Adventure, December 1914 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

The Stolen War Secret the time being it may seem very clever. True or not,’ he concluded, “‘in this case, at least, it has ended in disaster for those very persons who thought it most clever.” All the stories I had read of the plotting and counter-plotting against the United States swept through my mind. I wonder- ed just how much truth there was in them. That they were mere inventions seemed now inconceivable. ‘Professor Neumeyer, scholar and gentle- man, scarcely knew the depths to which some can descend to debauch science. While he was working on problems that were, it may be, tinged a little bit with the inevitable commercialism of the age, -he knew nothing of the subtle forces at work under the surface—and the result was that he lost his life because he stood in the way of one whose avarice and race pride stopped at nothing.” upon Alvarez. ‘You, Alvarez!’ he accused. ‘“You thought you were playing an astute game. But even such masters of intrigue as you can be undone by those who are literally steeped in the fountain of intrigue in the Orient. Only modern science and American common sense in its application have foiled those who have beaten you, almost under your eyes, at your own game.” Kennedy had been rising to a higher and higher pitch of excitement as he proceeded with the untangling of this remarkable case. He had come at last to the point where he could finish it up with a flourish, like the crack of a whip. “Unless I am totally mistaken,” he shot out suddenly, “it was under the seductive influence of these supposed friends of yours —in this very alcove—that Valcour was in- veigled, entertained with a cup or two of sakt, drugged, robbed of the precious plans which she had determined to hand over to her real lover, poisoned and sent forth with just time enough to reach her hotel and die under circumstances that threw suspicion HOH KENNEDY stopped and turned full far away from Nichi Moto’s curio-shop. Come—let us see if I am right! I have ta- ken my time in this manner for a purpose.”’ Kennedy had sprung suddenly toward the stairs into the basement, up which we had seen Otaka come when he had brought us the sakz. We stumbled down after him. The door at the foot of the steps was closed, but not locked. Craig opened it cautiously. It was pitch dark in spite of the bright sunshine outside now. We entered gingerly. We had not proceeded a step before, on the floor, I saw vaguely two dark heaps. My foot touched one of them. It yielded in a most uncanny way. I drew back in in- stinctive horror at the mere feel of it. It was the body of a man! KENNEDY struck a light, and, as we looked, we could discern within its circle of illumination a ghastly scene. “Hari-kiril”’ Craig ejaculated. ‘‘While we talked upstairs, they must have realized that they were discovered and that there was no way of escape!” Nichi Moto and his Aino servant had committed suicide with the deadly arrow- poison which they had used to send two of their supposed friends to their death. On the hearth of an old kitchen-range was a piece of porphyry, smashed into a thou- sand bits. “It is the Pillar of Death!” exclaimed Kennedy simply. ‘‘Then the clue to the treasure is lost!”’ gasped Hattie Hawley, almost fainting at the sight of the tragedy. Sinclair reached out and caught her. “T don’t care,” he whispered, “I have found a greater treasure.” Craig had dropped down on his knees be- fore the fireplace and was poking eagerly in a pile of charred paper and linen, forgetful of the murderers of Valcour for the plans and of Neumeyer for the buried treasure. ‘Sinclair, your secret is safe,” he cried. “‘The duplicate plans have been destroyed!” SS MICLOOOLK 61. C©