The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 153: what you’re looking at

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

THE THING THAT WAS CZESAR’S. and to explain this remarkable occur- rence. I do not know enough of the details to speak authoritatively. Good- by, sir. Go on, cabby.” | The cab turned the corner and rat- tled off up the street, and Hemingway turned to Oakes. “Well! Of all the confused, mixed- up affairs in which I have ever taken part this is the worst—look! There goes Cardona runnin’ for his state- room like a rat chased by a terrier. Wonder what’s bitin’ him? There goes the landing-bell, old man! Good- by—good-by, Marjorie—” As his hand tightened over hers the girl suddenly knew what her eyes had never told her before, and her face flushed warmly as she bade him fare- well. For a long moment the tall Englishman stood looking squarely, into her eyes, then he slowly bent for- ward ‘and kissed her. “It is good - by—really good - by,” he said slowly. “ As the old Romans used to say, ‘ Vale et vade ’—greeting and farewell. I am going to Tam- pico and—I am not coming back.” He gripped Oakes’s hand warmly and fairly pushed them both down the landing stage. The little tug at the steamer’s nose pushed her slowly out into midstream, and they saw the pilot on the bridge take the ship. A moment later she was passing down the stream toward the “open, level floors of the Channel, and Oakes turned .to his wife. “T never even suspected it,”’ he said enigmatically. Marjorie did not re- A little later, when they had seen the last of the red ensign on the Nova Zembla’s taffrail as it passed around the last bend in the river, Oakes turned to Marjorie: “Well, there goes another link in the chain that binds us—we can’t see the old professor for a few days, so let’s go to the hotel and get the jewels and take them to the best man we can find to have them valued. They’re too valuable to leave in an office safe.” 623 So they drove to the hotel, and, hav- ing got the bag, they asked the name of the best authority on precious stones. _ “I would recommend Ellis & Wheeler, sir,” said the clerk politely. ‘Their shop is just around the cor- ner. I think you will find them very reliable. I know that Mr. Wheeler, who is their buyer, was buyer for Mr. Barney Barnato in the matter of the purchase of African stones, and his reputation is very high.” Oakes and Marjorie walked around the corner to the next street and, en- tering the great shop, asked for Mr. Wheeler. ‘They were asked into an inner room, and presently they were joined by a fussy little red-faced man who, in a most courteous manner, asked their business. “We were told to ask for Mr. Wheeler,” said Oakes. ‘‘ We wish to see him about the appraisement or the valuation of some precious stones. I am told that he is the best authority in England on the subject.” “I doubt that,” said the little gen- tleman, laughing. “But I am Mr. Wheeler, very much at your service. I shall be very glad to be of service to you. Have you the stones with you?” “ Here they are, sir.” Oakes pulled the bag from his pocket and emptied the contents upon the table before Mr. Wheeler, where the afternoon sun fell slantingly across the little heap of colored stones. Mr. Wheeler first of all picked up the great necklace of rubies and opals and held it to the light, passing it from hand to hand while he carefully examined it in every conceivable light, first with the naked eye, and then with a glass. Finally placing the necklace in a scale-pan, he weighed it carefully; then laid it to one side as he passed on to the examination of the rings, breathing hard as he worked. He examined each one very care- fully, laying each in turn by the neck- lace. and finally passed on to the COMicdoo S CO@