The Gold of the Gods

e robbery, Kennedy. They took the very thing I t

ch excited as he dropped into Crai

like Kennedy. Already, however, he had made for himself a place as

on. "But, once in, that they should take the most valuable relic I brought back with me on this las

is gone?" qu

ere engraved some curious Inca characters. I wasn't able to take the time to decipher them, down there, for the age of the metal made them almost illegible. But now that I have all m

y assented Craig. "I'd lik

aimed Norton, heartily del

mind and a disposition to make the most of everything, no matter how slight. Indeed that had been his history, I knew. He had come to college a couple of years before Kennedy and myself, almost penniless, and had worked his way through by do

a building, by the way, which Norton had persuaded several wealthy trustees and other donors to erect. K

ry with quaint grecques and hieroglyphic painting from Mitla, copper axes and pottery from Cuzco, sculptured stones and mosaics, jugs, cups, va

ve selected one, apparently insignificant, dagger, the thing which Norton prized because

bery, and he turned his attention at last to other parts of the Museum. As he made his way about slowly, I noted that he

wall, was a mummy case. To me, even now, the thing had a creepy look. Craig pushed aside the stone lid irreverently and gazed keenly into the uncan

emarked, rising to his feet and fac

ost undiscernible marks in a thin layer of

ing, hid here. He must have stayed until the place was locked up at night. Then he could rob at his leisure, onl

lon. Every make of shoes has its own peculiarities, both in the number and the arrangement of the nails. Offhand, however, I should say that these shoes were American-made-though that, of course, does not necessarily mean that an American wore them. I may even be a

" I heard Norton hint, as I left. He had been wat

. "I have some specially prepared paper that will tak

ould, and Kennedy bent to the

might have an object

d, when he h

connected with it," he replied. "It had a three-sided blade, and, as I t

nough that the thief must have let himself out of a side door which had a spring lock on it and closed itself. No

ures, some of which were even intrinsically valuable for the metal and precious stones in them. The whole affair seemed so strange to me, however,

haeologist, Kennedy and I

wered, and it happened to be a call for me. It was the editor of the Star endeavouring

laimed, hanging up the

t to go out on

errupting his own train of investigatio

tment on Central Park, West, I believe. L

an influential Peruvian, a man of affairs in his country, and an accomplished sc

hink I'll go, too, Walter," he decided. "You wo

some assistance to them

y, as

usive sections of the city. We jumped out and entered, succeeding in making our way to the sixth floor, where Mendoza lived, without inter

ed themselves there, terrible as an army with concealed pads and pencils. From one of the mornin

or Norton's acquaintance with the Mendozas and the Spanish tongue, we f

passed through hurriedly. She paused in the middle of the room as she saw us and eyed u

to the rescue. "I ho

owed in perfect

ried in English, recognizing him. "I'm s

oned a daughter who might prove to be an interesting and important figure in th

might have been pardoned for admiring. Her soft olive skin, masses of dark hair, and lustrous, almost voluptuous, eyes contrasted wonderfully with the finely chiselled lines of

ou have heard, no doubt. This is his assistant, Mr. Jameson, of the Star. I thought perhaps they might stand between you and that crowd in the hall," he added, motioning toward the reporters

hat had been, at least temporarily, home. She seemed to be seeking some one on whom to lean, as

ried. "What shall I do? Oh

tic and appealing figure as she

ere reading our souls. Then, instinctively almost, she turned to Kennedy. Kennedy s

" she queried. "You can r

we are able to use the vast knowledge of wise men the world over to help those in trouble. Tell me-everything," he s

lmost before she knew it, apparently, she began t

d, all that you know, how you

the living room and wanted to see me, must see me. I dressed hurriedly, for it came to me that something must be the matter. I think I must have come ou

but did not, evidently could

n ugly wound in his side. I screamed and fell on my knees beside him.

er dainty lace handkerchief, though the impul

or into the hall open, and entered. No one seemed to be about; but t

ld not go on at all

d, who is he?" a

e," she replied, trying to speak in good English in spite of he

e land of the north she had no idea of which way to turn

ht he was-what you call-mad. I should have gone to see a doctor about him," she added wildly, her feelings getting the better of her. "But

, in her pleading, soft, musical voice, which was far more

ed for their beauty and melodious voices. S

ep-brown eyes, and her thin, delicate lips tre

"For days all he had talked about was the 'big fish,' the pe

Norton, who had started to ask her a question, could speak, she excused herself and fled from the ro

the den opened and we saw our friend Dr. Leslie. H

shook hands and introduced Norton. "And Jameson, too? Well

ss the living room and into the

who was here last night. He seems to be off his post a good deal when it is late. He saw Mr. Lockwood come in, and took him in the elevator up to the sixth floor. After that we can find nothing but the open door into the apartment. It is not at all impossible that some one might have come in

ouch on which lay the b

drew down

a deep, almost purple, discoloration. The muscles were all tense and rigid. I shall neve

hy brows. Even in death, barring that horrible look, he was rather distinguished-looking, and his

ms to be something else here, too. Look at the pupils of his eyes, how contracted they are. The lungs seem congested, too. He has all the marks of having been asphyxiated. Yet there are no indications on his throat of vi

for several minutes, while we stood back of him, scarcel

und and transfer them to a very small test-tube which he carried in a li

Norton?" he asked finally, without l

he secret of pressing the hilt in a certain way. The outside triangu

escribed the Inca dagger, looked f

quietly. "We have a clue to your missi