Adventure Magazine Cover — page 82: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

838 tive he could have done so a year or so ago,” he answered, “and it may be that he can now. We can’t do him any harm, in any event, by trying. You see, this illness has pretty well bowled him over. Nervous collapse, with spinal neurosis threatening in bf ie background—overwork, nothing else. Why, the mere fact of his being an authority on such matters as these gives you an idea why he went to smash—he, the president of one of the largest railroad systems in the country, burning the midnight oil when he should have been playing bumble-puppy or going to bed.” This was the first clue that had as yet been offered to Stuart on the personality of any of his new acquaintances. In spite of his dislike of appearing curious, he could not resist the question: ‘So Mr. Lee is a railroad man?” “Was,” corrected Berwind regretfully. ““That’s where he made his millions—Presi- dent of the C. L. & Q., David R. Lee—it was he who engineered that big consolida- tion deal with the Eastern Shore five years ago and played horse with Wall Street.” Mark nodded. ‘‘Yes,”’ he said, “I re- member reading of it. If I had heard his full name, I should have recognized it, of course.” | “Then,” continued the other man, “he came home and crumpled up like a Japan- ese lantern. His wife was dead, and every- thing came on poor little Miss Nora. Ifyou could imagine what she has been through!” His weather-beaten face sparkled with a sudden generous enthusiasm. ‘By the Lord Harry, Stuart, that little girl’s a brick!” Stuart suddenly halted. ‘I say,” he said, ‘‘I’m going on to Hecla to-day. I’d forgotten about it.” Perhaps Berwind caught the connection, perhaps not. But he laughed cheerfully. “You can’t go away from observation now, old man, with virus in your arm. It’s a mean advantage to take of you, but you can’t deny you have plenty to interest you here.” ““There’s not a dull moment in the piece,”’ said Stuart. “But I really must go.” “T was quite professionally serious when I said you should not,” said Berwind sharply. “Really? Good heavens, man!” Stuart started forward. ‘‘Really,”’ he repeated stupidly. ‘“‘Good heavens!” Adventure . LATER, when he found that Miss # Lee had gone back to the yacht, he was immeasurably relieved,. and when they had given the bell an antiseptic and sandy bath, and the three of them were deep in its amazing revelations, he forgot her completely and was quite happy. Mr. Lee was in high spirits. gone to find a stronger pair of glasses in his ulster pocket, and Stuart and Berwind with the bell before them on the table were lunching in hearty boy-fashion as_ they bent eager heads together over the heavy lump of metal-work. excitedly, “‘here about the rim, in this beautiful gold-inlaid chasing, is the original dedication of the monastery itself. It is as plain as print. So much of the old Los S story is true, at all events!” Berwind traced the ancient letters an his finger. ‘‘Carolus magnus—yes, old Charlemagne himself, just as she said. Dez —Archangeli—to the glory of God and the Archangel. Upon my word it begins to look as though there were something in that Viking tale, for who else could have brought old Charlemagne himself all the way up here to Iceland?”’ ‘Here is another bit that I have man- aged to make out,” said Stuart breath- lessly. ‘These lines cut deep in the trans- verse of this hollow cross—good church Latin, it seems to me, though I will own that Latin is not my strong point. But see if we agree. What do you make of this?”’ Again their heads bent together. —judi—what letter is that?” ““C,”? answered Stuart, ‘‘I make it, and an af 39 “ Judicatur. with quickening interest. Exe — ““Condem.,’”’ prompted Stuart eagerly. Their eyes met. ‘Whe-ew!” whistled Berwind. Stuart nodded. ‘The identical words of the curse we heard last night!’ said he. “Begins to look as.though we might be warm, doesn’t it? And see, as it goes on, what do you make of these next words? £t—oratio—isn’t that oratio, prayer?” Berwind nodded. ‘ Ejus—fiat—in— pecc.—peccatum, that stands for, eh?”’ “Let his very prayer become sin!” said Stuart in a low voice. ‘‘Look here, you can call me a romantic donkey if you like, but “Cum That is it! cried Berwind : “And the next? C© He had ““See!”’ said Stuart - Ebooks ©