The Gold of the Gods

w, had become allied in

talists, headed

was well known as an intensely practical man, though far ab

was promoting trade through the canal between the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America. He had spent a good deal of money promoting friendship between men of affairs and wea

verse to talking about

we rode

. "As a patron of art and letters, you know, a man can carry through

I reflected, it was astute in the man to insure the cooperation of such people as Norton. A few th

red a tall skyscraper on Wall Street just around the corner from Broadway and shot up in the

t Lockwood was still there. He g

introducing us to Whitney, "friends of Professor No

ir," returned Whitney, shaking hands

rs and turned the remark asi

m the congested veins. His voice alone commanded respect, whether he said anything worth while or not. In fact

ger which he brought back from his last expedition," explained Kennedy, end

with a lot of other important finds. But I had no idea he set such a value on it-or, rather, that any one else might do so. It would have been easy to hav

former cavalier manner of dismissing all consideration of ancient Inca

myself," remarked Kennedy, a few minutes later, "tho

ced for the first time that his eyes s

a trifle staring, and I co

must know of the ruins of Chan-Chan

and the legend of the great fis

his hobby with him. His eyes by this time were apparently starting from their s

continued, reaching for a large box of ci

archaeology. He rose and mumbled an excuse abo

himself back in his chair. "I am deeply interested in it-its mines, its railro

typewriter desk that stood in a corner of the office, left open by the stenographer, who had gone. He took two

inches from the door into the outer office and scattered a few o

his hands, I saw his foot fall on the dou

n and began pick

remarked Whitney brusq

of our interests l

e bent over it. His real attention was on the paper which he had placed on the

. I puffed mine for a moment. There was a peculiar taste about it, however, which I did not exactly like. In

out, and, after a puff or two, I did the same. For the sake of my own comfort, I drew one of my own from

sts in the country, too, didn't they?" queried Kenned

ned Whitney.

me Lockwood's vo

where you and Mendoza

aw a smile of gratification cross Kennedy's face

up the sheets. But before he could actually do so Kenn

ed up his action, turning to

Quickly he pressed his thumb-nail on one side, as though making a rough "W," while on the other

ately, neither Whitney nor L

d him that Lockwood's eyes, too, were a trifle

"your concessions are all about

and made several cross-marks over the

posed to work," he said simply, "befo

about the opportunities for fortunes for persons in South America. Peru has been the Mecca for fortune hunters since the days of Pizarro. But where one person has been succes

s not a possible investor. But Whitney had the true promoter's instinct of booming hi

ng in Peru. But that is not the scheme that our group, including Mr. Lockwood now, has. We are going to make more millions than they ever

ecoming infected by

ely, while a frown of disappro

et of the hiding-place

dy ab

d from the natives, I think we can locate it with the expenditure of comparatively little time and money. Senor Mendoza has obtained the

e subject. In fact, it left me in doubt as to whether Whitney himself might not have been bluffing, 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 it, apparently, i

er name, I knew from his very tone and manner that it was Senorita de Me

rd him say. "Nothing has changed. I shall be up to

hough he were keeping anything from the Senorita, but as though

he ash-tray on Whitney's desk. Once I saw Craig cast a quick glance at the tray, and I un

ich Norton brought bac

y of W

unpacked," he replied easily. "He brought back a

rapped into betraying it. I had an idea that Lockwood was interested in knowing that fact, too. At any rate, one could not

et away and, with a hasty

th Senorita de Mendoza," he said, taki

the outer office, his arm on his shoulder, con

ckly and swept the contents of the ash-tray, cigarette stubs, ashes, and all, into an empty envelope which was lyi

orita are on intimate terms," hazar

indeed. And Lockwood is a lucky dog, too. Such eyes,

that did not ring true his admiration for the unfortunate girl was genuine

I suppose, with a Sen

n, taking a

with her. She was an acquaintance of old Mendoza's-a woman of the world, c

tted Craig, "but her s

ersi

Whitney. "A fine fellow-but

d risen, and was moving deliberately up and down the office, his thumbs in h

em a race for that girl. She is the greatest treasure that has ever come out of

had rise

tney, as we moved toward the door. "It seems to have worried Norton considerabl

ch with his patron, but Kennedy di

ed. "I suppose I may count on y

hall to the elevator. "I shall back Norton in anything he

s to the whereabouts of the dagger, but the source of the four war

oned to a pa

rd Albert," he d