Adventure, December 1914 — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

28 though, these letters seem to be the most important thing.” Kennedy shoved over to me the copy, as he had made it out, of another of the letters. “Tt is to Sanchez and arrived only today, after being delayed and crossing the ocean twice in order to get past our blockade down in Mexico. I think you will find that suf- ficiently interesting.”’ The letter read, being written evidently from Mexico City: According to rumors that reach me here in the capital, my friend Sefior Alvarez will be in New York probably by the time you receive this. He will undoubtedly call on you and I know that you will treat him with every courtesy. He has been deeply in the confidence of the Government and has traveled all over as a confidential agent. Just before he went to the Northern States, he was in the capital, having completed a tour of the Southern States to ascertain the true state of public senti- ment. It is about that that I wish to write. While down there he passed through Mitla some months ago where he met a Professor Neumeyer. It is rumored that Neumeyer has succeeded in smuggling out of the country a very important stone which bears an inscription. I do not know, but depend on you to look into the matter and to let me know whether there is anything in it. According to the story, Neumeyer took advantage of the disturbed situation down in Oaxaca. Of course, aS you know, the inscription, if there is one,” is really the possession of the Government. You will find that Sefior Alvarez, in addition to being a man of affairs, is a learned antiquarian and scholar. Like many others down here now, he has a high regard for the Japanese. As you know, there exists a natural sympathy between some Mexicans and Japanese, owing to what is believed to be a com- mon origin of our two races. Senor Alvarez has been much interested and, I am told, is engaged ina special study of the subject. In spite of the assertions of many to the contrary there is little doubt left in the minds of students that the Indian races which have peopled Mexico were of Mongolian stock. Many words in some dialects are easily understood by Chincse immigrants. A secre- tary of the Japanese Legation here was able recently to decipher old Mixtec inscriptions found in the ruins of Mitla. Senor Alvarez has been much interested in the relationship and, I understand, is acquainted with a Japanese curio-dealer in New York, named Nichi Moto, who wishes to collaborate with him on a monograph on the subject. If he publishes it, it is expected to have a powerful effect on public opinion both here and in Japan. In regard to the inscription which Neumeyer has taken with him, I rely on you to keep me informed. I do not know its character, but it may interest either Colonel Sinclair or the Japanese. In either case you can see how important it may be, especially in view of the forthcoming mission of General Francisco to Tokyo. Very sincerely yours, EMILIO NOGALES, Director. Adventure As I finished reading I turned quickly to Kennedy. : ‘‘Some one down at that Mexican cabaret knows more about the death of Neumeyer than appears on the surface,’”’ I remarked. ‘‘What do you suppose the inscription really was about?” “Well,” considered Kennedy thoughtful- ly, ‘‘“Mexico is full of historical treasure. As you might gather from the letter, the Government, to all intents and purposes, says to the scientist, ‘Come and dig.’’ And then when he finds anything, the Govern- ment steps in and seizes the finds for its own national museum. The finder never gets a chance to keep his discoveries. It isn’t difficult to see that Neumeyer thought that this was the time to smuggle something out of the country.” ‘Rather a dangerous proceeding, evi- dently,’’ I remarked, thinking of the tragedy. that had overtaken the savant. “Yes, even now it could not be done with- out exciting all kinds of rumors and sus- picions.”’ Kennedy read over the letter again. “What do you suppose the inscription was about?”’ I asked. “T can only guess,” he answered after a bit. ‘You recall the remark we overheard Neumeyer make the night we saw him and the letter Colonel Sinclair read us?” I nodded. “You have read of the wealth that Cor- tez found during his conquest of Mexico?”’ Kennedy went on. “Did it ever occur to you what had become of the gold and silver of the conquistadores?”’ ‘“‘“Gone to the melting-pot, centuries ago,” IT replied. “Yes,” he argued. left?”’ He paused. “The Indians believe so. Sinclair be- lieves so. That, in my opinion, accounts in large measure for his interest in archeolo- gy of the brand that Neumeyer practised.”’ “True,” I agreed. ‘‘Sinclair is above all a practical man.” Kennedy looked at me abstractedly. “There are persons,” he resumed, “who would stop at nothing—not even at the murder of German-American savants—mur- der of their own colleagues—to get such a secret.” He had risen and was pacing the labora- tory, thinking aloud. “But is there none COMmiclboo® (©