The Gold of the Gods
Kennedy, a few minutes later, as with Dr. Leslie and Professor Nor
whether the young lady was able to stand the strain of anothe
g hands with us. "I shall keep you informed, also, from my end. That pois
r closed, "was one word for me and two for himself. I can do the work; he wants to
red her composure that she was able
," apologized Kennedy, "but if I am to get a
-puzzled, and, I fancie
ll you-of course,
nemies who might desir
lmost with
then adding hastily: "Of course, you know, no one who tri
"was there any one who, for reasons best known to himself, might have murdere
he really knew. I got the impression from it, at least, that she was holding back s
ng the line of Kennedy's questioni
, her maid, Juanita, a very pretty girl of
spered, but not so low
im to come in, N
ch stronger than any about New York. As I took his appraisal, I found him unmistakably of the type of American sold
all in turn, "let me introduce Mr. Lockwood, my father's
engineer, for such he proved to be by ostensible profession, was
he remarked, as they shook hands. "Perh
rton, returning the pen
New York,
ure you are able to stand the strain of th
the fraction of an inch, as if to call attention to t
"I must," she sai
ed and did not relish an ai
Mendoza last night?" queried Kennedy, as if to read th
ay more than she could bear. "Yes. I came up here to report on some financial matters which interested both of us, very late, perhaps after midnight. I was abou
uch for Inez. She suppressed a little convulsive sob
suspicions?" pursued Kennedy. "No bottle, no g
m. "No," he answered; "I have told Dr. Leslie just what I found. If there had been anyth
t get over the feeling that he, as well as Inez, was not telling quite all he k
way. "You saw no weapon-a dag
the question. "Not a thing," he said deliberately. "I looked about carefully, t
elf to answer the telephone, while we stood
rita has mentioned?" asked Kennedy, seeing a cha
ich he had lighted the moment Inez left the room, as though such stories had no i
ot hostility, and I fancied that Norton, on his part, neglecte
now that there is treasure in that great old Chimu mound near Truxillo. Don Luis has the government conce
lection of his voice showed plainly that it was n
supplied Norton, gazing keenly into
was evident that that had been the
rita to the room seeme
hether to admit a visitor who comes with his sympathy." Then she turned from us to Lo
young man came in. Almost in silence he advanced to Inez and took he
hastened around to tell you how much I fee
the sentence. It was unnecessar
ad was high, with a shock of straight black hair, his skin rather copper-coloured, nose slightly aquiline,
re acquainted with Mr. de Moche, Professor Norton?" she asked.
ng man in a manner that plainly disconcerted h
it be that Senorita Mendoza had some antipathy which did not include the son? Though we did not seem to be making much progress in this way in solving the mystery, still I felt that before we could go a
ennedy?" she add
pus," said Craig, as I, too, shook hands with h
who was, however, considerably older than
to watch the faces of
e Moche it seemed that
ed each other with de
o be alternately wa
uld, with a parting interchange of frigid formalities with Lockwood. It did not take much of a detective to deduce that both of the young
ieved at his departure, though she had been cord
cted at Norton than at us. Once before I had thought he was on the point of excusing himself,
know," he added, "but I have a very important appointment. You know Don Luis and I were assisting in organizing the campaign of Stuart Whitney to interest American manufacturers, and particularly bankers, in the ch
," returned K
ng up this dreadful thing," went on Lockwood, in a
ith a significant glance. "I m
eiterated, bowing to Norton
Mendoza, Kennedy turne
ked. "I gather that yo
ru
then adding, as if by way of confession,
ne to believe that she had only the kindliest feelings toward de
y the hand. "I must go now," he said simply. "If there is
ng," she
else," he persisted, "don't hesitate to tell me. I will come here
ousand times for the trouble you are going to in
over. I noticed also that Norton, though considerably older than any of
you," he promised. "You can
rmured. "You are all so
t a friend in all th
eel that I am not
but it was really mea
lings. It was a rare pl
ative of anything that
less po
he apartment house an
first to speak
these men, Lockwood and de Moch
ied cautiously. "I-I'd much pre
dy. "Have you no suspicions of w
talk of mere suspic
t the campus and at last drew up
d Kennedy, as we parted. "Your dagger seems to have stirred up more tr
e interest you have shown in its recovery. If anything else
tuart Whitney was a trustee of the University who had contributed heavily, among other things, to Norton's various expeditions to South America. Was it
recurred to me. "Well," I remarked, as we walked along, "
plied Craig abstracte