petermen4 ,lockwood fingered the combination hopelessly4 ,there were some millions of combinations and permutations that only a mathematician could calculate4 ,only one was any good4 ,that one was locked in the mind of the man who now seemed to baffle us as did his strong-box4 ,i placed my hand on the cold1 defiant surface4 ,it would take hours to drill a safe like that1 and even then it might turn the points of the drills4 ,explosives might sooner wreck the house and bring it down over the head of the man who attacked this monster4 ,what can we do8 asked ,senora de ,moche1 seeming to mock us1 as though the safe itself were an inhuman thing that blocked our path4 ,do8 repeated ,kennedy decisively1 ,i'll show you what we can do4 ,if ,lockwood will drive me down to the railroad station in his car1 ,i'll show you something that looks like action4 ,will you do it8 ,the request was more like a command4 ,lockwood said nothing1 but moved toward the porte-cochere1 where he had left his car parked just aside from the broad driveway4 ,walter1 you will stay here1 ordered ,kennedy4 ,let no one leave4 ,if any one comes1 don't let him get away4 ,we shan't be gone long4 ,i sat awkwardly enough1 scarcely speaking a word1 as ,kennedy dashed down to the railroad station4 ,neither ,alfonso nor his mother betrayed either by word or action a hint of what was passing in their minds4 ,somehow1 though ,i did not understand it1 ,i felt that ,lockwood might square himself4 ,but ,i could not help feeling that these two might very possibly be at the bottom of almost anything4 ,it was with some relief that ,i heard the car approaching again4 ,i had no idea what ,kennedy was after1 whether it was dynamite or whether he contemplated a trip to ,new ,york4 ,i was surprised to see him1 with ,lockwood1 hurrying up the steps to the porch1 each with a huge tank studded with bolts like a boiler4 ,there1 ordered ,craig1 set the oxygen there1 as he placed his own tank on the opposite side4 ,that watchman thought ,i was bluffing when ,i said ,i'd get an order from the company1 if ,i had to wake up the president of the road4 ,it was too good a chance to miss4 ,one doesn't find such a complete outfit ready to hand every day4 ,out of the tanks stout tubes led1 with stop-cocks and gauges at the top4 ,from a case under his arm ,kennedy produced a curious arrangement like a huge hook1 with a curved neck and a sharp beak4 ,really it consisted of two metal tubes which ran into a sort of cylinder1 or mixing chamber1 above the nozzle1 while parallel to them ran a third separate tube with a second nozzle of its own4 ,quickly he joined the ends of the tubes from the tanks to the metal hook1 the oxygen tank being joined to two of the tubes of the hook1 and the second tank being joined to the other4 ,with a match he touched the nozzle gingerly4 ,instantly a hissing1 spitting noise followed1 and an intense1 blinding needle of flame4 ,now we'll see what an oxyacetylene blow-pipe will do to you1 old stick-in-the-mud1 cried ,kennedy1 as he advanced toward the safe1 addressing it as though it had been a thing of life that stood in his way4 ,i think this will make short work of you4 ,almost as he said it1 the steel beneath the blow-pipe became incandescent4 ,for some time he laboured to get a starting-point for the flame of the high-pressure torch4 ,it was a brilliant sight4 ,the terrific heat from the first nozzle caused the metal to glow under the torch as if in an open-hearth furnace4 ,from the second nozzle issued a stream of oxygen1 under which the hot metal of the door was completely consumed4 ,the force of the blast1 as the compressed oxygen and acetylene were expelled1 carried a fine spray of the disintegrated metal visibly before it4 ,and yet it was not a big hole that it made--scarcely an eighth of an inch wide1 but clean and sharp as if a buzz-saw were eating its way through a plank of white-pine4 ,with tense muscles ,kennedy held this terrific engine of destruction and moved it as easily as if it had been a mere pencil of light4 ,he was the calmest of all of us as we crowded about him1 but at a respectful distance4 ,i suppose you know1 he remarked hastily1 never pausing for a moment in his work1 that acetylene is composed of carbon and hydrogen4 ,as it burns at the end of the nozzle it is broken into carbon and hydrogen--the carbon gives the high temperature and the hydrogen forms a cone that protects the end of the blow-pipe from being itself burnt up4 ,but isn't it dangerous8 ,i asked1 amazed at the skill with which he handled the blow-pipe4 ,not particularly--when you know how to do it4 ,in that tank is a porous asbestos packing saturated with acetone1 under pressure4 ,thus they carry acetylene safely1 for it is dissolved and the possibility of explosion is minimized4 ,this mixing chamber1 by which ,i am holding the torch1 where the oxygen and acetylene mix1 is also designed in such a way as to prevent a flash-back4 ,the best thing about this style of blow-pipe is the ease with which it can be transported and the curious purposes--like this--to which it can be put4 ,he paused a moment to test what had been burnt4 ,the rest of the safe seemed as firm as ever4 ,humph6 ,i heard one of them1 ,i think it was ,alfonso1 mutter4 ,i resented it1 but ,kennedy affected not to hear4 ,when ,i shut off the oxygen in this second jet1 he resumed1 you see the torch merely heats the steel4 ,i can get a heat of approximately sixty-three hundred degrees ,fahrenheit1 and the flame will exert a pressure of fifty pounds to the square inch4 ,wonderful6 exclaimed ,lockwood1 who had not heard the suppressed disapproval of ,alfonso1 and was watching1 in undisguised admiration at the thing itself1 regardless of consequences4 ,kennedy1 how did you ever think of such a thing8 ,why1 it's used for welding1 you know1 answered ,craig1 as he continued to work calmly in the growing excitement4 ,i first saw it in actual use in mending a cracked cylinder in an automobile4 ,the cylinder was repaired without being taken out at all4 ,i've seen it weld new teeth and build up worn teeth on gearing1 as good as new4 ,he paused to let us see the terrifically heated metal under the flame4 ,you remember when we were talking to the watchman down there at the station1 ,walter8 he asked4 ,i saw this thing in that complete little shop of theirs4 ,it interested me4 ,see4 ,i turn on the oxygen now in the second nozzle4 ,the blow-pipe is no longer an instrument for joining metals together1 but for cutting them asunder4 ,the steel burns just as you1 perhaps1 have seen a watch-spring burn in a jar of oxygen4 ,steel1 hard or soft1 tempered1 annealed1 chrome1 or ,harveyized1 it all burns just about as fast1 and just about as easily under this torch4 ,and it's cheap1 too4 ,this attack--aside from what it costs to the safe--may amount to a couple of dollars as far as the blow-pipe is concerned--quite a difference from the thousands of dollars' loss that would follow an attempt to blow a safe like this one4 ,we had nothing to say4 ,we stood in awe-struck amazement as the torch slowly1 inexorably traced a thin line along the edge of the combination4 ,minute after minute sped by1 as the line burned by the blow-pipe cut around the lock4 ,it seemed hours1 but really it was minutes4 ,i wondered when he would have cut about the whole lock4 ,he was cutting clear through and around it1 severing it as if with a superhuman knife4 ,with something more than half his work done1 he paused a moment to rest4 ,walter1 he directed1 mopping his forehead1 for it was real work directing that flaming knife1 get ,new ,york on the wire4 ,see if ,o',connor is at his office4 ,if he has any report1 ,i want to talk to him4 ,it was getting late and the service was slackening up4 ,i had some trouble1 especially in getting a good connection1 but at last ,i got headquarters and was overjoyed to hear ,o',connor's bluff1 ,irish voice boom back at me4 ,hello1 ,jameson1 he called4 ,where on earth are you8 ,i've been trying to get hold of ,kennedy for a couple of hours4 ,rockledge8 ,well1 is ,kennedy there8 ,put him on1 will you8 ,i called ,craig and1 as ,i did so1 my curiosity got the better of me and ,i sought out an extension of the wire in a den across the hall from the library1 where ,i could listen in on what was said4 ,hello1 ,o',connor1 answered ,craig4 ,anything from ,burke yet8 ,yes1 came back the welcome news4 ,i think he has a clue4 ,we found out from here that she received a long distance message during the afternoon4 ,where did ,jameson say you were--,rockledge8--that's the place4 ,of course we don't know what the message was1 but anyhow she went out to meet some one right after that4 ,the time corresponds with what the maid says4 ,anything else8 asked ,craig4 ,have you found any one who saw her8 ,yes4 ,i think she went over to your laboratory4 ,but you were out4 ,confound it6 interrupted ,craig4 ,some one saw a woman there4 ,it wasn't the maid8 ,no1 this was earlier--in the afternoon4 ,she left and walked across the campus to the ,museum4 ,oh1 by the way1 any word of ,norton8 ,i'm coming to that4 ,she inquired for ,norton4 ,the curator has given a good description4 ,but he was out--hadn't been there for some time4 ,she seemed to be very much upset over something4 ,she went away4 ,after that we've lost her4 ,not another trace8 ,wait a minute4 ,we had this ,rockledge call to work on4 ,so we started backward on that4 ,it was ,whitney's place1 ,i found out4 ,we could locate the car at the start and at the finish4 ,he left the ,prince ,edward ,albert and went up there first4 ,then he must have come back to the city again4 ,no one at the hotel saw him the second time4 ,what then8 hastened ,craig4 ,she may have met him somewhere1 though it's not likely she had any intention of going away4 ,all the rest of those people you have up there seem to have gone prepared4 ,we got something on each of them4 ,also you'll be interested to know ,i've got a report of your own doings4 ,it was right1 ,kennedy1 ,i don't blame you4 ,i'd have done the same with ,burke on the job4 ,how are you making out8 ,what8 ,you're cracking a crib8 ,with what8 ,o',connor whistled as ,kennedy related the story of the blow-pipe4 ,i think you're on the right track1 he commended4 ,there's nothing to show it1 but ,i believe ,whitney told her something that changed her mind about going up there4 ,probably met her in some tea room1 although we can't find anything from the tea rooms4 ,anyhow1 ,burke's out trailing along the road from ,new ,york to ,rockledge and ,i'm getting reports from him whenever he hits a telephone4 ,i wish you'd ask him to call me1 here1 if he gets anything4 ,sure ,i will4 ,the last call was from the ,chateau ,rouge1--that's about halfway4 ,there was a car with a man and a woman who answers her description4 ,then1 there was another car1 too4 ,another car8 ,yes--that's where ,norton crosses the trail again4 ,we searched his apartment4 ,it was upset--like ,whitney's4 ,i haven't finished with that4 ,but we have a list of all the private hacking places4 ,i've located one that hired a car to a man answering ,norton's description4 ,i think he's on the trail4 ,that's what ,i meant by another car4 ,what's he doing8 ,maybe he has a hunch4 ,i'm getting superstitious about this case4 ,you know ,luis de ,mendoza has thirteen letters in it4 ,leslie told me something about a threat he had--a curse4 ,you better look out for those two greasers you have up there4 ,they may have another knife for you4 ,kennedy glanced over at the de ,moches1 not in fear but in amusement at what they would think if they could hear ,o',connor's uncultured opinion4 ,all right1 ,o',connor1 said ,craig1 everything seems to be going as well as we can expect4 ,don't forget to tell ,burke ,i'm here4 ,i won't4 ,just a minute4 ,he's on another wire for me4 ,kennedy waited impatiently4 ,he wanted to finish his job on the safe before some one came walking in and stopped it1 yet there was always a chance that ,burke might turn up something4 ,hello1 called ,o',connor a few minutes later4 ,he's still following the two cars4 ,he thinks the one with the woman in it is ,whitney's1 all right4 ,but they've got off the main road4 ,they must think they're being followed4 ,or else have changed their destination1 returned ,craig4 ,tell him that4 ,maybe ,whitney had no intention of coming up here4 ,he may have done this thing just to throw these people off up here1 too4 ,i can't say4 ,i can tell better whether he intended to come back after ,i've got this safe open4 ,i'll let you know4 ,kennedy rang off4 ,any news of ,inez8 asked ,lockwood who had been fuming with impatience4 ,she's probably on her way up here1 returned ,craig briefly1 taking up the blow-pipe again4 ,alfonso remained silent4 ,the ,senora could scarcely hide her excitement4 ,if there were anything in telepathy1 ,i am sure that she read everything that was said over the wire4 ,quickly ,craig resumed his work1 biting through the solid steel as if it had been mere pasteboard1 the blow-pipe showering on each side a brilliant spray of sparks1 a gaudy1 pyrotechnic display4 ,suddenly1 with a quick motion1 ,kennedy turned off the acetylene and oxygen4 ,the last bolt had been severed1 the lock was useless4 ,a gentle push of the hand1 and he swung the once impregnable door on its delicately poised hinges as easily as if he had merely said1 ,open sesame4 ,craig reached in and pulled open a steel drawer directly in front of him4 ,there in the shadow lay the dagger--with its incalculably valuable secret1 a poor1 unattractive piece of metal1 but with a fascination such as no other object1 ,i had ever seen1 possessed4 ,there was a sudden cry4 ,the ,senora had darted ahead1 as if to clasp its handle and unloose the murderous blade that nestled in its three-sided sheath4 ,before she could reach it1 ,kennedy had seized her hand in his iron grasp1 while with the other he picked up the dagger4 ,they stood there gazing into each other's eyes4 ,then the ,senora burst into a hysterical laugh4 ,the curse is on all who possess it6 ,thank you1 smiled ,kennedy quietly1 releasing her wrist as he dropped the dagger into his pocket1 ,i am only the trustee4 ,,xxiv ,,the ,,police ,,dog ,craig faced us1 but there was no air of triumph in his manner4 ,i knew what was in his mind4 ,he had the dagger4 ,but he had lost ,inez4 ,what were we to do8 ,there seemed to be no way to turn4 ,we knew something of the manner of her disappearance4 ,at first she had1 apparently1 gone willingly4 ,but it was inconceivable that she stayed willingly1 now4 ,i recalled all the remarks that ,whitney had ever made about her4 ,had the truth come out in his jests8 ,was it ,inez1 not the dagger1 that he really wanted8 ,or was he merely the instrument of one or all of these people before us1 and was this an elaborate plan to throw ,kennedy off and prove an alibi for them8 ,he had been the partner of ,lockwood1 the intimate of de ,moche4 ,which was he working for1 now--or was he working for himself alone8 ,no answer came to my questions1 and ,i reflected that none would ever come1 if we sat here4 ,yet there seemed to be no way to turn1 without risking putting ourselves in a worse position than before4 ,at least1 until we had some better plan of campaign1 we occupied a strategic advantage in ,whitney's own house4 ,the hours of the night wore on4 ,midnight came4 ,this inaction was killing4 ,anything would be better than that4 ,suddenly the telephone startled us4 ,we had wanted it to ring1 yet when it rang we were afraid of it4 ,what was its message8 ,it was with palpitating hearts that we listened1 while ,craig answered4 ,yes1 ,burke1 we heard him reply1 this is ,kennedy4 ,there came a pause during which we could scarcely wait4 ,where are you now8 ,cold ,stream4 ,that is about twelve miles from ,rockledge--not on the ,new ,york road--the other road4 ,i see4 ,all right4 ,we'll be there4 ,yes1 wait for us4 ,as ,craig hung up the receiver1 we crowded forward4 ,have they found her8 asked ,lockwood hoarsely4 ,it was from ,burke1 replied ,kennedy deliberately4 ,he is at a place called ,cold ,stream1 twelve miles from here4 ,he tells me that we can find it easily--on a state road1 at a sharp curve that has been widened out1 just this side of the town4 ,there has been an accident--,whitney's car is wrecked4 ,lockwood seized his elbow4 ,my ,god1 he exclaimed1 tell me--she isn't--hurt1 is she8 ,quick6 ,so far ,burke has not been able to discover a trace of a thing1 except the wrecked car1 replied ,kennedy4 ,i told him ,i would be over directly4 ,lockwood1 you may take ,jameson and ,alfonso4 ,i will go with the ,senora and their driver4 ,i saw instantly why he had divided the party4 ,neither mother nor son was to have a chance to slip away from us4 ,surely both ,lockwood and ,i should be a match for ,alfonso4 ,senora de ,moche he would trust to none but himself4 ,eagerly now we prepared for the journey1 late though it was4 ,no one now had a thought of rest4 ,there could be no rest with that mystery of ,inez challenging us4 ,we were off at last1 ,lockwood's car leading1 for although he did not know the roads exactly1 he had driven much about the country4 ,i should have liked to have sat in front with him1 but it seemed safer to stay in the back with ,alfonso4 ,in fact1 ,i don't think ,lockwood would have consented1 otherwise1 to have his rival back of him4 ,kennedy and the ,senora made a strange pair1 the ancient order and the ultra-modern4 ,there was a peculiar light in her eyes that gleamed forth at the mere mention of the words1 wreck4 ,though she said nothing1 ,i knew that through her mind was running the one tenacious thought4 ,it was the working out of the curse6 ,as for ,craig1 he was always seeking the plausible1 natural reason for what to the rest of us was inexplicable1 often supernatural4 ,to him she was a fascinating study4 ,on we sped1 for ,lockwood was a good driver and now was spurred on by an anxiety that he could not conceal4 ,yet his hand never faltered at the wheel4 ,he seemed to read the signs at the cross-roads without slackening speed4 ,in spite of all that ,i knew1 ,i found myself compelled to admire him4 ,alfonso sat back1 for the most part silent4 ,the melancholy in his face seemed to have deepened4 ,he seemed to feel that he was but a toy in the hands of fate4 ,yet ,i knew that underneath must smoulder the embers of a bitter resentment4 ,it seemed an interminable ride even at the speed which we were making4 ,twelve miles in the blackness of a country night can seem like a hundred4 ,at last as we turned a curve1 and ,lockwood's headlights shone on the white fence that skirted the outer edge of the road as it swung around a hill that rose sharply to our left and dropped off in a sort of ravine at the right beyond the fence1 ,i felt the car tremble as he put on the brakes4 ,a man was waving his arms for us to stop1 and as we did1 he ran forward4 ,he peered in at us and ,i recognized ,burke4 ,whe-where's ,kennedy8 he asked1 disappointed1 for the moment fearing he had made a mistake and signalled the wrong car4 ,coming1 ,i replied1 as we heard the driver of the other car sounding his horn furiously as he approached the curve4 ,burke jumped to the safe side of the road and ran on back to signal to stop4 ,it was then for the first time that ,i paid particular attention to the fence ahead of us on which now both our own and the lights of the other car shone4 ,at one point it was torn and splintered1 as though something had gone through it4 ,great heavens1 you don't mean to say that they went over that8 muttered ,lockwood1 jumping down and running forward4 ,kennedy had joined us by this time and we all hurried over4 ,down in the ravine we could see a lantern which ,burke had brought and which was now resting on the overturned chassis of the car4 ,lockwood was down there ahead of us all1 peering under the heavy body fearfully1 as if he expected to see two forms of mangled flesh4 ,he straightened up1 then took the lantern and flashed it about4 ,there was nothing except cushions and a few parts of the car within the radius of its gleam4 ,where are they8 he demanded1 turning to us4 ,it's ,whitney's car1 all right4 ,burke shook his head4 ,i've traced the car so far4 ,they were getting ahead of me1 when this happened4 ,together we managed to right the car which was on a hillock4 ,it sank a little further down the hill1 but at least we could look inside it4 ,bring the lantern1 ordered ,kennedy4 ,minutely1 part by part1 he went over the car4 ,something went wrong1 he muttered4 ,it is too much wrecked to tell what it was4 ,flash the light over here1 he directed1 stepping over the seat into the back of the tonneau4 ,a moment later he took the light himself and held it close to the rods that supported the top4 ,i saw him reach down and pull from them a few strands of dark hair that had caught between the rods and had been pulled out or broken4 ,no need of ,bertillon's palette of human hair to identify that1 he exclaimed4 ,there isn't time to study it and if there were it would be unnecessary4 ,she was with him1 all right4 ,yes1 agreed ,lockwood4 ,but where is she now--where is he8 ,could they have been hurt1 picked up by some one and carried where they could get aid8 ,burke shook his head4 ,i inquired at the nearest house ahead4 ,i had to do it in order to telephone4 ,they knew nothing4 ,but they are gone1 persisted ,lockwood4 ,there is the bottom of the bank4 ,you can see that they are not here4 ,kennedy had taken the light and climbed the bank again and was now going over the road as minutely as if he were searching for a lost diamond4 ,look6 he exclaimed4 ,where the ,whitney car had skidded and gone over the bank1 the tires had dug deep into the top dressing1 making little mounds4 ,across them now we could see the tracks of other tires that had pressed down the mounds4 ,some one else has been here1 reconstructed ,kennedy4 ,he passed1 then stopped and backed up4 ,perhaps they were thrown out1 unconscious1 and he picked them up4 ,it seemed to be the only reasonable supposition4 ,but they knew nothing at the next house1 persisted ,burke4 ,is there a road leading off before you get to the house8 asked ,kennedy4 ,yes--it crosses the line into ,massachusetts4 ,it is worth trying--it is the only thing we can do1 decided ,kennedy4 ,drive slowly to the crossroads4 ,perhaps we can pick out the tire-prints there4 ,they certainly won't show on the road itself4 ,it is too hard4 ,at the crossing we stopped and ,kennedy dropped down on his hands and knees again with the light4 ,there it is1 he exclaimed4 ,the same make of anti-skid tire1 at least4 ,there was a cut in the rear tire--just like this4 ,see8 ,it is the finger-print of the motor car4 ,i think we are right4 ,turn up here and run slowly4 ,on we went slowly1 ,kennedy riding on the running-board of the car ahead4 ,suddenly he raised his hand to stop1 and jumped down4 ,we gathered about him4 ,had he found a continuation of the tire-tracks8 ,there were tracks but he was not looking at them4 ,he was looking between them4 ,there ran a thin line4 ,he stuck his finger in it and sniffed4 ,not gas1 he remarked4 ,it must have been the radiator1 leaking4 ,perhaps he ran his car into ,whitney's--forced it too far to the edge of the road4 ,we can't tell4 ,but he couldn't have gone far with that leak without finding water--or cracked cylinders4 ,with redoubled interest now we resumed the chase4 ,we had mounted a hill and had run down into the shadows of a valley when1 following in the second car1 we heard a shout from ,kennedy in the first4 ,halfway up the hill across the valley1 he had come upon an abandoned car4 ,it had evidently reached its limit1 the momentum of the previous hill had carried it so far up the other1 then the driver had stopped it and let it back slowly off the road into a clump of bushes that hid a little gully4 ,but that was all4 ,there was not a sign of a person about4 ,whatever had happened here had happened some hours before4 ,we looked about4 ,all was ,cimmerian darkness4 ,not a house or habitation of man or beast was in sight1 though they might not be far away4 ,we beat about the under-brush1 but succeeded in stirring up nothing but mosquitoes4 ,what were we to do8 ,we were wasting valuable time4 ,where should we go8 ,i doubt whether they would have kept on the road1 reasoned ,kennedy4 ,they must have known they would be followed4 ,the hardest place to follow them would be across country4 ,with a lantern8 ,i objected4 ,we can't do it4 ,kennedy glanced at his watch4 ,it will be three hours before there is light enough to see anything by1 he considered4 ,they have had at least a couple of hours4 ,five hours is too good a start4 ,burke--take one of the cars4 ,go ahead along the road4 ,we mustn't neglect that4 ,i'll take the other4 ,i want to get back to that house and call ,o' ,connor4 ,walter1 you stay here with the rest4 ,we separated and ,i felt that1 although ,i was doing nothing1 ,i had my hands full watching these three4 ,lockwood was restless and could not help beating around in the under-brush1 in the hope of turning up something4 ,now and then he would mutter to himself some threat if anything happened to ,inez4 ,i let him occupy himself1 for our own1 as much as his1 peace of mind4 ,alfonso had joined his mother in the car and they sat there conversing in low tones in ,spanish1 while ,i watched them furtively4 ,of a sudden1 ,i became aware that ,i missed the sound of ,lockwood beating about the under-brush4 ,i called1 but there was no answer4 ,then we all called4 ,there came back nothing but a mocking echo4 ,i could not follow him4 ,if ,i did1 ,i would lose the de ,moches4 ,had he been laying low1 waiting his opportunity to get away8 ,or was he playing a lone hand8 ,much as ,i suspected about him1 during the past few hours ,i had come to admire him4 ,i sent the de ,moche driver out to look for him1 but he seemed afraid to venture far1 and1 of course1 returned and said that he could not find him4 ,even in his getaway1 ,lockwood had been characteristic4 ,he had been strong enough to bide his time1 clever enough to throw every one off guard4 ,it put a new aspect on the case for me4 ,had ,whitney intended the capture of ,inez for ,lockwood8 ,had our coming so unexpectedly into the case thrown the plans awry and was it the purpose to leave them marooned at ,rockledge while we were shunted off in the city8 ,that1 too1 was plausible4 ,i wished ,kennedy would return before anything else happened4 ,it was not long by the clock before ,kennedy did return4 ,but it seemed ages to me4 ,he was not alone4 ,with him was a man in a uniform1 and a powerful dog1 for all the world like a huge wolf4 ,down1 ,searchlight1 he ordered1 as the dog began to show an uncanny interest in me4 ,let me introduce my new dog detective1 he chuckled4 ,she has a wonderful record as a police dog4 ,i got ,o',connor out of bed and he telephoned out to the nearest suburban station4 ,that saved a good deal of time in getting her up here4 ,i mustered up courage to tell ,kennedy of the defection of ,lockwood4 ,he did not seem to mind it especially4 ,he won't get far1 with the dog after him1 if we want to take the time1 he said4 ,she's a ,german sheep dog1 a ,schaeferhund4 ,searchlight seemed to have many of the characteristics of the wild1 prehistoric animal1 among them the full1 upright ears of the wild dog1 which are such a great help to it4 ,she was a fine1 alert1 upstanding dog1 hardy1 fierce1 and literally untiring1 of a tawny light brown like a lioness1 about the same size and somewhat of the type of the smooth-coated collie1 broad of chest and with a full brush of tail4 ,untamed as she seemed1 she was perfectly under ,kennedy's control and rendered him absolute and unreasoning obedience4 ,they took her over to the abandoned car4 ,there they let her get a good whiff of the bottom of the car about the driver's feet1 and a moment later she started off4 ,alfonso and his mother insisted on going with us and that made our progress across country slow4 ,on we went over the rough country1 through a field1 then skirting a clump of woods until at last we came to a lane4 ,we stopped in the shadow of a thicket4 ,there was an empty summer home4 ,was there some intruder there8 ,was it really empty8 ,now and then we could hear ,searchlight scouting about in the under-brush1 crouching and hiding1 watching and guarding4 ,we paused and waited in the heavily-laden night air1 wondering4 ,the soughing of the night wind in the evergreens was mournful4 ,did it betoken a further tragedy8 ,there was a slight noise from the other side of the house4 ,craig reached out and drew us back into the shadow of the thicket1 deeper4 ,some one is prowling about1 ,i think4 ,leave it to the dog4 ,searchlight1 who had been near us1 was sniffing eagerly4 ,from our hiding-place we could just see her4 ,she had heard the sounds1 too1 even before we had1 and for an instant stood with every muscle tense4 ,then1 like an arrow1 she darted into the underbrush4 ,an instant later1 the sharp crack of a revolver rang out4 ,searchlight kept right on1 never stopping a second1 except1 perhaps1 in surprise4 ,crack6 almost in her face came a second spit of fire in the darkness1 and a bullet crashed through the leaves and buried itself in a tree with a ping4 ,the intruder's marksmanship was poor1 but the dog paid no attention to it4 ,one of the few animals that show no fear of gun-fire1 muttered ,kennedy1 in undisguised admiration4 ,g-r-r-r1 we heard from the police dog4 ,she has made a leap at the hand that holds the gun1 cried ,kennedy1 now rising and moving rapidly in the same direction4 ,she has been taught that a man once badly bitten in the hand is nearly out of the fight4 ,we followed also4 ,as we approached we were just in time to see ,searchlight running in and out between the legs of a man who had heard us approach and was hastily making tracks away4 ,as he tripped1 the officer who brought her blew shrilly on a police whistle just in time to stop a fierce lunge at his back4 ,reluctantly1 ,searchlight let go4 ,one could see that with all her canine instinct she wanted to get that man4 ,her jaws were open1 as1 with longing eyes1 she stood over the prostrate form in the grass4 ,the whistle was a signal1 and she had been taught to obey unquestioningly4 ,don't move until we get to you1 or you are a dead man1 shouted ,kennedy1 pulling an automatic as he ran4 ,are you hurt8 ,there was no answer1 but1 as we approached1 the man moved1 ever so little1 through curiosity to see his pursuers4 ,searchlight shot forward4 ,again the whistle sounded and she dropped back4 ,we bent over to seize him1 as ,kennedy secured the dog4 ,she's a devil1 ground out the prone figure on the grass4 ,lockwood6 exclaimed ,kennedy4 ,,xxv ,,the ,,gold ,,of ,,the ,,gods ,what are you doing here8 demanded ,craig1 astonished4 ,i couldn't wait for you to get back4 ,i thought ,i'd do a little detective work on my own account4 ,i kept getting further and further away1 knew you'd find me1 anyhow4 ,but ,i didn't think you'd have a brute like that1 he added1 binding up his hand ruefully4 ,is there any trace of ,inez8 ,not yet4 ,why did you pick out this house8 asked ,kennedy1 still suspicious4 ,i saw a light here1 ,i thought1 answered ,lockwood frankly4 ,but as ,i approached1 it went out4 ,maybe ,i imagined it4 ,let us see4 ,kennedy spoke a few words to the man with the dog4 ,he slipped the leash1 with a word that we did not catch1 and the dog bounded off1 around the house1 as she was accustomed to do when out on duty with an officer in the city suburbs1 circling about the backs of houses as the man on the beat walked the street4 ,she made noise enough about it1 too1 tumbling over a tin pail that had been standing on the back porch steps4 ,bang6 ,some one was in the house and was armed4 ,in the darkness he had not been able to tell whether an attack was being made or not1 but had taken no chances4 ,at any rate1 now we knew that he was desperate4 ,i thought of all the methods ,kennedy had adopted to get into houses in which the inmates were desperate4 ,but always they had been about the city where he could call upon the seemingly exhaustless store of apparatus in his laboratory4 ,here we were faced by the proposition with nothing to rely on but our native wit and a couple of guns4 ,besides1 ,i did not know whether to count on ,lockwood as an ally or not4 ,my estimation of him had been rising and falling like the barometer in a summer shower4 ,i had been convinced that he was against us4 ,but his manner and plausibility now equally convinced me that ,i had been mistaken4 ,i felt that it would take some supreme action on his part to settle the question4 ,that crisis was coming now4 ,i think all of us would willingly have pushed ,alfonso forward4 ,but the relations of the de ,moches with ,whitney had been so close that ,i no more trusted him than ,i did ,lockwood4 ,and if ,i could not make out ,lockwood1 a man at least of our own race and education1 how could ,i expect to fathom ,alfonso8 ,it seemed1 then1 to rest with ,kennedy and myself4 ,at least so ,craig appraised the situation4 ,you have a gun1 ,walter1 he directed1 ,lockwood1 give yours to ,jameson4 ,lockwood hesitated4 ,could he trust being unarmed1 while ,kennedy and ,i had all the weapons8 ,craig had not stopped to ask ,alfonso4 ,as he laid out the attack he merely tapped the young man's pockets to see whether he was armed or not1 and finding nothing faced us again1 ,lockwood still hesitating4 ,i want ,walter1 explained ,craig1 to go around back of the house4 ,it is there they must be expecting an attack4 ,he can take up his position behind that oak4 ,it will be safe enough4 ,by firing one gun on each side of the tree he can make enough noise for half a dozen4 ,then you and ,i can rush the front of the house4 ,lockwood had nothing better to suggest4 ,reluctantly he handed over his revolver4 ,i dropped back from them and skirted the house at a safe distance so as not to be seen1 then came up back of the tree4 ,carefully ,i aimed at the glass of a window on the first floor1 as offering the greatest opportunity for making a racket1 which was the object ,i had in mind4 ,i fired from the right and the glass was shattered in a thousand bits4 ,another shot from the left broke the light out of another window on the opposite side4 ,the house was a sort of bungalow1 with most of the rooms on the first floor1 and a small second story or attic window4 ,that went next4 ,altogether ,i felt that ,i was giving a splendid account of myself4 ,from the house came a rapid volley in reply4 ,whoever was in there was not going to surrender without a fight4 ,one after another ,i plugged away with my shots1 now bent on making the most of them4 ,with the answering shots it made quite a merry little fusillade1 and ,i was glad enough to have the shelter of the staunch oak which two or three times was hit squarely at about the level of my shoulders4 ,i had never before heard the whirr of so many bullets about me1 and ,i cannot say that ,i enjoyed it4 ,but my attack was what ,craig wanted4 ,i heard a noise in the front of the house1 as of feet running1 and then ,i knew that in spite of all he had given me the least dangerous part of the attack4 ,i plugged away valiantly with what shots ,i had left1 then leaving just one more in the chamber of each gun1 ,i hurried around in the shadow1 my blood up1 to help them4 ,with the aid of the officer1 they had just forced the light door and ,searchlight had been allowed to leap in ahead of them1 as ,i came up4 ,here1 ,i said to ,lockwood1 handing him back his gun1 take it1 there is just one shot left4 ,i1 at least1 had expected to find one1 perhaps two desperate men waiting for us4 ,evidently our ruse had worked4 ,the room was dark1 but there seemed to be no one in it1 though we could hear sounds as though some one were hastily barricading the door that led from the front to the room at which ,i had been firing4 ,lockwood struck a match4 ,confound it1 don't6 muttered ,craig1 knocking it from his hand4 ,they can see us well enough without helping them4 ,chester6 ,we stood transfixed4 ,it was a woman's voice4 ,where did it come from8 ,could she be in the room8 ,chester--is that you8 ,yes1 ,inez4 ,where are you8 ,i ran up here--in this attic--when ,i heard the shots4 ,come down1 then4 ,all is right1 now4 ,she came down a half ladder1 half flight of steps4 ,at the foot she paused just a moment and hesitated4 ,then1 like a frightened bird1 she flew to the safety of ,lockwood's arms4 ,mr4 ,whitney1 she sobbed1 called me up and told me that he had something very important to say1 a message from you4 ,he said that he had the dagger1 in his safe1 up in the country4 ,he told me you'd be there and that you expected me to come up with him in his car4 ,i went4 ,we had some trouble with the engine4 ,and then that other car--the one that followed us1 came up behind and forced us off the bank4 ,mr4 ,whitney and ,i were both stunned4 ,i don't remember a thing after that1 until ,i woke up here4 ,where is it8 ,i listened1 with one eye on that door that had been barricaded4 ,was ,lockwood really innocent1 after all8 ,i could not think that ,inez ,mendoza could make such a mistake1 if he were not4 ,lockwood clenched his fists4 ,some one shall pay for this1 he exclaimed4 ,there was the problem--the inner room4 ,who would go in8 ,we looked at each other a moment4 ,the room in which we were was a living room1 and perhaps1 when there were visitors in the little house1 was a guest-room4 ,at any rate1 on one side was a huge davenport by day which could be transformed into a folding bed at night4 ,lockwood looked about hastily and his eye fell on the door1 then on this folding bed4 ,with a wrench1 he opened it and seized the cotton mattress from the inside4 ,with his gun ready he advanced toward the barricaded door1 holding the mattress as a shield1 for his experience in wild countries had taught him that a cotton mattress is about as good a thing to stop bullets as one could find on the spur of the moment4 ,kennedy and the officer followed just behind1 and the three threw their weights on the door almost before we knew what they were about4 ,chester--don't6 cried ,inez in alarm1 too late4 ,he'll--kill you6 ,the excitement had been too much for her4 ,she reeled1 fainting1 and ,i caught her4 ,before ,i could restore the davenport to something like its original condition so that we could take care of her1 the first onslaught was over4 ,three guns were sticking their blue noses into the darkness of the next room4 ,hands up6 shouted ,craig1 ,drop your gun6 ,let me hear it fall6 ,there followed a thud and ,kennedy1 followed by ,lockwood and the officer entered4 ,as they fumbled to strike a light1 ,i managed to open a window and let in some fresh air1 while the ,senora1 for once human1 loosened the throat of ,inez' dress and fanned her4 ,through the open door1 now1 ,i could hear what was going on in the next room1 but could not see4 ,it was you1 ,lockwood1 ,i heard a familiar voice accusing1 who was in the ,museum the night the dagger disappeared4 ,yes1 replied ,lockwood1 a bit disdainfully4 ,i suspected something crooked about that dagger4 ,i thought that if ,i made a copy of the inscription on the blade1 ,i might decipher it myself1 or get some one to do it for me4 ,i went in and1 when a chance came1 ,i hid in the sarcophagus4 ,there ,i waited until the ,museum was closed4 ,then1 when finally ,i got to the place where ,i thought the dagger was--it was gone6 ,the point is1 cut in ,craig1 interrupting1 who was the mysterious visitor to ,mendoza the night of his murder8 ,he paused4 ,no one seemed to be disposed to answer and he went on1 ,who else than the man who sought to sell the secret on its blade1 in return for ,inez for whom he had a secret passion8 ,i have reasoned it all out--the offer1 the quarrel1 the stabbing with the dagger itself1 and the escape down the stairs1 instead of by the elevator4 ,and ,i1 put in ,lockwood1 coming to report to ,mendoza my failure to find the dagger1 found him dead--and at once was suspected of being the murderer6 ,inez had revived and her quick ears had caught her lover's voice and the last words4 ,weak as she was1 she sprang up and fairly ran into the next room4 ,no--,chester--,no6 she cried4 ,i never suspected--not even when ,i saw the shoe-prints4 ,no--that is the man1--there--,i know it--,i know it6 ,i hurried after her1 as she flung herself again between ,lockwood and the rest of us1 as if to shield him1 while ,lockwood proudly caressed the stray locks of dark hair that fluttered on his shoulder4 ,i looked in the direction all were looking4 ,before us stood1 unmasked at last1 the scientific villain who had been plotting and scheming to capture both the secret and ,inez--well knowing that suspicion would rest either on ,lockwood1 the soldier of fortune1 or on the jealous ,indian woman whose son had been rejected and whose brother he had himself already1 secretly1 driven to an insane suicide in his unscrupulous search for the treasure of ,truxillo4 ,it was ,professor ,norton1 himself--first thief of the dagger which later he had hidden but which ,whitney's detectives had stolen in turn from him2 writer of anonymous letters1 even to himself to throw others off the trail2 maker of stramonium cigarettes with which to confuse the minds of his opponents1 ,whitney1 ,mendoza1 and the rest2 secret lover of ,inez whom he demanded as the price of the dagger2 and murderer of ,don ,luis4 ,senora de ,moche and ,alfonso1 behind me1 could only gasp their astonishment4 ,much as she would have liked to have the affair end in a general vindication of the curse she could not control a single1 triumphant thrust4 ,his blood1 she cried1 transfixing ,norton with her stern eyes1 has cried out of ,titicaca for vengeance from that day to this6 ,want any help8 ,we all turned toward the door as ,burke1 dust-covered and tired1 stamped in1 followed by a man whose face was bandaged and bloody4 ,i heard shots4 ,is it all over8 ,but we paid no attention to ,burke4 ,there was ,whitney1 considerably banged up by the fall1 but lucky to be alive4 ,i tried to shake him1 he explained1 catching sight of ,norton4 ,but he stuck to us1 even on our detours4 ,finally he grew desperate--forced my car off the road4 ,what happened after that1 ,i don't know4 ,he must have carried me some miles1 insensible1 and dumped me in the bushes again4 ,i was several miles up the hill1 tramping along1 looking for a road-house1 when this gentleman found me and said ,i had gone too far4 ,senora de ,moche turned from ,lockwood and ,inez who were standing1 oblivious to the rest of us1 and stared at ,whitney's bruised and battered face4 ,it is the curse1 she muttered4 ,it will never-- ,just a moment1 interrupted ,craig1 drawing the dagger from his pocket1 and turning toward ,inez4 ,it was to your ancestor that the original possessor of the secret promised to give the 'big fish1' when he was killed4 ,he paused and handed the dagger to her4 ,she touched it shuddering1 but as though it were a duty4 ,take it1 he said simply4 ,the secret is yours4 ,only love can destroy the curse on the ,gold of the ,gods4 ,,the ,,end