The Green Mummy .............................................................................................................................................1

"I don't think it is one which needs answering," said the young man lightly; "there are more important things

"Love, on a day such as this is. Look at the sky, blue as your eyes; at the sunshine, golden as your hair."

"Lucy, you are a woman. That money did not buy your love, but the consent of your stepfather to our

marriage. Had I not humored his whim, he would have insisted upon your marrying Random."

"Well, I don't know. Random is a soldier and a baronet; handsome and agreeable, with a certain amount of

"H'm, the adjective appears to be an afterthought," grumbled the bachelor; then, when she merely laughed

"No, by Jove, Random isn't me, by any manner of means. I am but a poor artist without fame or position,

"What! when I am engaged to you? Actions speak much louder than remarks, Mr. Archibald Hope. I love you

"This," and he kissed her willing lips in the lane, which was empty save for blackbirds and beetles. "Is any

"Not to an angel, who requires adoration, but to a woman who Let us walk on, Archie, or we shall be late

The young man smiled and frowned and sighed and laughed in the space of thirty seconds something of a

feat in the way of emotional gymnastics. The freakish feminine nature perplexed him as it had perplexed

Adam, and he could not understand this rapid change from poetry to prose. How could it be otherwise, when

he was but fiveandtwenty, and engaged for the first time? Threescore years and ten is all too short a time

to learn what woman really is, and every student leaves this world with the conviction that of the thousand

sides which the female of man presents to the male of woman, not one reveals the being he desires to know.

There is always a deep below a deep; a veil behind a veil, a sphere within a sphere.

To avoid an argument which he could not sustain, Archie switched his on to the weather.

"This day in September; one could well believe that it is still the month of roses."

"What! With those wilted hedges and falling leaves and reaped fields and golden haystacks, and and "

"July day slipped into September. It comes into the landscape of this autumn month, as does love into the

Lucy's eyes swept the prospect, and the springlike sunshine, revealing all too clearly the wrinkles of aging

"And old age its experience. The law of compensation, my dearest. But I don't see," he added reflectively,

"what your remark and my answer have to do with the view," whereat Lucy declared that his wits wandered.

Within the last five minutes they had emerged from a sunken lane where the hedges were white with dust and

dry with heat to a vast open space, apparently at the World'sEnd. Here the saltings spread raggedly towards

the stately stream of the Thames, intersected by dykes and ditches, by earthen ramparts, crooked fences, sod

walls, and irregular lines of stunted trees following the watercourses. The marshes were shaggy with reeds

and rushes, and brown with coarse, fading herbage, although here and there gleamed emeraldhued patches

of watersoaked soil, fit for fairyrings. Beyond a moderately high embankment of turf and timber, the

lovers could see the broad river, sweeping eastward to the Nore, with homewardbound and outwardfaring

ships afloat on its golden tide. Across the gleaming waters, from where they lipped their banks to the foot of

low domestic Kentish hills, stretched alluvial lands, sparsely timbered, and in the clear sunshine clusters of

houses, great and small, factories with tall, smoky chimneys, clumps of trees and rigid railway lines could be

discerned. The landscape was not beautiful, in spite of the sun's profuse gildings, but to the lovers it appeared

a Paradise. Cupid, lord of gods and men, had bestowed on them the usual rosecolored spectacles which form

an important part of his stockintrade, and they looked abroad on a fairy world. Was not SHE there: was not

>From their feet ran the slim, straight causeway, which was the King's highway of the district a trim, prim

line of white above the picturesque disorder of the marshes. It skirted the lowlying fields at the foot of the

uplands and slipped through an iron gate to end in the far distance at the gigantic portal of The Fort. This was

a squat, ungainly pile of rugged gray stone, symmetrically built, but aggressively ugly in its very regularity,

since it insulted the graceful curves of Nature everywhere discernible. It stood nakedly amidst the bare, bleak

meadows glittering with pools of still water, with not even the leaf of a creeper to soften its menacing walls,

although above them appeared the fullfoliaged tops of trees planted in the barrackyard. It looked as though

the grim walls belted a secret orchard. What with the frowning battlements, the very few windows diminutive

and closely barred, the sullen entrance and the absence of any gracious greenery, Gartley Fort resembled the

Castle of Giant Despair. On the hither side, but invisible to the lovers, great cannons scowled on the river

they protected, and, when they spoke, received answer from smaller guns across the stream. There less

extensive forts were concealed amidst trees and masked by turf embankments, to watch and guard the golden

Lucy, always impressionable, shivered with her hand in that of Archie's, as she stared at the landscape,

"I should hate to live in Gartley Fort," said she abruptly. "One might as well be in jail."

"If you marry Random you will have to live there, or on a baggage wagon. He is R.G.A. captain, remember,

"Glory can call until glory is hoarse for me," retorted the girl candidly. "I prefer an artist's studio to a camp."

"I should mount the baggage wagon and make him Bovril when he was wounded. But for you, dear, I shall

"Not with my own consent, Archie: the work is much too hard. Existence on six pounds a week with you will

be more amusing. We can take a cottage, you know, and live, the simple life in Gartley village, until you

"How dull! I would much rather walk with you. And that reminds me that dinner is waiting. Let us take the

short cut home through the village. On the way you can tell me exactly how you bought me from my

Archie Hope frowned at the incurable obstinacy of the sex. "I didn't buy you, dearest: how many times do

you wish me to deny a sale which never took place? I merely obtained your stepfather's consent to our

"As if he had anything to do with my marriage, being only my stepfather, and having, in my eyes, no

authority. In what way did you get his consent his unnecessary consent," she repeated with emphasis.

Of course it was waste of breath to argue with a woman who had made up her mind. The two began to walk

towards the village along the causeway, and Hope cleared his throat to explain patiently as to a child.

"You know that your stepfather Professor Braddock is crazy on the subject of mummies?"

"Quite so, but less famous and rich than he should be, considering his knowledge of dryasdust antiquities.

Well, then, to make a long story short, he told me that he greatly desired to examine into the difference

between the Egyptians and the Peruvians, with regard to the embalming of the dead."

"I always thought that he was too fond of Egypt to bother about any other country," said Lucy sapiently.

"My dear, it isn't the country he cares about, but the civilization of the past. The Incas embalmed their dead,

as did the Egyptians, and in some way the Professor heard of a Royal Mummy, swathed in green bandages

"This mummy is in possession of a man at Malta, and Professor Braddock, hearing that it was for sale for one

"Oh!" interrupted the girl vivaciously, "so this was why father sent Sidney Bolton away six weeks %go?"

"Yes. As you know, Bolton is your stepfather's assistant, and is as crazy as the Professor on the subject of

"When I asked him, he said that he wished you to marry Random, who is rich. I pointed out that you loved

me and not Random, and that Random was on a yachting cruise, while I was on the spot. He then said that he

"Well, it seems that he was in a hurry to get this Green Mummy from Malta, as he feared lest some other

person should snap it up. This was two months ago, remember, and Professor Braddock wanted the cash at

once. Had Random been here he could have supplied it, but as Random was away he told me that if I handed

over one thousand pounds to purchase the mummy, that he would permit our engagement now, and our

marriage in six months. I saw my chance and took it, for your stepfather has always been an obstacle in our

path, Lucy, dear. In a week Professor Braddock had the money, as I sold out some of my investments to get

it. He then sent Bolton to Malta in a tramp steamer for the sake of cheapness, and now expects him back with

"Yes. He got it for nine hundred pounds, the Professor told me, and is bringing it back in The Diver that's

the same tramp steamer in which he went to Malta. So that's the whole story, and you can see there is no

question of you being bought. The thousand pounds went to get your father's consent."

"That is only from habit. I can't call him Mr. Braddock, or Professor Braddock, when I live with him, so

`father' is the sole mode of address left to me. And after all," she added, taking her lover's arm, "I like the

Professor; he is very kind and good, although extremely absentminded. And I am glad he has consented, for

"I think you did, and you shouldn't have diminished your income by buying what you could have had for

"Oh, what does it matter what I said. I am going to marry you on three hundred a year, so there it is. I suppose

when Bolton returns, my father will be glad to see the back of me, and then will go to Egypt with Sidney to

"That expedition will require more than a thousand pounds," said Archie dryly. "The Professor explained the

obstacles to me. However, his doings have nothing to do with us, darling. Let Professor Braddock fumble

"Only for the next six months; then we can get our, cottage and live on love, my dearest."

"Plus three hundred a year," said the girl sensibly then she added, "Oh, poor Frank Random!"

"Well, I was only pitying him. He's a nice man, and you can't expect him to be pleased at our marriage."

"Perhaps," said Hope in an icy tone, "you would like him to be the bridegroom. If so, there is still time."

"Silly boy! She shook his arm. "As I lave been bought, you know that I can't run away from my purchaser."

"You denied being bought just now. It seems to me, Lucy, that I am to marry a weathercock."

"That is only an impolite name for a woman, dear. You have no sense of humor, Frank, or you would call me

"Is it? Perhaps you would like me to resemble Widow Anne, who is always funereal. Here she is, looking like

They were strolling through Gartley village by this time, and the cottagers came to their doors and front gates

to look at the handsome young couple. Everyone knew of the engagement, and approved of the same,

although some hinted that Lucy Kendal would have been wiser to marry the soldierbaronet. Amongst these

was Widow Anne, who really was Mrs. Bolton, the mother of Sidney, a dismal female invariably arrayed in

rusty, stuffy, aggressive mourning, although her husband had been dead for over twenty years. Because of

this same mourning, and because she was always talking of the dead, she vas called "Widow Anne," and

looked on the appellation as a compliment to her fidelity. At the present moment she stood at the gate of her

'Ah, young love, young love, my lady," she groaned, when the couple passed, for she always gave Lucy a title

as though she really and truly had become the wife of Sir Frank, "but who knows how long it may last?"

Widow Anne groaned with relish. "So me and Aaron, as is dead and gone, thought, my lady. But in six

"Ah!" sighed the woman of experience, "I called it nonsense too, my lady, afore Aaron, who now lies with

the worms, laid me out with a flatiron. Men's fit for jails only, as I allays says."

"I have, sir. I could tell you things as would make your head waggle with horror on there shoulders of yours."

"He would be if he had the strength, which he hasn't," exclaimed the widow with uncomplimentary fervor.

"He's Aaron's son, and Aaron hadn't much to learn from them as is where he's gone too," and she looked

"Sidney is a decent young fellow," said Lucy sharply. "How dare you miscall your own flesh and blood,

Widow Anne? My father thinks a great deal of Sidney, else he would not have sent him to Malta. Do try and

be cheerful, there's a good soul. Sidney will tell you plenty to make you laugh, when he comes home."

"Oh, it's all very well asking questions as can't be answered nohow, my lady, but I be all of a mubblefubble,

"It's a queerlike feeling of death and sorrow and tears of blood and not lifting your head for groans," said

Widow Anne incoherently, "and there's meanings in mubblefumbles, as we're told in Scripture. Not but

what the Perfesser's been a kind gentleman to Sid in taking him from going round with the laundry cart, and

eddicating him to watch camphorated corpses: not as what I'd like to keep an eye on them things myself. But

Widow Anne threw up two gnarled hands, wrinkled with age and laundry work, screwing up her face

"I dreamed of battle and murder and sudden death, my lady, with Sid in his cold grave playing on a harp,

angellike. Yes!" she folded her rusty shawl tightly round her spare form and nodded, "there was Sid,

"With murder written all over his poor face," pursued the widow. "And I woke up screeching with cramp in

"Oh, hang it, shut up!" shouted Archie, seeing that Lucy was growing pale at this ghoulish recital, "don't be

fool, woman. Professor Braddock says that Bolton'll be back in three days with the mummy he has been sent

to fetch from Malta. You have been having nightmare! Don't you see how you are frightening Miss Kendal?"

"Deuce take the Witch of Endor and you also. There's a shilling. Go and drink yourself into a more cheery

Widow Anne bit the shilling with one of her two remaining teeth, and dropped a curtsey.

"You're a good, kind gentleman," she smirked, cheered at the idea of unlimited gin. "And when my boy Sid

"What a raven!" said Lucy, as Widow Anne toddled away in the direction of the one publichouse in Gartley

"I don't wonder that the late Mr. Bolton laid her out with a flatiron. To slay such a woman would be

"I wonder how she came to be the mother of Sidney," said Miss Kendal reflectively, as they resumed their

"I think Bolton owes everything to the Professor's teaching and example, Lucy," replied her lover. "He was

an uncouth lad, I understand, when your stepfather took him into the house six years ago. Now he is quite

"Oh, he'll never marry her. If she were a mummy there might be a chance, of course, but as a human being

"You make up a match at once, as every woman will do. Well, let us get back to the Pyramids, and see how

Lucy walked on for a few steps in silence. "Do you believe in Mrs. Bolton's dream, Archie?"

"No! I believe she eats heavy suppers. Bolton will return quite safe; he is a clever fellow, not easily taken

advantage of. Don't bother any more about Widow Anne and her dismal prophecies."

"I'll try not to," replied Lucy dutifully. "All the same, I wish she had not told me her dream," and she

There was only one really palatial mansion in Gartley, and that was the ancient Georgian house known as the

Pyramids. Lucy's stepfather had given the place this eccentric name on taking up his abode there some ten

years previously. Before that time the dwelling had been occupied by the Lord of the Manor and his family.

But now the old squire was dead, and his impecunious children were scattered to the four quarters of the

globe in search of money with which to rebuild their ruined fortunes. As the village was somewhat isolated

and rather unhealthily situated in a marshy country, the huge, roomy old Grange had not been easy to let, and

had proved quite impossible to sell. Under these disastrous circumstances, Professor Braddock who

described himself humorously as a scientific pauper had obtained the tenancy at a ridiculously low rental,

Many people would have paid money to avoid exile in these damp waste lands, which, as it were, fringed

civilization, but their loneliness and desolation suited the Professor exactly. He required ample room for his

Egyptian collection, with plenty of time to decipher hieroglyphics and study perished dynasties of the Nile

Valley. The world of the present day did not interest Braddock in the least. He lived almost continuously on

that portion of the mental plane which had to do with the fardistant past, and only concerned himself with

physical existence, when it consisted of mummies and mystic beetles, sepulchral ornaments, pictured

documents, hawkheaded deities and suchlike things of almost inconceivable antiquity. He rarely walked

abroad and was invariably late for meals, save when he missed any particular one altogether, which happened

frequently. Absentminded in conversation, untidy in dress, unpractical in business, dreamy in manner,

Professor Braddock lived solely for archaeology. That such a man should have taken to himself a wife was

Yet he had been married fifteen years before to a widow, who possessed a limited income and one small

child. It was the opportunity of securing the use of a steady income which had decoyed Braddock into the

matrimonial snare of Mrs. Kendal. To put it plainly, he had married the agreeable widow for her money,

although he could scarcely be called a fortunehunter. Like Eugene Aram, he desired cash to assist learning,

and as that scholar had committed murder to secure what he wanted, so did the Professor marry to obtain his

ends. These were to have someone to manage the house, and to be set free from the necessity of earning his

bread, so that he might indulge in pursuits more pleasurable than moneymaking. Mrs. Kendal was a placid,

phlegmatic lady, who liked rather than loved the Professor, and who desired him more as a companion than

as a husband. With Braddock she did not arrange a romantic marriage so much as enter into a congenial

partnership. She wanted a man in the house, and he desired freedom from pecuniary embarrassment. On these

lines the prosaic bargain was struck, and Mrs. Kendal became the Professor's wife with entirely successful

results. She gave her husband a home, and her child a father, who became fond of Lucy, and who

But this sensible partnership lasted only for five years. Mrs. Braddock died of a chill on the liver and left her

five hundred a year to the Professor for life, with remainder to Lucy, then a small girl of ten. It was at this

critical moment that Braddock became a practical man for the first and last time in his dreamy life. He buried

his wife with unfeigned regret for he had been sincerely attached to her in his absentminded way and

sent Lucy to a Hampstead boarding school. After an interview with his late wife's lawyer to see that the

income was safe, he sought for a house in the country, and quickly discovered Gartley Grange, which no one

would take because of its isolation. Within three months from the burial of Mrs. Braddock, the widower had

removed himself and his collection to Gartley, and had renamed his new abode the Pyramids. Here be dwelt

quietly and enjoyably from his dryasdust point of view for ten years, and here Lucy Kendal had come

when her education was completed. The arrival of a marriageable young lady made no difference in the

Professor's habits, and he hailed her thankfully as the successor to her mother in managing the small

establishment. It is to be feared that Braddock was somewhat selfish in his views, but the fixed idea of

The mansion was threestory, flatroofed, extremely ugly and unexpectedly comfortable. Built of mellow

red brick with dingy white stone facings, it stood a few yards back from the roadway which ran from Gartley

Fort through the village, and, at the precise point where the Pyramids was situated, curved abruptly through

woodlands to terminate a mile away, at Jessum, the local station of the Thames Railway Line. An iron railing,

embedded in moldering stone work, divided the narrow front garden from the road, and on either side of the

door which could be reached by five shallow steps grew two small yew trees, smartly clipped and

trimmed into cones of dull green. These yews possessed some magical significance, which Professor

Braddock would occasionally explain to chance visitors interested in occult matters; for, amongst other things

Egyptian, the archaeologist searched into the magic of the Sons of Khem, and insisted that there was more

Braddock used all the vast rooms of the ground floor to house his collection of antiquities, which he had

acquired through many laborious years. He dwelt entirely in this museum, as his bedroom adjoined his study,

and he frequently devoured his hurried meals amongst the brilliantly tinted mummy cases. The embalmed

dead populated his world, and only now and then, when Lucy insisted, did he ascend to the first floor, which

was her particular abode. Here was the drawingroom, the diningroom and Lucy's boudoir; here also were

sundry bedrooms, furnished and unfurnished, in one of which Miss Kendal slept, while the others remained

vacant for chance visitors, principally from the scientific world. The third story was devoted to the cook, her

husband who acted as gardener and to the house parlor maid, a composite domestic, who worked from

morning until night in keeping the great house clean. During the day these servants attended to their business

in a comfortable basement, where the cook ruled supreme. At the back of the mansion stretched a fairly large

kitchen garden, to which the cook's husband devoted his attention. This was the entire domain belonging to

the tenant, as, of course, the Professor did not rent the arable acres and comfortable farms which had

Everything in the house went smoothly, as Lucy was a methodical young person, who went by the clock and

the almanac. Braddock little knew how much of his undeniable comfort he owed to her fostering care; for,

prior to her return from school, he had been robbed right and left by unscrupulous domestics. When his

stepdaughter arrived he simply handed over the keys and the housekeeping money a fixed sum and gave

her strict instructions not to bother him. Miss Kendal faithfully observed this injunction, as she enjoyed being

undisputed mistress, and knew that, so long as her stepfather had his meals, his bed, his bath and his clothes,

he required nothing save the constant society of his beloved mummies, of which no one wished to deprive

him. These he dusted and cleansed and rearranged himself. Not even Lucy dared to invade the museum, and

the mere mention of spring cleaning drove the Professor into displaying frantic rage, in which he used bad

On returning from her walk with Archie, the girl had lured her stepfather into assuming a rusty dress suit,

which had done service for many years, and had coaxed him into a promise to be present at dinner. Mrs.

Jasher, the lively widow of the district, was coming, and Braddock approved of a woman who looked up to

him as the one wise man in the world. Even science is susceptible to judicious flattery, and Mrs. Jasher was

never backward in putting her admiration into words. Female gossip declared that the widow wished to

become the second Mrs. Braddock, but if this was really the case, she had but small chance of gaining her

end. The Professor had once sacrificed his liberty to secure a competence, and, having acquired five hundred

a year, was not inclined for a second matrimonial venture. Had the widow been a dollar heiress with a million

at her back he would not have troubled to place a ring on her finger. And certainly Mrs. Jasher had little to

gain from such a dreary marriage, beyond a collection of rubbish as she said and a dull country house

Archie Hope left Lucy at the door of the Pyramids and repaired to his village lodgings, for the purpose of

assuming evening dress. Lucy, being her own housekeeper, assisted the overworked parlor maid to lay and

decorate the table before receiving the guests. Thus Mrs. Jasher found no one in the drawingroom to

welcome her, and, taking the privilege of old friendship, descended to beard Braddock in his den. The

Professor raised his eyes from a newly bought scarabeus to behold a stout little lady smiling on him from the

doorway. He did not appear to be grateful for the interruption, but Mrs. Jasher was not at all dismayed, being

a manhunter by profession. Besides, she saw that Braddock was in the clouds as usual, and would have

"Pouf! what an abominal smell!" exclaimed the widow, holding a flimsy lace handkerchief to her nose. "Kind

of camphorsandalwoodcharnelhouse smell. I wonder you are not asphyxiated. Pouf! Ugh! Burrr!"

"Oh, dear me, yes, and you don't even ask me to take a chair. If I were a nasty stuffy mummy, now, you

would be embracing me by, this time. Don't you know that I have come to dinner, you silly man?" and she

"No, you have not." Mrs. Jasher spoke positively, and pointed to a small tray of untouched food on the side

table. "You have not even had luncheon. You must live on air, like a chameleon or on love, perhaps," she

But she might as well have spoken to the granite image of Horus in the corner. Braddock merely rubbed his

"Dear me!" he said innocently. "I must have forgotten to eat. Lamplight!" he looked round vaguely. "Of

course, I remember lighting the lamps. Time has gone by very rapidly. I am really hungry." He paused to

make sure, then repeated his remark in a more positive manner. "Yes, I am very hungry, Mrs. Jasher." He

looked at her as though she had just entered. "Of course, Mrs. Jasher. Do you wish to see me about anything

The widow frowned at his inattention, and then laughed. It was impossible to be angry with this dreamer.

"I have come to dinner, Professor. Do try and wake up; you are half asleep and half starved, too, I expect."

"Unaccountably, when you have eaten nothing since breakfast. You weird man, I believe you are a mummy

But the Professor had again returned to examine the scarabeus, this time with a powerful magnifying glass.

"It certainly belongs to the twentieth dynasty," he murmured, wrinkling his brows.

Mrs. Jasher stamped and flirted her fan pettishly. The creature's soul, she decided, was certainly not in his

body, and until it came back he would continue to ignore her. With the annoyance of a woman who is not

getting her own way, she leaned back in Braddock's one comfortable chair which she had unerringly

selected and examined him intently. Perhaps the gossips were correct, and she was trying to imagine what

kind of a husband he would make. But whatever might be her thoughts, she eyed Braddock as earnestly as

Outwardly the Professor did not appear like the savant he was reported to be. He was small of stature, plump

of body, rosy as a little Cupid, and extraordinarily youthful, considering his fiftyodd years of scientific wear

and tear. With a smooth, cleanshaven face, plentiful white hair like spun silk, and neat feet and hands, he

did not look his age. The dreamy look in his small blue eyes was rather belied by the hardness of his thin

lipped mouth, and by the pugnacious push of his jaw. The eyes and the domelike forehead hinted that brain

without much originality; but the lower part of this contradictory countenance might have belonged to a

prizefighter. Nevertheless, Braddock's plumpness did away to a considerable extent with his aggressive

look. It was certainly latent, but only came to the surface when he fought with a brother savant over some

tombdweller from Thebes. In the soft lamplight he looked like a fighting cherub, and it was a pity in the

interests of art that the hairless pink and white face did not surmount a pair of wings rather than a rusty and

"He's nane sa dafty as he looks," thought Mrs. Jasher, who was Scotch, although she claimed to be

cosmopolitan. "With his mummies he is all right, but outside those he might be difficult to manage. And

these things," she glanced round the shadowy room, crowded with the dead and their earthly belongings. "I

don't think I would care to marry the British Museum. Too much like hard work, and I am not so young as I

The near mirror a polished silver one, which had belonged, ages ago, to some coquette of Memphis

denied this uncomplimentary thought, for Mrs. Jasher did not look a day over thirty, although her birth

certificate set her down as fortyfive. In the lamplight she might have passed for even younger, so carefully

had she preserved what remained to her of youth. She assuredly was somewhat stout, and never had been so

tall as she desired to be. But the lines of her plump figure were still discernible in the, cunningly cut gown,

and she carried her little self with such mighty dignity that people overlooked the mortifying height of a trifle

over five feet. Her features were small and neat, but her large blue eyes were so noticeable and melting that

those on whom she turned them ignored the lack of boldness in chin and nose. Her hair was brown and

arranged in the latest fashion, while her complexion was so fresh and pink that, if she did paint as jealous

women averred she must have been quite an artist with the hare's foot and the rouge pot and the necessary

Mrs. Jasher's clothes repaid the thought she expended upon them, and she was artistic in this as in other

things. Dressed in a crocusyellow gown, with short sleeves to reveal her beautiful arms, and cut low to

display her splendid bust, she looked perfectly dressed. A woman would have declared the widenetted black

lace with which the dress was draped to be cheap, and would have hinted that the widow wore too many

jewels in her hair, on her corsage, round her arms, and ridiculously gaudy rings on her fingers. This might

have been true, for Mrs. Jasher sparkled like the Milky Way at every movement; but the gleam of gold and

the flash of gems seemed to suit her opulent beauty. Her slightest movement wafted around her a strange

Chinese perfume, which she obtained so she said from a friend of her late husband's who was in the

British Embassy at Pekin. No one possessed this especial perfume but Mrs. Jasher, and anyone who had

previously met her, meeting her in the darkness, could have guessed at her identity. With a smile to show her

white teeth, with her goldenhued dress and glittering jewels, the pretty widow glowed in that glimmering

The Professor raised his dreamy eyes and laid the beetle on one side, when his brain fully grasped that this

charming vision was waiting to be entertained. She was better to look upon even than the beloved scarabeus,

and he advanced to shake hands as though she had just entered the room. Mrs. Jasher knowing his ways

rose to extend her hand, and the two small, stout figures looked absurdly like a pair of chubby Dresden

"Dear lady, I am glad to see you. You have you have" the Professor reflected, and then came back with a

"Lucy asked me a week ago," she replied tartly, for no woman likes to be neglected for a mere beetle,

"Then you will certainly get a good dinner," said Braddock, waving his plump white hands. "Lucy is an

excellent housekeeper. I have no fault to find with her no fault at all. But she is obstinate oh, very

obstinate, as her mother was. Do you know, dear lady, that in a papyrus scroll which I lately acquired I found

the recipe for a genuine Egyptian dish, which Amenemha the last Pharaoh of the eleventh dynasty, you

know might have eaten, and probably did eat. I desired Lucy to serve it tonight, but she refused, much to

my annoyance. The ingredients, which had to do with roasted gazelle, were oil and coriander seed and if

"Ugh!" Mrs. Jasher's handkerchief went again to her mouth. "Say no more, Professor; your dish sounds

"You would make a really beautiful mummy," said Braddock, paying what he conceived was a compliment;

"and, should you die, I shall certainly attend to your embalming, if you prefer that to cremation."

"You dreadful man!" cried the widow, turning pale and shrinking. "Why, I really believe that you would like

"Disgusting!" cried the outraged Professor, striking one of the brilliantly tinted cases. "Can you call so

beautiful a specimen of sepulchral art disgusting? Look at the colors, at the regularity of the hieroglyphics

why, the history of the dead is set out in this magnificent series of pictures." He adjusted his pincenez and

began to read, "The Osirian, Scemiophis that is a female name, Mrs. Jasher who "

"I don't want to have my history written on my coffin," interrupted the widow hysterically, for this funereal

talk frightened her. "It would take much more space than a mummy case upon which to write it. My life has

been volcanic, I can tell you. By the way," she added hurriedly, seeing that Braddock was on the eve of

The Professor immediately followed the false trail. "Not yet," he said briskly, rubbing his smooth hands, "but

in three days I expect The Diver will be at Pierside, and Sidney will bring the mummy on here. I shall unpack

it at once and learn exactly how the ancient Peruvians embalmed their dead. Doubtless they learned the art

Braddock glared. "Nothing of the sort, dear lady," he snorted angrily. "Absurd, ridiculous! I am inclined to

believe that Egypt was merely a colony of that vast island of Atlantis mentioned by Plato. There if my

theory is correct civilization begun, and the kings of Atlantis doubtless the gods of historical tribes

governed the whole world, including that portion which we now term South America."

"Do you mean to say that there were Yankees in those days?" inquired Mrs. Jasher frivolously.

The Professor tucked his hands under his shabby coattails and strode up and down the room warming his

"Good heavens, madam, where have you lived?" he exclaimed explosively "are you a fool, or merely an

ignorant woman? I am talking of prehistoric times, thousands of years ago, when you were probably a stray

"Oh, you horrid creature!" cried Mrs. Jasher indignantly, and was about to give Braddock her opinion, if only

"I am very hungry," said Mrs. Jasher. "I have been called an atom of the slime," then she laughed and took

Lucy wrinkled her brow; she did not approve of the widow's manannexing instinct.

One member of the Braddock household was not included in the general staff, being a mere appendage of the

Professor himself. This was a dwarfish, misshapen Kanaka, a pigmy in height, but a giant in breadth, with

short, thick legs, and long, powerful arms. He had a large head, and a somewhat handsome face, with

melancholy black eyes and a fine set of white teeth. Like most Polynesians, his skin was of a pale bronze and

elaborately tattooed, even the cheeks and chin being scored with curves and straight lines of mystical import.

But the most noticeable thing about him was his huge mop of frizzled hair, which, by some process, known

only to himself, he usually dyed a vivid yellow. The flaring locks streaming from his head made him

resemble a Peruvian image of the sun, and it was this peculiar coiffure which had procured for him the odd

name of Cockatoo. The fact that this grotesque creature invariably wore a white drill suit, emphasized still

Cockatoo had come from the Solomon Islands in his teens to the colony of Queensland, to work on the

plantations, and there the Professor had picked him up as his body servant. When Braddock returned to marry

Mrs. Kendal, the boy had refused to leave him, although it was represented to the young savage that he was

somewhat too barbaric for sober England. Finally, the Professor had consented to bring him over seas, and

had never regretted doing so, for Cockatoo, finding his scientific master a true friend, worshipped him as a

visible god. Having been captured when young by Pacific blackbirders, he talked excellent English, and

from contact with the necessary restraints of civilization was, on the whole, extremely well behaved.

Occasionally, when teased by the villagers and his fellowservants, he would break into childish rages, which

bordered on the dangerous. But a word from Braddock always quieted him, and when penitent he would

crawl like a whipped dog to the feet of his divinity. For the most part he lived entirely in the museum,

looking after the collection and guarding it from harm. Lucy who had a horror of the creature's uncanny

looks objected to Cockatoo waiting at the table, and it was only on rare occasions that he was permitted to

assist the harassed parlormaid. On this night the Kanaka acted excellently as a butler, and crept softly round

the table, attending to the needs of the diners. He was an admirable servant, deft and handy, but his

bluelined face and squat figure together with the obtrusively golden halo, rather worried Mrs. Jasher. And,

indeed, in spite of custom, Lucy also felt uncomfortable when this gnome hovered at her elbow. It looked as

though one of the fantastical idols from the museum below had come to haunt the living.

"I do not like that Golliwog," breathed Mrs. Jasher to her host, when Cockatoo was at the sideboard. "He

"Imagination, my dear lady, pure imagination. Why should we not have a picturesque animal to wait upon

"He would wait picturesquely enough at a cannibal feast," suggested Archie, with a laugh.

"Don't!" murmured Lucy, with a shiver. "I shall not be able to eat my dinner if you talk so."

"Odd that Hope should say what he has said," observed Braddock confidently to the widow. "Cockatoo

comes from a cannibal island, and doubtless has seen the consumption of human flesh. No, no, my dear lady,

do not look so alarmed. I don't think he has eaten any, as he was taken to Queensland long before he could

"Only when he loses his temper, and I'm always able to suppress that when it is at its worst. You are not

"Let us change the conversation to cereals," suggested Hope, whose appetite was of the best "wheat, for

instance. In this queer little village I notice the houses are divided by a field of wheat. It seems wrong

"That's old Farmer Jenkins," said Lucy vivaciously; "he owns three or four acres near the publichouse and

will not allow them to be built over, although he has been offered a lot of money. I noticed myself, Archie,

the oddity of finding a cornfield surrounded by cottages. It's like Alice in Wonderland."

"But fancy any one offering money for land here," observed Hope, toying with his claret glass, which had just

been refilled , by the attentive Cockatoo, "at the BackofBeyond, as it were. I shouldn't care to live here

"All the same you do live here!" interposed Mrs. Jasher smartly, and with a roguish glance at Lucy.

"You have answered your question yourself, Mrs. Jasher," he said, smiling. "I have the inducement you hint

at to remain here, and certainly, as a landscape painter, I admire the marshes and sunsets. As an artist and an

engaged man I stop in Gartley, otherwise I should clear out. But I fail to see why a lady of your attractions

"I may have a sentimental reason also," interrupted the widow, with a sly glance at the absentminded

Professor, who was drawing hieroglyphics on the tablecloth with a fork; "also, my cottage is cheap and very

comfortable. The late Mr. Jasher did not leave me sufficient money to live in London. He was a consul in

China, you know, and consuls are never very well paid. I will come in for a large income, however."

"Indeed," said Lucy politely, and wondering why Mrs. Jasher was so communicative. "Soon I hope."

"It may be very soon. My brother, you know a merchant in Pekin. He has come home to die, and is

unmarried. When he does die, I shall go to London. But," added the widow, meditatively and glancing again

at the Professor, "I shall be sorry to leave dear Gartley. Still, the memory of happy hours spent in this house

will always remain with me. Ah me! ah me!" and she put her handkerchief to her eyes.

Lucy telegraphed to Archie that the widow was a humbug, and Archie telegraphed back that he quite agreed

with her. But the Professor, whom the momentary silence had brought back to the present century, looked up

"Oh, father, when you said that you would take a holiday," said Lucy reproachfully.

"I am doing so now. Look at the precious minutes I am wasting in eating, my dear. Life is short and much

remains to be done in the way of Egyptian exploration. There is the sepulchre of Queen Tahoser. If I could

"Why don't you?" asked Mrs. Jasher, who was beginning to give up her pursuit of Braddock, for it was no use

"I have yet to discover it," said the Professor simply; then, warming to the congenial theme, he glanced

around and delivered a short historical lecture. "Tahoser was the chief wife and queen of a famous Pharaoh

"Why, yes but that happened later. Before pursuing the Hebrews, if the Mosaic account is to be believed,

this Pharaoh marched far into the interior of Africa, the Libya of the ancients, and conquered the

natives of Upper Ethiopia. Being deeply in love with his queen, he took her with him on this expedition, and

she died before the Pharaoh returned to Memphis. >From records which I discovered in the museum of Cairo,

I have reason to believe that the Pharaoh buried her with much pomp in Ethiopia, sacrificing, I believe, many

prisoners at her gorgeous funeral rites. From the wealth of that Pharaoh for wealthy he must have been on

account of his numerous victories and from the love he bore this princess, I am confident confident,"

added Braddock, striking the table vehemently, "that when discovered, her tomb will be filled with riches,

The Professor rose fiercely. "Money! I care nothing for money. I desire to obtain the funeral jewelry and

golden masks, the precious images of the gods, so as to place them in the British Museum. And the scrolls of

papyrus buried with the mummy of Tahoser may contain an account of Ethiopian civilization, about which

we know nothing. Oh, that tomb, that tomb!" Braddock began to walk the room, quite forgetting that he had

not finished his dinner. "I know the mountains whose entrails were pierced to form the sepulchre. Were I able

to go to Africa, I am certain that I should discover the tomb. Ah, with what glory would my name be covered,

"Fool!" cried the Professor politely. "To fit out an expedition would take some five thousand pounds, if not

more. I would have to penetrate through a hostile country to reach the chain of mountains I speak of, where I

know this precious tomb is to be found. I need supplies, an escort, guns, camels, and all the rest of it. A leader

must be obtained to manage the fighting men necessary to pass through this dangerous zone. It is no easy task

to find the tomb of Tahoser. And yet if I could if I could only get the money," and he walked up and down

Mrs. Jasher was used to Braddock's vagaries by this time, and merely continued to fan herself placidly.

"I wish I could help you with the expedition," she said quietly. "I should like to have some of that lovely

Egyptian jewelry myself. But I am quite a pauper, until my brother dies, poor man. Then " She hesitated.

"A bargain," said Mrs. Jasher, accepting the grasp somewhat nervously, for she had not expected to be taken

"Do sit down, father, and finish your dinner," said that young lady. "I am sure you will have more than

"Of course. The mummy of Inca Caxas, which Sidney is bringing from Malta. When I strip that corpse of its

"I shall find the peculiar mode of Peruvian embalming," he replied abruptly, and somehow the way in which

he spoke gave Hope the impression that the answer was an excuse. But before he could formulate the thought

"It has not," replied Braddock sharply. "So far as I know, the Inca race never buried their dead with jewels,"

"Prescott! Prescott!" cried the Professor contemptuously, "a most unreliable authority. However, I'll promise

you one thing, Hope, that if there are any jewels, or jewelry, you shall have the lot."

"I cannot accept such a gift, Hope. Owing to circumstances I have been obliged to borrow the money from

you; otherwise the mummy would have been acquired by some one else. But when I find the tomb of Queen

Braddock's eyes followed his gaze and his brows contracted. "Humph!" he muttered, "I don't know if I am

"I have enough for Lucy and me to live on," said Hope, although his face had flushed, "and, had I been a

"You will be repaid you will be repaid," said Braddock, waving his hand to dismiss the subject. "And now,"

he rose with a yawn, "if this tedious feast is at an end, I shall again seek my work."

Without a word of apology to the disgusted Mrs. Jasher, he trotted to the door, and there paused.

"By the way, Lucy," he said, turning, "I had a letter today from Random. He returns in his yacht to Pierside

in two or three days. In fact, his arrival will coincide with that of The Diver."

"Oh, nothing at all nothing at all," said Braddock airily, "only I thought that is, but never mind, never

"Well," said Mrs. Jasher, drawing along breath, "for rudeness and selfishness, commend me to a scientist. We

"Never mind," said Miss Kendal, rising, "come to the drawingroom and have some music. Archie, will you

"No. I don't care to sit over my wine alone," said that young gentleman, rising. "I shall accompany you and

Mrs. Jasher. And Lucy," he stopped her at the door, through which the widow had already passed, "what did

"I think he regrets giving his consent to my marriage with you," she whispered back. "Did you not hear him

"From Random? What rubbish! Sooner than that if our marriage is stopped by the beastly business I'll sell

"You'll do nothing of the sort," interrupted the girl imperiously; "we must live if we marry. You have given

"He does so at his own risk. I am not going to marry Sir Frank because of my stepfather's requirements. He

"My darling!" and Archie kissed her before they followed Mrs. Jasher into the drawingroom. All the same,

For the next two or three days, Archie felt decidedly, worried over his projected marriage with Lucy.

Certainly he had to put it bluntly purchased Braddock's consent, and that gentleman could scarcely draw

back from his plighted word, which had cost the lover so much. Nevertheless, Hope did not entirely, trust the

Professor, as, from the few words which he had let drop at the dinner party, it was plain that he hankered after

money with which to fit out the expedition in search of the mysterious tomb to which he had alluded. Archie

knew, as did the Professor, that he could not supply the necessary five thousand pounds without practically

ruining himself, and already he had crippled his resources in paying over the price of the green mummy. He

had fondly believed that Braddock would have been satisfied with the relic of Peruvian humanity; but it

seemed that the Professor, having got what he wanted, now clamored for what was at present beyond his

reach. The mummy was his property, but he desired the contents of Queen Tahoser's tomb also. This

particular moon, which he cried for, was a very expensive article, and Hope did not see how he could gain it.

Unless and here came in the cause of Archie's worry unless the five thousand pounds was borrowed from

Sir Frank Random, the Professor would have to content himself with the Maltese mummy. But from what the

young man had seen of Braddock's longing for the especial sepulchre, which he desired to loot, he believed

that the scientist would not readily surrender his whim. Random could easily lend or give the money, since he

was extremely rich, and extremely generous, but it was improbable that he would aid Braddock without a

quid pro quo. As the sole desire of the baronet's heart was to make Lucy his wife, it could easily be guessed

that he would only assist the Professor to realize his ambition on condition that the savant used his influence

with his stepdaughter. That meant the breaking of the engagement with Hope and the marriage of the girl to

the soldier. Of course such a state of things would make Lucy unhappy; but Braddock cared very little for

that. To gratify his craze for Egyptian research, he would be willing to sacrifice a dozen girls like Lucy.

Undoubtedly Lucy would refuse to be passed along from one man to another like a bale of goods, and Archie

knew that, so far as in her lay, she would keep to her engagement, especially as she denied Braddock's right

to dispose of her hand. All the same, the Professor, in spite of his cherubical looks, could make himself

extremely disagreeable, and undoubtedly would do so if thwarted. The sole course that remained, should

Braddock begin operations to break the present engagement, would be to marry Lucy at once. Archie would

willingly have done so, but pecuniary difficulties stood in the way. He had never told any one of these, not

even the girl he loved, but they existed all the same. For many years he had been assisting needy relatives,

and thus had hampered himself, in spite of his income. By sheer force of will, so as to force Braddock into

giving him Lucy, he had contrived to secure the necessary thousand pounds, without confusing the

arrangements he had made to pay off certain debts connected with his domestic philanthropy; but this brought

him to the end of his resources. In six months he hoped to be free to have his income entirely to himself, and

then small as it was he could support a wife. But until the half year elapsed he could see no chance of

marrying Lucy with any degree of comfort, and meanwhile she would be exposed to the persecutions of the

Professor. Perhaps persecutions is too harsh a word, as Braddock was kind enough to the girl. Nevertheless,

he was pertinacious in gaining his aims where his pet hobby was concerned, and undoubtedly, could he see

any chance of obtaining the money from Random by selling his stepdaughter, he would do so. Assuredly it

was dishonorable to act in this way, but the Professor was a scientific Jesuit, and deemed that the end justified

the means, when any glory to himself and gain to the British Museum was in question.

"But I may be doing him an injustice," said Archie, when he was explaining his fears to Miss Kendal on the

third day after the dinner party. After all, the Professor is a gentleman, and will probably hold to the bargain

"I don't care whether he does or not," cried Lucy, who had a fine color and a certain amount of fire in her

eyes. "I am not going to be bought and sold to forward these nasty scientific schemes. My father can say what

Hope looked at the ground and drew patterns with his canepoint in the sand. They were seated in the hot

sunshine for the Indian summer still continued under a moldering brick wall, which ran around the most

delightful of kitchen gardens. This was situated at the back of the Pyramids, and contained a multiplicity of

pot herbs and fruit trees and vegetables. It resembled the Fairy Garden in Madame D'Alnoy's story of The

White Cat, and in the autumn yielded a plentiful crop of fineflavored fruit. But now the trees were bare and

the garden looked somewhat forlorn for lack of greenery. But in spite of the lateness of the season, Lucy

often brought a book to read under the glowing wall, and there ripened like a peach in the warm sunshine. On

this occasion she brought Archie into the oldworld garden, as he had hinted at confidences. And the time

had come to speak plainly, as Hope began to think that he had not treated Lucy quite fairly in hiding from her

"Why can't we marry at once?" asked Lucy, seeing that her lover held his peace and looked confused.

Hope did not reply directly. "I had better release you from your engagement," he said haltingly.

"Oh!" Lucy's nostrils dilated and she threw back her head scornfully. "And the other woman's name?"

"Oh yes that is sure, small as it is. But I Have incurred debts on behalf of an uncle and his family. These

have embarrassed me for the moment, and so I cannot see my way to marrying you for at least six months,

Lucy." He caught her hand. "I feel ashamed of myself that I did not tell you of this before. But I feared to lose

you. Yet, on reflection, I see that it is dishonorable to keep you in the dark, and if you think that I have

"Well, I do in a way," she interrupted quickly, "as your silence was quite unnecessary. Don't treat me as a

doll, my dear. I wish to share your troubles as well as your joys. Come, tell me all about it."

"Yes, I am at your thinking I loved you so little as to be biased against our marriage because of money

troubles. Pooh!" she flicked away a speck of dust from his coat, "I don't care that for such things."

Archie, thus encouraged, did so, and it was a very mild confession that she heard, involving a great deal of

unnecessary sacrifice in helping a pauper uncle. Hope strove to belittle his good deeds as much as possible,

but Lucy saw plainly the good heart that had dictated the giving up of his small income for some years. When

in possession of all the facts, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"You are a silly old boy," she whispered. "As if what you tell me could make any difference to me!"

"Of course not. Do you believe that I as a woman can gather together my trousseau under six months? No,

my dear. We must not marry in haste to repent at leisure. In another half year you will enjoy your own

"But meanwhile," said Archie, after kissing her, "the Professor will bother you to marry Random."

"Oh no. He has sold me to you for one thousand pounds. There! There, do not say a single word. I am only

teasing you. Let us say that my father has consented to my marriage with you, and cannot withdraw his word.

"Lucy!" he took her hands again and looked into her eyes "Braddock is a scientific lunatic, and would do

anything to forward his aims with regard to this very expensive tomb, which he has set his heart on

discovering. As I can't lend or give the money, he is sure to apply to Random, and Random "

"Will want to marry me," cried Lucy, rising. "No, my dear, not at all. Sir Frank is a gentleman, and when he

learns that I am engaged to you, he will simply become a dear friend. There, don't worry any more about the

matter. You ought to have told me of your troubles before, but as I have forgiven you, there is no more to be

said. In six months I shall become Mrs. Hope, and meanwhile I can hold my own against any inconvenience

"But " He rose and began to remonstrate, anxious to abase himself still further before this angel of a

She placed her hand over his mouth. "Not another word, or I shall box your ears, sir that is, I shall exercise

the privilege of a wife before I become one. And now," she slipped her arm within his, "let us go in and see

"It is now a quarter to," said Archie, consulting his watch. "As I have been to London all yesterday I did not

Lucy wrinkled her brows. "I am rather worried over Sidney," she said in an anxious voice, "and so is my

"Well," she looked at the ground in a pondering manner, "my father got a letter from Sidney yesterday

afternoon, saying that the ship with the mummy and himself on board had arrived about four o'clock. The

"How particular you are!" said Miss Kendal, with a shrug. "Well, then, Sidney said that he could not bring

the mummy to this place last night as it was so late. He intended so he told my father in the letter to

remove the case containing the mummy ashore to an inn near the wharf at Pierside, and there would remain

"A note came from the landlord of the inn this morning, saying that by direction of Mr. Bolton that is

Sidney, you know he was sending the mummy in its case to Gartley on a lorry, and that it would arrive at

"Well?" she rejoined impatiently. "Can't you see show strange it is that Sidney should let the mummy out of

his sight, after guarding it so carefully not only from Malta to England, but all the night in Pierside at that

hotel? Why doesn't he bring the mummy here himself, and come on with the lorry?"

"None. He wrote yesterday, as I stated, saying that he would keep the case in the hotel, and send it on this

"I am very sorry for him when he does appear," said Lucy seriously, "for my father is furious. Why, this

"A thing like that is worth nearly one thousand pounds," said Lucy in a dry tone, "and if anyone got wind of

it, stealing would be easy, since Sidney, as appears likely, has sent on the case unguarded."

They passed out of the garden and sauntered round to the front of the house. There, standing in the roadway,

they beheld a ponderous lorry with a roughlooking driver standing at the horses' heads. The front door of the

house was open, so the mummy case had. apparently arrived before its time, and had been taken to

"Did Mr. Bolton come with the case?" asked Lucy, leaning over the railings and addressing the driver.

"No one came, miss, except myself and my two mates, who have taken the case indoor." The driver jerked a

"No, miss that is, I dunno who Mr. Bolton is. The landlord of the Sailor's Rest told me and my mates to

"Strange," murmured Lucy, walking to the front door. "What do you think, Archie? Isn't it strange?"

Hope nodded. "But I daresay Bolton will explain his absence," said he, following her. "He will arrive in time

"I hope so," said Miss Kendal, who looked much perplexed. "I can't understand Sidney abandoning the case,

when it might so easily have been stolen. Come in and see my father, Archie," and she passed into the house,

followed by the young man, whose curiosity was now aroused. As they entered the door, the two men who

had taken in the case blundered out and shortly drove away on the lorry towards Jessum railway station.

In the museum they found Braddock purple with rage and swearing vigorously. He was staring at a large

packing case, which had been set up on end against the wall, while beside him crouched Cockatoo, holding

"So the precious mummy has arrived, father," said Lucy, who saw that the Professor was furious. "Are you

"Pleased! pleased!" shouted the angry man of science. "How can I be pleased when I see how badly the case

has been treated? See how it has been bruised and battered and shaken! I'll have an action against Captain

Hervey of The Diver if my mummy has been injured. Sidney should have taken better care of so precious an

"What does he say?" asked Archie, glancing round the museum to see if the delinquent had arrived.

"Say!" shouted Braddock again, and snatching a chisel from Cockatoo. "Oh, what can he say when he is not

"Not here?" said Lucy, more and more surprised at the unaccountable absence of Braddock's assistant.

"I don't know. I wish I did; I'd have him arrested for neglecting to watch over this case. As it is, when he

comes back I'll dismiss him from my employment. He can go back to his infernal laundry work along with

Braddock struck a furious blow at the head of the chisel which he had inserted into the case.

"I want to know that. He brought the case to the Sailor's Rest, and should have come on with it this morning.

Instead of doing so, he tells the landlord a most unreliable man to send it on. And my precious mummy

the mummy that has cost nine hundred pounds," cried Braddock, working furiously, and battering the chisel

as though it were Bolton's head is left to be stolen by any scientific thief that comes along." While the

Professor, assisted by Cockatoo, loosened the lid of the packing case, a mild voice was heard at the door.

Lucy turned, as did Archie, to see Widow Anne curtseying on the threshold of the door.

Braddock himself took no notice of her entrance, being occupied with his task, and even while doing it swore

scientifically under his breath. He was furious against Bolton for neglect of duty, and Hope rather

sympathized with him. It was a serious matter to have left a valuable object like the green mummy to the

"I beg your pardon, my lady," whimpered Widow Anne, who looked more lean and rusty and dismal than

"Coffin! coffin!" bellowed Braddock angrily between thunder blows. "What do you mean by calling this case

"Well, it do hold one of them camphorated corps, sir," said Mrs. Bolton with another curtsey. "My boy Sid

"Have you seen him since he returned?" questioned Lucy, while Braddock and Cockatoo strained at the lid,

"Why, I ain't set eyes on him," moaned the widow dismally, "and summat tells me as I never will."

"Don't talk rubbish, woman," said Archie tartly, for he did not wish Lucy to be upset again by this ancient

"Woman indeed, sir. I'd have you know, oh!" the widow jumped and quavered as the lid of the packing

But Braddock had no eyes for her, and no ears for anyone. He pulled lustily at the straw packing, and soon

the floor was littered with rubbish. But no green case appeared, and no mummy. Suddenly Widow Anne

After that one cry of agony from Widow Anne, there was silence for quite one minute. The terrible contents

of the packing case startled and terrified all present. Faint and white, Lucy clung to the arm of her lover to

keep herself from sinking to the ground, as Mrs. Bolton had done. Archie stared at the grotesque rigidity of

the body, as though he had been changed into stone, while Professor Braddock stared likewise, scarcely able

to credit the evidence of his eyes. Only the Kanaka was unmoved and squatted on his hams, indifferently

surveying the living and the dead. As a savage he could not be expected to have the nerves of civilized man.

Braddock, who had dropped chisel and hammer in the first movement of surprise, was the quickest to recover

his powers of speech. The sole question he asked, revealed the marvelous egotism of a scientist, nominated

by one idea. "Where is the mummy of Inca Caxas?" he murmured with a bewildered air.

Widow Anne, groveling on the floor, pulled her gray locks into wild confusion, and uttered a cry of mingled

rage and grief. "He asks that? he asks that?" she cried, stammering and choking, "when he has murdered my

"What's, that?" demanded Braddock sharply, and recovering from a veritable stupor, which the disappearance

of the mummy and the sight of his dead assistant had thrown him into. "Kill your son: how could I kill your

"Mrs. Bolton, you are raving," said Hope hastily, and strove to raise her from the floor. "Let Miss Kendal

Lucy, inarticulate with nervous fear, nodded and tottered towards the door of the museum; but Widow Anne

"My boy is dead," she wailed; "my boy Sid is a corp as I saw him in my dream. In the coffin, too, cut to

"Rubbish! rubbish!" interrupted Braddock, peering into the depths of the packing case. "I can see no wound."

Mrs. Bolton leaped to her feet with an agility surprising in so aged a woman. "Let me find the wound," she

Hope caught her back and forced her towards, the door. "No!" The body must not be disturbed until the

"The police ah, yes, the police," remarked Braddock quickly, "we must send for the police to Pierside and

"That my boy has been murdered," screeched Widow Anne, waving her skinny arms, and striving to break

'from Archie. "You wicked old devil to kill my darling Sid. If he hadn't gone to them furren parts he wouldn't

Braddock lost his patience under this torrent of unjust accusations and rushed towards Mrs. Bolton, dragging

Cockatoo by the arm. In less time than it takes to tell, he had swept both Archie and the widow out into the

hall, where Lucy was trembling, and Cockatoo, by his master's order, was locking the door.

"Not a thing shall be touched until the police come. Hope, you are, a witness that I have not meddled with the

dead: you were present when I opened the packing case: you have seen that a useless body has been

substituted for a valuable mummy. And yet this old witch dares dares " Braddock stamped and grew

Archie soothed him, leaving go of Widow Anne's arm to do so. "Hush! hush!" said the young man quietly,

"No," interrupted the Professor sharply; "Cockatoo can go for the inspector of Pierside. I shall call in the

village constable. Meanwhile you keep the key of the museum," he dropped it into Hope's breastpocket, "so

that you and the police may be sure the body has not been touched. Widow Anne, go home," he turned

angrily on the old creature, who was now trembling after her burst of rage, "and don't dare to come here again

"I want to be near my poor boy's corp," wailed Widow Anne, "and I'm very sorry, Perfesser. I didn't mean to

But by this time Lucy had recovered her selfpossession, which had been sorely shaken by the sight of the

dead. "Leave her to me," she observed, taking Mrs. Bolton's arm, and leading her towards the stairs. "I shall

take her to my room and give her some brandy. Father, you must make some allowance for her natural grief,

Braddock stamped again. "Take her away! take her away!" he cried testily, "and keep her out of my sight. Is

it not enough to have lost an invaluable assistant, and a costly mummy of infinite historical and

archaeological value, without my being accused of of oh!" The Professor choked with rage and shook his

Seeing that he was unable to speak, Lucy seized the opportunity of the lull in the storm, and hurried the old

woman, sobbing and moaning, up the stairs. By this time the shrieks of Mrs. Bolton, and the wordy wrath of

Braddock, had drawn the cook and her husband, along with the housemaid, from the basement to the ground

floor. The sight of their surprised faces only added to their master's anger, and he advanced furiously.

"Everything is wrong. My mummy has been lost: Mr. Bolton has been murdered. The police are coming, and

But the servants waited to hear no more. The mere mention of the words "murder" and "police" sent them,

palefaced and startled, down to the basement, where they huddled like a flock of sheep. Braddock looked

around for Hope, but found that he had opened the front door, and had vanished. But he was too distracted to

think why Archie had gone, and there was much to do in putting things straight. Beckoning to Cockatoo, he

stalked into a side room, and scribbled a pencil note to the inspector of police at Pierside, telling him of what

had happened, and asking him to come at once to the Pyramids with his underlings. This communication he

dispatched by Cockatoo, who flew to get his bicycle. In a short time he was riding at top speed to Brefort,

which was on this side of the river; facing Pierside. There he could ferry across to the town and deliver his

Having done all that he could until the police came, Braddock walked out of the front door and into the

roadway to see if Archie was in sight. He could not see the young man, but, as luck would have it, and by one

of those coincidences which are much more common than is suspected, he saw the Gartley doctor walking

"Hi!" shouted the Professor, who was purple in the face and perspiring profusely. "Hi, there, Dr. Robinson! I

want you. Come! come! hurry, man, hurry!" he ended in a testy rage, and the doctor, knowing Braddock's

eccentricities, advanced with a smile. He was a slim, dark, young medical practitioner with an amiable

"Well, Professor," he remarked quietly, "do you want me to attend you for apoplexy? Take your time, my

dear sir take your time." He patted the scientist on the shoulder to soothe his clamorous rage. "You are

"Robinson, you're a a a fool!" shouted Braddock, glaring at the suave looks of the doctor. "I am in perfect

"Mummy," bellowed Braddock, stamping like an insane Cupid "the mummy hasn't arrived."

"I'll surprise you more," growled Braddock, dragging Robinson into the garden and up the steps.

"Gently! gently! my dear sir," said the doctor, who really began to think that much learning had made the

"Murdered. At least I think he is murdered. At all events he arrived here today in the packing case, which

should have contained my green mummy. Come in and examine the body at once. No," Braddock pushed

back the doctor just as fiercely as he had dragged him forward, "wait until the constable comes. I want him to

see the body first, and to observe that nothing has been touched. I have sent for the Pierside inspector to

come. There will be all sorts of trouble," cried Braddock despairingly, "and my work most important work

will be delayed, just because this silly young ass Sidney Bolton chose to be murdered," and the Professor

"Good heavens!" stammered Robinson, who was young in years and somewhat new to his profession, "you

"Mistaken! mistaken!" shouted Braddock with another glare. "Come and see that poor fellow's body then. He

"I don't know I don't know! Such a nuisance to lose a man like Bolton an invaluable assistant. What I

shall do without him I really don't know. And his mother has been here, making no end of a fuss."

"Can you blame her?" said the doctor, recovering his breath. "She is his mother, after all, and poor Bolton

"I am not denying the relationship, confound you!" snapped the Professor, ruffling his hair until it stood up

like the crest of a parrot. "But she needn't ah!" He glanced through the open door, and then rushed to the

threshold. "Here is Hope and Painter. Come in come in. I have the doctor here. Hope, you have the key.

You observe, constable, that Mr. Hope has the key. Open the door: open the door, and let us see the meaning

"Crime, sir?" queried the constable, who had heard all that was known from Hope, but now wished to hear

"Oh, of course of course," gabbled the Professor, as if the death was quite a minor consideration. "Bolton's

dead murdered, I suppose, as he could scarcely have nailed himself down in a packing case. But it's my

precious mummy I am thinking of, Painter. A mummy if you know what a mummy is that cost me nine

hundred pounds. Go in, man. Go in and don't stand there gaping. Don't you see that Mr. Hope has opened the

door. I have sent Cockatoo to Pierside to notify the police. They will soon be here. Meanwhile, doctor, you

can examine the body, and Painter here can give his opinion as to who stole my mummy."

"The assassin stole the mummy," said Archie, as the four men entered the museum, "and substituted the body

"That is all A B C," snapped Braddock, issuing into the vast room, "but we want to know the name of the

assassin, if we are to revenge Bolton and get back my mummy. Oh, what a loss! what a loss! I have lost

nine hundred pounds, or say one thousand, considering the cost of bringing Inca Caxas to England."

Archie forebore to remind the Professor as to who had really lost the money, as the scientist was not in a fit

state to be talked to reasonably, and seemed much more concerned because his Peruvian relic of humanity

had been lost than for the terrible death of Sidney Bolton. But by this time Painter a fairhaired young

constable of small intelligence was examining the packing case and surveying the dead. Dr. Robinson also

looked with a professional eye, and Braddock, wiping his purple face and gasping with exhaustion, sat down

on a stone sarcophagus. Archie, folding his arms, leaned against the wall and waited quietly to hear what the

The packing case was deep and wide and long, made of tough teak and banded at intervals with iron bands.

Within this was a case of tin, which, when it held the mummy, had been soldered up; impervious to air and

water. But the unknown person who had extracted the mummy, to replace it by a murdered man's body, had

cut open the tin casing with some sharp instrument. There was straw round the tin casing and straw within,

amongst which the body of the unfortunate young man was placed. Rigor mortis had set in, and the corpse,

with straight legs and hands placed stiffly by its side, lay against the back of the tin casing surrounded more

or less by the straw packing, or at least by so much as the Professor had not torn away. The face looked dark,

and the eyes were wide open and staring. Robinson stepped forward and ran his hand round the neck.

Uttering an ejaculation, he removed the woollen scarf which the dead man had probably worn to keep himself

from catching cold, and those who looked on saw that a redcolored window cord was tightly bound about

"The poor devil has been strangled," said the doctor quietly. "See: the assassin has left the bowstring on, and

"Because Widow Anne knitted that scarf for Bolton before he went to Malta. He showed it to me, laughingly,

"Before he went to Malta, of course," said Robinson in mild surprise. "You don't suppose he showed it to me

when he returned. When did he return to England?" he asked the Professor, with an afterthought.

"Then, from the condition of the body" the doctor felt the dead flesh "he must have been murdered last

The constable shook his head. "Better wait, sir, until the inspector comes," he said in his unintelligent way.

"Poor Sid! Why, I knew him. He was at school with me, and now he's dead. Who killed him?"

Like a geographical Lord Byron, the isolated village of Gartley awoke one morning to find itself famous.

Previously unknown, save to the inhabitants of Brefort, Jessum, and the surrounding country, and to the

soldiers stationed in the Fort, it became a nine days' centre of interest. Inspector Date of Pierside arrived with

his constables to inquire into the reported crime, and the local journalists, scenting sensation, came flying to

Gartley on bicycles and in traps. Next morning London was duly advised that a valuable mummy was

missing, and that the assistant of Professor Braddock, who had been sent to fetch it from Malta, was

murdered by strangulation. In a couple of days the three kingdoms were ringing with the news of the mystery.

And a mystery it proved, to be, for, in spite of Inspector Date's efforts and the enterprise of Scotland Yard

detectives summoned by the Professor, no clue could be found to the identity of the assassin. Briefly, the

The tramp steamer Diver Captain George Hervey in command had berthed alongside the Pierside jetty at

four o'clock on a Wednesday afternoon in midSeptember, and some two hours later Sidney Bolton removed

As it was impossible to carry the case to the Pyramids on that night, Bolton had placed it in his bedroom at

the Sailor's Rest, a mean little publichouse of no very savory reputation near the water's edge. He was last

seen alive by the landlord and the barmaid, when, after a drink of harmless gingerbeer, he retired to bed at

eight, leaving instructions to the landlord overheard by the barmaid that the case was to be sent on next

day to Professor Braddock of Gartley. Bolton hinted that he might leave the hotel early and would probably

precede the case to its destination, so as to advise Professor Braddock necessarily anxious of its safe

arrival. Before retiring he paid his bill, and deposited in the landlord's hand a small sum of money, so that the

case might be sent across stream to Brefort, thence to be taken in a lorry to the Pyramids. There was no sign,

said the barmaid and the landlord, that Bolton contemplated suicide, or that he feared sudden death. His

whole demeanor was cheerful, and he expressed himself exceedingly glad to be in England once more.

At eleven on the ensuing morning, a persistent knocking and a subsequent opening of the door of Bolton's

bedroom proved that he was not in the room, although the tumbled condition of the bedclothes proved that

he had taken some rest. No one in the hotel thought anything of Bolton's absence, since he had hinted at an

early departure, although the chambermaid considered it strange that no one had seen him leave the hotel.

The landlord obeyed Bolton's instructions and sent the case, in charge of a trustworthy man, to Brefort across

the river. There a lorry was procured, and the case was taken to Gartley, where it arrived at three in the

afternoon,. It was then that Professor Braddock , in opening the case, discovered the body of his illfated

assistant, rigid in death, and with a red window cord tightly bound round the throat of the corpse. At once,

said the newspapers, the Professor sent for the police, and later insisted that the smartest Scotland Yard

detectives should come down to elucidate the mystery. At present both police and detectives were engaged in

Such was the tale set forth in the local and London and provincial journals. Widely as it was discussed, and

many as were the theories offered, no one could fathom the mystery. But all agreed that the failure of the

police to find a clue was inexplicable. It was difficult enough to understand how the assassin could have

murdered Bolton and opened the packing case, and removed the mummy to replace it by the body of his

victim in a house filled with at least half a dozen people; but it was yet more difficult to guess how the

criminal had escaped with so noticeable an object as the mummy, bandaged with emeraldhued woollen stuff

woven from the hair of Peruvian llamas. If the culprit was one who thieved and murdered for gain, he could

scarcely sell the mummy without being arrested, since all England was ringing with the news of its

disappearance; if a scientist, impelled to robbery by an archaeological mania, he could not possibly keep

possession of the mummy without someone learning that he possessed it. Meanwhile the thief and his plunder

had vanished as completely as if the earth had swallowed both. Great was the wonder at the cleverness of the

criminal, and many were the solutions offered to account for the disappearance. One enterprising weekly

paper, improving on the Limerick craze, offered a furnished house and three pounds a week for life to the

fortunate person who could solve the mystery. As yet no one had won the prize, but it was early days yet, and

Naturally Hope was sorry for the untimely death of Bolton, whom he had known as an amiable and clever

young man. But he was also annoyed that his loan of the money to Braddock should have been, so to speak,

nullified by the loss of the mummy. The Professor was perfectly furious at his double loss of assistant and

embalmed corpse, and was only prevented from offering a reward for the discovery of the thief and assassin

by the painful fact that he had no money. He hinted to Archie that a reward should be offered, but that young

man, backed by Lucy, declined to throw away good money after bad. Braddock took this refusal so ill, that

Hope felt perfectly convinced he would try and wriggle out of his promise to permit the marriage and

persuade Lucy to engage herself to Sir Frank Random, should the baronet be willing to offer a reward. And

Hope was also certain that Braddock, a singularly obstinate man, would never rest until he once more had the

mummy in his possession. That the murderer of !Sidney Bolton should be hanged was quite a minor

Meanwhile Widow Anne had insisted on the dead body being taken to her cottage, and Braddock, with the

consent of Inspector Date, willingly agreed, as he did not wish a newly dead corpse to remain under his roof.

Therefore, the remains of the unfortunate young man were taken to his humble home, and here the body was

inspected by the jury when the inquest took place in the coffeeroom of the Warrior Inn, immediately

opposite Mrs. Bolton's abode. There was a large crowd round the inn, as people had come from far and wide

to hear the verdict of the jury, and Gartley, for the first and only time in its existence, presented the aspect of

The Coroner an elderly doctor with a short temper; caused by the unrealized ambition of a country

practitioner opened the proceedings by a snappy speech, in which he set forth the details of the crime in the

same bold fashion in which they had been published by the newspapers. A plan of the Sailor's Rest was then

placed before the jury, and the Coroner drew the attention of the twelve good and lawful men to the fact that

the bedroom occupied by deceased was on the ground floor, with a window looking out on to the river,

"So you will see, gentlemen," said the Coroner, "that the difficulty of the assassin in leaving the hotel with his

plunder was not so great as has been imagined. He had merely to open the window in the quiet hours of the

night, when no one was about, and pass the mummy through to his accomplice, who probably waited

without. It is also probable that a boat was waiting by the bank of the river, and the mummy having been

placed in this, the assassin and his friend could row away into the unknown without the slightest chance of

Inspector Date a tall, thin, upright man with an iron jaw and a severe expression drew the Coroner's

attention to the fact that there was no evidence to show that the assassin had an accomplice.

"What you have stated, sir, may have occurred," rasped Date in a military voice, "but we cannot prove the

truth of your assumption, since the evidence at our disposal is merely circumstantial."

"I never suggested that it was anything else," snapped the Coroner. "You waste time in traversing my

statements. Say what you have to say, Mr. Inspector, and produce your witnesses if you have any."

There are no witnesses who can swear to the identity of the murderer," said Inspector Date coldly, and

determined not to be ruffled by the apparent antagonism of the Coroner. "The criminal has vanished, and no

one can guess his name or occupation, or even the reason which led him to slay the deceased."

Inspector: "Exactly, sir. We wish to learn the reason why the murderer strangled the deceased."

Coroner: "We know that reason. What we wish to know is why the murderer stole the mummy. And I would

point out to you, Mr. Inspector, that, as yet, we do not even know the sex of the assassin. It might be a

Professor Braddock, who was seated near the door of the coffeeroom, being even more irascible than usual,

Coroner: "You are out of order, sir. And I would point out that, as yet, Inspector Date has produced no

Date glared. He and the Coroner were old enemies, and always sparred when they met. It seemed likely, that

the peppery little Professor would join in the quarrel and that there would be a duel of three; but Date, not

wishing for an adverse report in the newspapers as to his conduct of the case, contented himself with the glare

aforesaid, and, after a short speech, called Braddock. The Professor, looking more like a cross cherub than

ever, gave his evidence tartly. It seemed ridiculous to his prejudiced mind that all this fuss should be made

over Bolton's body, when the mummy; was still missing. However, as the discovery of the criminal would

assuredly lead to the regaining of that precious Peruvian relic, he curbed his wrath and answered the

And, after all, Braddock had very little to tell. He had, so he stated, seen an advertisement in a newspaper that

a mummy, swathed in green bandages, was to be sold in Malta; and had sent his assistant to buy it and bring

it home. This was done, and what happened after the mummy left the tramp steamer was known to everyone,

"I mean, sir," snapped Braddock, equally sharply, "that the publicity given by the newspapers to these details

"Rubbish! rubbish! rubbish! My mummy wasn't stolen by a woman. What the devil would a woman want

After a moment or two the situation was adjusted in silence, and the Coroner asked a few questions, pertinent

"No, sir, he hadn't, not being famous enough, or rich enough, or clever enough to excite the hatred of

mankind. He was simply an intelligent young man, who worked excellently when supervised by me. His

mother is a washerwoman in this village, and the lad brought washing to my house. Noting that he was

intelligent and was anxious to rise above his station, I engaged him as my assistant and trained him to do my

"Yes. I don't wash, whatever Bolton's mother may, do. Don't ask silly questions."

"Be more respectful," said the Coroner again, and grew red. "Have you any idea as to the name of anyone

"I daresay dozens of scientists in my line of business would have liked to get the corpse of Inca Caxas. Such

"Nonsense," growled the Coroner. "Famous men like those you mention would not murder even for the sake

"I never said that they would," retorted Braddock, "but you wanted to hear who would like to have the

"How the devil should I know?" fumed the Professor. "I never unpacked the mummy; I never even saw it.

Any jewelry buried with Inca Caxas would be bound up in the bandages. So far as I know those bandages

"No, I can't. Bolton went to get the mummy and brought it home. I understood that he would personally bring

When the Professor stepped down, still fuming at what he considered were the unnecessary questions of the

Coroner, the young doctor who had examined the corpse was called. Robinson deposed that deceased had

been strangled by means of a red window cord, and that, from the condition of the body, he would judge

death had taken place some twelve hours more or less before the opening of the packing case by Braddock.

That was at three o'clock on Thursday afternoon, so in witness's opinion the crime was committed between

"But I can't be absolutely certain as to the precise hour," added witness; "at any rate poor Bolton was

"That is a wide margin," grumbled the Coroner, jealous of his brotherpractitioner. "Were there any, other

The Coroner, thus reproved, glared, and Widow Anne appeared after Robinson retired. She stated, with many

sobs, that her son had no enemies and was a good, kind young man. She also related her dream, but this was

flouted by the Coroner, who did not believe in the occult. However, the narration of her premonition was

listened to with deep interest by those in the court. Widow Anne concluded her evidence by asking how she

was to live now that her boy Sid was dead. The Coroner professed himself unable to answer this question,

Samuel Quass, the landlord of the Sailor's Rest, was next called. He proved to be a big, burly, redhaired,

redwhiskered man, who looked like a sailor. And indeed a few questions elicited the information that he

was a retired seacaptain. He gave his evidence gruffly but honestly, and although he kept so shady a

publichouse, seemed straightforward enough. He told much the same tale as had appeared in the

newspapers. In the hotel on that night there was only himself, his wife and two children, and the staff of

servants. Bolton retired to bed saying that he might start early for Gartley, and paid one pound to get the case

taken across to river and placed on a lorry. As Bolton had vanished next morning, Quass obeyed instructions,

with the result which everyone knew. He also stated that he did not know the case contained a mummy.

"He told me nothing about the case," growled the witness, "but he chatted a lot about Malta, which I know

"No, he didn't," said the witness for the third time. "He seemed happy enough. I never thought for one

moment that he was dead until I heard how his body had been found in the packing case."

The Coroner asked all manner of questions, and so did Inspector Date; but all attempts to incriminate Quass

were vain. He was bluff and straightforward, and told so far as could be judged everything he knew.

There was nothing for it but to dismiss him, and Eliza Flight was called as the last witness.

She also proved to be the most important, as she knew several things which she had not told to her master, or

to the reporters, or even to the police. On being asked why she had kept silence, she said that her desire was

to obtain any reward that might be offered; but as she had heard that there would be no reward, she was

The girl stated that Bolton had retired to bed at eight on the ground floor, and the bedroom had a window as

marked in the plan which looked on to the river a stonethrow distant. At nine or a trifle later witness went

out to have a few words with her lover. In the darkness she saw that the window was open and that Bolton

was talking to an old woman muffled in a shawl. She could not see the woman's face, nor judge of her stature,

as she was stooping down to listen to Bolton. Witness did not take much notice, as she was in a hurry to see

her lover. When she returned past the window at ten o'clock it was closed and the light was extinguished, so

"But, to tell the truth," said Eliza Flight, "I never thought anything of the matter at all. It was only after the

"Yes, sir," said the girl, honestly enough. "I have told you everything that happened on that night. Next

"Mr. Bolton had locked his door. I know that, because a few minutes after eight on the night before, not

knowing he had retired. I tried to enter the room and make ready the bed for the night. He sang out through

the door which was locked, for I tried it that he was in bed. That was a lie also, as after nine I saw him

"You previously said an old woman," said the Coroner, referring to his notes. "How do you know she was

"I can't say if she was old or young," said the witness candidly; "it's only a manner of speaking. She had a

dark shawl over her head and a dark dress. I couldn't say if she was old or young, fair or dark, stout or lean,

"There is a gaslamp near the window of the bedroom. Did you not see her in that light?"

"Oh, yes, sir; but just for a moment. I took very little notice. Had I known that the gentleman was to be

"It was locked overnight, sir, but when I went next morning, it was not locked. I knocked and knocked, but

could get no answer. As it was eleven, I thought the gentleman was sleeping very long, so I tried to open the

door. It was not locked, as I say but," added witness with emphasis, "the window was snibbed and the blind

"That is natural enough," said the Coroner. "Mr: Bolton, after his interview with the woman, would of course

snib the window, and pull down the blind. When he went away next morning he would unlock the door."

"Begging your pardon, sir, but, as we know, he didn't go away next morning, being in the packing case,

The Coroner could have kicked himself for the very natural mistake he had made, for he saw a derisive grin

"Then I don't know how he got out," cried Eliza Flight, "for I was up at six and the front and back doors of

the hotel were locked. And after six I was about in passages and rooms doing my work, and master and

missus and others were all over the place. How could the murderer walk out, sir, without some of us seeing

This concluded the evidence, which was meagre enough. Widow Anne was indeed recalled to see if Miss

Flight could identify her as the woman who, had been talking to Bolton, but witness failed to recognize her,

and the widow herself proved, by means of three friends, that she had been imbibing gin at home on the night

and at the hour in question. Also, there was no evidence to connect this unknown woman with the murder,

and no sound according to the unanimous testimony of the inmates of the Sailor's Rest had been heard in

the bedroom of Bolton. Yet, as the Coroner observed, there must have been some knocking and hammering

and ripping going on. But of this nothing could be proved, and although several witnesses were examined

again, not one could throw light on the mystery. Under these circumstances the jury could only bring in a

verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown, which was done. And it may be mentioned

that the cord with which Bolton had been strangled was identified by the landlord and the chambermaid as

"Well," said Hope, when the inquest was over, "so nothing can be proved against anyone. What is to be done

The day after the inquest, Sidney Bolton's body was buried in Gartley churchyard. Owing to the nature of the

death, and the publicity given to the murder by the press, a great concourse of people assembled to witness

the interment, and there was an impressive silence when the corpse was committed to the grave. Afterwards,

as was natural, much discussion followed on the verdict at the inquest. It was the common opinion that the

jury could have brought in no other verdict, considering the nature of the evidence supplied; but many people

declared that Captain Hervey of The Diver should have been called. If the deceased had enemies, said these

wiseacres, it was probable that he would have talked About them to the skipper. But they forgot that the

witnesses called at the inquest, including the mother of the dead man, had insisted that Bolton had no

After the funeral, the journals made but few remarks about the mystery. Every now and then it was hinted

that a clue had been found, and that the police would sooner or later track down the criminal. But all this

loose chatter came to nothing, and as the days went by, the public in London, at all events lost interest in

the case. The enterprising weekly paper that had offered the furnished house and the life income to the person

who found the assassin received an intimation from the Government that such a lottery could not be allowed.

The paper, therefore, returned to Limericks, and the amateur detectives, like so many Othellos, found their

occupation gone. Then a political crisis took place in the far East, and the fickle public relegated the murder

of Bolton to the list of undiscovered crimes. Even the Scotland Yard detectives, failing to find a clue, lost

interest in the matter, and it seemed as though the mystery of Bolton's death would not be solved until the

In the village, however, people still continued to be keenly interested, since Bolton was one of themselves,

and, moreover, Widow Anne kept up a perpetual outcry about her murdered boy. She had lost the small

weekly sum which Sidney had allowed her out of his wages, so the neighbors, the gentry of the surrounding

country, and the officers at the Fort sent her ample washing to do. Widow Anne in a few weeks had quite a

large business, considering the size of the village, and philosophically observed to a neighbor that "It was an

ill wind which blew no one any good," adding also that Sidney was more good to her dead than alive. But

even in Gartley the villagers grew weary of discussing a mystery which could never be solved, and so the

case became rarely talked about. In these days of bustle and worry and competition, it is wonderful how

people forget even important events. If a blue sun arose to lighten the world instead of a yellow one, after

nine days of wonder, man would settle down quite comfortably to a cerulean existence. Such is the wonderful

Professor Braddock was less forgetful, as he always bore in mind the loss of his mummy, and constantly

thought of schemes whereby he could trap the assassin of his late secretary. Not that he cared for the dead in

any way, save from a strictly business point of view, but the capture of the criminal meant the restitution of

the mummy, and as Braddock told everyone with whom he came in contact he was determined to regain

possession of his treasure. He went himself to the Sailor's Rest, and drove the landlord and his servants wild

by asking tart questions and storming when a satisfactory answer could not be supplied. Quass was glad when

he saw the plump back of the cross little man, who so pertinaciously followed what everyone else had

The wooing of Archie and Lucy went on smoothly, and the Professor showed no sign of wishing to break the

engagement. But Hope, as he confided to Lucy, was somewhat worried, as his pauper uncle, on an

insufficient borrowed capital, had begun to speculate in South African mines, and it was probable that he

would lose all his money. In that case Hope fancied he would be once more called upon to make good the

avuncular loss, and so the marriage would have to be postponed. But it so happened that the pauper uncle

made some lucky speculative shots and acquired money, which he promptly reinvested in new mines of the

wildcat description. Still, for the moment all was well, and the lovers had a few halcyon days of peace and

Then came a bolt from the blue in the person of Captain Hervey, who called a fortnight after the funeral to

see the Professor. The skipper was a tall, slim man, lean as a fasting friar, and hard as nails, with closely

clipped red hair, mustache of the same aggressive hue, and an American goatee. He spoke with a Yankee

accent, and in a truculent manner, sufficiently annoying to the fiery Professor. When he met Braddock in the

museum, the two became enemies at the first glance, and because both were badtempered and obstinate,

took an instant dislike to one another. Like did not draw to like in this instance.

"What do you want to see me about?" asked Braddock crossly. He had been summoned by Cockatoo from the

perusal of a new papyrus to see his visitor, and consequently was not in the best of tempers.

"I've jes' blew in fur a trifle of chinmusic," replied Hervey with an emphatic U.S.A. accent.

Hervey took a chair and, stretching his lengthy legs, produced a black cheroot, as long and lean as himself.

"If you were in the States, Professor, I'd draw a bead on you for that style of lingo. I'm not taking any. See!"

"That's so; I was, that is. Now, I've shifted to a dandy windjammer of sorts that can run rings round the old

barky. I surmise I'm off for the South Seas, pearlfishing, in three months. I'll take that Kanaka along with

me, if y'like, Professor," and he cast a side glance at Cockatoo, who was squatting on his hams as usual,

"I require the services of the man," said Braddock stiffly. "As to you, sir: you've been paid for your business

in connection with Bolton's passage and the shipment of my mummy, so there is no more to be said."

"Heaps more! heaps, you bet," remarked the man of the sea placidly, and controlling a temper which in less

civilized parts would have led him to wipe the floor with the plump scientist. "My owners were paid fur that

racket: not me. No, sir. So I've paddled into this port to see if I can rake in a few dollars on my own."

Braddock grew scarlet with fury. "If you speak to me like that, you ruffian, I'll throw you out."

"You make me smile, and likewise tired," murmured Hervey, admiring the little man's pluck. "See here,

"My mummy: my green mummy. What about it?" Braddock rose to the fly thrown by this skilful angler.

"Ah!" The Professor again stood on tiptoe, gasping and purple in the face. He almost squeaked in the

"I knew that you had stolen my mummy. Yes, you needn't deny it. Bolton, like the silly fool he was, told you

how valuable the mummy was, and you strangled the poor devil to get my property."

"Go slow," said the captain, in no wise perturbed by this accusation. "I would have you remember that at the

inquest it was stated that the window was locked and the door was open. How then could I waltz into that

blamed hotel and arrange for a funeral? 'Sides, I guess shooting is mor'n my line than garrotting. I leave that

Braddock sat down and wiped his face. He saw plainly enough that he had not a leg to stand on, as Hervey

"'Sides," went on the skipper, chewing his cheroot, "I guess if I'd wanted that old corpse of yours, I'd have

yanked Bolton overside, and set down the accident to bad weather. Better fur me to loot the case aboard than

to make a fool of myself ashore. No, sir, H.H. don't run 'is own perticler private circus in that blamed way."

"Me, you bet. Hiram Hervey, citizen of the U.S.A. Nantucket neighborhood for home life. And see, don't you

"You can't scalp me," chuckled Braddock, passing his hand over a very bald head. "See here, what do you

"In three months, pearlfishing. Lots of time, I reckon, to run this old circus I want you to finance."

"Well," drawled the Yankee, "y'see, I interviewed the gal as told that perticler lie in court."

"Well, not exactly. The window was snibbed, but that was done after the chap who sent your pal to Kingdom

Do you mean to say that the window was locked from the outside?" asked Braddock, and then, when Hervey

"Narry an impossibility, you bet. The chap who engineered the circus was allfired smart. The snib was an

old one, and he yanked a piece of string round it, and passed the string through the crack between the upper

and lower sash of the window. When outside he pulled, and the snib slid into place. But he left the string on

the ground outside. I picked it up nex' day and guessed the racket he'd been on. I tried the same business and

"It sounds wonderful and yet impossible," cried Braddock, rubbing his bald head and walking excitedly to

"You bet you, won't, unless you shell out. See here" Hervey leaned forward "from that window business

it's plain that no one inside the shanty corpsed your pal. The chap as did it entered and left by the window,

and made tracks with that old corp you want. Now you pass along five hundred pounds that's English

"And where do you think I can obtain five hundred pounds?" asked the Professor very dryly.

"Well, I guess if that blamed corpse is worth it, you'll be willing to trade. Y'don't live in this shanty for

"My good friend, I have enough to live on, and obtain this house at a small rent on account of its isolation.

"One moment, sir. Did anything happen on the voyage? did Bolton say anything likely to lead you to

"No," said the skipper musingly, and pulling his goatee. "He told me that he had secured the old corpse, and

"Then I reckon you don't get the corpse. So long," and the skipper strolled towards the door. Braddock

"No, I've got nothing; not even that five hundred pounds you make such a fuss over. It's a wasted day with

H.H., I surmise. Wait!" He scribbled on a card and flung it across the room. "That's my Pierside address if

The Professor picked up the card. "The Sailor's Rest! What, are you stopping there?" Then, when Hervey

nodded, he cried violently, "Why, I believe you have a clue, and stop at the hotel to follow it up."

"Maybe I do and maybe I don't," retorted the captain, opening the door with a jerk; "anyhow, I don't hunt for

When Hiram Hervey departed, the Professor raged up and down the room so violently that Cockatoo was

cowed by his anger. Apparently this American skipper knew of something which might lead to the discovery

of the assassin and incidentally to the restoration of the green mummy to its rightful owner. But he would not

make a move unless he was paid five hundred pounds, and Braddock did not know where to procure that

amount. Having long since made himself acquainted with Hope's financial condition, he knew well that there

was no chance of getting a second check in that quarter. Of course there was Random, whom he had heard

casually had returned from his yachting cruise, and was now back again at the Fort. But Random was in love

with Lucy, and would probably only give or lend the money on condition that the Professor helped him with

his wooing. In that case, since Lucy was engaged to Hope, there would be some difficulty in altering present

conditions. But having arrived at this point of his somewhat angry meditations, Braddock sent Cockatoo with

"I'll see if she really loves Hope," thought the Professor, rubbing his plump hands. "If she doesn't, there may

be a chance of her throwing him over to become Lady Random. Then I can get the money. And indeed,"

soliloquized the Professor virtuously, "I must point out to her that it is wrong of her to make a poor marriage,

when she can gain a wealthy husband. I will only be doing my duty by my dear dead wife, by preventing her

His amiable anxiety on behalf of Miss Kendal was only cut short by the entrance of the young lady herself.

Professor Braddock then showed his hand too plainly by evincing a strong wish to conciliate her in every

way. He procured her a seat: he asked after her health: he told her that she was growing prettier every day,

and in all ways behaved so unlike his usual self, that Lucy became alarmed and thought that he had been

"Aha!" Braddock put his venerable head on one side like a roguish bird and smiled in an infantine manner. "I

"No, about flesh and blood, which you prefer. Sir Frank Random has arrived back at the Fort. There!"

"I know that," was Miss Kendal's unexpected reply. "His yacht came to Pierside on the same afternoon as The

"Oh, indeed!" said the Professor, struck by the coincidence, and with a stare. "How do you know?"

"What?" Braddock struck a tragic attitude. "Do you mean to say that those two young men speak to one

"Oh!" Braddock became roguish again. "I fancied they were lovers of a certain young lady who is in this

By this time Lucy was beginning to guess what her stepfather was aiming at, and grew correspondingly angry

"Archie is my sole lover now," she remarked stiffly. "Sir Frank knows that we are engaged and is quite ready

"And he calls that love. Idiot!" cried the Professor, much disgusted. "But I would point out to you, Lucy

and I do so because of my deep affection for you, dear child that Sir Frank is wealthy."

"You should not say that. Archie had money to the extent of one thousand pounds, which he gave you."

"One thousand pounds: a mere nothing. Consider, Lucy, that if you marry Random you will have a title."

"Then your wish is granted: you do see me happy. But I won't be happy long if you keep bothering me to

marry a man I don't care two straws about. I am going to be Mrs. Hope, so there."

"My dear child," said the Professor, who always became paternal when most obstinate, "I have reason to

believe that the green mummy can be discovered and poor Sidney's death avenged if a reward of five hundred

"Well, apply," she snapped, being decidedly angry; "it's none of my business. I don't want to hear anything

"It is your business, miss," cried Braddock, growing angry in his turn and becoming very pink; "you know

"Oh!" said Lucy coldly. "So this is why you sent for me. Now, father, I have had enough of this. You gave

your consent to Archie being engaged to me in exchange for one thousand pounds. As I love him I shall abide

by the word you gave. If I had not loved him I should have refused to marry him. You understand?"

"I understand that I have a very obstinate girl to deal with. You shall marry as I choose."

"I shall do nothing of the sort. You have no right to dictate my choice of a husband."

"You are not my father: merely my stepfather merely a relation by marriage. I am of age. I can do as I

"Yes, I would, if my misery is to be the price of its restoration. Why should I sell myself to a man I care

nothing about, just because you want a musty, fusty old corpse? Now I am going." Lucy walked to the door.

"I shan't listen to another word. And if you bother me again, I shall marry Archie at once and leave the

"I can make you leave it in any case, you ungrateful girl," bellowed Braddock, who was purple with rage,

never having a very good temper at the best of times. "Look what I have done for you!"

Miss Kendal could have pointed out that her Stepfather had done nothing save attend to himself. But she

disdained such an argument, and without another word opened the door and walked out. Almost immediately

afterwards Cockatoo entered, much to the relief of the Professor, who relieved his feelings by kicking the

unfortunate Kanaka. Then he sat down again to consider ways and means of obtaining the necessary mummy

Sir Frank Random was an amiable young gentleman with as the saying goes all his goods in the shop

window. Fairhaired and tall, with a wellknit, athletic figure, a polished manner, and a manoftheworld

air, he strictly resembled the romantic officer of Bow Bells, Family Herald, Young Ladies' Journal fiction.

But the romance was all in his wellgroomed looks, as he was as commonplace a Saxon as could be met with

in a day's march. Fond of sport, attentive to his duties as artillery captain, and devoted to what is romantically

known as the fair sex, he sauntered easily through life, very well contented with himself and with his

agreeable surroundings. He read fiction when he did read, and those weekly papers devoted to sport; troubled

his head very little about politics, save when they had to do with a possible German invasion, and was always

ready to do any one a good turn. His brotherofficers declared that he was not half a bad sort, which was high

praise from the usually reticent service man. His capacity may be accurately gauged by the fact that he did

not possess a single enemy, and that every one spoke well of him. A mortal who possesses no quality likely

to be envied by those around him is certain to belong to the rank and file of humanity. But these unconsidered

units of mankind can always console themselves with the undoubted fact that mediocrity is invariably happy.

Such a man as Random would never set the Thames on fire, and certainly he had no ambition to perform that

astounding feat. He was fond of his profession and intended to remain in the army as long as he could. He

desired to marry and beget a family, and retire, when set free from soldiering, to his country seat, and there

perform blamelessly the congenial role of a village squire, until called upon to join the respectable corpses in

the Random vault. Not that he was a saint or ever could be one. Neither black nor white, he was simply gray,

being an ordinary mixture of good and bad. As theology has provided no hereafter for gray people, it is hard

to imagine where the bulk of humanity will go. But doubts on this point never troubled Random. He went to

church, kept his mouth shut and his pores open and vaguely believed that it would be all right somehow. A

It can easily be guessed that Random's somewhat colorless personality would never attract Lucy Kendal,

since the hues of her own character were deeper. For this reason she was drawn to Hope, who possessed that

aggressive artistic temperament, where good and bad, are in violent contrast. Random took opinions from

books, or from other people, and his mind, like a lookingglass, reflected whatever came along; but Hope

possessed opinions of his own, both right and wrong, and held to these in the face of all verbal opposition. He

could argue and did argue, when Random simply agreed. Lucy had similar idiosyncrasies, inherited from a

clever father, so it was just as well that she preferred Archie to Frank. Had the latter young gentleman

married her, he would have dwindled to Lady Random's husband, and would have found too late that he had

domesticated a kind of imitation George Eliot. When he congratulated Archie on his engagement somewhat

But Professor Braddock, who did not belong to the gray tribe, knew nothing of this, as his Egyptological

studies did not permit him time to argue on such commonplace matters. He therefore failed in advance when

he set out to persuade Random into renewing his suit. As the fiery little man afterwards expressed himself, "I

might as well have talked to a mollusc," for Random politely declined to be used as an instrument to forward

the Professor's ambition at the cost of Miss Kendal's unhappiness. The interview took place in Sir Frank's

quarters at the Fort on the day after Hervey had called to propose a search for the corpse. And it was during

this interview that Braddock learned something which both startled and annoyed him.

Random, at three o'clock, had just changed into mufti, when the Professor was announced by his servant.

Braddock, determined to give his host no chance of denying himself, followed close on the man's heels, and

was in the room almost before Sir Frank had read the card. It was a bare room, sparsely furnished, according

to the War Office's idea of comfort, and although the baronet had added a few more civilized necessities, it

still looked somewhat dismal. Braddock, who liked comfort, shook hands carelessly with his host and cast a

"Dog kennel! dog kennel!" grumbled the polite Professor. "Bare desolation like a damned dungeon. You

"It would certainly be warmer," replied Random, who knew the scientist's snappy ways very well. "Take a

"Hard as bricks, confound it!" Hand me over a cushion. There, that's better! No, I never drink between meals,

thank you. Smoke? Hang it, Random, you should know by this time that I dislike making a chimney of my

throat! There! there! don't fuss. Take a seat and listen to what I have to say. It's important. Poke the fire,

Random placidly did as he was told, and then lighted a cigar, as he sat down quietly.

"Oh yes. Silly young ass to get killed. Lost my mummy, too: there's trouble if you like."

"The green mummy." Random looked into the fire, "Yes. I have heard of the green mummy."

"I should think you have," snapped Braddock, warming his plump hands. "Every pennyaliner has been

"On the same day that that steamer with the mummy on board arrived," was Random's odd reply.

The Professor stared suspiciously. "I don't see why you should date your movements by my mummy," he

"What about it? do you know where it is?" Braddock started to his feet, and looked eagerly at the calm face

"Who denied that it did, sir? You are illogical infernally so." The little man rose and straddled on the

hearthrug, with his back to the fire and his hands under his coattails. "Now, sir," he said, glaring at the

young man like a schoolmaster "what the deuce are you talking about? Out with it: no evasion,"

"Oh, hang it, Professor, don't jump down my throat, spurs and all," said Random, rather annoyed by this

Sir Frank could not help laughing, although ht knew that it was useless to induce Braddock to be civil. Not

that the Professor, meant to be rude, especially as he desired to conciliate Random. But long years of fighting

with other scientists and of having his own scientific way had turned him into a kind of schoolmaster, and

Random began hurriedly, so as to prevent further arguments of an unprofitable kind. "I was at Genoa with my

"An hotel. I there met with a certain Don Pedro de Gayangos and his daughter, Donna Inez, He was a

"And what did this confounded Spaniard want with my green mummy?" he demanded indignantly. "How did

he know of its existence? what reason had he to try and obtain it? Answer, sir."

"I shall let Don Pedro answer himself," said Random dryly. "He arrives in a couple of days, and intends to

take rooms at the Warrior Inn along with his daughter. Then you can question him, Professor."

"And I am answering to the best of my ability. Don Pedro told me nothing beyond the fact that he wanted the

mummy, and had come to Europe to get it. In some way he learned that it was in Malta and was for sale."

"Quite so: quite so," rasped the Professor. "He saw the advertisement in the newspapers, as I did, and wanted

"Oh, he wanted to buy it right enough, and wired to Malta," said Random, "but in reply he received a letter

stating that it had been sold to you and was being taken to England on The Diver. I followed The Diver in my

"Ah!" Braddock glared. "I begin to see light. This infernal Spaniard was on board, and wanted my mummy.

He knew that Bolton had taken it to the Sailor's Rest and went there to kill the poor lad and get my "

"Nothing of the sort," interrupted Sir Frank impatiently. "Don Pedro remained behind in Genoa, intending to

write and ask if you would sell him the mummy. I wrote and told him of the murder of your assistant and

related all that had happened. He wired to me that he was coming to England at once, as as I told you. He

"It is a sufficiently strange one," grumbled Braddock, frowning. "What does he want with my mummy?".

"I haven't got the mummy," said the Professor, sitting down and wiping his pink head, "and if I had, I

certainly would not sell. However, I'll hear what this gentleman has to say when he arrives. Perhaps he can

"I am perfectly certain that he cannot, sir. Don Pedro as I said was left behind in Genoa."

"Humph!" said the Professor, unconvinced. "He could easily employ a third party."

"I assure you that Don Pedro is a gentleman and a, man of honor. He would not stoop to "

"I say what I desire to say," retorted the old gentleman man tartly; "but we can dismiss the subject for the

"I am only too glad to do so," said Random, who was ruffled out of his usual calm by the veiled accusation

which Braddock had brought against his foreign friend, "and to get to a more agreeable subject, tell me how

"Ill? Why, Hope, whom I met the other day, said that she was feeling very well and very happy."

"It isn't nonsense, and don't dare to speak like that to me, sir. I repeat that Lucy poor child is breaking her

"It isn't, confound you!" said Braddock, who did not like being laughed at. "I know women."

"Ah, perhaps the more distant relationship accounts for your ignorance of her character," said Random dryly.

"You are quite wrong. I was in love with Miss Kendal, and asked her to be my wife before I went on leave.

She refused me, saying that she loved Hope, and because of her refusal I took my broken heart to Monte

"Your broken heart seems to have mended quickly," said Braddock, who was trying to suppress his wrath at

"Oh, pooh, it's only my way of speaking," laughed the young man. "If my heart had been really broken I

"Then you did not love Lucy, and you dared to play fast and loose with her affections," raged Braddock,

"You are quite wrong," said Sir Frank sharply; "I did love Miss Kendal, or I should certainly not have asked

her to be my wife. But when she told me that she loved another man, I stood aside as any fellow would."

"On nothing, sir. I am not the man to force a woman to give me a heart which belongs to another person. I am

very glad that Miss Kendal is engaged to Hope, as he is a capital fellow, and will make her a better husband

than I ever could have made her. Besides," Random shrugged his shoulders, "one nail drives another out."

Braddock chuckled, having read the truth in the flush which had crept over Random's tanned face.

"I ask your pardon," he said elaborately. "I am an old man, and I was your father's friend. You must not mind

"I don't agree with you, Random. Things are not all right and never will be until my mummy is discovered.

"With money. Understand, my boy," added the Professor in a genial way which he knew well how to assume,

"I should have preferred Lucy becoming your wife. However, since she prefers Hope, there's no more to be

"Yes! I fancied that you loved Lucy and were brokenhearted by the news of her engagement to Hope. I

therefore intended to ask you to give me, or rather lend me, five hundred pounds on condition that I helped

"Stop, Professor," said Random, coloring, "I should never have bought Miss Kendal as my wife on those

"Of course! of course! and as I say there is no more to be said. I shall therefore agree to Lucy's

engagement to Hope" Braddock carefully omitted to say that he had already agreed and had been paid one

thousand pounds to agree "and will congratulate you when you lead Donna Inez to the altar."

"Of course not: modern reticence. However, I can see through a brick wall as well as most people. I

"I cannot lend it to you, Professor. The fact is, I lost heaps of coin at Monte Carlo, and am not in a position to

"Very good, let us shelve that also," said Braddock with apparent heartiness, although he was really very

angry at his failure. "I am sorry, though, as I wish to get back the mummy and to revenge poor Sidney

"Well," drawled the Professor with his eyes on the young man's attentive face, "Captain Hervey of The Diver

came to me yesterday and proposed to search for the assassin and his plunder on condition that I paid him

five hundred pounds. I am, as you know, very poor for a scientist, and so I wished to borrow the five hundred

"We won't talk of that again," said Random hurriedly; "but do you mean to say that this Captain Hervey

"He says that he does not, and merely proposes to search. From what I have seen of the man I should think

that he had all the capacities of a good bloodhound and would certainly succeed. But he will not move a step

"Five hundred pounds," murmured Random thoughtfully, while the Professor watched him closely. "I can tell

"Don Pedro seems to be rich, and he wants the mummy," said the baronet. "So when he comes here ask him

"Certainly not: certainly not," raged Braddock, clapping on his hat in a fury. "How dare you make such a

proposition to me, Random! If this Don Pedro offers the reward and Hervey finds the mummy, he will simply

"He can scarcely do that, since you have bought the mummy. But Don Pedro is willing to purchase it from

"Humph!" Braddock moved to the door, thinking. "I shall reserve my decision until this man arrives. Good

Random did not attempt to detain him, as he was somewhat weary of the Professor's vagaries. He knew very

well that Braddock would call on Don Pedro when he came to the Warrior Inn, and join forces with him in

searching for the lost goods. And the train of thought initiated by the Professor's visit led Random to a certain

drawer, whence he took the photograph of a splendidlooking beauty. To this he pressed` his lips. "I wonder

if your father will give you to me in exchange for that mummy," he thought, and kissed the pictured face

Some weeks had now elapsed since the death and burial of Sidney Bolton, and the excitement had simmered

down to a gentle speculation as to who had killed him. This question was discussed in a halfhearted manner

round the winter fires of Gartley, but gradually people were ceasing to interest themselves in a crime, the

mystery of which would apparently never be solved. Life went on in the village and at the Pyramids much in

the same way, save that the Professor attended along with Cockatoo to his museum and did not engage

Archie and Lucy were perfectly happy, as they looked forward to being married in the spring, and Braddock

showed no desire to interfere with their engagement. They knew, of course, that he had called upon Sir Frank,

but were ignorant of what had taken place. Random himself called at the Pyramids to congratulate Miss

Kendal on her engagement, and seemed so very pleased that she was going to marry the man of her choice,

that, womanlike, she grew rather annoyed. As the baronet had been her lover, she thought that he should

wear the willow for her sake. But Random showed no disposition to do so, therefore Lucy shrewdly guessed

that his broken heart had been mended by another woman. The Professor could have confirmed the truth of

this from the hints which Random had given him, but he said nothing about his interview with the young

man, nor did he mention that a Spanish gentleman from Peru was seeking for the famous green mummy.

Considerably vexed that Random should be so cheerful, Lucy cast round to learn the truth. She could scarcely

ask the baronet himself, and Archie professed himself unable to explain. Miss Kendal did not dream of

crossexamining Braddock, as it never entered her mind that the dryasdust scientist would know anything.

It then occurred to this inquisitive young lady that Mrs. Jasher might be aware of Random's secret, which

made him so cheerful. Sir Frank was a great friend of the plump widow, and frequently went to take

afternoon tea at her small house, which was situated no great distance from the Fort. In fact, Mrs. Jasher

entertained the officers largely, as she was hospitable by nature, and liked to have presentable men about her

for flirting purposes. With goodlooking youth she assumed the maternal air, and in the role of a clever

woman of the world professed to be the adviser of one and all. In this way she became quite a favorite, and

her little parlor she liked the old English word was usually, well filled at the hour of afternoon tea.

Twice already Lucy had called on Mrs. Jasher after the commotion caused by the crime, as she wished to

speak to her about the same; but on each occasion the widow proved to be absent in London. However, the

third visit proved to be more lucky, for Mrs. Jasher was at home, and expressed herself happy to see the girl.

"So good of you to come and see me in my little wooden hut," said the widow, kissing her guest.

And Mrs. Jasher's cottage really was a little wooden hut, being what was left of an oldfashioned farmhouse,

built before the stone age. It lay on the verge of the marshes in an isolated position and was placed in the

middle of a square garden, protected from the winter floods by a low stone wall solidly built, but of no great

height. The road to the Fort ran past the front part of the garden, but behind the marshes spread towards the

embankment, which cut off the view of the Thames. The situation was not an ideal one, nor was the cottage,

but money was scarce with Mrs. Jasher, and she had obtained the whole place at a surprisingly small rental.

The house and grounds were dry enough in summer, but decidedly damp in winter. Therefore, the widow

went to a flat in London, as a rule, for the season of fogs. But this winter she had made up her mind so she

told Lucy to remain in her own little castle and brave the watery humors of the marshes.

"I can always keep fires burning in every room," said Mrs. Jasher, when she had removed her guest's hat and

had settled her for a confidential talk on the sofa. "And after all, my dear, there is no place like home."

The room was small, and Mrs. Jasher was small, so she suited her surroundings excellently. Also, the widow

had the good taste to furnish it sparsely, instead of crowding it with furniture; but what furniture there was

could not be improved upon. There were Chippendale chairs, a Louis Quinze table, a Sheridan cabinet, and a

satinwood desk, handpainted, which was said to have been the property of the unhappy Marie Antoinette.

Oilpaintings adorned the rosetinted walls, chiefly landscapes, although one or two were portraits. Also,

there were watercolored pictures, framed and signed caricatures, many plates of old china, and ricepaper

adornments from Canton. The room was essentially feminine, being filled with Indian stuffs, with silver

oddments, with flowers, and with other trifles. The walls, the carpet, the hangings, and the upholstery of the

armchairs were all of a rosy hue, so that Mrs. Jasher looked as young as Dame Holda in the Venusberg. A

very pretty room and a very charming hostess, was the verdict of the young gentlemen from the Fort, who

Mrs. Jasher in a tearose teagown for afternoon tea she always liked to be in keeping rang for that

beverage dear to the feminine heart, and lighted a roseshaded lamp. When a glow as of dawn spread through

the dainty room, she settled Lucy on the sofa near the fire, and drew up an armchair on the other side of the

hearthrug. Outside it was cold and foggy, but the rosehued curtains shut out all that was disagreeable in the

weather, and in the absence of male society, the two women talked more or less confidentially. Lucy did not

dislike Mrs. Jasher, even though she fancied that the lively widow was planning to become the mistress of the

"Well, my dear girl," said Mrs. Jasher, shading her face from the fire with a large fan, "and how is your dear

"Oh, I don't think he cares for poor Sidney's death beyond the fact that he misses his services. But the

mummy cost nine hundred pounds, and father is much annoyed, especially as Peruvian mummies are

somewhat hard to obtain. You see, Mrs. Jasher, father wishes to see the difference between the Peruvian and

"Ugh! How gruesome!" Mrs. Jasher shuddered. "But has anything been discovered likely to show who killed

"I have read the papers," she said slowly, "and have gathered what I could from what the reporters explained.

But I intend to call on the Professor and hear all that evidence which did not get into the papers."

"I think that everything has been made public. The police have no clue to the murderer. Why do you want to

"Why, I am the Professor's friend, of course, my dear, and naturally I want to help him to solve this mystery."

"There is no chance, so far as I can see, of it ever being solved," said Lucy. "It's very sweet of you, of course,

"Because he thinks of nothing else, and both Archie and I are trying to get him off the subject. The mummy is

"My father is too poor to offer a reward, and the Government will not do so. And as people will not work

"I might offer a reward if the dear Professor will let me," said the widow unexpectedly.

"I was, and I am not very rich now. All the same, I have come in for some thousands of pounds."

"Yes. You remember how I told you about my brother who was a Pekin merchant. He is dead."

"My dear, what is the use of being sorry. I never cry over spilt milk, or assume a virtue which I have not. My

brother and I were almost strangers, as we lived apart for so many years. However, he came home to die at

Brighton, and a few weeks ago just after this murder took place, in fact I was summoned to his

deathbed. He lingered on until last week and died in my arms. He left me nearly all his money, so I will be

"I don't see why you should," said Lucy, wondering why Mrs. Jasher did not wear mourning for the dead.

"Oh yes, you do see," remarked the widow, raising her eyes and rubbing her plump hands together. "I want to

"If my stepfather," she emphasized the word "if my stepfather consents, why should I mind? I am going to

"My, dear Mrs. Jasher," said Lucy, coldly, "there is no relationship between me and my stepfather beyond

the fact that he married my mother. Therefore you can never be my mother. Were I stopping on at the

Pyramids, that question might arise, but as I become Mrs. Hope in six months, we can be friends nothing

"I am quite content with that," said Mrs. Jasher in a businesslike way. "After all, I am no sentimentalist. But I

am glad that you do not mind my marrying the Professor, as I don't want you to prevent the match my dear."

"I assure you that I have no influence with my father, Mrs. Jasher. He will marry you if he thinks fit and

without consulting me. But," added the girl with emphasis, "I do not see what you gain in becoming Mrs.

"I may become Lady Braddock," said the widow, dryly. Then, in answer to the open astonishment on Lucy's

face, she hastened to remark: "Do you mean to say that you don't know your father is heir to a baronetcy?"

"Oh, I know that," rejoined Miss Kendal. "The Professor's brother, Sir Donald Braddock, is an old man and

unmarried. If he dies without heirs, as it seems likely, the Professor will certainly take the title."

"Well, then, there you are!" cried Mrs. Jasher, in her liveliest tone. "I want to give my legacy for the title and

"Wait until I marry him," said the little woman shrewdly. "I'll make a man of him. I know, of course, that

mummies and sepulchral ornaments and those sort of horrid things are dull, but the Professor will become Sir

Julian Braddock, and that is enough for me. I don't love him, of course, as love between two elderly people is

absurd, but I shall make him a good wife, and with my money he can take his proper position in the scientific

world, which he doesn't occupy at present. I would rather he had been artistic, as science is so dull. However,

I am getting on in years and wish to have some amusement before I die, so I must take what I can get. What

"I am quite agreeable, as, when I leave, someone must look after my father, else he will be shamefully robbed

by everyone in household matters. We are good friends, so why not you as well as another."

"You are a dear girl," said Mrs. Jasher with a sigh of relief, and kissed Lucy fondly. "I am sure we shall get

"At a distance. The artistic world doesn't touch on the scientific, you know. And you forget, Mrs. Jasher, that

"Yes, I promised, when I came in for my brother's money, to help the Professor to fit out his expedition. But

it seems to me that the money will be better spent in offering a reward so that the mummy can be found."

"You will not find him easy to manage," said Lucy dryly. "He is a very obstinate man, and quite feminine in

"H'm! I recognize that he is a difficult character, and between you and me dear, I should not marry him but

for the title. It sounds rather like an adventuress talking in this way, but, after all, if he makes me Lady

Braddock I can give him enough money to let him realize his desire of getting the mummy back. It's six of

"I am quite sure that, good or bad, the Professor will have his own way. It is not his happiness I am thinking

"Really. Here is the tea. Put the table near the fire, Jane, between Miss Kendal and myself. Thank you. The

muffins on the fender. Thank you. No, there is nothing more. Close the door when you go out."

The tea equippage having been arranged, Mrs. Jasher poured out a cup of Souchong, and handed it to her

"I don't see why you should be anxious about me, dear. I am quite able to look after myself. And the

"Oh, he is kindhearted when he gets his own way. Give him his hobby and he will never bother you. But he

won't live in London, and he will not consent to this salon you wish to institute."

"Why not? It means fame to him. I shall gather round me all the scientists of London and make my house a

centre of interest. The Professor can stop in his laboratory if he likes. As his wife, I can do all that is

necessary. Well, my dear" Mrs. Jasher took a cup of tea "we need not talk the subject threadbare. You do

not disapprove of my marriage with your stepfather, so you can leave the rest to me. If you can give me a

hint of how to proceed to bring about this marriage, of course I am not above taking it."

"As you will have to tell the Professor that your brother is dead to account for possessing the money," she

said pointedly, "I should advise you to go into mourning. Professor Braddock will be shocked otherwise."

"Dear me, what a tender heart he must have!" said Mrs. Jasher flippantly. "My brother was very little to me,

poor man, so he cannot be anything to the Professor. However, I shall adopt your advice, and, after all, black

suits me very well. There" she swept her hands across the teatable "that is settled. Now about yourself?"

"Of course. He called to see me a day or so ago, and seems less brokenhearted than he should be."

"Of course. Catch a modern man wearing the willow for any girl, however dear. Are you angry?"

"Oh yes, yes, I think," said the widow, laughing, "else you are no woman, my dear. I know I should be angry

"I believe so a colonial Spaniard, at least from Lima. Her father, Don Pedro de Gayangos, met Sir Frank

"Well, my dear, can't you put two and two together. Of course Sir Frank fell in love with this darkhued

"Perhaps Sir Frank wanted a change. He played on white and lost, and therefore stakes his money on black to

win. That's the result of having been at Monte Carlo. Besides, this young lady is rich, I understand, and Sir

Frank so he told me lost much more money at Monte Carlo than he could afford. Well, you don't look

"Oh yes, I am pleased, of course. I suppose, as any woman would, I felt rather hurt for the moment in being

forgotten so soon. But, after all, I can't blame Sir Frank for consoling himself. If I am married first, he shall

"And you shall both dance at mine," said Mrs. Jasher. "Why, there is quite an epidemic of matrimony. Well,

Donna Inez arrives here with her father in a day, or so. They stop at the Warrior Inn, I believe."

"Oh, it is clean and respectable. Besides, Sir Frank can hardly ask them to stop in the Fort, and I have no

room in this bandbox of mine. However, the two of them Donna Inez and Frank, I mean can come here

"I fear four people in this room would not do," laughed Lucy, rising to take her leave. "Well, I hope Sir Frank

will marry this lady and that you will become Mrs. Braddock. Only one thing I should like to know."

"By that argument a scientist must be the murderer and thief," said Mrs. Jasher. "However, we shall see.

"That is good advice; I shall take it and my leave," said Lucy, and departed in a very happy frame of mind.

Professor Braddock was usually the most methodical of men, and timed his life by the clock and the almanac.

He rose at seven, summer and winter, to partake of a hearty breakfast, which served him until dinner came at

five thirty. Braddock dined at this unusual hour save when there was company as be did not eat any

luncheon and scorned the very idea of afternoon tea. Two meals a day, he maintained, was enough for any

man who led a sedentary life, as too much food was apt to clog the wheels of the intellect. He usually worked

in his museum if the indulgence of his hobby could be called work from nine until four, after which hour

he took a short walk in the garden or through the village. On finishing his dinner he would glance over some

scientific publication, or perhaps, by way of recreation, play a game or two of patience; but at seven he

invariably retired into his own rooms to renew work. Retirement to bed took place at midnight, so it can be

guessed that the Professor got through an enormous quantity of work during the year. A more methodical

But on occasions even this enthusiast wearied of his hobby, and of the year's routine. A longing to see brother

scientists of his own way of thinking would seize him, and he would abruptly depart for London, to occupy

quiet lodgings, and indulge in intercourse with his fellowmen. Braddock rarely gave early intimation of his

urban nostalgia. At breakfast he would suddenly announce that the fit took him to go to London, and he

would drive to Jessum along with Cockatoo to catch the ten o'clock train to London. Sometimes he sent the

Kanaka back; at other times he would take him to town; but whether Cockatoo remained or departed, the

museum was always locked up lest it should be profaned by the servants of the house. As a matter of fact,

Braddock need not have been afraid, for Lucy knowing her stepfather's whims and violent temper took

Sometimes the Professor came back in a couple of days; at times his absence would extend to a week; and on

two or three occasions he remained absent for a fortnight. But whenever he returned, he said very little about

his doings to Lucy, perhaps deeming that dry scientific details would not appeal to a lively young lady. As

soon as he was established in his museum again, life at the Pyramids would resume its usual routine, until

Braddock again felt the want of a change. The wonder was, considering the nature of his work, and the

closeness of his application, that he did not more often indulge in these Bohemian wanderings.

Lucy, therefore, was not astonished when, on the morning after her visit to Mrs. Jasher, the Professor

announced in his usual abrupt way that he intended to go to London, but would leave Cockatoo in charge of

his precious collection. She was somewhat disturbed, however, as, wishing to forward the widow's

matrimonial aims, she had invited her to dinner for the ensuing night. This she told her stepfather, and,

"Mrs. Jasher," said Braddock hastily, drinking his coffee, "is a very sensible woman, who knows when to be

Braddock grunted, but did not seem displeased, since even a scientist possessing the usual vanity of the male

"Not in so many words. Still, I am a woman, and can guess how much another woman leaves unsaid." Lucy

paused, then added significantly: "I do not think that she is so very old, and you must admit that she is

"Like a mummy," remarked the Professor absently; then pushed back his chair to add briskly: "What does all

this mean, you minx? I know that the woman is all right so far as a woman can be: but her confounded age

and her looks and her unexpressed admiration. What are these to an old man like myself?"

"Father," said Lucy earnestly, "when I marry Archie I shall, in all probability, leave Gartley for London."

"I know I know. Bless me, child, do you think that I have not thought of that? If you were only wise, which

"Sir Frank has other fish to fry, father. And even if I did remain at the Fort as his wife, I still could not look

"Humph! I am beginning to see what you are driving at. But I can't forget your mother, my dear. She was a

"Still," said Lucy coaxingly, and becoming more and more the champion of Mrs. Jasher, "you cannot manage

this large house by yourself. I do not like to leave you in the hands of servants when I marry. Mrs. Jasher is

"And would make a good housekeeper. No, no, I don't want to give you another mother, child."

"There is no danger of that, even if I did not marry," rejoined Lucy stiffly. "A girl can have only one mother."

"And a man apparently can have two wives," said Braddock with dry humor. "Humph!" he pinched his

"I can't say. Don't ask silly questions. I dislike being bound to time. I may be a week, and I may be only a few

days. Things can go on here as usual, but if Hope comes to see you, ask Mrs. Jasher in, to play chaperon."

Lucy consented to this suggestion, and Braddock went away to prepare for his departure. To get him off the

premises was like launching a ship, as the entire household was at his swift heels, packing boxes, strapping

rugs, cutting sandwiches, helping him on with his overcoat and assisting him into the trap, which had been

hastily sent for to the Warrior Inn. All the time Braddock talked and scolded and gave directions and left

instructions, until every one was quite bewildered. Lucy and the servants all sighed with relief when they saw

the trap disappear round the end of the road in the direction of Jessum. In addition to being a famous

archaeologist, the Professor was assuredly a great nuisance to those who had to do with his whims and

For the next two or three days Lucy enjoyed herself in a quiet way with Archie. In spite of the lateness of the

season, the weather was still fine, and the artist took the opportunity of the pale sunshine to sketch a great

deal of the marsh scenery. Lucy attended him as a rule when he went abroad, and sometimes Mrs. Jasher,

voluble and merry, would came along with them to play the part of chaperon. But the girl noticed that Mrs.

Jasher's merriment was forced at times, and in the searching morning light she appeared to be quite old.

Wrinkles showed themselves on her plump face and weary lines appeared round her mouth. Also, she was

absentminded while the lovers chattered, and, when spoken to, would return to the present moment with a

start. As the widow was now well off as regards money, and as her scheme to marry Braddock was well on

the way to success for Lucy had duly reported the Professor's attitude it was difficult to understand why

Mrs: Jasher should look so worried. One day Lucy spoke to her on the subject. Random had strolled across

the marshes to look at Hope sketch, and the two men chatted together, while Miss Kendal led the little widow

"I have a few troubles," sighed the widow "troubles connected with the estate of my late brother. The

lawyers are very disagreeable and make all sorts of difficulties to swell their costs. Then, strangely enough, I

am beginning to feel my brother's death more than I thought I should have done. You see that I am in

mourning, dear. After what you said the other day I felt that it was wrong for me not to wear mourning. Of

course my poor brother and I were almost strangers. All the same, as he has left me money and was my only

"I hope not. I feel that I want a man to look after me. I told you that I desired to marry the Professor for his

possible title and in order to form a salon and have some amusement and power. But also I want a companion

for my old age. There is no denying," added Mrs. Jasher with another sigh, "that I am growing old in spite of

all the care I take. I am grateful for your friendship, dear. At one time I thought that you did not like me."

"Oh, I think we get on very well together," said Lucy somewhat evasively, for she did not want to say that

she would make the widow an intimate friend, "and, as you know, I am quite pleased that you should marry

"So pleasant to think that you look at my ambition in that light," said Mrs. Jasher, patting the girl's arm.

"I cannot say. He refused to fix a date. But he usually remains away for a fortnight. I expect him back in that

time, but he may come much earlier. He will come back when the fancy takes him."

"I shall alter all that, when we are married," muttered Mrs. Jasher with a frown. "He must be taught to be less

"I fear you will never improve him in that respect," said Lucy dryly, and rejoined the gentlemen in time to

"Of course," replied the young soldier, coloring. "Donna Inez is quite devoted to her father and never leaves

"She will one day, I expect," said Hope innocently, for his eyes were on his sketch and not on Random's face,

"At the Warrior Inn. I have engaged the best rooms in the place. I fancy they will be comfortable there, as

Mrs. Humber, the landlady, is a good housekeeper and an excellent cook. And I don't think Don Pedro is hard

"But why does a Spaniard come to so outoftheway a place?" asked Mrs. Jasher, after a pause.

"I thought I told you the other day, when we spoke of the matter," answered Sir Frank with surprise. "Don

"Nothing so far as I know, save that he came to Europe with the intention of purchasing it, and found himself

"Humph!" murmured Hope to himself. "Don Pedro will be disappointed when he learns that the mummy is

Random did not catch the words and was about to ask him what he had said, when two tall figures, conducted

"Strangers!" said Mrs. Jasher, putting up her lorgnette, which she used for effect, although she had

"I can't tell at this distance," said Lucy, "and if you can, Mrs. Jasher I really do not see why you require

Mrs. Jasher laughed at the compliment to her sight, and colored through her rouge at the reproof to her

vanity. Meanwhile, the smaller figure, which was that of a village lad leading a tall gentleman and a slender

lady, pointed toward the group round Hope's easel. Shortly, the boy ran back up to the village road, and the

gentleman came along the pathway with the lady. Random, who had been looking of them intently, suddenly

"Don Pedro and his daughter," he said in an astonished voice, and sprang forward to welcome the unexpected

"Now, my dear," whispered the widow in Lucy's ear, "we shall see the kind of woman Sir Frank prefers to

"Well, as Sir Frank has seen the kind of man I prefer to him," retorted Lucy, "that makes us quite equal."

"I am glad these newcomers talk English," said Hope, who had risen to his feet. "I know nothing of

"The language is the same, more or less. Confound it! here is Random bringing them here. I wish he would

take them to the Fort. There's no more work for the next hour, I suppose," and Hope, rather annoyed, began to

On a nearer view, Don Pedro proved to be a tall, lean, dry man, not unlike Dore's conception of Don Quixote.

He must have had Indian blood in his veins, judging from his very dark eyes, his stiff, lank hair, worn

somewhat long, and his high cheekbones. Also, although he was arrayed in puritanic black, his barbaric love

of color betrayed itself in a red tie and in a scarlet handkerchief which was twisted loosely round a soft slouch

hat, It was the hat and the brilliant red of tie and handkerchief which had caught Mrs. Jasher's eye at so great

a distance, and which had led her to pronounce the man a stranger, for Mrs. Jasher well knew that no

Englishman would affect such vivid tints. All the same, in spite of this eccentricity, Don Pedro looked a

thorough Castilian gentleman, and bowed gravely when presented to the ladies by Random.

"I am charmed," said the Peruvian, bowing, hat in hand, "and in turn, allow me, ladies, to introduce my

Archie was also presented to the Don and to the young lady, after which Lucy and Mrs. Jasher, while not

appearing to look, made a thorough examination of the lady with whom Random was in love. No doubt

Donna Inez was making an examination on her own account, and with the cleverness of the sex the three

women, while chatting affably, learned all that there was to be learned from the outward appearance of each

other in three minutes. Miss Kendal could not deny but what Donna Inez was very beautiful, and frankly

admitted inwardly, of course her own inferiority. She was merely pretty, whereas the Peruvian lady was

Yet about Donna Inez there was the same indefinite barbaric look as characterized her father. Her face was

lovely, dark and proud in expression, but there was an aloofness about it which puzzled the English girl.

Donna Inez might have belonged to a race populating another planet of the solar system. She had large black,

melting eyes, a straight Greek nose and perfect mouth, a wellrounded chin and magnificent hair, dark and

glossy as the wing of the raven, which was arranged in the latest Parisian style of coiffure. Also, her gown

as the two women guessed in an instant was from Paris. She was perfectly gloved and booted, and even if

she betrayed somehow a barbaric taste for color in the dull ruddy hue of her dress, which was subdued with

black braid, yet she looked quite a wellbred woman. All the same, her whole appearance gave an observant

onlooker the idea that she would be more at home in a scanty robe and glittering with rudely wrought

ornaments of gold. Perhaps Peru, where she came from, suggested the comparison, but Lucy's thoughts flew

back to an account of the Virgins of the Sun, which the Professor had once described. It occurred to her,

perhaps wrongly, that in Donna Inez she beheld one who in former days would have been the bride of some

"I fear you will find England dull after the sunshine of Lima," said Lucy, having ended a swift examination.

Donna Inez shivered a trifle and glanced around at the gray misty air through which the pale sunshine

"I certainly prefer the tropics to this," she said in musical English, "but my father has come down here on

"Then we must make things as bright as possible for you," said Mrs. Jasher cheerfully, and desperately

anxious to learn more of the newcomers. "You must come to see me, Donna Inez yonder is my cottage."

"Yes, I did arrive here earlier than I expected," he was remarking, "but I have to return to Lima shortly, and I

wish to get my business with Professor Braddock finished as speedily as possible."

"It is a pity, as I am so very pressed for time. Still, I must remain until the Professor returns. I am so anxious

"It must be found," said he. "I have come all the way from Lima to obtain it. When you hear my story you

It was certainly strange how constantly the subject of the missing mummy came uppermost. Since it had

disappeared and since the man who had brought it to England was dead, it might have been thought that

nothing more would be said about the matter. But Professor Braddock harped incessantly on his loss which

was perhaps natural and Widow Anne also talked a great deal as to the possibility of the mummy, being

found, as she hoped to learn by that means the name of the assassin who had strangled her poor boy. Now

Don Pedro de Gayangos appeared with the strange information that the weird relic of Peruvian civilization

had been stolen from his father. Apparently fate was not inclined to let the matter of the lost mummy drop,

and was working round to a denouement, which would possibly include the solution of the mystery of Sidney

Bolton's death. Yet, on the face of it, there appeared to be no chance of the truth becoming known.

Of course, when Don Pedro announced that the Mummy had formerly belonged to his father, every one was

anxious to hear how it had been stolen. The Gayangos family were established in Lima, and the embalmed

body of Inca Caxas had been purchased from a gentleman residing in Malta. How, then, had it crossed the

water, and how had Don Pedro learned its whereabouts, only to arrive too late to secure his missing property?

Mrs. Jasher was especially anxious to learn these things, and explained her reasons to Lucy.

"You see, my dear," she said to the girl on the day after Don Pedro's arrival in Gartley, "if we learn the past of

that horrid mummy, we may gain a clue to the person who desired possession of the nasty thing, and so may

hunt down this terrible criminal. Once he is found, the mummy may be secured again, and should I be able to

"You seem to think that the assassin is a man," said Lucy dryly; "yet you forget that the person who talked to

"Eliza Flight did not say if the woman was old or young, but merely stated that she wore a dark dress and a

dark shawl over her head. Still, this mysterious woman was connected in some way with the murder, else she

"I don't follow you, my dear. You talk as though poor Mr. Bolton expected to be murdered. For my part, I

hold by the verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown. The truth is to be found, if

"You forget what Don Pedro said, my dear," remarked Mrs. Jasher hastily, "that the mummy had been stolen

from his father. Let us hear what he has to say and we may find a clue. I am anxious that the Professor should

regain the green mummy for reasons which you know of. And now, my hear, can you come to dinner

"Well, I don't know." Miss Kendal hesitated. "Archie said that he would look in this evening."

"I shall ask Mr. Hope also, my love. Don Pedro is coming and his daughter likewise. Needless to say Sir

Frank will follow the young lady. We shall be a party of six, and after dinner we must induce Don Pedro to

"Oh, I think so," replied; Mrs. Jasher quickly. "He wants to get the mummy back again, and if we discuss the

"Your father and Don Pedro can arrange that themselves. All I desire is, that the mummy should be found.

Undoubtedly it belongs by purchase to the Professor, but as it has been stolen, this Peruvian gentleman may

"I shall come and Archie also," assented Lucy, who was beginning to be interested in the matter. "The affair

"Criminal, my dear, criminal," said Mrs. Jasher, rising to take her leave. "It is not a matter I care to mix

"If I had to take all this trouble to gain a husband," observed Lucy somewhat acidly, "I should remain single

"If you were as lonely as I am," retorted the plump widow, "you would do your best to secure a man toy look

after you. I should prefer a young and handsomer husband such as Sir Frank Random, for instance but, as

beggars cannot be choosers, I must content myself with old age, a famous scientist, and the chance of a

possible title. Now mind, dear, tonight at seven not a minute later," and she bustled away to prepare for

It seemed to Lucy that Mrs. Jasher was taking a great deal of trouble to become Mrs. Braddock, especially as

the Professor's brother might live for many a long day yet, in which case the widow would not gain the title

she coveted for years. However, the girl rather sympathized with Mrs. Jasher, who was a companionable soul,

and fond of society. Circumstances condemned her to a somewhat lonely life in an isolated cottage in a rather

dull neighborhood, so it was little to be wondered at that she should strive to move heaven and earth as she

was doing in the hope of escaping from her solitude. Besides, although Miss Kendal did not wish to make a

close companion of the widow, yet she did not dislike her, and, moreover, thought that she would make

Professor Braddock a very presentable wife. Thinking thus, Lucy was quite willing to forward Mrs. Jasher's

Thus it came about that six people assembled in the tiny pink parlor of Mrs. Jasher at the hour of seven

o'clock. It required dexterous management to seat the whole company in the dining room, which was only a

trifle larger than the parlor. However, Mrs. Jasher contrived to place them round her hospitable board in, a

fairly comfortable fashion, and, once seated, the dinner was so good that no one felt the drawbacks of scanty

elbow room. The widow, as hostess, was placed at the head of the table; Don Pedro, as the eldest of the men,

at the foot; and Sir Frank, with Donna Inez, faced Archie and Lucy Kendal. Jane, who was well instructed in

waiting by her mistress, attended to her duties admirably, acting both as footman and butler. Lucy, indeed,

had offered Mrs. Jasher the services of Cockatoo to hand round the wine, but the widow with a pretty shudder

"That dreadful creature with his yellow mop of hair gives me the shivers," she declared.

Considering the isolation of the district, and the narrow limits of Mrs. Jasher's income, the meal was truly,

admirable, being well cooked and well served, while the table was arrayed like an altar for the reception of

the various dishes. Whatever Mrs. Jasher might be as an adventuress, she certainly proved herself to be a

capital housekeeper, and Lucy foresaw that, if she did become Mrs. Braddock, the Professor would fare

sumptuously, for the rest of his scientific life. When the meal was ended the widow produced a box of

superfine cigars and another of cigarettes, after which she left the gentlemen to sip their wine, and took her

two young friends to chatter chiffons in the tiny parlor. And it said much for Mrs. Jasher's methodical ways

that, considering the limited space, everything went as the saying goes like clockwork. Likewise, the

widow had proved herself a wonderful hostess, as she kept the ball of conversation rolling briskly and

During the meal Mrs. Jasher had kept off the subject of the mummy, which was the excuse for the

entertainment; but when the gentlemen strolled into the parlor, feeling well fed and happy, she hinted at Don

Pedro's quest. As the night was cold and the Peruvian gentleman came from the tropics, he was established in

a well padded armchair close to the seacoal fire, and with her own fair hands Mrs. Jasher gave him a cup

of fragrant coffee, which was rendered still more agreeable to the palate by the introduction of a vanilla bean.

With this and with a good cigar for the ladies gave the gentlemen permission to smoke Don Pedro felt

very happy and easy, and complimented Mrs. Jasher warmly on her capability of making her

"It is altogether comfortable, madame," said Don Pedro, rising to make a courtly bow. In fact, so agreeable

was the foreigner that Mrs. Jasher dreamed for one swift moment of throwing over the dryasdust scientist

"You flatter me, Don Pedro," she said, waving a wholly unnecessary fan out of compliment to her guest's

Spanish extraction. "Indeed, I am very glad that you are pleased with my poor little house."

"Pardon, madame, but no house can be poor when it is a casket to contain such a jewel."

"There!" said Lucy somewhat satirically to the young men, while Mrs. Jasher blushed and bridled, "what

"We are more sober now than my fathers were then," said Hope, smiling, "and I am sure if Random thought

As for Donna Inez, she did not speak, but sat smiling quietly in her corner of the room, looking remarkably

handsome. As a young girl Lucy was pretty, and Mrs. Jasher was a comely widow, but neither one had the

majestic looks of the Spanish lady. She smiled, a veritable queen amidst the gimcrack ornaments of Mrs.

Jasher's parlor, and Sir Frank, who was fathoms deep in love, could not keep his eyes off her face.

For a few minutes the conversation was frivolous, quite the Shakespeare and musical glasses kind of speech.

Then Mrs. Jasher, who had no idea that her good dinner should be wasted in charming nothings, introduced

the subject of the mummy by a reference to Professor Braddock. It was characteristic of her cleverness that

"I do hope your father will return with that mummy," she observed, after a dexterous allusion to the late

"But surely he desired to get it back, after paying nearly one thousand pounds for it," said Mrs. Jasher, with

"No," answered Lucy. "He is visiting the British Museum to make some researches in the Egyptian

"I shall be glad to see the Professor when he returns," he said in his excellent, slowsounding English. "My

"Dear me," remarked Mrs. Jasher, shielding her fair cheek with the unnecessary fan, and venturing on a joke,

At this every one, very naturally, looked astonished that is, all save Donna Inez, who still preserved her

fixed smile. Mrs. Jasher took a mental note of the same, and decided that the young lady was not very

intelligent. Meanwhile Don Pedro continued his speech after a glance round the circle.

"Ha!" murmured the widow to herself, "then that accounts for your love of color, which is so unEnglish;"

then she raised her voice. "Tell us all about it, Don Pedro," she entreated; "we are usually so dull here that a

"I do not know that it is very romantic," said Don Pedro with a polite smile, "and if you will not find it dull

"Oh, no!" said Archie, who was as anxious as Mrs. Jasher to hear what was to be said about the mummy.

"The Inca Caxas," he remarked, "was one of the decadent rulers of ancient Peru. At the Conquest by the

Spaniards, Inca Atahuallpa was murdered by Pizarro, as you probably know. Inca Toparca succeeded him as

a puppet king. He died also, and it was suspected that he was slain by a native chief called Challcuchima.

Then Manco succeeded, and is looked upon by historians as the last Inca of Peru. But he was not."

"You mentioned it just now, but, before that, I heard my father mention it," said Lucy, who was surprised at

"I cannot say. But go on with the story," she continued, with the naive curiosity of a child.

The Peruvian meditated for a few minutes, then slipped his hand into the pocket of his coat and brought out a

discolored parchment, scrawled and scribbled with oddlooking letters in purple ink somewhat faded.

Don Pedro again swept an inquiring eye round the circle, but everyone denied having seen the manuscript.

"It is an account of the embalming of Inca Caxas, written by his son, who was my ancestor."

"I am. Had I my rights I should rule Peru. As it is, I am a poor gentleman with very little money. "That,"

added Don Pedro with emphasis, "is why I wish to recover the mummy of my great ancestor."

"Is it then so valuable?" asked Archie suddenly. He was thinking of some reason why the mummy should

"Well, in itself it is of no great value, save to an archaeologist," was Don Pedro's reply; "but I had better tell

"Inca Caxas held his state amidst the solitudes of the Andes, away from the cruel men who had conquered his

country. He died and was buried. This manuscript," he touched his pocket "was written by his son, and

details the ceremonies, the place of sepulchre, and also gives a list of the jewels with which the mummy was

"The son of Inca Caxas married a Spanish lady and made peace with the Spaniards. He came to live at Cuzco,

and brought with him, for some purpose which the manuscript does not disclose, the mummy of his father.

But the manuscript was lost for years, and although my family the De Gayangoses became poor, no

member of it knew that, concealed in the corpse of Inca Caxas, were two large emeralds of immense value.

The mummy of our royal ancestor was treated as a sacred thing and venerated accordingly. Afterwards my

"I am coming to that," said Don Pedro, frowning at the interruption. "I was not in Lima at the time; but I had

"This man said that he was English, and certainly spoke like an Englishman, so far as I, a foreigner, can tell.

At that time, when I was a young man, civil war raged in Peru. My father's house was sacked, and this Vasa,

who had been received hospitably by my father when he was shipwrecked at Callao, stole the mummy, of

Inca Caxas. My father died of grief and charged me to get the mummy back. When peace was restored to my

unhappy country I tried to recover the venerated body of my ancestor. But all search proved vain, as Vasa had

disappeared, and it was supposed that, for some reason, he had taken the embalmed body out of the country.

It was when the mummy was lost that I unexpectedly came across the manuscript, which detailed the funeral

ceremonies of Inca Caxas, and on learning about the two emeralds I was naturally more anxious than ever to

discover the mummy and retrieve my fallen fortunes by means of the jewels. But, as I said, all search proved

vain, and I afterward married, thinking to settle down on what fortune remained to me. I did live quietly in

Lima for years until my wife died. Then with my daughter I came to Europe on a visit."

"No, sir. I had given up all hope of finding that. But chance placed a clue in my hands. At Genoa I came

across a newspaper, which stated that a mummy in a green case and a Peruvian mummy at that was for

sale at Malta. I immediately made inquiries, thinking that this was the longlost body of Inca Caxas. But it so

happened that I was too late, as already the mummy had been sold to Professor Braddock, and had been taken

to England on board The Diver by Mr. Bolton. Chance, which had pointed out the whereabouts of the

mummy, also brought me at Genoa into relations with Sir Frank Random" Don Pedro bowed his head to

the baronet "and, as it appeared that he knew Professor Braddock, I thankfully accepted his offer to

introduce me. Hence I am here, but only to hear that the mummy is again lost. That is all," and the Peruvian

"A strange story," said Archie, who was the first to speak, "and it certainly solves at least one part of the

"Pardon me, but that is impossible, sir," said Don Pedro, drawing up his lean figure. "No one but myself

knew that the mummy held two emeralds in its dead hands, and I learned that only a few years ago from the

"There is that objection assuredly," replied Hope with composure. "Yet I can hardly believe that any man

would risk his neck to steal so remarkable a mummy, which he would have a difficulty in disposing of. But

did this assassin know of the emeralds, he would venture much to gain them, since jewels can be disposed of

"All the same," said Random, looking up, "I do not see how the assassin could have learned that the jewels

"Humph!" said Hope, glancing at De Gayangos, "perhaps there is more than one copy of this manuscript you

"No." Don Pedro shook his head. "It is written in Latin, since a Spanish priest taught the son of Inca Caxas,

who wrote it, that language. I do not think that Vasa knew Latin. Also, if Vasa had copied the manuscript, he

would have stripped the mummy to procure the jewels. Now, in the newspaper advertisement it stated that the

bandages of the mummy were intact, as also was the verdant case. "No," said Don Pedro decisively, "I am

quite of opinion that Vasa, and indeed everyone else, was ignorant of this manuscript."

"It seems to me," suggested Mrs. Jasher, "that it would be best to find this sailor."

"That," remarked De Gayangos, "is impossible. It is twenty years since he disappeared with the mummy. Let

us drop the subject until Professor Braddock returns to discuss it with me." And this was accordingly done.

Three days went by, and Professor Braddock still remained absent in London, although an occasional letter to

Lucy requested such and such an article from the museum to be forwarded, sometimes by post and on other

occasions by Cockatoo, who traveled up to town especially. The Kanaka always returned with the news that

his master was looking well, but brought no word of the Professor's return. Lucy was not surprised, as she

Meanwhile Don Pedro, comfortably established at the Warrior Inn, wandered about Gartley in his dignified

way, taking very little interest in the village, but a great deal in the Pyramids. As the Professor was absent,

Lucy could not ask him to dinner, but she did invite him and Donna Inez to afternoon tea. Don Pedro was

anxious to peep into the museum, but Cockatoo absolutely refused to let him enter, saying that his master had

forbidden anyone to view the collection during his absence. And in this refusal Cockatoo was supported by

Miss Kendal, who had a wholesome dread of her stepfather's rage, should he return and find that a stranger

had been making free of his sacred apartments. The Peruvian gentleman expressed himself extremely

disappointed, so much so, indeed, that Lucy fancied he believed Braddock had the green mummy hidden in

Failing to get permission to range through the rooms of the Pyramids, Don Pedro paid occasional visits to

Pierside and questioned the police regarding the Bolton murder. From Inspector Date he learned nothing of

any importance, and indeed that officer expressed his belief that not until the Day of judgment would the

truth become known. It then occurred to De Gayangos to explore the neighborhood of the Sailor's Rest, and

to examine that publichouse himself. He saw the famous window through which the mysterious woman had

talked to the deceased, and noted that it looked across a stony, narrow path to the water's edge, wherefrom a

rugged jetty ran out into the stream for some little distance. Nothing would have been easier, reflected Don

Pedro, than for the assassin to enter by the window, and, having accomplished his deed, to leave in the same

way, bearing the case containing the mummy. A few steps would carry the man and his burden to a waiting

boat, and once the craft slipped into the mists on the river, all trace would be lost, as had truly happened. In

this way the Peruvian gentleman believed the murder and the theft had been accomplished, but even

supposing things had happened as he surmised, still, he was as far as ever from unraveling the mystery.

While Don Pedro searched for his royal ancestor's corpse, and incidentally for the thief and murderer, his

daughter was being wooed by Sir Frank Random. Heaven only knows what he saw in her as Lucy observed

to young Hope for the girl had not a word to say for herself. She was undeniably handsome, and dressed

with great taste, save for stray hints of barbaric delight in color, doubtless inherited from her Inca ancestors.

All the same, she appeared to be devoid of small talk or great talk, or any talk whatsoever. She sat and smiled

and looked like a handsome picture, but after her appearance had satisfied the eye, she left much to be

desired. Yet Sir Frank approved of her stately quietness, and seemed anxious to make her his wife. Lucy, in

spite of the fact that he had so speedily got over her refusal to marry him, was anxious that he should be

happy with Donna Inez, whom he appeared to love, and afforded him every opportunity of meeting the lady,

so that he might prosecute his wooing. All the same, she wondered that he should desire to marry an iceberg,

and Donna Inez, with her silent tongue and cold smiles, was little else. However, as Frank Random was the

chief party concerned in the lovemaking for Donna Inez was merely passive there was no more to be

Sometimes Hope came to dine at the Pyramids, and on these occasions Mrs. Jasher was present in her

character of chaperon. As Miss Kendal was helping the widow to marry Professor Braddock, she in her turn

did her best to speed Archie's wooing. Certainly the young couple were engaged and there was no

understanding to be brought about. Nevertheless, Mrs. Jasher was a useful article of furniture to be in the

room when they were together, for Gartley, like all English villages, was filled with scandalmongers, who

would have talked, had Hope and Lucy not employed Mrs, Jasher as gooseberry. Sometimes Donna Inez

came with the widow, while her father was hunting for the mummy in Pierside, and then Sir Frank Random

would be sure to put in an appearance to woo his Dulcinea in admiring silence. Mrs. Jasher declared that the

two must have made love by telepathy, for they rarely exchanged a word. But this was all the better, as

Archie and Lucy chattered a great deal, and two pair of magpies Mrs. Jasher declared would have been

too much for her nerves. She made a very good chaperon, as she allowed the young people to act as they

One evening Mrs. Jasher was due to dinner, and Hope had already arrived. No one else was expected, as Don

Pedro had taken his daughter to the theatre at Pierside and Sir Frank had gone to London in connection with

his military duties. It was a bitterly cold night, and already a fall of snow had hinted that there was to be a real

English Christmas of the genuine kind. Lucy had prepared an excellent dinner for three, and Archie had

brought a set of new patience cards for Mrs. Jasher, who was fond of the game. While the widow played, the

lovers hoped to make love undisturbed, and looked forward to a happy evening. But there was one drawback,

for although the dinner hour was supposed to be eight o'clock, and it was now thirty minutes past, Mrs. Jasher

"What can be keeping her?" she asked Archie, to which that young gentleman replied that he did not know,

and, what was more, he did not care. Miss Kendal very properly rebuked this sentiment. "You ought to care,

Archie, for you know that if Mrs. Jasher does not come to dinner, you will have to go away."

"Neither do I, you stupid boy. But my father will care, and if people talk he will be very angry."

"My dear Lucy," and Archie put his arm round her waist to say this, "I don't see why you should be afraid of

the Professor. He is only your stepfather, and you aren't so very fond of him as to mind what he says.

"But I don't want him to go hang," she replied, laughing. "After all, the Professor has always been kind to me,

and as a stepfather has behaved very well, when he could easily have made himself disagreeable. Another

thing is that he can be very bad tempered when he likes, and if I let people talk about us which they will do

if they get a chance he will behave so coldly to me, that I shall have a disagreeable time. As we can't marry

"Yes, it is. You will help that horrid spendthrift uncle of yours, and until he and his family are solvent I don't

"We are sure of it now, dearest. Uncle Simon has turned up trumps after all, and so have his investments."

"I mean that yesterday I received a letter from him saying that he was now rich, and would pay back all I had

lent him. I went up to London today, and had an interview. The result of that is that I am some thousands to

the good, that Uncle Simon is well off for the rest of his life and will require no more assistance, and that my

"In January then just after Christmas. "We'll go on a trip to Italy and return to take a flat in London. Oh,

Archie, I am sorry I thought so badly of your uncle. He has behaved very well. And what a mercy it is that he

"If he does, he won't get it," said Hope candidly. "While I was a bachelor I could assist him; but when I am

married I must look after myself and my wife." He gave Lucy a hug. "It's all right now, dear, and Uncle

Simon has behaved excellently far better than I expected. We shall go to Italy for the honeymoon and need

"In that case we shall live in Italy for the rest of our lives," said Lucy with twinkling eyes; "but we must come

"That doesn't matter," rejoined Lucy, with the cleverness of a woman. "She can manage to bring the marriage

about. Besides, I want to break with the old life here, and begin quite a new one with you. When I am your

wife and Mrs. Jasher is my stepfather's, everything will be capitally arranged."

"Well, I hope so," said Archie heartily, "for I want you all to myself and have no desire to share you with

,anyone else. But I say," he glanced at his watch; "it is getting towards nine o'clock, and I am desperately

Hope, being quite exasperated with hunger, would have launched out into a speech condemning the widow's

unpunctuality, when in the hall below the drawingroom was heard the sound of the door opening and

closing. Without doubt this was Mrs. Jasher arriving at last, and Lucy ran out of the room and down the stairs

to welcome her in her eagerness to get Archie seated at the dinner table. The young man lingered by the open

door of the drawingroom, ready to welcome the widow, when he heard Lucy utter an exclamation of

surprise and became aware that she was ascending the stairs along with Professor Braddock. At once he

reflected there would be trouble, since he was in the house with Lucy, and lacked the necessary chaperon

"I did not know you were returning tonight," Lucy was saying when she reentered the drawingroom with

"I arrived by the six o'clock train," explained the Professor, unwinding a large red scarf from his neck, and

struggling out of his overcoat with the assistance of his daughter. "Ha, Hope, good evening."

"Where have you been since?" asked Lucy, throwing the Professor's coat and wraps on to a chair.

"With Mrs. Jasher," said Braddock, warming his plump hands at the fire. "So you must blame me that she is

Lucy and her lover glanced at oneanother in surprise. This light and airy tone was a new one for the

Professor to take. Instead of being angry, he seemed to be un usually gay, and looked at them in quite a

"Then I am ready to eat it," announced Braddock. "I am extremely hungry, my dear. I can't live on love, you

"Oh yes, you may smile and look astonished;' went on the Professor goodhumoredly, "but science does not

destroy the primeval instincts entirely. Lucy, my dear," he took her hand and patted it, "while in London and

in lodgings, it was borne in upon me forcibly how lonely I was and how lonely I would be when you married

our young friend yonder. I had intended to come down tomorrow, but tonight, such was my feeling of

loneliness that I considered favorably your idea that I should find a second helpmate in Mrs. Jasher. I have

always had a profound admiration for that lady, and so on the spur of the moment, as I may say I decided

"Oh," Lucy clapped her hands, very well satisfied with the unexpected news, "and have you?"

"Mrs. Jasher," said the Professor gravely, "did me the honor to promise to become my wife this evening."

Braddock, with one of those odd twists of humor which were characteristic of him, became irascible.

"Confound it, sir, don't I speak English," he snapped, with his eyes glaring rebuke. "She promised this

evening to become Mrs. Braddock. We shall marry so we have arranged in the springtime, which is the

natural pairing season for human beings as well as for birds. And I am glad to say that Mrs; Jasher takes a

The temporary anger of the Professor vanished. He drew his stepdaughter towards him and kissed her on the

"I believe that I have to thank you for putting the idea into my head," said he, "and also if Mrs. Jasher is to

be believed for aiding her to see the mutual advantage it would be to both of us to marry. Ha," he released

"So am I, so am I," replied Braddock, nodding. "As you very truly observed, my child, the house would have

gone to rack and ruin without a woman to look after my interests. Well," he took the arms of the two young

people, "I really think that we must have a bottle of champagne on the strength of it."

Shortly the trio were seated at the table, and Braddock explained that Mrs. Jasher, being overcome by his

"Indeed, I shall congratulate her tonight," said Lucy obstinately. "As soon as dinner is over, I shall go with

Strange to say, the Professor made no objection to the excursion, although Hope quite expected such a

stickler for etiquette to refuse permission to his stepdaughter. But Braddock seemed rather pleased than

otherwise. His proposal of marriage seemed to have put him into excellent humor, and he raised his glass

"And I drink to Archie's and to yours, father," she replied. "I am glad that you will not be lonely when we are

"Yes," said Hope, finishing his champagne, "my income is now all right, as my uncle has paid up."

"Very good, very good. I make no objection," said Braddock placidly. "I will give you a handsome wedding

present, Lucy, for you may have heard that my future wife has money left to her by her brother, who was

lately a merchant in Pekin. She is heart and hand with me in our proposed expedition to Egypt."

"Not exactly for the honeymoon, since we are to be married in spring, and my expedition to the tomb of

Queen Tahoser cannot start until the late autumn. But Mrs. Braddock will come with me. That is only just,

"Well, everything is arranged very well," said Lucy. "I marry Archie; you, father, make Mrs. Jasher your

"Ha!" said Braddock with a start, "the daughter of De Gayangos, who has come here for the missing mummy.

Mrs. Jasher told me somewhat of that, my dear'. But I shall see Don Pedro myself tomorrow. Meanwhile, let

So it was arranged, and shortly Professor Braddock retired into his sanctum along with the devoted Cockatoo,

who displayed lively joy on beholding his master once more. Lucy, after being carefully wrapped up by

Archie, set out with that young man to congratulate the brideelect. It was just halfpast nine when they

The night was frosty and the stars twinkled like jewels in a cloudless sky of dark blue. The moon shone with

hard brilliance on the ground, which was powdered with a light fall of snow. As the young people walked

briskly through the village, their footsteps rang on the frosty earth and they scrunched the snow in their quick

tread. The Warrior Inn was still open, as it was not late, and lights shone from the windows of the various

cottages. When the two, following the road through the marshes, emerged from the village, they saw the great

mass of the Fort bulking blackly against the clear sky, the glittering stream of the Thames, and the marshes

outlined in delicate white. The fairy world of snow and moonlight appealed to Archie's artistic sense, and

But shortly they saw the squarely fenced acre of ground near the embankment, wherein Mrs. Jasher's humble

abode was placed. Light shone through the pink curtains of the drawingroom, showing that the widow had

not yet retired. In a few minutes the lovers were at the gate and promptly entered. It was then that one of

those odd things happened which would argue that some people are possessed of a sixth sense.

Archie closed the gate after him, and, glancing right and left, walked up the snowy path with Lucy. To the

right was a leafless arbor, also powdered with snow, and against the white bulked a dark form something like

"What the deuce is this?" he asked himself; then raised his voice in loud surprise. "Lucy! Lucy! come here!"

Neither Lucy nor Archie Hope had ever seen the mummy, but they knew the appearance which it would

present, as Professor Braddock, with the enthusiasm of an archaeologist, had often described the same to

them. It appeared, according to Braddock, that on purchasing the precious corpse in Malta, his dead assistant

had written home a full description of the treasure trove. Consequently, being advised beforehand, Hope had

no difficulty in recognizing the oddly shaped case, which was made somewhat in the Egyptian form. On the

impulse of the moment he had proclaimed this to be the longlost mummy, and when a closer examination

by the light of a lucifer match revealed the green hue of the coffin wood, he knew that he was right.

But what was the mummy in its ancient case doing in Mrs. Jasher's arbor? That was the mute question which

the two young people asked themselves and each other, as they stood in the chilly moonlight, staring at the

grotesque thing. The mummy had disappeared from the Sailor's Rest at Pierside some weeks ago, and now

unexpectedly appeared in a lonely garden, surrounded by marshes. How it had been brought there, or why it

should have been brought there, or who had brought it to such an unlikely place, were questions hard to

answer. However, the most obvious thing to do was to question Mrs. Jasher, since the uncanny object was

lying within a stonethrow of her home. Lucy, after a rapid word or two, went to ring the bell, and summon

the lady, while Archie stood by the arbor, wondering how the mummy came to be there. In the same way

Far and wide spread the marshes, flatly towards the shore of the river on one side, but on the other sloping up

to Gartley village, which twinkled with many lights on the rising ground. Some distance away the Fort rose

black and menacing in the moonlight, and the mighty stream of the Thames glittered like polished steel as it

flowed seaward. As there were only a few leafless trees dotted about the marshy ground, and as that same

ground, lightly sprinkled with powdery snow, revealed every moving object for quite a mile or so, Hope

could not conceive how the mummy case, which seemed heavy, could have been brought into the silent

garden without its bearers being seen. It was not late, and soldiers were still returning through Gartley to the

Fort. Then, again, some noise must have been caused by so bulky an object being thrust through the narrow

wicket, and Mrs. Jasher, inhabiting a wooden house, which was a very seashell for sound, might have heard

footsteps and voices. If those who had brought the mummy here and there was more than one from the size

of the case could be discovered, then the mystery of Sidney Bolton's death would be solved very speedily.

It was at this moment of his reflections that Lucy returned to the arbor, leading Mrs. Jasher, who was attired

"What are you talking about, my dear?" she said, as Lucy led her towards the arbor. "I declare I was ever so

much astonished, when Jane told me that you wished to speak to me. I was just writing a letter to the lawyer

who has my poor brother's property in hand, announcing my engagement to the Professor. Mr. Hope? You

"Did you not hear what I said, Mrs. Jasher?" she cried irritably. "Can't you use your eyes? Look ! The green

"The green mummy in my arbor," repeated Mrs. Jasher, like a child learning words of one syllable,

He spoke harshly. Of course, it was absurd to accuse Mrs. Jasher of knowing anything about the matter, since

she had been writing letters. Still, the fact remained that a mummy, which had been thieved from a murdered

Some suspicion in his tone struck the little woman, and she turned on him with indignation.

"How did it come here?" she repeated. "Now, how can I tell, you silly boy. I have been writing to my lawyer

"Yes," chimed in Miss Kendal, "and we came here to congratulate you, only to find the mummy."

"Is that the horrid thing?" Mrs. Jasher stared with all her eyes, and timidly touched the hard greenstained

"But I thought that the Professor opened the case to find the body of poor Sidney Bolton," argued Mrs.

"That was a packing case in which this" Archie struck the oldworld coffin "was stored. But this is the

corpse of Inca Caxas, about which Don Pedro told us the other night. How does it come to be hidden in your

"Hidden." Mrs. Jasher repeated the word with a laugh. "There is not much hiding about it. Why, every one

"And from the door of your house," remarked Hope significantly. "Did you not see it when you took leave of

"No," snapped the widow. "If I had I should certainly have come to look. Also Professor Braddock, who is so

"At seven. I am sure of the time, for I was just sitting down to my supper. He was here an hour. But he said

nothing, when he entered, of any mummy being in the arbor; nor when he left me at the door and I came to

say goodbye to him did either of us see this object. To be sure," added Mrs. Jasher meditatively, "we did

"I scarcely see how any one entering or leaving the garden could fail to see it, especially as the snow reflects

Mrs. Jasher shivered, and taking the skirt of her teagown, flung it over her carefully attired head,

"It is very cold," she remarked irritably. "Don't you think we had better return to the house, and talk there?"

"What!" said Archie grimly, "and leave the mummy to be carried away as mysteriously as it has been

brought. No, Mrs. Jasher. That mummy represents one thousand pounds of my money."

"So he did, but I supplied the purchase money. Therefore I do not intend that this should be lost sight of

again. Lucy, my dear, you run home again and tell your father what we have found. He had better bring men,

to take it to his museum. When it is there, Mrs. Jasher can then explain how it came to be in her garden."

Without a word Lucy set off, walking quickly, anxious to fulfill her mission and gladden the heart of her

Archie and Mrs. Jasher were left alone, and the former lighted a cigarette, while he tapped the mummy case,

and examined it as closely as the pale gleam of the moonlight permitted. Mrs. Jasher made no move to enter

the house, much as she had complained of the cold. But perhaps she found the flimsy skirt of the teagown

"It seems to me, Mr. Hope," said she very tartly, "that you suspect my having a hand in this," and she tapped

"Pardon me," observed Hope very politely, "but I suspect nothing, because I have no grounds upon which to

base my suspicions. But certainly it is odd that this missing mummy should be found in your garden. You

"I admit nothing of the sort," she rejoined coolly. "Only myself and Jane live in the cottage, and you don't

expect that two delicate women could move this huge thing." She tapped the case again. "Moreover, had I

found the mummy I should have taken it to the Pyramids at once, so as to give Professor Braddock some

"It will certainly be an acceptable wedding present," said Archie sarcastically.

"Pardon me," said Mrs. Jasher in her turn, "but I have nothing to do with it as a present or otherwise. How the

thing came into my arbor I really cannot say. As I told you, Professor Braddock made no remark about it

when he came; and when he left, although I was at the door, I did not notice anything in this arbor. Indeed I

"The Professor told Lucy that he came by the six train: you say that he was here at seven."

"Ten o'clock, or a few minutes after. Therefore, since neither you nor Braddock saw the mummy, I take it that

the case was brought here by some unknown people between eight o'clock and a quarter to ten, about which

"You put the matter very clearly," she observed dryly. "You have mistaken your vocation, Mr. Hope, and

"You might ascertain my movements on the night when the crime was committed," snapped the little widow.

"A woman muffled in a shawl, in much the same way as my head is now muffled in my skirt, talked to,

"My dear lady, how you run on! I assure you that I would as soon suspect Lucy as you."

"I merely wish to point out," went on Archie in a conciliatory tone, "that, as the mummy in its case as

appears probable was brought into your garden between the hours of eight and ten, less fifteen minutes, that

"I heard nothing," said Mrs. Jasher, turning towards the path. "I had my supper, and played a game or two of

patience, and then wrote letters, as I told you before. And I am not going to stand in the cold, answering silly

"I stand guard over this mummy until its rightful owner comes," said he determinedly.

"Ho!" rejoined Mrs. Jasher scornfully: she was now at the door. "I understood that you bought the mummy

and therefore were its owner. Well, I only hope you'll find those emeralds Don Pedro talked about," and with

Archie looked after her in a puzzled way. There was no reason to suspect Mrs. Jasher, so far as he saw, even

though a woman had been seen talking to Bolton on the night of the crime. And yet, why should the widow

refer to the emeralds, which were of such immense value, according to Don Pedro? Hope glanced at the case

and shook the primitive coffin, anxious for the moment to open it and ascertain if the jewels were still

clutched grimly in the mummy's dead hands. But the coffin was fastened tightly down with wooden pegs, and

could only be opened with extreme care and difficulty. Also, as Hope reflected, even did he manage to open

this receptacle of the dead, he still could not ascertain if the emeralds were safe, since they would be hidden

under innumerable swathings of greendyed llama wool. He therefore let the matter rest there, and, staring at

the river, wondered how the mummy had been brought to the garden in the marshes.

Hope recollected that experts had decided the mode in which the mummy had been removed from the

Pierside publichouse. It had been passed through the window, according to Inspector Date and others, and,

when taken across the narrow path which bordered the river, had been placed in a waiting boat. After that it

had vanished until it had reappeared in this arbor. But if taken by water once, it could have been taken by

water again. There was a rude jetty behind the embankment, which Hope could easily see from where he

stood. In all probability the mummy had been landed there and carried to the garden, while Mrs. Jasher was

busy with her supper and her game of cards and her letters. Also, the path from the shore to the house was

very lonely, and if any care had been exercised, which was probable, no one from the Fort road or from the

village street could have seen the stealthy conspirators bringing their weird burden. So far Hope felt that he

could argue excellently. But who had brought the mummy to the garden and why had it been brought there?

While thus meditating, he heard, far away in the frosty air, a puffing and blowing and panting like an

impatient motorcar. Before he could guess what this was, Braddock appeared, simply racing along the

marshy causeway, followed closely by Cockatoo, and at some distance away by Lucy. The little scientist

rushed through the gate, which he flung open with a noise fit to wake the dead, and lunged forward, to fall

with outstretched arms upon the green case. There he remained, still puffing and blowing, and looked as

though he were hugging a huge green beetle. Cockatoo, who, being lean and hard, kept his breath more

easily, stood respectfully by, waiting for his master to give orders, and Lucy came in quietly by the gate,

smiling at her father's enthusiasm. At the same moment Mrs. Jasher, well wrapped up in a coat of sables,

"I should think the whole Fort heard the Professor coming," said Hope, glancing at the dark mass. "The

But Braddock paid no heed to this jocularity, or even to Mrs. Jasher, to whom he had been so lately engaged.

All his soul was in the mummy case, and as soon as he recovered his breath, he loudly proclaimed his joy at

"Calm! calm!" bellowed Braddock, struggling to a standing position. "Oh, confound you, sir, how can I be

calm when I find what I have lost? You have a mean, groveling soul, Hope, not the soaring spirit of a

"Rude! Rude! I am never rude. But this mummy." Braddock peered closely at it and rapped the wood to

assure himself it was no phantom. "Yes! it is my mummy, the mummy of Inca Caxas. Now I shall learn how

the Peruvians embalmed their royal dead. Mine! mine! mine!" He crooned like a mother over a child,

caressing the coffin; then suddenly drew himself upright and fixed Mrs. Jasher with an indignant eye. "So it

was you, madam, who stole my mummy," he declared venomously, "and I thought of making you my wife.

Mrs. Jasher stared, then her face grew redder than the rouge on her cheeks, and she stamped furiously in the

"How dare you say what you have said?" she cried, her voice shrill and hard with anger. "Mr. Hope has been

saying the same thing. Are you both mad? I never set eyes on the horrid thing in my life. And only tonight

"Yes, yes, I said many foolish things, I don't doubt, madam. But that is not the question. My mummy ! my

"Don't care: don't care, when I look forward to your helping me in my lifework! As my wife "

"I shall never be your wife," cried the widow, stamping again. "I wouldn't be your wife for a thousand or a

"Hush! hush!" whispered Lucy, taking the angry woman round the waist, "you must make allowances for my

"I shall not make allowance," interrupted Mrs. Jasher angrily. "He practically accuses me of stealing the

"No, no," cried the Professor, wiping his red face. "I never hinted at such a thing. But the mummy is in your

"What of that? I don't know how it came there. Mr. Hope, surely you do not support Professor Braddock in

"Neither do I, Mrs. Jasher. You are excited now. Go in and sleep, and tomorrow you will talk reasonably."

"Well," she gasped, "he asks me to be calm, as it I wasn't the very calmest person here. I declare: oh, I shall

be ill! Lucy," she seized the girl's hand and dragged her towards the cottage, "come in and give me red

lavender. I shall be in bed for days and days and days. Oh, what brutes men can be! But listen, you two

horrors," she indicated Braddock and Hope, as she pushed open the door, "If you dare to say a word against

me, I'll have an action for libel against you. Oh, dear me, how very ill I feel! Lucy, darling, help me, oh, help

me, and and oh oh oh!" She flopped down on the threshold of her home with a cry.

Hope rushed forward, and raised the stout little woman in his arms. Jane, attracted by the clamor, appeared on

the scene, and between the three of them they managed to get Mrs. Jasher placed on the sofa of the pink

drawingroom. She certainly was in a dead faint, so Hope left her to the administrations of Lucy and the

servant, and walked out again into the garden, closing the cottage door after him.

He found the heartless Professor quite oblivious to Mrs. Jasher's sufferings, so taken up was he with the

newly found mummy. Cockatoo had been sent for a handcart, and while he was absent Braddock expatiated

"After I have done with it, not before," snapped Braddock, hovering round his treasure. "I shall want a

Archie thought privately that if Braddock unswathed the mummy, he would find the emeralds and would

probably stick to them, so that his expedition to Egypt might be financed. It that case Don Pedro would no

longer wish to buy the corpse of his ancestor. But while he debated as to the advisability of telling the

Professor of the existence of the emeralds, Cockatoo returned with the handcart.

"You have lost Mrs. Jasher," said Hope, while he, assisted the Professor to hoist the mummy on to the cart.

"Never mind! never mind!" Braddock patted the coffin. "I have found something much more to my mind:

In spite of newspapers and letters and tapemachines and telegrams and such like aids to the speedy diffusion

of news, the same travels quicker in villages than in cities. Word of mouth can spread gossip with marvelous

rapidity in sparsely inhabited communities, since it is obvious that in such places every person knows the

other as the saying goes inside out. In every English village walls have ears and windows have eyes, so

that every cottage is a hotbed of scandal, and what is known to one is, within the hour, known to the others.

Gartley could keep up its reputation in this respect along with the best, therefore it was little to be wondered

at, that early next morning every one knew that Professor Braddock had found his longlost mummy in Mrs.

Jasher's garden, and had removed the same to the Pyramids without unnecessary delay. It was not particularly

late when the handcart, with its uncanny burden, had passed along the sole street of the place, and several

men had emerged from the Warrior Inn ostensibly to offer help, but really to know what the eccentric master

of the great house was doing. Braddock brusquely rejected these offers; but the oddly shaped mummy case,

stained green, having been seen, it needed little wit for those who had caught a sight of it to put two and two

together, especially as the weird object had been described at the inquest and had been talked over ever since

in every cottage. And as the cart had been seen coming out of the widow's garden, it naturally occurred to the

villagers that Mrs. Jasher had been concealing the mummy. Shortly the rumor spread that she had also

murdered Bolton, for unless she had done so, she certainly according to village logic could not have been

possessed of the spoil. Finally, as Mrs. Jasher's doors and windows were small and the mummy was rather

bulky, it was natural to presume that she had hidden it in the garden. Report said she had buried it and had

dug it up just in time to be pounced upon by its rightful owner. From which it can be seen that gossip is not

However this may be, the news of Professor Braddock's good fortune shortly came to Don Pedro's ears

through the medium of the landlady. As she revealed what she had heard in the morning, the Peruvian

gentleman was spared a sleepless night. But as soon as he learned the truth which was surprising enough in

its unexpectedness he hastily finished his breakfast and hurried to the Pyramids. As yet he had not intended

to see Braddock so promptly, or at least not until he had made further inquiries at Pierside, but the news that

Braddock possessed the royal ancestor of the De Gayanoses brought him immediately into the museum. He

greeted the Professor in his usual grave and dignified manner, and no one would have guessed from his

inherent calmness that the unexpected news of Braddock's arrival, and the still more unexpected information

about the green mummy, had surprised him beyond measure. Being somewhat superstitious, it also occurred

to Don Pedro that the coincidence meant good fortune to him in the recovery of his longlost ancestor.

Braddock, already knowing a great deal about Don Pedro from Lucy and Archie Hope, was only too pleased

to see the Peruvian, hoping to find in him a kindred spirit. As yet the Professor was not aware of the contents

of the ancient Latin manuscript, which revealed the fact of the hidden emeralds, since Hope had decided to

leave it to the Peruvian to impart the information. Archie knew very well that Don Pedro as he had plainly

stated wished to purchase the mummy, and it was only right that Braddock should know what he was

selling. But Hope forgot one important fact perhaps from the careless way in which Don Pedro had told his

story namely, that the Professor in a second degree was a receiver of stolen goods. Therefore it was more

than probable that the Peruvian would claim the mummy as his own property. Still, in that event he would

The plump little professor had not yet unsealed the case, and when Don Pedro entered, he was standing

before it rubbing his fat hands, with a gloating expression in his face. However, as Cockatoo had brought in

"How are you, sir?" said he, extending his hand. "I am glad to see you, as I hear that you know all about this

"Well, I do," answered De Gayangos, sitting down in the chair which his host pushed forward. "But may I

"Certainly, Don Pedro. I wished to learn the difference in embalming between the Egyptians and the ancient

Peruvians, and looked about for a South American corpse. Unexpectedly I saw in several European

newspapers and in two English journals that a green Peruvian mummy was for sale at Malta for one thousand

pounds. I sent my assistant, Sidney Bolton, to buy it, and he managed to get it, coffin and all, for nine

hundred. While in Malta, and before he started back in The Diver with the mummy, he wrote me an account

of the transaction. The seller who was the son of a Maltese collector told Bolton that his father had picked

up the mummy in Paris some twenty and more years ago. It came from Lima some thirty years back, I

believe, and, according to the collector in Paris, was the corpse of Inca Caxas. That is the whole story."

"No, sir. The mummy came thirty years ago from Lima to Paris. It passed twenty years back into the

possession of the Maltese collector, and his son sold it to me a few months ago. I never heard of any

"Mr. Hope related some story you told him and others about this mummy having been stolen from you."

"From my father," corrected the unsmiling Peruvian; keeping a careful eye on his host; "that is really the

case. Inca Caxas is, or was, my ancestor, and this manuscript" Don Pedro produced the same from his inner

"Very interesting; most interesting," fussed Braddock, stretching out his hand. "May I see it?"

"Of course," he said simply, "every welleducated man reads Latin, or should do so. Wait, sir, until I glance

"One moment," said Don Pedro, as the Professor began to literally devour the discolored page. "You know

By this time the drift of Don Pedro's observations entirely reached the understanding of the scientist, and he

"Pardon me," said the Peruvian, still gravely but very decisively, "you admitted that it belonged to me."

"I didn't know what I was saying," he protested. "How could I say it was your property when I have bought it

"All the same, you can scarcely expect me to part with so valuable an object," Braddock waved his hand

towards the case, "without strict inquiry into the circumstances. And again, sir, even if you succeed in

proving your ownership, I am not inclined to restore the mummy to you for nothing."

"I know nothing about that: I have only your bare word that it is so, Don Pedro. All I know is that I paid nine

hundred pounds for the mummy and that it cost the best part of another hundred to bring it to England. What

Precisely," replied the Professor suavely. "Every Englishman has a bulldog tenacity of purpose. Brag is a

"Then I understand," said the Peruvian, stretching out his hand to pick up the fallen manuscript, "that you will

"Certainly," said Braddock coolly, "since I have paid for it. Also, I shall keep the jewels, which the

"The sole jewels buried are two large emeralds which the mummy holds in its hands," explained Don Pedro,

restoring the manuscript to his pocket, "and I wish for them so that I may get money to restore the fortunes of

"No! no! no!" said Braddock forcibly. "I have bought the mummy and the jewels with it. They will sell to

"I can give you the address of my lawyers," he retorted; "any steps you choose to take will only result in loss,

and from what you hint I should not think that you had much money to spend on litigation."

Don Pedro bit his lip, and saw that it was indeed a more difficult task than he had anticipated to make

"If you were in Lima," he muttered, speaking Spanish in his excitement, "you would then learn that I speak

"I have been in Spain, and I have been in Peru," he answered dryly, "therefore I know classical Spanish and

its colonial dialects. As to being in Lama, I was there, and I do not wish to go there again, as I had quite

enough of those uncivilized parts thirty years ago, when the country was much disturbed after your civil

"You were in Lima thirty years ago," echoed Don Pedro; "then you were there when Vasa stole this

"I don't know who stole it, or even if it was stolen," said the Professor obstinately, "and I don't know the

name of Vasa. Ah! now I remember. Young Hope did say something about the Swedish sailor whom you said

"Vasa did, and brought it to Europe to sell probably to that man in Paris, who afterwards sold it to your

"No doubt," rejoined Braddock calmly; "but what has all this to do with me, Don Pedro?"

"Then you won't get it," retorted Braddock, adopting a pugnacious attitude and quite composed. "This

mummy has caused one death, Don Pedro, and from your looks I should think you would like it to cause

"I'll knock your head off if you bring my honesty into question," cried the Professor, standing on tiptoe like

a bantam. "The best thing to do will be to take the matter into court. Then the law can decide, and I have little

The Englishman and the Peruvian glared at one another, and Cockatoo, who was crouching on the floor,

glanced from one angry face to another. He guessed that the white men were quarreling and perhaps would

come to blows. It was at this moment that a knock came to the door, and a minute later Archie entered.

"Hope, you are just in time," he declared. "Don Pedro states that the mummy belongs to him, and I assert that

I have bought it. We shall make you umpire. He wants it: I want it. What is to be done?"

Archie twisted a chair round and straddled his long legs across it, with his arms resting on its back. His quick

brain had rapidly comprehended the situation, and, being acquainted with both sides of the question, it was

not difficult to come to a decision. If it was hard that Don Pedro should lose his ancestor's mummy, it was

equally hard that Braddock or rather himself should lose the purchase money, seeing that it had been paid

in good faith to the seller in Malta for a presumably righteously acquired object. On these premises the young

"I understand," said he judiciously, "that Don Pedro had the mummy stolen from him thirty years ago, and

that you, Professor, bought it under the impression that the Maltese owner had a right to possess it."

"Yes," snapped Braddock, "and I daresay the Maltese owner thought so too, since he bought it from that

"And if Vasa sold it to the man in Paris," said he calmly, "he certainly would not tell the purchaser that he

had looted the mummy in Lima, and the poor man would not know that he was receiving stolen goods. Is that

"Yes, sir," said the Peruvian, who had recovered his temper and his gravity; "but I declare solemnly that the

"No one disputes that," said Archie cheerfully; "but it ought to belong to the Professor also, since he has

bought it. Now, as it can't possibly belong to two people, we must split the difference. You, Professor, must

sell back the mummy to Don Pedro for the price you paid for it, and then, Don Pedro, you must recompense

"I have not much money," said Don Pedro gravely; "still, I am willing to do as you say."

"I don't know that I am," protested Braddock noisily. "There are the two emeralds which are of immense

value, as Don Pedro says, and they belong to me, since the mummy is my property."

"Professor," said Archie solemnly, "you must do right, even if you lose by it. I believe the story of Senor De

Gayangos; and the mummy with its jewels belongs to him. Besides, you only wish to see the way, in which

the Inca race embalmed their dead. Well, then, unpack the mummy here in the presence of Don Pedro. When

you have satisfied your curiosity, and when Senor De Gayangos signs a check for one thousand pounds, he

can take away the corpse. You have had so much trouble over it, that I wonder your are not anxious to see the

"But the emeralds would sell for much money and would defray the expenses of my expedition into Egypt to

"I understood from Lucy that Mrs. Jasher intended to finance that expedition when she became your wife."

"Humph!" muttered Braddock, stroking his fat thin. "I said a few foolish things to her last night when I was

Braddock was no fool, and could not help casting a glance at his tubby figure, which was reflected in a near

mirror. It seemed incredible that Mrs. Jasher could love him for his looks, and the fact that he might some day

be a baronet did not strike him at the moment as a consideration. However, he foresaw trouble and expense

should Don Pedro go to law, as he seemed determined to do. Taking all things into consideration, Braddock

"Well," he said after reflection, "let us agree. I shall open the case and examine the mummy, which after all is

the reason why I bought it. When I have satisfied myself as to the difference between the modes of

embalming, Don Pedro can give me a check and take away the mummy. I only hope that he will have less

trouble with it than I have had," and, so speaking, Braddock, signing to Cockatoo to bring all the necessary

"I am content," said Don Pedro briefly, and seated himself in a chair beside the young Daniel who had

Hope offered to assist the Professor to open the case, but was dismissed with an abrupt refusal.

"Though I am glad you are present to see the mummy unpacked," said Braddock, laboring at the lid of the

case, "for if the emeralds are missing, Don Pedro might accuse me of stealing them."

"Sidney Bolton was killed," said he in a low voice, "and it was not likely that any one would commit a

murder for the sake of this mummy, and then leave it stranded in Mrs. Jasher's garden. I have my doubts

about the safety of the emeralds, else I would not have consented to sell the thing back again."

With this honest speech, the Professor vigorously attacked the lid of the case, and inserted a steel instrument

into the cracks to prize up the covering. The lid was closed with wooden pegs in an antique but perfectly safe

manner, and apparently had not been opened since the dead Inca had been laid to rest therein hundreds of

years ago among the Andean mountains. Don Pedro winced at this desecration of the dead, but, as he had

given his consent, there was nothing left to do but to grin and bear it. In a wonderfully short space of time,

considering the neatness of the workmanship and the holding power of the wooden pegs, the lid was

removed. Then the four onlookers saw that the mummy had been tampered with. Swathed in greenstained

llama wool, it lay rigid in its case. But the swathings had been cut; the hands protruded and the emeralds were

Both Don Pedro and Professor Braddock were amazed and angry at the disappearance of the jewels, but Hope

did not express much surprise. Considering the facts of the murder, it was just what he expected, although it

"I refer you to your own words immediately before the case was opened, Professor," he remarked, after the

"Words! words!" snapped Braddock, who was anything but pleased. "What words of mine do you mean,

"You said that it was not likely that any one would commit a murder for the sake of the mummy only, and

then leave it stranded in Mrs. Jasher's garden. Also, you declared that you had your doubts about, the safety

of the emeralds, else you would not have consented to sell the mummy again to its rightful owner."

"Quite so: quite so. And what I say I hold to," he retorted, "especially as I have proved myself a true prophet.

You can both see for yourselves," he waved his hand towards the rifled case, "that poor Sidney must have

"Of course: but who did know? I was ignorant until you told me about the manuscript. And you, Hope?" He

"Do you intend to accuse me?" questioned the young man with a slight laugh. "I assure you, Professor, that I

was ignorant of what had been buried with the corpse, until Don Pedro related his story the other night to

Braddock turned impatiently to De Gayangos, as he did not approve of Archie's apparent flippancy.

"Does any one else know of the contents of this manuscript?" he demanded irritably.

"Vasa? Vasa? Oh yes, the sailor who stole the mummy thirty years ago from your father in Lima. Pooh!

pooh! pooh! You tell me that this manuscript is written in Latin, and evidently in monkish Latin at that,

which is of the worst. Your sailor could not read it, and would not know the value of the manuscript. If he

"Senor," said the Peruvian politely, "I have an idea that my father made a translation of this manuscript, or at

"But I understood," put in Hope, still astride of his chair, "that you did not find the original manuscript until

"That is quite true, sir," assented the other readily, "but I did not tell you everything the other night. My father

it was who found the manuscript at Cuzco, and although I cannot state authoritatively, yet I believe I am

correct in saying that he had a copy. made. But whether the copy was merely a transcript or actually a

translation, I cannot tell. I think it was the former, as if Vasa, reading a translation, had learned of the jewels,

he undoubtedly would have stolen them before selling this mummy to the Parisian collector."

"Perhaps he did," said Braddock, pointing to the rifled corpse. "You see that the emeralds are missing."

"We cannot be sure of that," retorted the Professor, "although I admit that no man would jeopardize his neck

"No, sir. Not even for this mummy would I place myself in the power of the law. And I do not think that any

other scientist would either. We savants may not be worldly, but we are not fools. However, the fact remains

that the jewels are gone, and whether they were stolen by Vasa thirty years ago, or by poor Sidney's assassin

the other day, I don't know, and, what is more, I don't care. I shall examine the mummy further, and in a

couple of days Don Pedro can bring me a check for one thousand and remove his ancestor."

"No! no!" cried the Peruvian hurriedly; "since the emeralds are missing, I am not in a position to pay you one

thousand English pounds, sir. I want to take back the body of Inca Caxas to Lima; as one must show respect

"You said that you could," shouted the exasperated Professor in his bullying way.

"I admit it, senor, but I had hoped to do so when I sold the emeralds, which as you can see are not

available. Therefore the body of my royal ancestor must remain here until I can procure the money. And it

Don Pedro, looking more dignified than ever, drew himself up to his tall height.

"Sir Frank," he said, in a stately way, "hag done me the honor of seeking to be my soninlaw. As my

daughter loves him, I am willing to permit the marriage, but now that I have learned the emeralds are lost, I

shall not consent until Sir Frank buys the mummy front you, Professor. It is only right that my daughter's

hand should redeem her regal forefather from purely scientific surroundings and that she should take the

mummy back to be buried in Lima. At the same time, sir, I must say that I am the rightful owner of the dead,

"What, and lose a thousand pounds!" cried Braddock furiously. "No, sir, I shall do nothing of the sort. You

only wanted the mummy for the sake of the jewels, and now that they are lost, you do not care what becomes

The Professor would have gone on still more furiously, but that Hope, seeing Don Pedro was growing angry

"Let me throw oil on the troubled waters," he said, smoothly. "Don Pedro is not able to redeem the mummy

until the emeralds are found. As such is the case, we must find the emeralds and enable him to do what is

"How is that to be done?" asked De Gayangos gloomily. "I have been doing my best at Pierside, but I cannot

"Certainly. Vasa, if anyone, must have killed your assistant, since he alone could have known that the jewels

"But, my dear sir," argued Hope goodnaturedly, "if Vasa stole the manuscript, whether translated or not, he

certainly must have learned the truth long, long ago, since thirty years have elapsed. In that event he must

have stolen the jewels, as Professor Braddock remarked lately, before he sold the mummy to the Parisian

"That may be so," said Don Pedro obstinately, while the Professor muttered his approval, "but we cannot be

certain on that point. No one I agree with the Professor in this would have risked his neck to steal a mere

mummy, therefore the motive for the committal of the crime must have been the emeralds. Only Vasa knew

of their existence outside myself and my dead father. He, therefore, must be the assassin. I shall hunt for him,

"But you can't possibly recognize the man after thirty years?" argued Braddock disbelievingly.

"I Have a royal memory for faces," said Don Pedro imperturbably, "and in the past I saw much of Vasa. He

"Humph!" muttered Braddock. "He is now fifty, and must have changed in thirty years. You'll never

"Oh, I think so," said the Peruvian smoothly. "His eyes were peculiarly blue and full of light. Also, he had a

scar on the right temple from a blow which he received in a street riot in which I also was concerned. Finally,

gentlemen, Vasa loved a peon girl on my father's estate, and she induced him to have the sun encircled by a

serpent a Peruvian symbol tattooed on his left wrist. With all these marks, and with my memory for faces,

which never yet has failed me, I have no doubt but what I shall recognize the man."

Hope shrugged his square shoulders. He had not much belief in Don Pedro's boasted royal memory, and did

not think that he would recognize a young sailor of twenty in what would certainly be a grizzled old salt of

fifty years. However, it was possible that the man might be right in his surmise, since Vasa alone could have

known about the emeralds. The only doubt was whether he would have waited for thirty years before looting

the mummy. Archie said nothing of these thoughts, as they would only serve to prolong an unprofitable

"Your best plan," he said suggestively, "is to write a description of Vasa who, by the way, has probably

changed his name and hand it to the police, with the promise of a reward if he is found."

"I can offer nothing," said Braddock quickly, "as I am quite as poor as you are, if not more so, Sir Frank

"I shall not ask," said Don Pedro loftily. "If Sir Frank chooses to become my soninlaw by purchasing back

my royal ancestor, to which you have no right, I am willing that it should be so. But, poor as I am, I shall

offer a reward myself, since the honor of the De Gayangoses is involved in this matter. What reward do you

"Too much," said Hope sharply "far too much. Make the reward one hundred pounds, Don Pedro. That is

"I shall go at once to Pierside and see Inspector Date, who had to do with the inquest," he remarked.

"Meanwhile, Professor, please do not desecrate my royal ancestor's body more than you can help."

"I shall certainly not search for any more emeralds," retorted Braddock dryly. "Now, clear out, both of you,

and leave me to examine the mummy. Cockatoo, show these gentlemen out, and let no one else in."

Don Pedro returned to the Warrior Hotel to inform his daughter of what had taken place, with the intention of

going in the afternoon to Pierside. Meanwhile, he wrote out a full description of Vasa, making an allowance

for the lapse of years and explaining the scar and the symbol on the left wrist. Hope also sought Lucy and

related the latest development of the case. The girl was not surprised, as she likewise believed that the

"No," replied Archie, much surprised. "Surely you do not suspect her of having a hand in the devilment?"

"Certainly not," was the prompt answer. "Only I cannot understand how the mummy came to be in her

"I cannot tell that. The whole thing is a mystery, and seems likely to remain so."

"It seems to me," said the girl, after a pause, "that it would be best for my father to return this mummy to Don

Pedro, and have done with it, since it seems to bring bad luck. Then he can marry Mrs. Jasher, and go to

"I doubt very much if Mrs. Jasher will marry the Professor now, after what he said last night."

"Nonsense, my father was in a rage and said what first came into his mind. I daresay she is angry. However, I

"I am," replied Lucy seriously, "as I want to leave my father comfortably settled when I marry you. The

sooner he makes Mrs. Jasher his wife, the readier will he be to let me go, and I want to marry you as soon as I

Of course to this speech Archie could make only one answer, and as that took the form of kissing, it was

entirely satisfactory to Miss Kendal. Then they discussed the future and also the proposed engagement of Sir

Frank Random to the Peruvian lady. But both left the subject of the mummy alone, as they were quite weary

Meanwhile Professor Braddock had passed a very pleasant hour in examining the swathings of the mummy.

But his pleasure was destined to be cut short sooner than he desired, as Captain Hiram Hervey unexpectedly

arrived. Although Cockatoo as he had been instructed did his best to keep him out, the sailor forced his

way in, and heralded his appearance by throwing the Kanaka headforemost into the museum.

"What does this mean?" demanded the fiery Professor, while Cockatoo, with an angry expression, struggled

to his feet, and Hervey, smoking his inevitable cheroot, stood on the threshold "how dare you treat my

"Guess your property should behave itself then," said the captain in careless tones, and sauntered into the

room. "D'y think I'm goin' to be chucked out by a measly nigger and Great Scott!" this latter exclamation

Braddock motioned to the still angry Cockatoo to move aside, and then nodded triumphantly.

Hervey came to anchor on a chair and turned the cheroot in his mouth with an odd look at the mummy.

The Professor sat down and explained. The lean, long mariner listened quietly, only nodding at intervals. He

did not seem to be surprised when he heard that the corpse of the head Inca had been found in Mrs. Jasher's

"Wal," he drawled, "that don't make my hair stand on end. I guess the garden was on his way and he used it

"You!" Braddock started and flung himself across the room to seize Hervey by the lapels of his reefer coat.

"Don't you know? No, of course you don't. But two emeralds were buried with the mummy, and they have

Hervey spat on the floor, and his weatherbeaten face took on an expression of, profound regret.

"To think," said Hervey, addressing the mummy, "that you were on board my boat, and I never looted you."

"Theft be hanged!" was the reply. "It ain't thieving to loot the dead. I guess a corpse hasn't got any use for

jewels. You bet I'd have gummed straightways onto that mummy, when I brought it from Malta in the old

Diver, had I known it was a jeweler's shop of sorts. Huh! Two emeralds, and I never knew. I could kick

"Oh, shucks!" was the elegant retort, "give it a rest. I'm no worse than that dandy gentleman who added

"Ah!" Braddock bounded off his chair like an indiarubber ball, "you said that you knew who had committed

"Wal," drawled Hervey again, "I do and I don't. That is I suspect, but I can't swear to the business before a

"I have just told you the mummy belongs to him; he came to Europe to find it. He wants the emeralds, and

intends to offer a reward of one hundred pounds for the discovery of the assassin."

"I'm right on the job," said he, sauntering to the door. "I'll go to that old inn of yours, where you say the Don's

"But who killed Bolton?" asked Braddock, running to the door and gripping Hervey by his coat.

The mariner looked down on the anxious face of the plump little man with a grim smile.

"I can tell you," said he, "as you can't figure out the business, unless I'm on the racket. No, sir; I'm the white

"That almighty aristocrat that came on board my ship, when I lay in the Thames on the very afternoon I

The Professor sat down and closed his eyes with horror. When he opened them again, Hervey was gone.

But the Processor was not going to let Captain Hervey escape without giving him full information. Before the

Yankee skipper could reach the front door, Braddock was at his heels, gasping and blowing like a grampus.

"I reckon not," rejoined the mariner, removing Braddock's grip. "You ain't the one to give the money. I'll go

"Oh, the devil take you!" said Hervey hastily, and sat down on one of the hall chairs. "It's this way, since you

won't let me skip until I tell you. This almighty aristocrat came to Pierside on the same afternoon as I cast,

"Now, how in creation should I know?" snapped the skipper. "I wasn't on hand, as I'd enough to do with

unloading cargo. But his lordship went with Bolton to the stateroom, and they talked for half an hour. When

they came out, I saw that his lordship had his hair riz, and heard him saying things to Bolton."

"Well, for one, he said, `You'll repent of this,' and then again, `Your life isn't safe while you keep it.'"

"Me? Not much. Why, I saw no way of making dollars. And then, again, I did not think of putting things

"I'm talking Queen's, or King's, or Republican lingo, I guess, and I do mean his lorship," said the skipper

dryly "until I found that his lorship had been in the publichouse where the crime was committed."

"In the evening. After his talk with Bolton, and after a row as they both seemed to have their hair off he

skipped over the side and went back to his yacht, which wasn't far away. Bolton took his blamed mummy

ashore and got fixed at the Sailor's Rest. I gathered afterwards, from the second mate of The Diver (which

ain't my ship now), that his lorship came into the hotel and had a drink. Afterwards my second mate saw him

"That's so, only it was later in the evening that the woman came along to give chinmusic through the

window. I am bound to say," added the captain generously, "that no one I can place my hand on saw his

lorship loafing about the hotel after dark. But what of that? He may have laid his plans, and arranged for the

"I daresay," retorted the little man with contempt, "but we are in a land where justice of the purest prevails.

"I calculate that it proves Sir Frank wanted the mummy, else why did he come on board my ship to see your

infernal assistant. The words he used showed that he was warning Bolton how he'd do for him. And then he

talked through the window, and was in the publichouse, which ain't a place for an almighty aristocrat to

shelter in. I guess he's the man wanted by the police. Why," added Hervey, warming to his tale, "he'd a

slapup yacht laying near the blamed hotel, and could easily ship the corpse, after slipping it through the

window. When he got tired of it, and looted the emeralds, he took it by boat, below the Fort, to Mrs. Jasher's

garden and left it there, so as to pull the wool over the eyes of the police. It's as clear as mud to me. You

"Strange, but not true," said a voice from the head of the stairs, and young Hope came down leisurely, with a

"If you hold private conversations at the top of your voice's in the hall, you must be expected to be listened

"In time to hear all that Captain Hervey has explained. I was chatting with Lucy, and had just left her, when I

"No. She is busy in her room. But I'll tell her," Hope turned to mount the stairs; "she likes Random, and will

"Stop!" cried Braddock, flying forward to pull Hope back, as he placed his foot on the first stair. "Tell Lucy

nothing just now. We must go to the Fort, you and I, to see Random. Hervey, you come also, and then you

"Oh, I'll accuse him right enough when the time comes," said Hervey in his coolest manner, "but the time

"He's got to prove, that, as I said before," rejoined the Yankee in a calm way, and strolled to the door.

"Solong, gents both. I'll light out for the Warrior Inn and play my cards. And I may tell you," he added,

pausing at the door, which he opened, "that I haven't got that blamed windjammer, so need money to hold

out until another steamer comes along. One hundred pounds English currency will just fill the bill. So now

you know the lay I'm on. Solong," and he walked quietly out of the house, leaving Archie and Braddock

looking at one another with pale faces. The assurance of Hervey surprised and horrified them. Still, they

"For one thing," said Hope after a pause, "Random did not know where the emeralds were to be found, or

"I understood that he did know," said Braddock reluctantly. "In my hearing, and in your own, you heard Don

"You forget that I learned about the emeralds at the same time," said Hope quietly. "Yet this Yankee skipper

does not accuse me. The knowledge of the emeralds came to Random's ears and to mine long after the crime

was committed. To have a motive for killing Bolton and stealing the emeralds, Random would have had to

"And why should he have not known?" asked the Professor, biting his lip vexedly. "I don't want to accuse

Random, or even to doubt him, as he is a very good fellow, even though he refused to assist me with money

when I desired a reward to be offered. All the same, he met Don Pedro in Genoa, and it is just possible that

"I doubt that," said he thoughtfully. "Random was as astonished as the rest of us, when Don Pedro told his

Arabian Night story. However, the point can be easily Settled by sending for Random. I daresay he is at the

"I shall send Cockatoo for him at once," said the Professor quickly, and walked into the museum to instruct

the Kanaka. Archie remained where he was, and seated himself on a chair, with folded arms and knitted

brows. It was incredible that an English gentleman with a stainless name and such a wellknown soldier

should commit so terrible a crime. And the matter of Hervey's accusation was complicated by the fact of

which Hervey was ignorant that Don Pedro was willing that Random should become his soninlaw. Hope

wondered what the fiery, proud Peruvian would say when he heard his friend denounced. His reflections on

this point were cut short by the return of the Professor, who appeared at the door of the museum dismissing

Cockatoo. When the Kanaka took his departure, Braddock beckoned to the young man.

"There is no reason why we should talk in the hall, and let the whole house know of this new difficulty," he

Hope entered and looked with illconcealed repugnance at the uncanny shape of the green mummy, which

was lying on a long table. He examined the portions where the swathings had been cut with some sharp

instrument, to reveal the dry, bony hands ,which formerly had held the costly jewels. The face was invisible

and covered with a mask of dull beaten gold. Formerly the eyes had been jeweled, but these last were now

absent. He pointed out the mask to the Professor, who was hovering over the weird dead with a large

"It is strange," said Hope earnestly, "that the mask of gold was not stolen also, since it is so valuable."

"Unless melted down, the mask could be traced," said Braddock after a pause. "The jewels, according to Don

Pedro, are of immense value, and so could have been got rid of easily. Random was satisfied with those."

"Don't talk of him in that way, as though his guilt was certain," said Hope, wincing.

"Circumstantial evidence has hanged many an innocent man before now. Humph!" said Braddock uneasily, "I

hope it won't hang our friend. However, we shall hear what he has to say. I have sent Cockatoo to the Fort to

bring him here at once. If Random is absent, Cockatoo is to leave a note in his room, on the writingtable."

"Would it not have been better to have told Cockatoo to give the note to Random's servant?"

"I think not," responded Braddock dryly. "Random's servant is certainly one of the most stupid men in the

entire army. He would probably forget to give him the note, and as it is important that we should see Random

at once, it is better that he should find it placed personally on his writingtable by Cockatoo, upon whom I

Archie abandoned the argument, as it really mattered very little. He took up another line of conversation.

"I expect if the criminal tries to dispose of the emeralds he will be caught," said he: "such large jewels are too

"Humph! It depends upon the cleverness of the thief," said the Professor, who was more taken up with the

mummy than with the conversation, "He might have the jewels cut into smaller stones, or he might go to

India and dispose of them to some Rajah, who would certainly say nothing. I don't know how criminals act

myself, as I have never studied their methods. But I hope that the clue you mention will be hit upon, if only

"I don't believe for one moment that Random is in danger," said Archie, "and, if he is, I shall turn detective

"I wish you joy," replied Braddock, bending over the mummy. "Look, Hope, at the wonderful color of this

wool. There are some arts we have lost completely dyeing of this surprising beauty is one. Humph!" mused

the archaeologist, "I wonder why this particular mummy is dyed green, or rather why it is wrapped in green

bandages. Yellow was the royal color of the ancient Peruvian monarchs. Vicuna wool dyed yellow. What do

"I can say nothing, because I know nothing," he said sharply. "All I do know is, that I wish this precious

mummy had never been brought here. It has caused trouble ever since its arrival."

"Well," said Braddock, surveying the dead with some disfavor, "I must say that I shall be glad to see the last

of it myself. I know now all that I wanted to know! Humph! I wonder if Don Pedro will allow me to strip the

mummy? Of course! It is mine not his. I shall unswathe it entirely," and Braddock was about to lay

sacrilegious, hands on the dead, when Cockatoo entered breathlessly. He had been so quick that he must have

"I knock at door," said the Kanaka, delivering his message, "and I hear no voice. I go in and find no one, so I

put the letter on the table. I come down and ask, and a soldier tells me, sir, his master is coming back in half

"You should have waited," said Braddock, waving Cockatoo aside. "Come along with me to the Fort, Hope."

"Very likely, but I can't wait. I am anxious to hear what he has to say in his defense. Come, Cockatoo, my

Archie was not unwilling to go, since he was anxious also to hear what Random would say to the absurd

accusation brought against him by the Yankee. In a few minutes the two men were walking smartly down the

road through the village, the Professor striving to keep up with Hope's longer legs by trotting as hard as he

could. Halfway down the village they met a trap, and in it Captain Hervey being driven to the Jessum railway

"I reckon not," answered Hervey stolidly. "He's gone into Pierside to see the police. I'm off there also."

"You had better come with us," said Archie sternly; "we are going to see Sir Frank Random."

"Give him my respects," said the skipper coldbloodedly, "and say that he's worth one hundred pounds to

me," he waved his hand and the trap moved away, but he looked back with a wry smile. "Say I'll square the

"What a scoundrel the man is!" said the Professor pettishly; "he'd sell his father for what he could get."

"It shows how much his word is to be depended upon. I expect this accusation of Random is a putup job."

In a short time they arrived at the Fort and were informed that Sir Frank had not yet returned, but was

expected back every moment. In the meanwhile, as Braddock and Hope were both extremely well known,

they were shown into Random's quarters, which were on the first floor. When the soldierservant retired and

the door was closed, Hope seated himself near the window, while Braddock trotted round, looking into

"No! no! no! We couldn't talk there, with a lot of silly young fools hanging about. I told Random that I would

never enter the mess, so he invited me to come always to his quarters. He was in love with Lucy then,"

"Not even the dog kennel," said Hope dryly, for the Professor's chatter was so rude as to be quite annoying.

"Pooh! pooh! pooh! Random doesn't mind a joke. You, Hope, have no sense of humor. Your name is Scotch

"You might have been born at the North Pole for all I care," said the little man politely. "I don't like artists:

they are usually silly. I wish Lucy had married a man of science. Now don't talk rubbish. I know what you are

"Hum! Hum! hum! I don't know and don't care. Pouf! How hot this room is! What a number of books of

travel Random has!" Braddock was now at the bookcase, which consisted of shelves swung by cords against

"Quite so: quite so. Wastes his money on that silly yacht. But he hasn't traveled in South America. I expect

he's going there. Come here, Hope, and see the many, many books about Peru and Chili and Brazil. There

"I expect Random is getting up the subject of South America, so as to talk to Donna Inez."

"Probably! probably!" snapped Braddock, pulling several of the books out of place. "Why, there isn't a Ah,

He might well say so, for in his desire to examine the books, they all tipped off the shelves and lay in a

disorderly heap on the floor. Hope began to pick them up and replace them, and so did the author of the

mischief. Among the books were several papers scribbled with notes, and Braddock bundled these all in a

"Hullo! Latin," said he, and read a line or two. "Oh!" he gasped, "Hope! Hope! The manuscript of Don

Random was so taken aback by the fierce accusation of the Professor that he stood suddenly still at the door,

and did not advance into the room. Yet he did not look so much afraid as puzzled. Whatever Braddock might

have thought, Hope, from the expression on the young soldier's face, was more than ever satisfied of his

"Upon my word I don't," said the other, walking into the room and unbuckling his sword. "I find you here,

with the contents of my bookcase on the floor, and you promptly accuse me of being guilty. Of what, I should

"There is no need for Hope to tell you, sir. You are perfectly well aware of your own villainy."

"I allow a certain amount of latitude to my guests, Professor," he said with marked dignity, "but for a man of

"Allow me to speak," intervened Archie, anticipating Braddock. "Random, the Professor has just had a visit

from Captain Hiram Hervey, who was the skipper of The Diver. He accuses you of having murdered Bolton "

"Wait a moment. I have not finished yet. Hervey accuses you of this murder, of stealing the mummy, of

gaining possession of the emeralds, and of placing the rifled corpse in Mrs. Jasher's garden, so that she might

"Exactly," cried Braddock, seeing that his host remained silent from sheer surprise. "Hope has stated the case

"Defense! defense!" Random found his tongue at last and spoke indignantly. "I have no defense to make."

"I acknowledge nothing. The accusation is too preposterous for any denial to be necessary. Do you believe

"I don't know what to think," he said at length. "Hervey spoke very decisively."

"Oh, indeed," returned Random dryly, and, walking to the door, he locked it. "In that case, I must ask you for

an explanation, and neither of you shall leave this room until one is given. Your proofs?"

"Here is one of them," snapped Braddock, throwing the manuscript on the table. "Where did you get this?"

"A copy of the manuscript mentioned by Don Pedro, which describes the two emeralds buried with the

"I see." Random understood all in a moment. "So you say that I knew of the emeralds from this, and so

"Pardon me," said Braddock with elaborate politeness. "Hervey says that you murdered my poor assistant,

and although my discovery of this manuscript proves that you must have known about the jewels, I say

"That's very good of you," remarked Sir Frank ironically. "So it seems that I am in the dock. Perhaps the

counsel for the prosecution will state the evidence against me," and he looked again from one to the other.

"My dear fellow," he declared decidedly, "I don't believe one word of the evidence."

"In that case there must be a flaw in it," retorted Random, but did not seem to be unmoved by Hope's

"I cannot make any until I hear your evidence. Go on. I am waiting," and Sir Frank flung himself into a chair,

"No! Certainly not. To pass the time while waiting, I examined your library, and in pulling out a book, your

case, being a swing one, overbalanced and shot its contents on to the floor. Amongst the papers which fell

with the books, I caught a glimpse of the manuscript, and, noting that it was written in Latin, I picked it up,

surprised to think that a frivolous young man, such as you are, should study a dead language. A few words

"One moment," said Archie, who had been thinking. "Perhaps this is the original manuscript, which De

"It is good of you to afford me a loophole of escape," said Sir Frank, leaning back with folded arms, "but De

Gayangos gave me nothing. I saw the manuscript in his hands, when he showed it to us all at Mrs. Jasher's.

But whether this is the original or a copy I can't say. Don Pedro certainly did not give it to me."

"No. He has only visited me in the mess. And even if Don Pedro did come in here for I guess what is in

your mind I really do not see why he should slip a manuscript which he values highly amongst my books."

"Then you really never saw this before?" said Braddock, indicating the paper on the table, and impressed by

"How often do you want me to deny it?" retorted the young man impatiently. "Perhaps you will state on what

"Captain Hervey declared that your yacht arrived at Pierside almost at the same time as his steamer."

"Quite right. When Don Pedro received a wire from Malta stating that the mummy had been sold to you, and

that it was being shipped to London on The Diver, I got up steam at once, and chased the tramp to that port.

As the tramp was slow, and my boat was fast, I arrived on the same day and almost at the same hour, even

"Don Pedro wished to get back the mummy, and asked me to follow. As I was in love with Donna Inez, and

"Hervey says that you went on board The Diver, and had an interview with Bolton."

"That is perfectly true, and my visit was paid for the same reason as I followed the steamer to London that

is, I acted on behalf of Don Pedro. I wished to ascertain for certain that the mummy was on board, and having

done so from Bolton, I urged him to induce you to give back the same, free of charge, to De Gayangos, from

whom it had been stolen. He refused, as he declared that he intended to deliver it to you."

"I knew I could always trust Bolton," said the Professor enthusiastically. "It would have been better for you to

"I daresay; but I wished, as I told you, to make certain that the mummy was on board. That was the real

reason for my visit; but, being in Bolton's company, I naturally told him that Don Pedro claimed the mummy

as his property, and warned him that if you or he kept the same, that there would be trouble."

"Yes, you did," cried Braddock quickly. "Hervey declares that you told Bolton that he would repent of

To the surprise of both visitors, Random admitted using these serious threats without a moment's hesitation.

"Don Pedro told me that many Indians, both in Lima and Cuzco, who look upon him as the lawful descendant

of the last Inca, are anxiously expecting the return of the royal mummy. He also stated that when the Indians

knew who held the mummy they would send one of themselves to get it back, if he Don Pedro, that is did

not fetch it. To get back the mummy Don Pedro declared that these Indians would not stop short of murder.

"Oh!" Archie jumped up with widely opened eyes. "Then perhaps this solves the problem. Bolton was

"Again you offer me a loophole of escape, my dear fellow," he said sententiously, "but that theory will not

hold water. At present the Indians in Lima and Cuzco do not know that the mummy has been found. Don

Pedro only chanced upon the paper which announced the sale by accident and had no time to communicate

with his barbaric friends in South America. Failing to get the mummy from you, Professor, he would have

returned to Peru and then would have told who possessed the corpse of Inca Caxas, leaving the Indians to

deal with the matter. In that case my warning to Bolton would be necessary. But at the time I told him, it was

not necessary. However, Bolton remained true to you, Professor, and declined to surrender the mummy. I

therefore wired to Don Pedro at Genoa that the mummy was on board. The Diver and was being sent to

Gartley. I also advised him to come to me here in order to be introduced to you. The rest you know."

There was a moment's silence. Then Archie, to test if Random was willing to admit everything as an

"Oh, yes," he said easily and without hesitation. "I was walking about Pierside later, and, passing along that

waterside alley near the Sailor's Rest, I saw a window on the ground floor open, and Bolton looking out

across the river. I stopped and asked him when he proposed to take the mummy to Gartley, and if it was on

shore. He admitted that it was in the hotel, but declined to say when he would send it on to you, Professor.

When he closed the window, I afterwards went into the hotel and had a drink in order to ask casually when

Mr. Bolton intended to leave. I gathered not directly, of course, but in a roundabout way that he had

arranged to go next morning and to send on his luggage. Then I left and went to London. In the course of

time I returned here and learned of the murder and the disappearance of the corpse of Inca Caxas. And now,"

Random stood up, "having admitted all this, perhaps you will believe me to be innocent."

"You have no idea who murdered Bolton and placed his body in the packing case?" asked Braddock,

"'No. No more than I have any idea of the person who placed the mummy case and its contents in Mrs.

"Yes. The news was all over the village this morning. I could hardly help knowing it. And I believe that the

"It has," admitted Braddock dryly. "I took it myself from Mrs. Jasher's arbor in a handcart, with the

assistance of Cockatoo. But when I made an examination this morning in the presence of Hope and Don

Pedro, I found that the swathings of the body had been ripped up, and that the emeralds mentioned in that

"Probably." Random kicked a mat straight with his foot. "At any rate the theft of the emeralds shows that it

was not any Indian who killed Bolton. None of them would rifle so sacred a corpse."

"Besides which as you say the Indians in Peru do not know that the mummy has reappeared after thirty

For answer Sir Frank picked up the manuscript which still remained on the table.

"I shall see Don Pedro about this," he said quietly, "and ascertain if it is the original or a copy."

"No," rejoined Random, knowing what the savant meant. "I learned it, of course, but I have forgotten much. I

might translate a word or two, but certainly not the hedgepriest Latin in which this is written." He looked

"We cannot learn that until we see Don Pedro. If this is the original manuscript which we saw the other night,

we may learn how it passed from the possession of De Gayangos to my bookcase. If it is a copy, then we

"Don Pedro said that a transcript or a translation had been made," mentioned Hope.

"Evidently a transcript," said Braddock, glaring at the paper in Random's hand. "But how could that find its

"No," contradicted Random decisively, "in that event, the man in Malta from whom the mummy was bought

"Perhaps he did. We have nothing to show that Bolton's assassin committed the crime for the sake of the

"He must have done so," cried the Professor, irritably, "else there is no motive for the commission of the

crime. But I think myself that we must start at the other end to find a clue. When we discover who placed the

"That will not be easy," murmured Hope thoughtfully, "though, of course, the same must have been brought

by river. Let us go down to the embankment and see if there are any signs of a boat having been brought there

"I cannot leave the Fort, as I am on duty," replied the officer, putting the manuscript away in a drawer and

locking the same, "but this evening I shall see Don Pedro, and in the meanwhile I shall endeavor to learn

from my servant who visited me lately while I was absent. The manuscript must have been brought here by

someone. But I trust," he added as he escorted his two visitors to the door, "that you now acquit me of "

"Yes! yes! yes!" cried Braddock, hastily cutting him short and shaking his hand. "I apologize for my

"Thank you both," said Random simply, and, having closed the door, he returned to a chair near the fire to

smoke a pipe, and meditate over his future movements. "An enemy hath done this," said Random, referring to

the concealment of the manuscript, but he could think of no one who desired to harm him in any way.

Lucy and Mrs. Jasher were having a confidential conversation in the small pink drawingroom. True to her

promise, Miss Kendal had come to readjust matters between the fiery little Professor and the widow. But it

was not an easy task, as Mrs. Jasher was righteously indignant at the rash words used to her.

"As if I knew anything about the matter," she repeated again and again in angry tones. "Why, my dear, he as

"There! there!" she said, speaking as she would have done to a fretful child, "you know what my father is."

"It seems to me that I am just beginning to learn," said the widow bitterly, "and knowing how ready he is to

"Even if I married him, I am not sure that I should be, since I learn that his brother is singularly healthy and

comes of a long lived family. And it will not be pleasant to live with your father when he has such a

"That was only because he was excited. Think of your salon, and of the position you wish to hold in,

"Ah, well," said Mrs. Jasher, visibly softening, "there is something to be said there. After all, one can never

find a man who is perfection. And a very amiable man is usually a fool. One can't expect a rose to be without

thorns. But really, my dear," she surveyed Lucy with mild surprise, "you appear to be very anxious that I

"I want to see my father made comfortable before I marry Archie," said the girl with a blush. "Of course my

father is quite a child in household affairs and needs everything done for him. Archie I am glad to say is

now in a position to marry me in the spring. I want you to, be married about the same time, and then you can

"No, my dear," said Mrs. Jasher firmly, "if I marry your father, he wishes us to go at once to Egypt in search

"I know that he wants you to help with the money left to you by your late brother. But surely you will not go

"No, certainly not," said the widow promptly. "I shall remain in Cairo while the Professor goes on his

excursion into Ethiopia. I know that Cairo is a very charming place, and that I shall be able to enjoy myself

"I must," sighed Mrs. Jasher. "I am so tired of being an unprotected widow without a recognized position in

the world. Even with my brother's money, not that it is so very much I shall still be looked upon askance

if I go into society. But as Mrs. Braddock, or Lady Braddock, no one will dare to say a word against me. Yes,

my dear, if your father comes and, asks my pardon he shall have it. We women are so weak," ended the

Things being thus settled, the two talked on amiably for some time, and discussed the chances of Random

marrying Donna Inez. Both acknowledged that the Peruvian lady was handsome enough, but had not a word

While thus chattering, Professor Braddock trotted into the room, looking brisk and bright from his stroll in

the cold frosty air. Gifted as he was with scientific assurance, the little man was not at all taken aback by the

"Ah, there you are, Selina," said he, looking like a brighteyed robin. "I hope you are feeling well."

"How can you expect me to feel well after what you said?" remarked Mrs. Jasher reproachfully, and anxious

"Oh, I beg pardon: I beg pardon. Surely, Selina, you are not going to make a fuss over a trifle like that?"

"Quite so. But as we are to be married, I may as well get used to your Christian name, my dear."

"Oh, but we must," cried Braddock in dismay. "I am depending upon your money to finance my expedition to

"I see," observed the widow coldly, while Lucy sat quietly by and allowed the elder woman to conduct the

"My dear, as soon as I have the time say during our voyage to Cairo, whence we start inland up the Nile for

Ethiopia I shall make love whenever you like. And, confound it, Selina, I admire you no end to use a

slang phrase. You are a fine woman and a sensible woman, and I am afraid that you are throwing yourself

"Oh no! no! Pray do not say that," cried Mrs. Jasher, visibly moved by this flattery. "You will make a very

"Temper! temper! Bless the woman I mean you, Selina I have the very best temper in the world.

However, you shall govern it and myself also if you like. Come," he took her hand, "let us be friends and fix

"Then you do not believe that I have anything to do with this terrible murder?" she asked playfully.

"No! no! I was heated last night. I spoke rashly and hastily. Forgive and forget, Selina. You are innocent

quite innocent, in spite of the mummy being in your confounded garden. After all, the evidence is stronger

against Random than against you. Perhaps he put it there: it's on his way to the Fort, you see. Never mind. He

has exonerated himself, and no doubt, when confronted with Hervey, will be able to silence that blackguard.

And I am quite sure that Hervey is a blackguard," ended Braddock, rubbing his bald head.

The two ladies looked at one another in amazement, not knowing what to say. They were ignorant of the theft

of the emeralds and of the accusation of Sir Frank by the Yankee skipper. But, with his usual

absentmindedness, Braddock had forgotten all about that, and sat in his chair rubbing his head quite pink and

"I went down with Hope to the embankment," he continued, "but neither of us could see any sign of a boat.

There's the rude, short jetty, of course, and if a boat came, a boat could go away without leaving any trace.

Perhaps that is so. However, we must wait until we see Don Pedro and Hervey again, and then "

"What are you talking about, father? Why do you bring in Sir Frank's name in that way?"

"What do you expect me to say?" retorted the little man. "After all, the manuscript was found in his room,

and the emeralds are gone. I saw that for myself, as did Hope and Don Pedro, in whose presence I opened the

"Yes! yes! yes!" cried Braddock irritably. "Am I not telling you so? I almost believe in Hervey's accusation

of Random, and yet the boy exonerated himself very forcibly very forcibly indeed."

"Will you explain all that has happened, father?" said Lucy, who was becoming more and more perplexed by

"So am I: so is Hope: so is every one," chuckled Braddock. "Ah, yes: of course, you were not present when

"I am about to tell you," snapped her future husband, and related all that had taken place since the arrival of

Captain Hervey in the museum at the Pyramids. The women listened with interest and with growing

astonishment, only interrupting the narrator with a simultaneous exclamation of indignation when they heard

"It is utterly and wholly absurd," cried Lucy angrily. "Sir Frank is the soul of honor."

"I am about to tell you, if you will stop talking," he cried crossly. "That is so like a woman. She asks for an

explanation and then prevents the man from giving it. Random offers a very good defense, I am bound to

"This thing can't go on," she declared resolutely. "Mrs. Jasher was accused by you, father "

"Never mind, she was accused," retorted Lucy stubbornly, "and now this sailor accuses Sir Frank. Who

knows who will be charged next with committing the crime? I shall ask Archie to take the matter up, and hunt

down the real criminal. Until the guilty person is found, I foresee that we shall never have a moment's peace."

"I quite agree with you," said Mrs. Jasher earnestly. "For my own sake I wish the matter of this mystery to be

cleared up. Why don't you help me?" she added, turning to Braddock, who listened placidly.

"I am helping," said Braddock quietly. "I intend to set Cockatoo on the trail at once. He shall take up his

abode in the Sailor's Rest on some pretext, and no doubt will be able to find a clue."

"Cockatoo is much cleverer than the average white man," said Braddock dryly, "especially in following a

trail. He, if any one, will learn the truth. I would much rather trust the Kanaka than young Hope."

"Nonsense!" cried Lucy, standing up for her lover. "Archie is the one to discover the assassin. I'll see him at

"I, my dear," said the Professor calmly, "shall remain here and make my peace with the future Mrs.

"You have made it already," said the widow graciously, and extended her hand, which the Professor kissed

unexpectedly, and then sat back in his chair, looking quite abashed at his outburst of gallantry.

Seeing that everything was going well, Lucy left the elderly couple to continue their courting, and hurried to

Archie's lodgings in the village. However, he happened to be out, and his landlady did not know when he

would return. Rather annoyed by this, since she greatly desired to unbosom herself, Miss Kendal walked

disconsolately towards the Pyramids. On the way she was stopped by Widow Anne, looking more dismal and

funereal than ever, and garrulous with copious draughts of gin. Not that she was intoxicated, but her tongue

was loose, and she wept freely for no apparent reason. According to herself, she had stopped Lucy to demand

back from Mr. Hope through the girl certain articles of attire which had been borrowed for artistic purposes.

These, consisting of a shawl and a skirt and a bodice, were of extraordinary value, and Mrs. Bolton wanted

them back or their equivalent in value. She mentioned that she would prefer the sum of five pounds.

"Why do you not ask Mr. Hope yourself?" said Lucy who was too impatient to bear with the old creature's

"If they aren't spiled with paint," wailed Widow Anne. "He told my Sid as he wanted them for a model to

wear while being painted. Sid asked me, and I gave 'em to Sid, and Sid, he passed 'em along to your good

gentleman. There was a skirt, as good as new, and a body of the dress trimmest beautiful, and a tartan shawl

as I got from my mother. But no," the old woman corrected herself, "it was a dark shawl with red spots and

"Ask Mr. Hope, ask Mr. Hope," cried Miss Kendal impatiently. "I know nothing about the things," and she

tore her dress from Widow Anne's detaining hand to hurry home. Mrs. Bolton wailed aloud at this desertion,

and took her way to Hope's lodgings, where she declared her determination to remain until the artist restored

Lucy for the moment thought little of this interview; but on reflection she thought it strange that Archie

should borrow clothes from Mrs. Bolton through Sidney. Not that there was anything strange in Archie's

procuring such garments, since he may have wanted them to clothe a model with. But he could easily have

got such things from his landlady, or, if from Widow Anne, could have borrowed them direct without

appealing to Sidney. Why, then, had the dead man acted as an intermediate party? This question was hard to

answer, yet Lucy greatly wished for a reply, since she suddenly remembered how a woman in a dark dress

and with a dark shawl over her head had been seen by Eliza Flight, the housemaid of the Sailor's Rest, talking

to Bolton through the window. Were the garments borrowed as a disguise, and did the person who had

borrowed them desire that it should be supposed that Widow Anne was talking to her son? There was a chill

hand clutching Lucy's heart as she went home, for the words of Mrs. Bolton seemed indirectly to implicate

Hope in the mystery. She determined to ask him about the matter straight out, when he came in that night to

At dinner the Professor was in excellent spirits, and actually became so human as to compliment Lucy on her

housekeeping. He also mentioned that he hoped Mrs. Jasher would cater as excellently. Over coffee he

informed his stepdaughter that he had entirely won the widow's heart by abasing himself at her feet and

withdrawing the accusation. They had arranged to be married in May, one or two weeks after Lucy became

Mrs. Hope. In the autumn they would start for Egypt, and would remain abroad for a year or more.

"In fact," said the Professor, setting down his cup and preparing to take his departure, "everything is now

"That," said Braddock stiffly, "entirely depends upon what De Gayangos says to this accusation of Hervey's."

"I hope so, and I believe so. But he will have to prove his innocence. I shall do my best, and I have sent round

"By all means, my dear. The more witnesses we have, the better it will be. We must do all in our powers to

So things were arranged, and when Archie came up to the drawingroom, Lucy informed him that Braddock

was in the museum with Don Pedro, telling all that had happened. Hope was glad to hear that Lucy had

secured the Professor's consent that they should be present, for the mystery of Bolton's terrible death was

piquing him, and he dearly desired to learn the truth. As a matter of fact, although he was unaware of it, he

was suffering from an attack of detective fever, and wished to solve the mystery. He therefore went gladly

into the museum with his sweetheart. Oddly enough as Lucy recollected when it was too late to speak she

Don Pedro, looking more stiff and dignified than ever, was in the museum with Braddock. The two men were

seated in comfortable chairs, and Cockatoo, some distance away, was polishing with a cloth the green

mummy case of the fatal object which had brought about all the trouble. Lucy had half expected to see Donna

Inez, but De Gayangos explained that he had left her writing letters to Lima in the Warrior Inn. When Miss

Kendal and Hope were seated, the Peruvian expressed himself much surprised at the charge which had been

"If I can speak of such things in the presence of a lady," he remarked, bowing his head to Lucy.

"Oh yes," she answered eagerly. "I have heard all about the charge. And I am glad that you are here, Don

Pedro, for I wish to say that I do not believe there is a word of truth in the accusation."

"T never believed it, even before I heard Random's defense," said Archie with a dry smile. "Did you not see

Captain Hervey yourself, sir?" he added, turning to Don Pedro; "he started for Pierside to look you up."

"I have not seen him," said De Gayangos in his stately way, "and I am very sorry, as I desire to examine him

about the accusation he had dared to bring against my very good friend, Sir Frank Random. I wish he were

Just as Don Pedro spoke the unexpected happened, as though some genie had obeyed his commands. As

though transported into the room by magic, the American skipper appeared, not through the floor, but by the

door. A female domestic admitted him and announced his name, then fled to avoid the anger of her master,

Captain Hervey, amused by the surprise visible on every face, sauntered forward, hat on head and cheroot in

mouth as usual. But when he saw Lucy he removed both with a politeness scarcely to be expected from so

"I beg pardon for coming here uninvited," said Hervey awkwardly, "but I've been chasing the Don all over

Pierside and through this village. They told me at the police office that you" he spoke to De Gayangos "had

The Peruvian looked gravely at Hervey's face, which was clearly revealed in the powerful light of the many

"I am glad to see you, sir," he said politely, and with a still more searching glance. "With the permission of

"Pardon, allow me," said De Gayangos, and brought forward a chair, still keeping his eyes on the skipper,

who was rather confused by the courtesy. "Will you be seated, senor: then we can talk."

Hervey sat down quietly close to the Peruvian; who then leaned forward to address him.

"Not at all," replied Lucy, who, along with Archie and the Professor, was puzzled by Don Pedro's manner.

In taking back the case Don Pedro allowed it to drop. As he made no motion of picking it up, Hervey,

although annoyed with himself for his politeness towards a yellowstomach, as he called De Gayangos, was

compelled to stretch for it. As he handed it back to Don Pedro, the Peruvian's eyes lighted up and he nodded

"Thank you, Vasa," said De Gayangos, and Hervey, changing color, leaped from his seat as though touched

For a few moments there was silence. Lucy and Archie sat still, as they were too much surprised by Don

Pedro's recognition of Captain Hervey as the Swedish sailor Vasa to move or speak. But the Professor did not

seem to be greatly astonished, and the sole sound which broke the stillness was his sardonic chuckle. Perhaps

the little man had progressed beyond the point of being surprised at anything, or, like, Moliere's hero, was

As for the Peruvian and the skipper, they were both on their feet, eyeing one another like two fighting dogs.

"I guess you've got the bulge on me," said he, trying to outstare the Peruvian, for which nationality, from long

voyaging on the South American coast, he entertained the most profound contempt.

"I think not," said Don Pedro quietly, and facing the pseudoAmerican bravely. "I never forget faces, and

yours is a noticeable one. When you first spoke I fancied that I remembered your voice. All that business with

the chair was to get close to you, so that I could see the scar on your right temple. It is still there, I notice.

Also, I dropped my cigarette case and forced you to pick it up, so that, when you stretched your arm, I might

see what mark was on your left wrist. It is a serpent encircling the sun, which Lola Farjados induced you to

have tattooed when you were in Lima thirty years ago. Your eyes are blue and full of light, and as you were

twenty when I knew you, the lapse of years has made you fifty your present age."

"Mr. Hope! Professor!" he remarked, "if you remember the description I gave of Gustav Vasa, I appeal to you

"It does," said Archie unhesitatingly, "although I cannot see the tattooed left wrist to which you refer."

Hervey, still smoking, made no offer to show the symbol, but Braddock unexpectedly came to the assistance

"The man is Vasa right enough," he remarked abruptly. "Whether he is Swedish or American I cannot say.

But he is the same man I met when I was in Lima thirty years ago, after the war."

Hervey slowly turned his blue eyes on the scientist with a twinkle in their depths.

"I recognized you at the moment I hired you to take The Diver to Malta to bring back that mummy," retorted

"Wal, no," said Hervey, his drawl more pronounced than ever. "I haven't got the memory for faces that you

and the Don here seem to posses. Huh!" He wheeled his chair and faced Braddock squarely. "I'd have thought

"I am not afraid of you," said he with great contempt. "I never did anything for which you could get money

"You were always a mighty spry man," assented the skipper coolly, "but spry men, I take it, make mistakes

"This is all beside the point," he remarked angrily. "Captain Hervey, do you deny that you are Gustav Vasa in

Hervey drew up the left sleeve of his reefer jacket, and showed on his bared wrist the symbol of the sun and

"Is that enough?" he drawled, "or do you want to look at this?" and he turned his head to reveal his scarred

"Wal," drawled the captain again, "that's one of my names, I guess, though I haven't used it since I traded that

"I am a citizen of the world, I guess," replied Hervey with great politeness for him, "and America suits me for

headquarters as well as any other nation. I might be Swedish or Danish or a Dago for choice. Vasa may be

"And a thief!" cried Don Pedro, who had resumed his seat, but seas keeping quiet with difficulty.

"Not of those emeralds," rejoined the skipper coolly: "Lord, to think of the chance I missed! Thirty years ago

I could have looted them, and again the other day. But I never knew I never knew," cried Hervey

regretfully, with his vividly blue eyes on the mummy. "I could jes' kick myself, gentlemen, when I think of

"Wal, I did," cried Hervey, turning to Archie, who had spoken, "but it was in a furren lingo, to which I didn't

"What did you do with the copy of the manuscript you stole?" asked Don Pedro sharply. "I know there, was a

copy, as my father told me so. I have the original myself, but the transcript and not a translation, as I

Hervey made no move, but smoked steadily, with his eyes on the carpet. However, Archie, who was

observing keenly, saw that he was more startled than he would admit. The explanation had taken him by

"See here," he remarked, "if the lady wasn't present, I'd show you that I take no orders from any yellow that

"Lucy, my dear, leave us," said Braddock, rising, much excited; "we must have this matter sifted to the

bottom, and if Hervey can explain better in your absence, I think you should go."

Although Miss Kendal was very anxious to hear all that was to be heard, she saw the advisability of taking

"I'll go," she said meekly, and was escorted by her lover to the door. There she paused. "Tell me all that takes

place," she whispered, and when Archie nodded, she vanished promptly. The young man closed the door. and

returned to his seat in time to hear Don Pedro reiterate his request for an explanation.

"And 'spose I can't oblige," said the skipper, now more at his ease since the lady was out of the room.

"I guess the law can't worry me about that after thirty years, and in a lowdown country like Peru. Your

This was quite true, and there was absolutely no chance of the skipper being brought to book. Don Pedro

looked rather disconsolate, and his gaze dropped under the glare of Hervey's eyes, which seemed unfair,

"I reckon I don't expect anything," retorted Hervey coolly "I looted the corpse, I don't deny, and "

"After my father had treated you like a son," said Don Pedro bitterly. "You were homeless and friendless, and

my father took you in, only to find that you robbed him of his most precious possession."

"You can't say truer than that," he grumbled, averting his eyes. "I guess I'm a bad lot all through. But a friend

of mine wanted the corpse, and offered me a heap of dollars to see the business through."

"You!" Don Pedro swung round in great astonishment, but the Professor faced him with all the consciousness

"Yes," he remarked quietly, "as I told you, I was in Peru thirty years ago. I was then hunting for specimens of

Inca mummies. Vasa this man now called Hervey told me that he could obtain a splendid specimen of a

mummy, and I arranged to give him one hundred pounds to procure what I wanted. But I swear to you, De

Gayangos," continued the little man earnestly, "that I did not know he proposed to steal the mummy from

"I guess not," said the gentleman who confessed to that name. "The Professor went to Cuzco and got into

"I was carried off to the mountains by some Indians," interpolated the Professor, "and only escaped after a

year's captivity. I did not mind that, as it gave me the opportunity of studying a decaying civilization. But

when I returned a free man to Lima, I found that Vasa had left the country with the mummy."

"That's so," assented Hervey, waving his hand. "I got a berth as second mate on a windjammer sailing to

Europe, and as the country wasn't healthy for me since I'd looted the green mummy, I took it abroad and

yanked it to Paris, where I sold it for a couple of hundred pounds. With that, I changed my name and had a

high old time. I never heard of the blamed thing again until the Professor here turned up with Mr. Bolton at

Pierside, asking me to bring it in The Diver from Malta. It was what you'd call a coincidence, I reckon,"

added Hervey lazily; "but I did cry small when I heard the Professor here had paid nine hundred for a thing

I'd let slip for two hundred. Had I known of those infernal emeralds, I'd have ripped open the case on board

"How could he," asked Braddock quietly, "when he did not know that any jewels were buried with the dead?

I did not know either. And I have explained why I wanted the mummy. But it never struck me until I hear

what you say now, that this mummy," he nodded towards the green case, "was the one which you had stolen

at Lima from De Gayangos. But you must do me the justice, Captain Hervey, to tell Don Pedro that I never

"No! you were square enough, I guess. The sin is on my own blessed shoulders, and I don't ask it to be

"I can't think," he mused. "I found a screed of Latin along with the mummy, when I looted it from your Lima

house, but it dropped out of my mind as to what became of it. Maybe I passed it along to the Paris man, and

"But I tell you this copy was found in Sir Frank's room," insisted De Gayangos. "How did it come to be

Captain Hervey rose and took a turn up and down the room. When Cockatoo came in his way he calmly

"What do you think, Mr. Hope?" he asked, coming to a full stop before Archie, while Cockatoo crept away

"I don't know what to think," replied that young gentleman promptly, "save that Sir Frank is my very good

friend, and that I take his word that he knows nothing of how the manuscript came to be hidden in his

"Huh!" said Hervey scornfully, and took another turn up and down the room in silence. "I surmise that your

"Possibly," retorted the artist dryly, "but I happen to be handy with my revolver also. I say again that you lie.

"He is trying to learn, and, when he does, will come here to let us all know, Captain Hervey. But I ask you on

what grounds you accuse him? Oh I know all you said today," added Hope scornfully, waving his hand;

"If it's in his room, as you acknowledge, I can," said Hervey, speaking in a much more cultivated tone. "See

here. As I said before, that copy must have been passed along with the corpse to the Maltese man. Well, then,

"No," contradicted the little man, prodigiously excited. "Bolton wrote to me full particulars of the mummy,

"He did know Latin," admitted Braddock uneasily; "I taught him myself. But do you mean to say that he got

that manuscript and read it and intended to keep the fact of the emeralds secret?"

"How else can you figure the business out?" he demanded quietly, and with his eyes fixed on the excited

Professor. "Bolton must have got that manuscript, as I can't remember what I did with it, save pass it along

with the corpse. He as you admit doesn't tell you about it when he writes. Well, then, I reckon he

calculated getting this corpse to England, and intended to steal the emeralds when safely ashore."

"I guess not, with me about," said Hervey coolly. "I'd have spotted his game and would have howled for

"Keep your hair on. I dare to say anything that comes up my darned back, you bet. I'm not going to knuckle

Out flew Don Pedro's long arm, and Hervey slammed against the wall. He slipped his hand around to his hip

pocket with an ugly smile, but before he could use the revolver he produced, Hope dashed up his arm, and the

ball went through the ceiling. "Lucy!" cried the young man, knowing that the drawingroom was overhead,

and in a moment was out of the door, racing up the stairs at top speed. Some sense of shame seemed to

overpower Hervey as he thought that he might have shot the girl, and he replaced the revolver in his pocket

"Hang you, sir; you might have shot my daughter," cried Braddock. "The drawingroom, where she is sitting,

As he spoke the door opened, and Lucy came in on Archie's arm. She was pale with fright, but had sustained

no damage. It seemed that the revolver bullet had passed through the floor some distance away from where

"I'll break your neck, you ruffian!" growled Hope, who looked, and was, dangerous. "How dare you shoot

"It's all right," interposed Lucy, not wishing for further trouble. "I am all safe. But I shall remain here for the

rest of your interview, Captain Hervey, as I am sure you will not shoot again in the presence of a lady."

"No, miss," muttered the captain, and when again invited by the angry Professor to speak, resumed his

discourse in low tones. "Wal, as I was saying," he remarked, sitting down with a dogged look, "Bolton

intended to clear with the emeralds, but I guess Sir Frank got ahead of him and packed him in that blamed

case, while he annexed the emeralds. He then took the manuscript, which he looted from Bolton's corpse, and

hid it among his books, as you say, while he left the blamed mummy in the garden of the old lady you talked

"And there isn't a word of truth in it," said Lucy indignantly, standing up for Frank Random.

"It ain't for me to contradict you, miss," said Hervey, who was still humble, "but I ask you, if what I say ain't

true, how did that copy of the manuscript come to be in that aristocrat's room?"

There was no reply made to this, and although every one present, save Hervey, believed in Random's

innocence, no one could explain. The reply came after some further conversation, by the appearance of the

soldier himself in mess kit. He walked unexpectedly into the room with Donna Inez on his arm, and at once

"I called to see you at the inn, sir," he said, "and as you were not there, I brought your daughter along with me

At this second insult Archie quite expected to see the skipper again draw his revolver and shoot. He therefore

jumped up rapidly to once more avert disaster. But perhaps the fiery American was awed by the presence of a

second lady since men of the adventurous type are often shy when the fair sex is at hand for he meekly

sat where he was and did not even contradict. Don Pedro shook hands with Sir Frank, and then Hervey smiled

"Hervey declares that you murdered Bolton, stole the manuscript from him, and concealed it in your room,"

"I can't suggest any other reason for its presence in the room," observed the American with a grim smile. "If

Random was about to do so, and with some pardonable heat, when he was anticipated by Donna Inez. It has

been mentioned before that this young lady was of the silent order. Usually she simply ornamented any

company in which she found herself without troubling to entertain with her tongue. But the accusation

against the baronet, whom she apparently loved, changed her into a voluble virago. Brushing aside the little

Professor, who stood in her way, she launched herself forward and spoke at length. Hervey, cowering in the

chair, thus met with an antagonist against whom he had no armor. He could not use force; she dominated him

with her eye and when he ventured to open his mouth his few feeble words were speedily drowned by the

torrent of speech which flowed from the lips of the Peruvian lady. Every one was as astonished by this

outburst as though a dog had spoken. That the hitherto silent Donna Inez de Gayangos should speak thus

"You are a dog and a liar," said Donna Inez with great distinctness, and speaking English excellently.

"What you say against Sir Frank is madness and foolish talk. In Genoa my father did not speak of the

manuscript, nor did I, who tell you this. How, then, could Sir Frank kill this poor man, when he had no reason

"For the emeralds!" echoed the lady scornfully. "Sir Frank is rich. He does not need to steal to have much

Hervey started to his feet, dismayed but defiant, and saw that he was ringed with unfriendly faces.

"You are a murderer. I truly believe that you yes, that you" she pointed a scornful finger at him "killed this

poor man who was bringing the mummy to the Professor. If you were in my own country, I should have you

"That will do, Inez," said De Gayangos imperiously. "We wish to make this gentleman tell the truth, and this

"Gentleman," echoed the angry Peruvian, "he is none. Truth! There is no truth in him, the pig of pigs!" and

then, her English failing, she took refuge in Spanish, which is a fairly comprehensive language for swearing

in a polite way. The words fairly poured from her mouth, and she looked as fierce as Bellona, the goddess of

Archie, listening to her words and watching her beautiful face distorted out of all loveliness, secretly

congratulated himself upon the fact that he was not her prospective bridegroom. He wondered how Sir Frank,

who was a mild, goodtempered man himself, could dare to make such a fiery female Lady Random.

Perhaps the young man thought himself that she was going a trifle too far, for he touched her nervously on

the arm. At once the anger of Donna Inez died down, and she submitted to be led to a chair, whispering as she

went, "It was for your sake, my angel, that I was angry," she said, and then relapsed into silence, watching all

"Wal," muttered Hervey with his invariable drawl, "now that the lady has eased her mind, I should like to

"You shall know, and at once," said Random promptly. "Did you not call to see me a day or so ago ?"

"I did, sir. I wished to tell you what I had discovered, so that you might pay me to shut my mouth if you felt

so inclined. I asked where your room was, sir, and walked right in, since your flunky was not at the door."

"And then came down. You met my servant, who told you that I would not be back for five or six hours."

"That's just as you state, sir. I was sorry to miss you, but, my time being valuable, I had to get back to

Pierside. Failing you, I later came to see the Professor here, and told him what I had discovered."

"You merely discovered a mare's nest," said Random contemptuously; "but this is not the point. I believe that

you, and you only, could have hidden that manuscript among my books, intending that it should be

"My servant told me nothing, save that you had been in my room, where you had no right to be."

"Then," said the American quietly and decisively, "I can't see, sir, how you can place the ticket on me."

"I have heard from Mr. Hope and Professor Braddock of the grounds upon which you base your accusation,

and I have explained to them how I came to be on board your ship and both in and out of the Sailor's Rest."

"I agree," Donna Inez nodded with very bright eyes. "Sir Frank has explained to me also. He knew nothing of

"And you, sir," said Don Pedro quietly to Captain Hervey, "apparently did, since you stole it along with the

"I confess the theft, but I didn't know what the manuscript contained," said the skipper dryly, "or I reckon you

wouldn't have to ask who stole the emeralds. No, sir, I should have looted them."

"Shucks!" retorted Hervey, rising with a shrug, "if I had wished to get rid of Bolton, I'd nave yanked him

Braddock looked at Don Pedro, and Archie at Sir Frank. What the skipper said was plausible enough. No man

would have been such a fool as to have murdered Bolton ashore, when he could have done so without

suspicion on board the tramp. Moreover, Hervey spoke with genuine regret, since he had missed the emeralds

and assuredly would not have hesitated to steal them even at the cost of Bolton's life, had he known of their

whereabouts. So far he had made a good defense, and, seeing the impression produced, he strolled to the

"If you gents want to lynch me," he said leisurely, "I'll be found at the Sailor's Rest for the next week. Then

I'm going as skipper of The Firefly steamer, Port o' London, to Algiers. You can send the sheriff along

whenever you choose. But I mean to have my picnic first, and tomorrow I'm going to Inspector Date with

"Wait a moment," cried Braddock, running to the door. "Let me talk to you and arrange what is best to be

He proceeded no further, for without vouchsafing him a reply, Hervey, now quite master of the situation,

passed through the door, and the Professor hastily followed him. Those who remained looked at one another,

"Let them," retorted the young man defiantly. "They can prove nothing. With all my heart and soul I believe

"Hervey has certainly made an excellent defense," said Archie cautiously. "He wouldn't have been such a fool

as to murder Bolton ashore when he could have done it so easily when on the narrow seas."

"I agree with you there," said Random quickly. "But if he is innocent; if he did not bring the manuscript into

"She is the mother of Sidney Bolton, the man who was murdered," said Hope quickly. "My dear Lucy, why

Lucy paused before replying and then answered the question by asking another one.

"Well, I accidentally met Mrs. Bolton today, and she insisted that her son had borrowed from her a dark

"Well," said Lucy slowly, "it struck me that the woman who spoke with Sidney through the Sailor's Rest

window might be Widow Anne herself, and that she has invented this story of the clothes being lent to

"It's certainly odd she should speak like this," said Random thoughtfully; "but you forget, Miss Kendal, that

"I shall do so tomorrow. By the way, does she ever come to your room in the Fort, Random?"

"Oh yes, she is my laundress, you know, and at times brings back the clothes herself. My servant is usually

in, though. I see what you mean. That she might have received the manuscript from Bolton, and have left it in

"Yes, I think that," said Archie slowly. "I should not be at all surprised to learn that a portion of Hervey's

theory is correct. Bolton may have found the manuscript packed up in the mummy, amongst the graveclothes,

in fact. If he read it as he would and could, seeing that he was an excellent Latin scholar, thanks to

Professor Braddock's training he might have formed a design to steal the emeralds when he was in the

Sailor's Rest. Then someone saved him the trouble, and packed him off to Gartley instead of the mummy."

"Can't you see? Bolton knew that you wanted the mummy for Don Pedro, and was aware how you had so

to speak used threats in the presence of witnesses, since you spoke out aloud on the deck."

"Exactly; but your words were capable of being twisted as Hervey has twisted them. Well, if Widow Anne

really went to see her son and from the lie about the borrowed clothes it looks like it he may have given

"No, no," said Archie testily. "Bolton did not expect to be murdered. But I really believe that he intended to

fly with the emeralds, and hoped that when the manuscript was found in your room you would be accused.

"Don Pedro," he said proudly, "you have heard what Hervey says; do you believe that I am guilty?"

For answer De Gayangos took his daughter's hand and placed it in that of the young soldier.

"Thank you, sir," said Random, moved, and shook his future fatherinlaw heartily by the hand, while Donna

Inez, throwing all restraint to the winds, kissed her lover exultingly on the check. In the midst of this scene

"I have induced Hervey to hold his tongue for a few days until we can look into this matter," he said, rubbing

his hands "that is, if you think it wise, all of you. Otherwise, I am quite willing to go myself tomorrow and

"No," said Archie rapidly, "let us thresh out the matter ourselves. We will save Sir Frank's name from a

"I do not think there is any chance of Sir Frank being arrested," said Don Pedro politely; "the evidence is

"I am not so sure of that," said Random anxiously. "I went to London certainly, but I did not go to any place

where I am known. However," he added cheerfully, "I daresay I'll be able to defend myself. Still, the fact

"I am sending Cockatoo to Pierside tomorrow to stop at the Sailor's Rest for a time," said Braddock quickly.

"He will watch Hervey, and if there is anything suspicious about his movements, we shall soon know."

"And I turn amateur detective tomorrow and question Widow Anne," said Hope, after which remark he had

to explain matters to Braddock, who had been out of the room when Mrs. Bolton's strange request had been

Meanwhile Donna Inez had been whispering to her lover and pointing to the mummy. Don Pedro followed

her thoughts and guessed what she was saying. Random proved the truth of his guess by, turning to him.

"Certainly. Inca Caxas was my forefather. I do not wish to leave him in this place. His body must be restored

to its tomb. All the Indians, who look upon me as their present Inca expect me to bring the body back.

Although," added De Gayangos gravely, "I did not come to Europe to look for the mummy, as you know."

"Then I shall buy the mummy," said Random impetuously. "Professor, will you sell it to me?"

"Now that I have examined it thoroughly I shall be delighted," said the little man, "say for two thousand

"Of course he does," said Lucy quickly; "and the check must be paid to Archie, Sir Frank."

"The money belongs to Archie," said Lucy obstinately. "You have seen what you desired to see, father and as

"I shall make the check payable to you, Miss Kendal, and you can give it to whomsoever you choose," he

said; "and now, as everything has been settled so far, I suggest that we should retire."

"Come to my rooms at the inn," said Don Pedro, opening the door. "I have much to say to you. Good night,

Professor; tomorrow let us go to Pierside and see if we cannot get at the truth."

When the company departed, Lucy had another wrangle with her father about the check. As Archie had gone

away, she could speak freely, and pointed out that he was enjoying her mother's income and was about to

"Therefore," argued Lucy, "you certainly do not want to keep poor Archie's money."

"He did nothing of the sort," she cried indignantly. "I am not going to be bought and sold in this manner.

Archie lent you the money, and it must be returned. Don't force me to think you selfish, father."

The upshot of the argument was that Lucy got her own way, and the Professor rather unwillingly agreed to

part with the mummy and restore the thousand pounds. But he regretted doing so, as he wished to get all the

money he could to go towards his proposed Egyptian expedition, and Mrs. Jasher's fortune, as he assured his

stepdaughter, was not so large as might be thought. However, Lucy overruled him, and retired to bed,

congratulating herself that she would soon be able to marry Hope. She was beginning to grow a trifle weary

of the Professor's selfish nature, and wondered how her mother had put up with it for so long.

Next day Braddock did not go with Don Pedro to Pierside, as he was very busy in his museum. The Peruvian

went alone, and Archie, after a morning's work at his easel, sought out Widow Anne to ask questions. Lucy

and Donna Inez paid an afternoon visit to Mrs. Jasher and found her in bed, as she had caught a mild sort of

influenza. They expected to find Sir Frank here, but it seemed that he had not called. Thinking that he was

detained by military business, the girls thought nothing more of his absence, although Donna Inez was

But Random was detained in his quarters by a letter which had arrived by the midday host, and which

surprised him not a little. The postmark was London, and the writing, evidently a disguised hand, was almost

illegible in its crudeness. The contents ran as follows, and it will be noticed that there is neither date nor

"If Sir Frank Random wants his character to be cleared and all suspicion of murder to be removed from him,

he can be completely exonerated by the writer, if he will pay the same five thousand pounds. If Sir Frank

Random is willing to do this, let him appoint a meetingplace in London, and the writer will send a

messenger to receive the money and to hand over the proofs which will clear Sir Frank Random. If Sir Frank

Random plays the writer false, or communicates with the police, proofs will be forthcoming which will prove

him to be guilty of Sidney Bolton's death, and which will bring him to the scaffold without any chance of

escape. A couple of lines in the Agony Column of The Daily Telegraph, signed ` Artillery,' and appointing a

When Donna Inez de Gayangos and Lucy paid a visit to her on the afternoon of the day succeeding the

explanations in the museum, she was certainly in bed, and explained that she had been there since the

Professor's visit on the previous day. Lucy was surprised at this, as she had left Mrs. Jasher perfectly well,

and Braddock had not mentioned any ailment of the widow. But influenza, as Mrs. Jasher observed, was very

rapid in its action, and she was always susceptible to disease from the fact that in Jamaica she had suffered

from malaria. Still, she was feeling better and intended to rise from her bed on that evening, if only to lie on

the couch in the pink drawingroom. Having thus detailed her reasons for being ill, the widow asked for

As no prohibition had been placed upon Lucy with regard to Hervey's visit and as Mrs. Jasher would be one

of the family when she married the Professor, Miss Kendal had no hesitation in reporting all that had taken

place. The narrative excited Mrs. Jasher, and she frequently interrupted with expressions of wonder. Even

Donna Inez grew eloquent, and told the widow how she had defended Sir Frank against the American

"What a dreadfully wicked man!" said Mrs. Jasher, when in possession of all the facts. "I really believe that

"No," said Lucy decisively, "I don't think that. He would have murdered him on board had he intended the

crime, as he could have done so with more safety. He is as innocent as Sir Frank."

"I love him," said Donna Inez, as if that explained everything, and perhaps it did, so far as she was concerned.

"Oh, I don't think so. She would not murder her own son, especially when she was so very fond of him.

Archie told me, just before we came here, that he had called to see her. She still insists that Sidney borrowed

"Well," said Miss Kendal, pondering, "either Widow Anne herself was the woman who talked to Sidney

through the Sailor's Rest window, and has invented this story to save herself, or Sidney did get the clothes

"In that case," said Mrs. Jasher, "the woman who talked through the window still remains a problem. Again,

if Sidney Bolton intended to steal the emeralds, he could have done so in Malta, or on board the boat."

"No," said Lucy decisively. "The mummy Was taken directly from the seller's house to the boat, and perhaps

Sidney did not find the manuscript until he looked at the mummy. Then Captain Hervey kept an eye on

"Still, according to your own showing, Sidney looked at the actual mummy he opened the mummy case,

"I think so, but of course we cannot be sure. But the packing case in which the mummy was stowed was

placed in the hold of the steamer, and if Sidney had wished to steal the emeralds, he could not have done so

"Then let us say that Sidney robbed the mummy when in the Sailor's Rest, and took the clothes he borrowed

"I cannot tell. We may learn more later. Don Pedro has gone to Pierside to search, and my father says that he

"Well," sighed Mrs. Jasher wearily, "I hope that all this trouble will come to an end. That green mummy has

"Goodbye," said Lucy, kissing her. "I hope that you will be better this evening. Don't get up unless you feel

"Ah," Mrs. Jasher smiled, "you see I am practicing against the time when I shall be mistress of the Pyramids,

Altogether, Mrs. Jasher impressed both Lucy and Donna Inez with the fact that she was very weak and

scarcely able, as she put it, to draw one leg after the other. Both the girls would have been surprised to see

what a hearty meal Mrs. Jasher made that evening, when she was up and dressed. Perhaps she felt that her

strength needed keeping up, but she certainly partook largely of the delicate dinner provided by Jane, who

After dinner, Mrs. Jasher lay on a pink couch in the pink parlor by a splendid fire, for the night was cold and

raw with a promise of rain. The widow had a small table at her elbow, on which stood a cup of coffee and a

glass of liquor. The rosecolored curtains were drawn, the roseshaded lamps were lighted, and the whole

interior of the cottage looked very comfortable indeed. Mrs. Jasher, in a crocusyellow teagown trimmed

with rich black lace, reclined on her couch like Cleopatra in her barge. In the pink light she looked very well

preserved, although her face wore an anxious expression. This was due to the fact that the mail had come in

and the three letters brought by the postman had to do with creditors. Mrs. Jasher was always trying to make

both ends meet, and had a hard struggle to keep her head above water. Certainly, since she had inherited the

money of her brother, the Pekin merchant, she need not have looked so worried. But she did, and made no

After a time she went to her desk and took out a bundle of bills and some other letters, also an account book

and a bank book. Over these she pored for quite an hour. The clock struck nine before she looked up from

this unpleasant task, and she found her financial position anything but satisfactory. With a weary sigh she

rose and stared at herself in the mirror over the fireplace, frowning as she did so.

"Unless I can marry the Professor at once, I don't know what will happen to me," she mused gloomily. "I

have managed very well so far, but things are coming to a crisis. These devils," she alluded to her creditors,

"will not keep off much longer, and then the crash will come. I shall have to leave Gartley as poor as when I

came, and there will be nothing left but the old nightmare life of despair and horror. I am getting older every

day, and this is my last chance of getting married. I must force the Professor to have a speedy marriage. I

must! I must!" and she began to pace the tiny room in a frenzy of terror and wellfounded alarm.

As she was trying to calm herself and succeeding very badly, Jane entered the room with a card. It proved to

"It is rather a late hour for a visit," said Mrs. Jasher to the servant. "However, I feel so bored, that perhaps he

When Jane left, she stood still for a moment or so, trying to think why the young man had called at so

untoward an hour. But when his footsteps were heard approaching the door, she swept the books and the bills

and the letters into the desk and locked it quickly. When Random appeared at the door, she was just leaving

the desk to greet him, and no one would have taken the smiling, plump, wellpreserved woman for the

"I am glad to see you, Sir Frank," said Mrs. Jasher, nodding in a familiar manner. "Sit down in this very

"No, thank you," said Random in his usual stiff way, but very politely. "I have just left the mess, where I had

Mrs. Jasher nodded, and sank again on the couch, which was opposite the chair which she had selected for

"I see you are in mess kit," she said gayly; "quite a glorified creature to appear in my poor little parlor. Why

are you not with Donna Inez? I have heard all about your engagement from Lucy. She was here today with

"So I believe," said Random, still stiffly; "but you see I was anxious to come and see you."

"Ah!" said Mrs. Jasher equably, "you heard that I was ill. Yes; I have been in bed ever since yesterday

afternoon, until a couple of hours ago. But I am now better. My dinner has done me good. Pass me that fan,

Sir Frank did as he was told, and she held the feather fan between her face and the fire, while he stared at her,

"Don't you find this atmosphere very stuffy?" he remarked at length. "It would be a good thing to have the

"My dear boy, are you mad? I have a touch of the influenza, and an open window would bring about my

"I should think you knew that scent by this time, Sir Frank. I use no other and never have done. Smell!" and

Random took the handkerchief and placed it to his nostrils. As he did so a strange expression of triumph crept

I think you told me once that it was a Chinese perfume," he said, returning the handkerchief.

"I get it from a friend of my late husband who is in the British Embassy at Pekin. No one uses it but me."

"Not in England; and I do not know why you should say so. It is a specialty of mine. Why," she added

"I do not know why you should ask me to swear," she said quietly, "but I assure you that I keep this perfume

which comes from China to myself. Not even Lucy Kendal has it, although she greatly desired some. We

"Nothing. Only I should think that such a perfume would be good for the cold you contracted by going to

Mrs. Jasher turned suddenly pale under her rouge, and her hand clenched the fan so tightly as to break the

"I have not been to London for quite a month," she faltered. "What a strange remark!"

"A true one," said the baronet, fumbling in the pocket of his jacket. "You went to London last night by the

The widow, now quite pale, and looking years older, sat up on the couch with' a painful effort, which

"I don't understand," she said, trying to speak calmly. "I was not in London, and I did not post any letter. If

"There can be no insult in asking a few questions," said Random, throwing aside his stiffness and speaking

decisively. "I received this letter, which bears a London postmark, by the midday post. The handwriting is

disguised, and there is neither address nor signature nor date. You manufactured your communication very

cleverly, Mrs. Jasher, but you forgot that the Chinese perfume might betray you."

"The perfume! the perfume!" Mrs. Jasher gasped and saw in a moment how the late conversation had led her

"The letter retains traces of the perfume you use," went on the baronet relentlessly. "I have a remarkably keen

sense of smell, and, as scent is a most powerful aid to memory, I speedily recollected that you used this

especial perfume. You told me a few moments ago that no one else used it, and so you have proved the truth

"It's a lie a mistake," stuttered Mrs. Jasher, now at bay and looking dangerous. Her society veneer was

Indignant at the way in which she had deceived everyone, and having much at stake, Random did not spare

"It is not a mistake," he insisted; "neither is it a lie. When I became aware that you must have written the

letter, I drove at once to Jessum to see if you had gone to London, as you had posted it there. I learned from

the station master and from a porter that you went to town by the seven o'clock train and returned by the

"They could not recognize me. I wore " Then she stopped, confused at having so plainly betrayed herself.

"You wore a veil. All the same, Mrs. Jasher, you are too well known hereabouts for anyone to fail to

recognize you. Besides, your remark just now proves that I am right. You wrote this blackmailing letter, and I

"If you refuse to explain to me you shall to the police," said Sir Frank, rising and making for the door.

"That is ridiculous," said Random coldly. "You say in this letter that you can hang me or save me. As you

"It's all bluff. I know nothing," said Mrs. Jasher, releasing his arm and throwing herself on the couch. "I only

"Five thousand pounds eh? Rather a large order," sneered Random, replacing the letter in his pocket. "You

would not ask that sum for nothing: you must be aware of the truth. I suspected many people, Mrs. Jasher, but

"No," she said in a deep voice, and fighting like a rat in a corner. "I tricked you all down here. Sir Frank, I

"I'll hear about yourself first," he said. "I can learn details concerning the murder later. Go on."

"Yet you hid the mummy in this house, and afterwards placed it in your arbor to be found by the Professor,

"I know nothing about that either," muttered Mrs. Jasher doggedly, and with very white lips. "That letter you

"Yes," she said sullenly. "You know too much, and it is useless for me to deny the truth in the face of the

evidence you bring against me. I would fight though," she added, raising her head like a snake its crest, "if I

"Yes, against trouble and worry and money difficulties and creditors. Oh," she struck her breast, "what do

you know of life, you rich, easygoing man? I have been in the depths, and not through my own fault. I had a

bad mother, a bad husband. I was dragged in the mire by those who should have helped me to rise. I have

starved for days; I have wept for year's; in all God's earth there is no more miserable a creature than I am."

"Ah," Mrs. Jasher sat down and locked her hands together, "you don't believe me. I daresay you don't

understand, for life, real life, is a sealed book to you. It is useless for me to appeal to your sympathy, for you

"I can't tell you. Listen! With my past life you have nothing to do. I will commence from the time I came

dawn here. I had just lost my husband, and I managed to scrape together a few hundred pounds oh, quite in

a respectable way, I assure you," she added scoffingly, on seeing her listener wince. "I came here to try and

live quietly, and, if possible, to secure a rich husband. I knew that the Fort was here and thought that I might

marry an officer. However, the Professor's position attracted me, and I decided to marry him. I am engaged,

and but for your cleverness in tracing that letter I should be Mrs. Braddock within a very short time. I have

"That is all bluff also. I never had a brother. I inherit no money. I know nothing of Pekin, save that a friend of

mine sends that scent to me as a yearly Christmas present. I am an adventuress, but perhaps not so bad as you

think me. Lucy and Donna Inez have heard no wickedness from my lips. I have always been a good woman

in one sense a moral woman, that is and I did wish to marry the Professor and live a happy life. Seeing

that I was at the end of my resources, and that Professor Braddock expected a legacy with me before

marriage, I looked round to, see how I could get the money. I heard that you were accused by Captain

Hervey, and so last night I wrote that letter and posted it in London, thinking that you would yield to save

"I did," said Mrs. Jasher frankly. "To tell you the truth, I thought that you were a fool. But by tracing that

letter and withstanding my demand, you have proved yourself to be more clever than I took you to be. Well,

that is all. I know nothing of the murder. My letter is sheer bluff to extort from you five thousand pounds.

Had you paid I should have passed it off to the Professor as the money left to me by my brother. But now "

"Now," said Random, rising to go, "I shall tell what you have told me to the Professor, and "

"And hand me over to the police," said Mrs. Jasher, shrugging her plump shoulders, "Well, I expected that.

"We were never anything but acquaintances, Mrs. Jasher," said Random coldly, "so I fail to see why you

should expect mercy after the way in which you have behaved. You expect to blackmail me, and yet go free. I

must punish you somehow, so I shall tell Professor Braddock, as you certainly cannot marry him. But I shall

"No. Give me a day to think over matters, and I shall arrange what to do with you. I think there is some good

in you, Mrs. Jasher, and so I shall see if I can't assist you. In the meantime I shall have your cottage watched,

"Not at all," rejoined Random coolly. "I can trust my servant, Who is stupid but honest and is devoted to me.

I'll see that everything is kept quiet. But if you attempt to run away I shall have you arrested for blackmail.

"Tomorrow evening. I must talk the matter over with Braddock. Tomorrow I shall arrange what to do, and

probably I shall give you a chance of leading a new life in some other part of the world. What do you say?"

"I daresay. However, we can talk of gratitude tomorrow. Meanwhile, please leave me."

"Remember," he said distinctly, "that your cottage is being watched. Try to escape and I shall have you

Mrs. Jasher had thought Random exceedingly clever in acting as he had done to trap her. She would have

thought him still more clever had she known that he trusted to the power of suggestion to prevent her from

trying to escape. Sir Frank had not the slightest intention of setting his soldierservant to watch, as such was

not the duty for which such servants are hired. But having impressed firmly on the adventuress's mind that he

would act in this way, he departed, quite certain that the woman would not attempt to run away. Although no

one was watching the cottage, Mrs. Jasher, believing what had been told her, would think that sharp eyes

were on her doors and windows day and night, and would firmly believe that if she tried to get away she

would be captured forthwith by the Pierside police, or perhaps by the village constable. Like an Eastern

enchanter, the baronet had placed a spell on the cottage, and it acted admirably. Mrs. Jasher, although longing

to escape and hide herself, remained where she was, cowed by a spy who did not exist.

The next day Random went to the Pyramids as soon as his duties permitted and saw the Professor. To the

prospective bridegroom he explained all that had happened, and displayed the anonymous letter, with an

account of how he had proved Mrs. Jasher to be the writer. Braddock's hair could not stand on end, as he had

none, but he lost his temper completely, and raged up and down the museum in a way which frightened

Cockatoo out of his barbaric wits. When more quiet he sat down to discuss the matter, and promptly

demanded that Mrs. Jasher should be handed over to the police. But he might have guessed that Sir Frank

"She has acted badly, I admit," said the young man. "All the same, I think she is a better woman than you

"Think! think! think!" shouted the fiery little man, getting up once more to trot up and down like an infuriated

poodle. "I think she is a bad woman, a wicked woman. To deceive me into thinking her rich and "

"Nothing of the sort, sir: nothing of the sort. I leave love and suchlike trash to those like yourself and Hope,

"Pooh! pooh! pooh! Don't argue with me, Random. Love is all moonshine. I did not love my first wife

Lucy's mother and yet we were very happy. Had I made Mrs. Jasher my second, we should have got on

excellently, provided the money was forthcoming for my Egyptian expedition. What am I to do now, I ask

you, Random? Even the thousand pounds you pay for the mummy goes back to that infernal Hope because of

Lucy's silly ideas. I have nothing absolutely nothing, and that tomb is amongst those Ethiopian hills, I

swear, waiting to be opened. Oh, what a chance I have missed! what a chance! But I shall see Mrs. Jasher

"Don't tell me! don't tell me!" vociferated the Professor. "She would not have written that letter had she

"Bluff be hanged!" cried Braddock, only he used a more vigorous word. "I do not believe that she would have

dared to act on such a slight foundation. I shall see her myself this very afternoon and force her to confess. In

one way or another I shall find the assassin and make him disgorge those emeralds under the penalty of being

"But you forget, Professor, that the emeralds, when found, belong to Don Pedro."

"They don't," rasped the little man, turning purple with rage. "I refuse to let him have them. I bought the

mummy, and the contents of the mummy, including those emeralds. They are, mine."

"No," said Random sharply. "I buy the mummy, from you, so they pass into my possession and belong to De

"You'll have to find them first," said Braddock savagely; "and as to the mummy, you shan't have it. I decline

"If you don't," said Random very distinctly, "Don Pedro will bring an action against you, and Captain Hervey

"Don Pedro hasn't the money," said Braddock triumphantly; "he can't pay lawyer's fees."

"But I can," rejoined the young man very dryly. "As I am going to marry Donna Inez, it is only just that I

should help my future fatherinlaw in every way. He has a romantic feeling about this relic of poor

Well," said Random, speaking slowly with the intention of still further irritating the little man, whose

selfishness annoyed him, "if I were you I should marry Mrs. Jasher and settle down quietly in this house to

"How dare you make a proposition like that to me, sir?" he bellowed. "You ask me to marry this low woman,

Of course Random had no intention of advising such a marriage, although he did not think so badly of Mrs.

Jasher as did the Professor. But the little man was so venomous that the young man took a delight in stirring

"That is bad, I admit, but she has failed to get what she wanted, and, after all, you indirectly are the cause of

"Yes, and told me lies about her damned brother who was a Pekin merchant, when after all he never existed."

"Oh, I don't defend that," said Random coolly. "Mrs. Jasher has behaved badly on the whole. Still, Professor,

I think there is good in her, as I said before. She evidently had bad parents and a bad husband; but, so far as I

can gather, she is not an immoral woman. The poor wretch only came here to try and drag herself out of the

mire. If she had married you I feel sure that she would have made you a most excellent wife."

"Of course you talk absolute rubbish," he said caustically. "Had I my way this woman would be whipped at a

cart's tail for the shameful way in which she has deceived us all. However, I shall see her today and make

"So do I, and if I get them I shall keep them," snapped Braddock; "and if you haven't anything more to say

As there was nothing more to be done with the choleric little man, Sir Frank took the hint and departed. He

went forthwith to the Warrior Inn to see Don Pedro and also Donna Inez. But it so happened that the girl had

gone to the Pyramids on a visit to Miss Kendal, and Random was sorry that he had missed her. However, it

was just as well, as he could now talk freely to De Gayangos. To him he related the whole story of Mrs.

Jasher, and discovered that the Peruvian also, as Braddock had done, insisted that Mrs. Jasher knew the truth.

"She would not have written that letter if she did not know it," said Don Pedro.

"No. We can deal with this matter ourselves. At present she is quite safe, as she certainly will not leave her

cottage, seeing that she thinks it is being watched. Let us permit Braddock to interview her, and see what he

"I wonder if Mrs. Jasher was the woman who talked to Bolton through the window?" he remarked.

"It is not impossible. Although that does not explain why Bolton borrowed a female disguise from this

"That would argue some understanding between Bolton and Mrs. Jasher, and a knowledge of the manuscript

before Bolton left for Malta. We know that he could only have seen the manuscript for the first time at Malta.

It was evidently stowed away in the swathings of the mummy by my father, who forgot all about it when he

"I am certain it is," said Don Pedro emphatically, "for, if Hervey, or Vasa, or whatever you like to call him,

had found that manuscript and had got it translated, he certainly would have opened the mummy and have

secured the emeralds. No, Sir Frank, I believe that his theory is partly true. Bolton intended to run away with

the emeralds, and send the empty mummy to Professor Braddock; for, if you remember, he arranged that the

landlord of the Sailor's Rest should forward the case next morning, even if he happened to be away. Bolton

"He declared most emphatically that he did not," said Don Pedro, "when at Pierside yesterday I went to the

Sailor's Rest and saw him. He told Braddock only the other day that he had lost his chance of a sailing vessel,

and, as yet, had not got another one. But when he returned to Pierside he found a letter waiting him so he

told me giving him command of a four thousand ton tramp steamer called The Firefly. He is to sail at once

"He can do nothing at present, as, if he remains in Pierside, he will lose his new command. Tomorrow he

drops down stream, but meantime he intends to write out the whole story of the theft of the mummy. I have

promised to give him fifty pounds for doing so, as I want to get back the mummy, free of charge, from

"Not when Hervey writes out his evidence. He will not have it completed by the time he sails, as he is very

busy. But he has promised to send off a boat to the jetty near the Fort tomorrow evening, when he is

"Then he will not get his fifty pounds," retorted Don Pedro. "The man is a rascal, and deserves prison rather

than reward, but since the mummy was stolen by him thirty years back, he alone can prove my ownership."

"But why take all this trouble?" argued the baronet. "I can buy the mummy from Braddock."

Random lingered until late in the afternoon and until darkness fell, as he was anxious to see Donna Inez. But

she did not appear until late. Meanwhile Archie Hope put in an appearance, having come to see Don Pedro

with an account of his interview with Widow Anne. Before coming to the inn he had called on Professor

Braddock, and from him had heard all about the wickedness of Mrs. Jasher. His surprise was very great.

"Ah," said Random, rather pleased, "you are more merciful than the Professor, Hope. He calls her a bad

"Humph! I don't think that Braddock is so good that he can afford to throw a stone," said Archie rather

sourly. "Mrs. Jasher has not behaved well, but I should like to hear her complete story before judging. There

must be a lot of good in her, or Lucy, who has been with her a great deal, would have found her out long ago.

I go by a woman's judgment of a woman. But Mrs: Jasher must have been anxious to marry."

"Oh," said Don Pedro, looking up from where he was seated, "so you have seen that old woman? What does

"She sticks to her story. Sidney, she declares, borrowed the clothes to give to me for a model. Now, I never

asked Bolton to do this, so I fancy the disguise must have been intended for himself, or for Mrs. Jasher."

"Well, it's odd," replied Hope slowly, "but Mrs. Bolton declares that her son was in love with Mrs. Jasher,

"That is true. But what you say, Mr. Hope, proves the truth of Hervey's theory."

"Mrs. Jasher, as we know from what Random told us, wanted money. She would not marry a man who was

poor. Bolton was poor, but of course the emeralds would make him wealthy, as they are of immense value.

Probably he intended to steal them in order to marry this woman. This implicates Mrs. Jasher in the crime."

"Yes," assented Sir Frank, nodding. "But as Bolton did not know that the emeralds existed before he bought

the mummy in Malta, I do not see why he should borrow a disguise beforehand for Mrs. Jasher to meet him at

"The thing is easily settled," said Hope impatiently. "Let us both go to Mrs. Jasher's this evening, and insist

upon the truth being told. If she confesses about her secret engagement to Sidney Bolton, she may admit that

"And she may admit also that she placed the manuscript in my room," said Sir Frank after a pause. "Hervey

did not place it there, but it is just possible that Mrs. Jasher, having got it from Bolton when she Talked to

"Nonsense!" said Hope with vigorous commonsense. "Mrs. Jasher would be spotted in a moment if she had

gone to your quarters. She had to pass the sentry, remember. Then, again, we have not yet proved that she

was the woman in Mrs. Bolton's clothes who spoke through the window. That can all be settled if we speak to

"Very good." Random glanced at his watch. "I must get back. Don Pedro, will you tell Inez that I shall come

Random nodded and took a reluctant departure. He dearly wished, as an engaged lover should, to remain on

the chance that Donna Inez might return, but duty called him and he was forced to obey.

The night was very dark, although it was not particularly late. But there was no rain, and Random walked

rapidly through the village and down the road to the Fort. He caught a glimpse of the lights of Mrs. Jasher's

cottage twinkling in the distance, and smiled grimly as he thought of the invisible spell he had placed thereon.

No doubt Mrs. Jasher was shivering in her Louis Quinze shoes at the idea of being watched. But then, she

When entering the Fort, the sentry saluted as usual, and Random was about to pass, when the man stepped

"Please, sir, it's directed to you, sir, and I don't know who put it in my box, sir. I was on duty, sir, and I 'spose

someone must have dropped it on the floor of the box, sir, when I was at the other end of my beat, sir. It was

as dark as this, sir, and I saw nothing and heard nothing. When I come back, sir, I stepped into the box out of

the rain and felt it with my, feet. I struck a light, sir, and found it was for you."

Sir Frank slipped the package into his pocket and went away after a grim word or so to the sentry, advising

him to be more on the alert. He was puzzled to think who had left the packet in the sentry box, and curious to

know what it contained. As soon as he got to his own room, he cut the string which bound loosely the brown

paper. Then, in the lamplight, there rolled out from the carelesslytied parcel a glorious seagreen emerald of

great size, radiating light like a sun. A scrap of white paper lay in the brown wrapping. On it was written, "A

Of all the surprises in connection with the tragedy of the green mummy, this was surely the greatest. Sidney

Bolton had undoubtedly been murdered for the sake of the emeralds, and the assassin had escaped with the

spoil, for which he had sold his soul. Yet here was one of the jewels returned anonymously to Random, who

could pass on the same to its rightful owner. In the midst of his amazement Sir Frank could not help

chuckling when he thought how enraged Professor Braddock would be at Don Pedro's good fortune. At the

eleventh hour, as it were, the Peruvian had got back his own, or at least a portion of his own.

Placing the emerald in his drawer, Random gave orders to his servant that the sentry, when off duty, should

be brought before him. Just as Random finished dressing for mess and he dressed very early, so as to

devote his entire attention to solving this new problem the soldier who had been on guard appeared. But he

could tell nothing more than he had already related. When doing sentrygo immediately outside the gate of

the Fort, the packet had been slipped into the box, while the man was at the far end of his beat. It was quite

dark when this was done, and the soldier confessed that he had not heard a sound, much less had he seen

anyone. The person who had brought the glorious gem had watched his opportunity, and, softfooted as a cat,

had stolen forward in the darkness to drop the precious parcel on the floor of the sentrybox. There the man

had found it by the feel of his feet, when he stepped in some time later to escape a shower. But what time had

elapsed from the placing of the parcel to its discovery by the sentry it was impossible to say. It must,

however, as Random calculated, have been within the hour, since, before then, it would not have been dark

enough to hide the approach of the person, whether male or female, who carried a king's ransom in the brown

At first Random was inclined to place the sentry under arrest for having failed so much in his duty as to allow

anyone to approach so near the Fort; but, as he had already reprimanded the man, and, moreover, wished to

keep the fact of the recovered jewel quiet, he simply dismissed him. When alone, he sat down before the fire,

wondering who could have dared so very greatly, and for what reason the emerald had been handed to him. If

it had been sent to Don Pedro, or even to Professor Braddock, it would have been much more reasonable.

It first occurred to him that Mrs. Jasher, out of gratitude for the way in which he had treated her, had sent him

the jewel. Remembering his former experience, he smelt the parcel, but could detect no sign of the famous

Chinese scent which had proved a clue to the letter. Of course the direction on the packet and the inscribed

slip of paper were in feigned handwriting, so he could gather nothing from that. Still, he did not think that

Mrs. Jasher had sent the emerald. She was desperately hard up, and if she had become possessed of the gem

by murder presuming her to have been the woman who talked to Bolton through the window she

assuredly would have sold it to supply her own needs. Certainly, if guilty, she would still possess the other

emerald, of equal value; but undoubtedly, had she risked her neck to gain a fortune, she would have kept the

entire plunder which was likely to cost her so dear. No; whomsoever it was who had repented at the eleventh

Perhaps Widow Anne was the woman who had talked through the window, and who had restored the

emerald. But that was impossible, since Mrs. Bolton habitually took more liquor than was good for her, and

would not have the nerve to deliver the jewel, much less commit the crime, the more especially as the victim

was her own son. Of course she might have found out Sidney's scheme to run away with the jewels, and so

would have claimed her share. But if she had been in Pierside on that evening and her presence in Gartley

had been sworn to by three or four cronies she would have guessed who had strangled her boy. If so, not all

the jewels in the world would have prevented her denouncing the criminal. With all her faults and they

were many Mrs. Bolton was a good mother, and looked upon Sidney as the pride and joy of her somewhat

There remained Hervey. Random laughed aloud when the name came into his puzzled head. That buccaneer

was the last person to surrender his plunder or to feel compunction in committing a crime. Once the skipper

got his grip on two jewels, worth endless money, he would never let them go not even one of them.

Arguing thus, it seemed that Hervey was out of the running, and Random could think of no one else. In this

dilemma he remembered that two heads were better than one, and, before going into dinner, he sent a note to

Sir Frank was somewhat dull at dinner on that evening, and scarcely responded to the joking remarks of his

brother officers. These jocularly put his preoccupation down to love, for it was an open secret that the baronet

admired the fair Peruvian, although no one as yet knew that Random was legally engaged with Don Pedro's

consent. The young man goodhumoredly stood all the chaff hurled at him, but seized the opportunity to slip

away to his quarters as soon as coffee came on the table and the smoking began. It was nine o'clock before he

"I see you have been dining at the Pyramids," said Random, seeing that Hope was in evening dress.

"Yes. I don't put on this kit to have my humble chop at my lodgings. But the Professor asked me to dinner to

"Oh, he is very angry with Mrs. Jasher, and considers that she has swindled him. He called to see her this

"I don't wonder at that, if he speaks as he generally does," said the other grimly, and pushing along the

cigarettes, "There you are! The whisky and soda are on yonder table. Make yourself comfortable, and tell me

"Well," said Archie, turning half round from the side table where he was pouring out the whisky, "he had

already started action, by sending Cockatoo to live at the Sailor's Rest and spy on Hervey."

"What rubbish! Hervey is, going away tomorrow in The Firefly, bound for Algiers. Nothing is to be learned

"So I told the Professor," said Hope, returning to the armchair near the fire, "and I mentioned that Don Pedro

had induced the skipper to write out a full account of the theft of the mummy from Lima thirty years ago. I

also said that the signed paper would be handed in at the Gartley jetty when The Firefly came down stream

"Nothing much. He merely stated that whatever Hervey said toward proving the ownership of your future

fatherinlaw, that he intended to stick to the embalmed corpse of Inca Caxas, and also that he intended to

"I am afraid he has lost one emerald, at all events," he said, unlocking the drawer.

"What's that?" said Hope sharply. "Why did you oh, gosh!" He jumped up with an amazed look as Random

held up the magnificent gem, from which streamed vividly green flames in the mellow lamplight. "Oh, gosh!"

"I sent for you to tell you," said Sir Frank, giving the jewel into his friend's hand and coming back to his seat.

"What do you mean by that?" he demanded. "How the dickens could it be found in a sentry box? You must

"Not a bit of it. It was found on the floor of the box by the sentry, as I tell you, and I have sent to consult with

"Catch that Yankee Shylock returning anything he got his grip on, even as a wedding present."

"A wedding present," said Hope, more at sea than ever. "If you don't mind giving me details, old chap, my

"I rather think that it will buzz more," said Random dryly, and, producing the brown paper in which the gem

had been wrapped, and the inscribed paper found within, he related all that had happened.

Archie listened quietly and did not interrupt, but the puzzled look on his face grew more pronounced.

"Well," ended Random, seeing that no remark was made when he had finished, "what do you think?"

"Lord knows! I'll go out of my mind if these sort of things come along. I am a simple sort of chap, and have

no use for mysteries which beat all the detective stories I have ever read. That sort of thing is all very well in

"Who sent that emerald to me, do you think?" he asked, looking squarely at the artist.

"No!" Sir Frank shook his head. "I fancied it might be her, but it cannot be. If she is guilty as she must be,

should she have sent the emerald she would not part with her plunder when she is so hard up. I am

"That the letter was mere bluff and that she really knows nothing about the crime. By the way, did Braddock

"Not a thing. He merely said that the two of them fought. I expect Braddock stormed and Mrs. Jasher

retorted. Both of them have too much tonguemusic to come to any understanding. By the way to echo,

your own phrase you had better put away this gem or I shall be strangling you myself in order to gain

possession of it. The mere sight of that gorgeous color tempts me beyond my strength."

Random laughed and locked the jewel in his drawer. Hope suggested that with such a flimsy lock it was

"It is safer here than in a woman's jewel case," he asserted. "No one looks to my drawer, and certainly no one

would expect to find a crown jewel of this description in my quarters. Well," he came back to his seat,

"Why not do as I suggest and go to Mrs. Jasher? In any case you are going there tonight, are you not?"

"Yes. I want to decide what to do about the woman. I had intended to go alone, but as you are here you may

"Does anyone ever deserve anything?" asked Sir Frank cynically. "What does Miss Kendal think of the

business? I suppose Braddock told her. He has too long a tongue to keep anything to himself."

"He told her at dinner, when I was present. Lucy is quite on your side. She says that she had known Mrs.

Jasher for months and that there is good in her, although I am bound to say that Lucy was a trifle shocked."

"Her stepfather," corrected Archie immediately. "No, that is out of the question. But she would like Mrs.

Jasher to be helped out of her difficulties and have a fair start. It was only by the greatest diplomacy that I

"I daresay I am a trifle prudish," he replied, "but after what has happened I do not wish Lucy to associate with

"No, I don't. All the same, I don't think that Mrs. Jasher is an immoral woman by any means."

"Perhaps not; but we needn't discuss her character, as we know precious little of her past, and she no doubt

told you the story that best suited herself. I think it will be best to make her tell all she knows this evening,

"I shall help her certainly," said Random, with his eyes on the fire, "but can't say exactly how. It is my,

"Why shouldn't a soldier have a conscience? Do you take your idea of officers from the lady novelist, who

"Not exactly. All the same, many a man would not take the trouble to behave as you are doing to this unlucky

"Any man, who was a man, whether soldier or civilian, would help such a poor creature. And I believe, Hope,

"Of course. I'm with you right along, as Hervey would say. But first, before deciding what we shall do to set

"I don't believe that," replied Hope, reaching for his overcoat. "You may choose to believe that the letter was

the outcome of bluff. But I really and truly think that Mrs. Jasher is in the know. What is more, I believe that

Bolton got her those clothes, and that she was the woman who talked to him went there to see how the little

"Oh, yes, you would. The greater the sinner the more need she or he has of help, you know, my dear fellow.

Sir Frank laughed, as, aided by the artist, he struggled into his military greatcoat.

"I don't suppose that Mrs. Jasher will be dangerous," he remarked. "We'll get what we can out of her, and

then arrange what is best to be done to recoup her fallen fortunes. Then she can go where she chooses, and we

"I think Donna Inez and Lucy would be annoyed to hear themselves called muttons," laughed Archie, and the

The night was darker than ever, and a fine rain was falling incessantly. When they left the dimly lighted

archway of the fort through the smaller, gate set in the larger one they stepped into midnight blackness such

as must have been spread over the land of Egypt. In accordance with the primitive customs of Gartley

inhabitants, one of them at least should have been furnished with a lantern, as it was no easy task to pick a

clean way through the mud. However, Archie, knowing the surroundings better even than Random, led the

way, and they walked slowly through the iron gate on the hard high road which led to the Fort. Immediately

beyond this they turned towards the narrow cinder path which led through the marshes to Mrs. Jasher's

cottage, and toiled on cautiously through the misty rain, which fell continuously. The fog was drifting up

from the mouth of the river and was growing so thick that they could not see the somewhat feeble lights of

the cottage. However, Archie's instincts led him aright, and they blundered finally upon the wooden gate.

Here they paused in shocked surprise, for a woman's scream rang out wildly and suddenly.

"We must find out," breathed Random, and raced through the white cottonwool of the fog up the path. As he

reached the veranda the door opened and a woman came running out screaming. But other screams inside the

Hope plunged past her into the corridor, not waiting to hear more. The cries had died down to a low moaning,

and he dashed into the pink parlor to find it in smoky darkness. Striking a match, he held it above his head. It

showed Mrs. Jasher prone on the floor, and a dark figure smashing its way through the flimsy window. There

Jane was still being held by Sir Frank at the floor, and was still screaming, fully convinced that her captor

was a burglar, in spite of having recognized him by his voice. Random was so exasperated by her stupidity

"What is the matter, you fool?" he demanded. "Don't you know that I am a friend?"

"Yes, sir," gasped Jane, fetching her breath again after the shaking; "but go for the police. My mistress

"Mr. Hope is looking after that, and the screams have ceased. Who was with your mistress?"

"I don't know, sir," sobbed the servant. "I didn't know anyone had called, and then I heard the screaming. I

looked into the parlor to see what was the matter, but the lamp had been thrown over and had gone out, and

there was a dreadful struggle going on in the darkness, so I screamed and ran out and then I oh oh" Jane

showed symptoms of renewed hysteria, and clutched Random tightly, as a man came cautiously round the

"The man who was trying to murder Mrs. Jasher, He got her down when I entered and struck a match. Then

he dashed through the window before I could catch him or even recognize him. He's vanished in the mist."

"It's no use looking for him anyhow," said Random, peering into the dense blackness, which was thick with

"It's a mercy I haven't lost my life, sir, with burglars and murderers all about the place," sobbed the girl,

"Go and get a candle, and keep calm if you can," he said in an abrupt military voice. "This is no time to play

His sharpness had great effect on the girl, and she became much more her usual self. Hope lighted another

match, and the trio proceeded through the passage towards the kitchen, where Jane had left a lamp burning.

Seizing this from its bracket, Sir Frank retraced his way along the passage to the pink parlor, followed closely

by Hope and timorously by Jane. A dreadful scene presented itself. The dainty little room was literally

smashed to pieces, as though a gigantic bull had been wallowing therein. The lamp lay on the floor,

surrounded by several extinguished candles. It was a mercy that all the lights had been put out when

overturned, else the gimcrack cottage would have been long since in a blaze. Chairs and tables and screens

were also overturned, and the one window had its rosehued curtains torn down and its glass broken,

showing only too clearly the way in which the murderer had escaped. And that the man who had attacked

Mrs. Jasher was a murderer could be seen from the stream of blood that ran slowly from Mrs. Jasher's breast.

Apparently she had been stabbed in the lungs, for the wound was on the right side. There she lay, poor

woman, in her tawdry finery, crumpled up, battered and bruised, dead amongst the ruins of her home. Jane

"Stop her, Hope," cried Random, who was kneeling by the body and feeling the heart. "Mrs. Jasher is not

dead. Hold your noise, woman, and go for a doctor." This was to Jane, who, prevented from screaming, took

"I had better go," said Hope quickly; "and I'll go to the Fort and alarm the men. Perhaps they may catch the

"Of course not," said Archie indignantly. "I only caught a glimpse of him by the feeble light of a lucifer

match. Then he leaped through the window and I after him. I made a grab at him, but lost him in the mist. I

"Then how can anyone arrest him?" snapped Random, raising Mrs. Jasher's head. "Give what alarm you like,

but race for Robinson up the village. We must save this poor woman's life, if only to learn who killed her."

"But she isn't dead yet she isn't dead yet," wailed Jane, clapping her hands, while Hope, knowing the value

"She soon will be," said Sir Frank, whose temper was not of the best at so critical a moment in dealing with a

fool. "Go and bring me brandy at once, and afterwards linen and hot water. We must do our best to staunch

For the next quarter of an hour the man and the woman labored hard to save Mrs. Jasher's life. Random

bound up the wound in a rough and ready fashion, and Jane fed the pale lips of her mistress with sips of

brandy. Mrs. Jasher gradually became more alive, and a faint sigh escaped from her lips, as her wounded

bosom rose and fell with recovered breath. When Sir Frank was in hopes that she would speak, she suddenly

relapsed again into a comatose state. Luckily at that moment Archie returned with young Dr. Robinson at his

heels, and also was followed by Painter, the village constable, who had luckily been picked up in the fog.

"She's had a narrow squeak," he muttered, lifting the body with the assistance of Random.

"I can't tell you yet," answered the doctor; and with Sir Frank he carried the heavy body of the widow into her

"That is my business," said Painter, who had followed, and who was now filled with importance. "You look

"Servant yourself! Such sauce!" muttered Jane, with an angry toss of her cap at the daring young policeman.

"I know nothing. I left my mistress in the parlor writing letters, and never heard anyone come in. The bell

didn't sound anyhow. The first thing I knew that anything was wrong was on hearing the screams. When I

looked into the parlor the candles and the lamp were out, and there was a struggle going on in the dark. Then

I cried out, very naturally, I'm sure, and ran straight into the arms of these gentlemen, as soon as I could get

After delivering this address, Jane was called away to assist the doctor in the bedroom, and along with Archie

and Random the constable repaired to the pink parlor to hear what they had to say. Of course they could tell

him even less than Jane had told, and Archie protested that he was quite unable to describe the man who had

"Ah! now you are asking more than I can tell you. Only Mrs. Jasher can explain, and it seems to me that she

Meanwhile, in some mysterious way the news of the crime had spread through the village, and although it

was growing late for it was past ten o'clock a dozen or so of villagers came along. Also there arrived a

number of soldiers under a smart sergeant, and to him Sir Frank explained what had happened. In the

fainthearted way for the mist was now like cottonwool the military and the civilians hunted through the

marshes round the cottage, hoping to come across the assassin hiding in a ditch. Needless to say, they found

no one and nothing, for it was worse than looking for a needle in a bundle of hay. The man had come out of

the mist, and, after executing the deed, had vanished into the mist, and there was not the very slightest chance

of finding him. Gradually, as it drew towards midnight, the soldiers went back to the Fort, and the villagers to

their homes. But, along with the doctor and the constable, Hope and his military friend stopped on. They

were determined to get at the root of the mystery, and when Mrs. Jasher became sensible she would be able to

"It's all of a piece with the sending of the emerald," said Random to the artist, "and that is connected, as we

"Do you think that this man who has struck down Mrs. Jasher is the same one who strangled Sidney Bolton?"

"I should think so. Perhaps Mrs. Jasher sent the emerald after all, and this man killed her out of revenge."

"Well, I am certain that God will not let him escape this time. This will bring Gartley once more into,

notoriety," went on Hope. "By the way, I saw one of the servants from the Pyramids here. I hope the fool

"Go to the Pyramids and see her," suggested Sir Frank. "Mrs. Jasher is still unconscious, and will be for

"All the same, I'll remain here until Mrs. Jasher can speak," he said, and sat smoking with Random in the

Constable Painter camped, so to speak, in the drawingroom, keeping guard over the scene of the crime, and

had placed the Chinese screen against the broken window to keep out the cold. In the bedroom Jane and Dr.

Robinson looked after the dying woman. And dying she was, according to the young physician, for he did not

think she would live much longer. Round the lonely cottage the seamist drifted white and thick, and the

darkness deepened, until as the saying goes it could have been cut with a knife. Never was there so eerie

Towards four o'clock Hope fell into a doze, while resting in an armchair; but he was suddenly aroused from

this by an exclamation from Sir Frank, who had remained wide awake, smoking cigar after cigar. In a

"I thought I heard Painter call out," he declared, and hastily sought the parlor, followed by Hope.

The room was empty, but the screen before the broken window had been thrown down, and they could see

"What the deuce is the matter?" demanded Random, entering. "Did you call out, Painter. I fancied I heard

"I did call out, sir," he confessed. "I was half asleep in that chair, when I suddenly became wide awake, and

believed I saw a face looking at me round the corner of the screen. I jumped up, calling for you, sir, and upset

"Well? well?" demanded Sir Frank impatiently, and seeing that the man hesitated.

"I saw no one, sir. All the same, I had an idea, and I have still, that a man came through the window and

"I can't say, sir. But there was someone. At any rate he's gone again, if he really did come, and there is no

Hope and Random simultaneously stepped through the window, but could not see an inch before them, so

thick was the seafog and so dense was the darkness. Returning, they replaced the screen, and, telling Painter

to be more on the alert, went back shivering to the fire in the diningroom. When they were seated again,

"No," replied Random sharply. "I believe that the man who assaulted Mrs. Jasher is hanging about, and

ventured back into the room, relying on the fog as a means of escape, should he be spotted."

"I may be wrong, of course. But it is my impression that there is something in the parlor which this man

wants, and for which he tried to murder Mrs. Jasher. We interrupted him, and he was forced to flee. Hidden in

the fog, he is lurking about to see if he can't obtain what he has risked his neck to secure."

"I don't think anything. I am too tired to think at all. However, Painter will keep his eyes open, and in the

morning we can search the room. The man has been in the house twice to get what he wanted. He won't risk

another attempt, now that he is aware we are on the alert. I'm going to try and get forty winks. You keep

Hope was quite agreeable, but just as Random composed himself to uneasy slumber, Jane, haggard and

"If you please, gentlemen, the doctor wants you to come and see mistress. She is sensible, and "

The two waited to hear no more, but went hastily but softly into the room wherein lay the dying woman.

Robinson sat by the bedside, holding his patient's hand and feeling her pulse. He placed his finger on his lips

as the men entered gently, and at the same moment Mrs. Jasher's voice, weak from exhaustion, sounded

through the room, which was dimly illuminated by one candle. The newcomers halted in obedience to

"Who is there?" asked Mrs. Jasher weakly, for, in spite of the care exercised, she had evidently heard the

"Mr. Hope and Sir Frank Random," whispered the doctor, speaking into the dying woman's ear. "They came

"In time to see me die," she murmured; "and I can't die, unless I tell the truth. I am glad Random is there; he

is a kindhearted boy, and treated me better than he need have done. I oh some brandy brandy."

"Now lie quietly and do not attempt to speak," he commanded. "You need all your strength."

"I do to tell that which I wish to tell," gasped Mrs. Jasher, trying to raise herself. "Sir Frank! Sir Frank!"

"Yes, I sent it to you as a wedding present. I was sorry and I was afraid; and I I " She paused again,

"You must not talk," he insisted severely, "or I shall turn Sir Frank and Mr. Hope out of the room."

"No! no! Give me more brandy more more." and when the doctor placed a tumbler to her lips, she drank

so greedily that he had to take the glass away lest she should do herself harm. But the ardent spirit put new

life into her, and with a superhuman effort she suddenly reared herself in the bed.

"Come here, Hope come here, Random," she said in a much stronger voice. "I have much to tell you. Yes, I

took the emerald after dark and threw it into the sentry box when the man wasn't looking. I escaped your spy,

Random, and I escaped the notice of the sentry. I walked like a cat, and like a cat I can see in the dark. I am

"That's a long story. I don't know that I have the strength to tell it. I have written it out."

"Yes. Jane thought that I was writing letters, but I was writing out the whole story of the murder. You were

good to me, Random, you dear boy, and on the impulse of the moment I took the emerald to you. I was sorry

when I got back, but it was too late then to repent, as I did not dare to go near the Fort again. Your spy who

watched might have discovered me the second time. I then thought that I would write out the story of the

"Then you are not guilty of Bolton's death?" asked Sir Frank, puzzled, for her confession was somewhat

"No. I did not strangle him. But I know who did. I have written it all down. I was just finishing when I heard

the tapping at the window. I let him in and he tried to get the confession, for I told him what I had done."

"The confession is lying on my desk all the sheets of paper are loose. I had no time to bind them together,

for he came in. He wanted the emerald, and the confession. I told him that I had given the emerald to you,

Random, and that I had confessed all in writing. Then he went mad and flew at me with a dreadful knife. He

knocked over the candles and the lamp. Everything went out and all was darkness, and I lay crying for help,

"Who, in heaven's name, is the man?" demanded Random, standing up in his eagerness. But Mrs. Jasher had

"You had better leave the room, you two," he said, "or I can't be answerable for her life."

"I must stay and learn the truth," said Random determinedly, "and you, Hope, go into the parlor and find that

confession. It is on the desk, as she said, all loose sheets. No doubt it was the confession which the man she

refers to tried to secure when he came back the second time. He may make another attempt, or Painter may

Archie needed no second telling, as he realized what hung on the securing of the confession. He stole swiftly

out of the room, closing the door after him. Faint as was the sound, Mrs. Jasher heard it and opened her eyes.

"Do not go, Random," she said faintly. "I have yet much to say, although the confession will tell you all. I am

half sorry I wrote it out at least I was and perhaps should have burnt it had I not met with this accident."

The sinister word galvanized the dying woman in sudden strong life, and she reared herself again on the bed.

"Murder! Yes, it is murder," she cried loudly. "He killed Sidney Bolton to get the emeralds, and he killed me

In the cold gray hours of the morning, Hope and his friend left the cottage wherein such a tragedy had taken

place. The dead woman was lying stiff and white on her bed under a winding sheet, which had already been

strewn with manyhued chrysanthemums taken from the pink parlor by the weeping Jane. The wretched

woman who had led so stormy and unhappy a life had at least one sincere mourner, for she had always been

kind to the servant, who formed her entire domestic staff, and Jane would not hear a word said against the

dead. Not that anyone did say anything; for Random and Hope kept the contents of the confession to

themselves. There would be time enough for Mrs. Jasher's reputation to be smirched when those same

When the poor woman died, Random left the doctor and the servant to look after the corpse, and went into

the parlor. Here he met Hope with the confession in his hand. Luckily, Painter was not in the room at the

moment, else he would have prevented the artist from taking away the same. Hope as directed by Mrs.

Jasher had found the confession, written on many sheets, lying on the desk. It broke off abruptly towards

the end, and was not signed. Apparently at this point Mrs. Jasher had been interrupted as she had said by

the tapping of Cockatoo at the window. Probably she had admitted him at once, and on her refusal to give

him the emerald, and on her confessing what she had written, he had overturned the lights for the purpose of

Archie slipped the confession into his pocket before the policeman returned, and then left the cottage with

Random and the doctor, since nothing else could now be done. It was between seven and eight, and the chilly

dawn was breaking, but the seamist still lay heavily over the marshes, as though it were the winding sheet of

the dead. Robinson went to his own house to get his trap and drive into Jessum, there to catch the train and

ferry to Pierside. It was necessary that Inspector Date should be informed of this new tragedy without delay,

and as Constable Painter was engaged in watching the cottage, there was no messenger available but Dr.

Robinson. Random indeed offered to send a soldier, or to afford Robinson the use of the Fort telephone, but

the doctor preferred to see Date personally, so as to detail exactly what had happened. Perhaps the young

medical man had an eye to becoming better known, for the improvement of his practice; but he certainly

seemed anxious to take a prominent part in the proceedings connected with the murder of Mrs. Jasher.

When Robinson parted from them, Random and Hope went to the lodgings of the latter, so as to read over the

confession and learn exactly to what extent Mrs. Jasher had been mixed up in the tragedy of the green

mummy. She had declared herself innocent even on her deathbed, and so far as the two could judge at this

point, she certainly had not actually strangled Sidney Bolton. But it might be and it appeared to be more

than probable that she was an accessory after the fact. But this they could learn from the confession, and

they sat in Hope's quiet little sittingroom, in which the fire had been just lighted by the artist's landlady, with

"Perhaps you would like a cup of coffee, or a whisky and soda," suggested Archie, "before starting to read?"

"I should," assented Random, who looked weary and pale. "The events of the night have somewhat knocked

Hope nodded and went to order the same. When he returned he sat down, after closing the door carefully, and

"Let us chat until the coffee comes in," he said; "then we shall not be interrupted when reading."

"No, thanks. I have been smoking all the night. I shall sit here by the fire and wait for the coffee. You look

"And small wonder," said Archie wearily. "We little thought when we left the Fort last night what a time we

"Yes. She repented, as she said, and yet I dare say as she also said she was sorry that she acted on her

impulse. If she had not been stabbed by that damned Cockatoo, she would no doubt have destroyed that

"She confessed as much," said Hope, leaning his head on his hand and staring into the fire. "She must have

been cognizant of the truth all along. I wonder if she was an accessory before or after the fact?"

"What I wonder," said Random, after a moment's thought, "is, what Braddock has to do with the matter?"

"I know that. All the same, Cockatoo was completely under the thumb of the Professor, and probably was

"That is impossible," cried the artist, much agitated. "Think of what you are saying, Random. What a terrible

thing it would be for Lucy if the Professor were guilty in such a way as you suggest!"

"Really, I fail to see that. Miss Kendal is no relation to Braddock save by marriage. His iniquities have

"But it's impossible, I tell you, Random. Throughout the whole of this case Braddock has acted in a perfectly

"That's just it," said Sir Frank caustically; "he has acted. In spite of his pretended grief for the loss of the

emeralds, I should not be surprised to learn from that," he nodded towards the confession on the table, "that

he was in possession of the missing gem. Cockatoo had no reason to steal the emeralds himself, setting aside

the fact that he probably would not know their value, being but a semicivilized savage. He acted under

orders from his master, and although Cockatoo strangled Bolton, the Professor is really the author and the

"Yes, and Mrs. Jasher an accessory after the fact. Cockatoo is the link, as the actual criminal, who joins the

two in a guilty partnership. No wonder Braddock intended to make that woman his wife even though he did

"This is horrible," murmured Hope desperately; "but it is mere theory. We cannot be sure until we read the

This last remark Random made when a timid knock came to the door, and a moment later the landlady

entered with a tray bearing cups, saucers, and a jug of steaming coffee., She was a meek, reticent woman who

entered and departed in dismal silence, and in a few moments the two young men were quite alone with the

door closed. They drank a cup of coffee each, and then Hope proceeded to read the confession.

The story told by Mrs. Jasher commenced with a short account of her early life. It appeared that her father

was a ruined gentleman and a gambler, and that her mother had been an actress. She was dragged up in a

Bohemian sort of way until she attained a marriageable age, when her mother, who seemed to have been both

wicked and hardhearted, forced her to marry a comparatively wealthy man called Jasher. The elderly

husband for Jasher was not young treated his wife very badly, and, infected with the spirit of gambling by

her father, lost all his money. Mrs. Jasher then went with him to America and performed on the stage in order

to keep the home together. She had one child, but it died, much to her grief, yet also much to her relief, as she

was so miserable and poor. Mrs. Jasher gave a scanty account of sordid years of trouble and trial, of failure

and sorrow. She and her husband roamed all over America, and then went to Australia and New Zealand,

where they lived a wretched existence for many years. Finally the husband died of strong drink at an

The poor woman again took to the stage and tried to earn her bread, but was unsuccessful. Afterwards she

lectured. Then she kept a boarding establishment, and finally went out as a nurse. In every way, it would

seem, she tried to keep her head above water, and roamed the world like a bird of passage, finding rest

nowhere for the sole of her foot. Yet throughout her story both the young men could see that she had always

aspired to a quiet and decent, respectable existence, and that only force of circumstances had flung her into

"As I said," remarked Random at this stage, "the miserable creature was more sinned against than sinning."

"Her moral sense seemed to have become blunted, however," said Archie doubtfully.

"And small wonder, amidst such surroundings; but it seems to me that she was much better under the

In Melbourne Mrs. Jasher made a lucky speculation in mines, which brought her one thousand pounds. With

this she came to England, and resolved to make a bid for respectability. Chance led her into the neighborhood

of Gartley, and thinking that if she set up her tent in this locality she might manage to marry an officer from

the Fort since amidst such dismal surroundings a young man might be the more easily fascinated by a

woman of the world she took the cottage amidst the marshes at a small rent. Here she hoped to eke out

what money she had left a few hundreds until the coveted marriage should take place. Afterwards she met

Professor Braddock and determined to marry him, as a man more easy to manage. She was successful in

enlisting Lucy on her side, and until the green mummy brought its bad luck to the Pyramids everything went

It was in connection with the name of Bolton that the first mention was made of the green mummy. Sidney

was a clever young man, although very lowly born, and having been taken up by Professor Braddock as an

assistant, could hope some day to make a position. Braddock was educating him, although he paid him very

little in the way of wages. Sidney fell in love with Mrs. Jasher, and in some way she did not mention how

gained her confidence. Perhaps the lonely woman was glad to have a sympathetic friend. At all events she

told her past history to, Sidney, and mentioned that she desired to marry Braddock. But Sidney insisted that

she should marry him, and promised to make enough money to satisfy her that he was a good match, setting

It was then that Sidney related what he had discovered. Braddock, when in Peru many years before, had tried

to get mummies for some scientific reason. When Hervey then known as Vasa promised to procure him

the mummy of the last Inca, Braddock was extremely pleased. Hervey stole the mummy and also the copy of

the manuscript which was written in Latin. He sent this latter to Braddock who was then at Cuzcoas an

earnest of his success in procuring the mummy, and when the Professor returned to Lima the mummy was to

be handed to him. Unfortunately, Braddock was carried into captivity for one year, and when he escaped

Vasa had disappeared with the mummy. As the Professor had deciphered the Latin manuscript, he knew of

the emeralds, and for years had been hunting for the mummy sure to be recognized from its peculiar green

color in order to get the jewels, and thus secure money for his Egyptian expedition. All through, it seems,

the Professor was actuated by purely scientific enthusiasm, as in the abstract he cared very little for hard cash.

Bolton told Mrs. Jasher that Braddock explained how much he desired to get the mummy, but he did not

mention about the jewels. For a long time Sidney was under the impression that his master merely wanted the

mummy to see the difference between the Egyptian and Peruvian modes of embalming.

Then one day Sidney chanced on the Latin manuscript, and learned that Braddock's real reason for getting the

mummy was to procure the emeralds which were held in the grip of the dead. Sidney kept this knowledge to

himself, and Braddock never guessed that his assistant knew the truth. Then unexpectedly Braddock stumbled

across the advertisement describing the green mummy for sale in Malta. From the color he made sure that it

was that of Inca Caxas, and so moved heaven and earth to get money to buy it. At length he did, from Archie

Hope, on condition that he consented to the marriage of his stepdaughter with the young man. Thinking that

Sidney told Mrs. Jasher that he would try and steal the jewels in Malta or on board the tramp steamer. Failing

that, he would delay the delivery of the mummy to Braddock on some excuse and rob it at Pierside. To make

sure of escaping, he borrowed a disguise from his mother, alleging that Hope wanted the same to clothe a

model. Sidney intended to take these clothes with him, and, after stealing the jewels, to escape disguised as

an old woman. As he was slender and cleanshaven and a capital actor, he could easily manage this,

Then he arranged that Mrs. Jasher should join him in Paris, and they would sell the emeralds, and go to

Unfortunately for the success of this plan, Mrs. Jasher thought that the Professor would make a more

"What a beastly thing to do!" interrupted Random, disgusted. "It is not as if she wanted to help Braddock. I

think less of Mrs. Jasher than ever I did. She might have remembered that there is honor amongst thieves."

"Well, she is dead, poor soul!" said Hope with a sigh. "God knows that if she sinned, she has paid cruelly for

Braddock was furious when he learned of his assistant's projected trickery, and he determined to circumvent

him. He agreed to marry Mrs. Jasher, as, if he had not done so, she could have warned Sidney and he could

have escaped with both the mummy and the jewels by conniving with Hervey. The Professor could not risk

that, as, remembering Hervey as Gustav Vasa, he was aware how clever and reckless he was. Whether

Braddock ever intended to marry the widow in the end it is hard to say, but he certainly pretended to consent

to the engagement, which was mainly brought about by Lucy. Then came the details of the murder so far as

One evening in fact on the evening when the crime was committed the woman was walking in her garden

late. In the moonlight she saw Braddock and Cockatoo go down along the cinderpath to the jetty near the

Fort. Wondering what they were doing, she waited up, and heard and saw them for it was still moonlight

come back long after midnight. The next day she heard of the murder, and guessed that the Professor and his

slave for Cockatoo was little else had rowed up to Pierside in a boat and there had strangled Sidney and

stolen the mummy. She saw Braddock and accused him. The Professor had then opened the case, and had

pretended astonishment when discovering the corpse of the man whom Cockatoo had strangled, as he knew

Braddock at first denied having been to Pierside, but Mrs. Jasher insisted that she would tell the police, so he

"Now for it," said Random, settling himself to hear details of the crime, for he had often wondered how it had

"Braddock," read Archie from the confession, for Mrs. Jasher did not trouble herself with a polite prefix

"Braddock explained that when he received a letter from Sidney stating that he would have to remain with the

mummy for a night in Pierside, he guessed that his treacherous assistant intended to effect the robbery. It

seems that Sidney by mistake had left behind the disguise in which he intended to escape. Aware of this

through me" Mrs. Jasher referred to herself "he made Cockatoo assume the dress and row up the river to

the Sailor's Rest. The Kanaka easily could be mistaken for a woman, as he also, like Sidney, was slender and

smoothchinned. Also, he wore the shawl over his head to disguise his mop of frizzy hair as much as

possible, and for the purpose of concealing his tattooed face. In the darkness it was after nine o'clock he

spoke to Sidney through the window, as he had seen him there earlier, when searching for him. Cockatoo said

that Sidney was much afraid when he heard that his purpose had been discovered by the Professor. He offered

a share of the plunder to the Kanaka, and Cockatoo agreed, saying he would come back late, and that Sidney

was to admit him into the bedroom so that they could open the mummy and steal the jewels. Sidney quite

believed that Cockatoo was heart and soul with him, especially as the cunning Kanaka swore that he was

weary of his master's tyranny. It was when Cockatoo was talking thus that he was seen by Eliza Flight, who

mistook him very naturally for a woman. Cockatoo then returned by boat to the Gartley jetty and told his

master. Afterwards, the Professor, at a much later hour, went down to the jetty and was rowed up to Pierside

"Yes," said Archie. "And then, if you remember; she watched for the return of the couple."

"It was nearly midnight when the boat was brought alongside the sloping stone bank of the alley which ran

past the Sailor's Rest. No one was about at that hour, not even a policeman, and there was no light in Sidney

Bolton's window. Braddock was much agitated as he thought that Sidney had already escaped. He waited in

the boat and sent Cockatoo to knock at the window. Then a light appeared and the window was silently

opened. The Kanaka slipped in and remained there for some ten minutes after closing the window. When he

returned, the light was extinguished. He whispered to his master that Sidney had opened the packing case and

the mummy coffin, and had ripped the swathings to get the jewels. When Sidney would not hand over the

jewels to the Kanaka, as the latter wanted him to, Cockatoo, already prepared with the window cord, which

he had silently taken from the blind, sprang upon the unfortunate assistant and strangled him. Cockatoo told

this to his horrified master, and wanted him to come back to hide the corpse in the packing case. Braddock

refused, and then Cockatoo told him that he would throw the jewels which he had taken from Sidney's body

into the river. The position of master and servant was reversed, and Braddock vas forced to obey.

"The Professor slipped silently ashore and into the room. The two men relighted the candle and pulled down

the blind. They then placed the corpse of Sidney in the packing case, and screwed the same down in silence.

When this was completed, they were about to carry the mummy in its coffin the lid of which they had

replaced to the boat, when they heard distant footsteps, probably those of a policeman on his beat. At once

they extinguished the candle, and as Braddock told Mrs. Jasher he, for one, sat trembling in the dark. But

the policeman if the footsteps were those of a policeman passed up another street, and the two were safe.

Without relighting the candle, they silently slipped the mummy through the window, Cockatoo within and

Braddock without. The case and its contents were not heavy, and it was not difficult for the two men to take it

to the boat. When it was safely bestowed, Cockatoo who was as cunning as the devil, according to his

master returned to the bedroom, and unlocked the door. He afterwards passed a string through the joining of

the upper and lower windows, and managed to shut the snib. Afterwards he came to the boat and rowed it

back to Gartley. On the way Cockatoo told his master that Sidney had left instructions that the packing case

should be taken next morning to the Pyramids, so there was nothing to fear. The mummy was hidden in a

"That would have been dangerous," said Hope, looking up from the manuscript, "seeing that the mummy was

supposed to have been stolen by the murderer. It was easier to hide it amongst the grasses under the jetty, as

no one ever goes there. Well" he turned over a few pages "that is practically all. The rest is after events."

Hope ran his eyes swiftly over the remaining portion of the paper, and gave further details rapidly to his

"You know all that happened," he said, "the Professor's pretended surprise when he found the corpse he had

"That was Braddock's idea. He fancied that the mummy might be found under the jetty and that inconvenient

inquiries might be made. Also, he wished if possible to implicate Mrs. Jasher, so as to keep her from telling

to the police what he had told her. He and Cockatoo went down to the river one night and removed the

mummy to the arbor silently. Afterwards he pretended to be astonished when I found it. I must say he acted

his part very well," said Hope reflectively, "even to accusing Mrs. Jasher. That was a bold stroke of genius."

"Not at all. He swore to Mrs. Jasher that if she said anything, he would tell the police that she had taken the

clothes provided by Sidney from the Pyramids and had gone to speak through the window, in order to fly

with Sidney and the emeralds. As the fact of the mummy being found in Mrs. Jasher's garden would lend

color to the lie, she was obliged to hold her tongue. And after all, as she says, she didn't mind, since she was

"She insisted that Braddock should give it to her as a pledge of good faith. He had to do it, or risk her

splitting. That was why he placed the mummy in her garden, so as to bring her into the matter, and render it

"Braddock took that to Amsterdam, when he went to London that time if you remember, when Don Pedro

arrived. Braddock sold the emerald for three thousand pounds, and it is now on its way to an Indian rajah. I

"He banked it in a feigned name in Amsterdam, and intended to account for it when he married Mrs. Jasher

by saying it was left to her by that mythical Pekin merchant brother of hers. Savvy!"

"Yes. What an infernal little villain! And I expect he sent Cockatoo down last night for the other emerald."

"That is not related in the manuscript," said Archie, laying down the last sheet and taking up his coffee. "The

confession ends abruptly at the time Cockatoo tapped at the window, I expect. But she said, when dying,

that the Kanaka asked for the second emerald. If she had not sent it to you in a fit of weakness, I expect she

would have passed it along. I can't make out," added Archie musingly, "why Mrs. Jasher confessed when

"Well," said Random, nursing his chin, and staring into the fire, "she made a mistake in trying to blackmail

me, though why she did so I can't tell, seeing she had the whiphand of Braddock. Perhaps she wanted the five

thousand to spend herself, knowing that the Professor's plunder would be wasted on his confounded

expedition. At any rate she gave herself away by the blackmail, and I expect she grew frightened. If the house

had been searched and it might have been searched by the police, had I arrested her for blackmail the

emerald would have been found and she would have been incriminated. She therefore got rid of it cleverly,

by passing it along to me as a wedding gift. Then she again grew afraid and wrote out this confession to

"But it doesn't," insisted Hope. "She makes herself out plainly as an accessory after the fact."

"A woman doesn't understand these legal niceties. She wrote that out to clear herself in case she was arrested

for the blackmail, and perhaps in case Braddock refused to help her as he certainly did, if you remember."

"Being such a villain himself," said Random grimly. "However, Cockatoo arrived unluckily on the scene, and

when he found she had parted with the emerald, and had written out the truth, he stabbed her. If we hadn't

come just in the nick of time, he would have annexed that confession, and the truth would never have become

known. No one," ended Random, rising and stretching himself, "would connect Braddock or Cockatoo with

"Or with the death of Sidney Bolton either," said Hope, also rising and putting on his cap. "What an actor the

"Not until later. I shall give this to Inspector Date when he arrives. The Professor has made his bed, so he

"Marry her at once, then," advised Random, "while the Professor is doing time, and while Cockatoo is being

hanged. Meanwhile, I think you had better put on your overcoat, unless you want to walk through the village

Archie laughed in spite of his weariness, and assumed his greatcoat at the same moment as Random slipped

into his. The two young men walked out into the village and up to the Pyramids, for Random wished to see

Braddock before returning to the Fort. They found the door of the great house open and the servants in the

"What is all this?" demanded Hope, entering. "Why are you here, and not at work? Where is your master?"

"Archie! Archie!" Lucy came running out of the museum, palefaced and white, "my father has gone away

with Cockatoo and the green mummy. What does it mean? And just when poor Mrs. Jasher is murdered too."

Poor Lucy Kendal was terribly grieved and shocked when the full account of her stepfather's iniquity was

revealed to her. Archie tried to break the news as delicately as possible, but no words could soften the sordid

story. Lucy, at first, could not believe it possible that a man, whom she had known for so long, and to whom

she was related, would behave in such a base way. To convince her Hope was forced to let her read the

account in Mrs. Jasher's handwriting. When acquainted with the contents, the poor girl's first desire was to

have the matter hushed up, and she implored her lover with tears to suppress the damning document.

"That is impossible," said Hope firmly; "and if you think again, my dear, you will not repeat such a request. It

is absolutely necessary that this should be placed in the hands of the police, and that the truth should become

as widely known as possible. Unless the matter is settled once and for all, someone else may be accused of

"My darling, the disgrace exists whether it be public or private. After all, the Professor is no relation."

"Everyone," echoed Archie, with an assumed lightness. "My dear, everyone in this instance only means the

handful of people who live in this outoftheway, village. Your name will not appear in the papers. And

even if by chance it does, you will soon be changing it for mine. I think the best thing that can be done is for

you to come with me to London next week and marry me. Then we can go to the south of France for the rest

of the winter, until you recover. When we return and set up house in London say in a year the whole

"But how can you bear to marry me, when you know that I come of such a bad stock?" wept Lucy, a trifle

"My dear, must I remind you again that you are no relation to Professor Braddock; you have not a drop of his

wicked blood in your veins. And even if you had, I should still marry you. It is you I love, and you I marry,

so there is no more to be said. Come, darling, say that you will become my wife next week."

Archie smiled grimly. He found it difficult to forgive Braddock for the disgrace he had brought on the girl.

"I don't think we'll ever be troubled again with the Professor," he said, after a pause. "He has bolted into the

"Because he knew that the game was up. Mrs. Jasher wrote out this confession, and told Cockatoo, when he

entered the room to get the emerald, that she had written it. To save his master the Kanaka stabbed the

wretched woman, and, had Random and I not arrived, he would have secured the confession. I really believe

he came back again out of the mist in the small hours of the morning to steal it. But when he found that all

was vain, he returned here and told the Professor that the story of the murder had been written out. Therefore

there was nothing left to Braddock but to fly. Although," added Hope, with an afterthought, "I can't imagine

"But why should the Professor fly?" asked Lucy again. "According to what Mrs. Jasher writes, he did not

"No. And I will do him the justice to say that he had no idea of having his assistant murdered. It was

Cockatoo's savage blood which came out in the deed, and maybe it can be explained by the Kanaka's

devotion to the Professor. It was the same way in the murder of Mrs. Jasher. By killing Bolton, the Kanaka

hoped to save the emeralds for Braddock: in stabbing Mrs. Jasher, he hoped to save the Professor's life."

"Call him your stepfather," he said quickly. "No, dear, I do not think he will be hanged; but as an accessory

after the fact he will certainly be condemned to a long term of imprisonment. Cockatoo, however, assuredly

will be hanged, and a good job too. He is only a savage, and as such is dangerous in a civilized community. I

"No," said Lucy unhesitatingly. "Cook came up this morning to my room, and said that my father I mean

my stepfather had gone away with Cockatoo and with the green mummy. I don't know why she should

"Perhaps she heard rumors in the village and put two and two together. I cannot tell. Some instinct must have

told her. But I daresay Braddock and his accomplice fled under cover of the mist and in the small hours of the

morning. They must have known that the confession would bring the officers of the law to this house."

"Well, I am not sure," said Hope hesitatingly. "Of course, I should like to avoid a scandal for your sake, and

yet it is only right that the two of them should be punished. Remember, Lucy dear, how Braddock has acted

"While Archie was thus comforting the poor girl, Gartley village was in an uproar. Everyone was talking

about this new crime, and everyone was wondering who had stabbed the unlucky woman. As yet the

confession of Mrs. Jasher had not been placed in the hands of the police and everyone was ignorant that

Cockatoo was the criminal who had escaped in the fog. Inspector Date speedily arrived with his myrmidons

on the scene and made the cottage his headquarters. Later in the day, Hope, having taken a cold bath to

freshen himself up, came with the confession. This he gave to the officer and explained the whole story of the

Date was more than astonished: he was astounded. He read the confession and made notes; then he sent for

Sir Frank Random, and examined him in the same strict way as he had examined the artist. Jane was also

questioned. Widow Anne was put in the witness box, so as to report about the clothes, and in every way Date

gathered material for another inquest. At the former one he had only been able to place scanty evidence

before the jury, and the verdict had been unsatisfactory to the public. But on this occasion, seeing that the

witnesses he could bring forward would solve the mystery of the first death as well as the second, Inspector

Date exulted greatly. He saw himself promoted and his salary raised, and his name praised in the papers as a

zealous and clever officer. By the time the inquest came to be held, the inspector had talked himself into

believing that the whole mystery had been solved by himself. But before that time came another event

happened which astonished everyone, and which made the final phase of the green mummy crime even more

sensational than it had been. And Heaven knows that from beginning to end there had been no lack of

Don Pedro de Gayangos was exceedingly amazed at the unexpected turn which the case had taken. That he

should have been trying to solve a deep mystery for so long, and that the solution, all the time, had been in

the hands of the Professor, startled him exceedingly. He admitted that he had never liked Braddock, but

explained that he had not expected to hear that the fiery little scientist was such a scoundrel. But, as Don

Pedro confessed, it was an ill wind which blew him some good, when the upshot of the whole mysterious

tragic business was the restoration of at least one emerald. Sir Frank brought the gem to him on the afternoon

of the day succeeding Mrs. Jasher's death, and while the whole village was buzzing with excitement. It was

Random who gave all details to Donna Inez and her father, leading from one revelation to another, until he

"Mine! mine!" said Don Pedro, his dark eyes glittering. "Thanks be to the Virgin and the Saints," and he

Donna Inez clapped her hands and her eyes flashed, for, like every woman, she had a profound love for

"Professor Braddock sold the other to some Indian rajah in Amsterdam through an agent, I presume for

"I shall get more than that," said Don Pedro quickly. "The Professor sold his jewel in a hurry and had no time

to bargain. But sooner or later I shall get five thousand pounds for this." He held the gem in the sunlight,

"I fear you will never get the other gem," said Random regretfully. "I believe that it is on its way to India, if

"Never mind. I shall be content with this one, senor. I have simple tastes, and this will do much to restore the

fortunes of my family. When I go back with this and the green mummy, all those Indians who know of my

"But you forget," said Random, frowning, "the green mummy has been taken away by Professor Braddock."

"I don't know so much about that, dearest," said Sir Frank. "Apparently, since they handled it at the time of

the murder, it is easier carried about than one would think. And then they fled last night, or rather in the small

"It is clear enough now," said De Gayangos, peering through the window, where a pale winter sun shone in a

"Not the Professor. For Miss Lucy's sake I hope he will escape; but I trust that the savage who killed these

"So do I," said Random. "Well, Don Pedro, it seems to me that your task in Gartley is ended. All you have to

do is to wait for the inquest and see Mrs. Jasher buried, poor soul! Then you can go to London and remain

"Ah, yes," Don Pedro smiled gravely. "I return with the jewel to Lima, but I leave my other jewel behind."

"Never mind," said the girl, kissing her father; "when Frank and I are married we will come to Callao in his

"Our yacht," repeated Donna Inez. "And then you will see, father, that I have become a real English lady."

"And a descendant of Inca Caxas," added Donna Inez. Then she flirted her fan, which she was rarely without,

and laughed in her English lover's face. "Don't forget, senor, that you marry a princess."

"I marry the most charming girl in the world," he replied, catching her in his arms, rather to the scandal of De

Gayangos, who had stiff Spanish notions regarding the etiquette of engaged couples.

"There is one thing you must do for me, senor," he said quietly, "before we leave this most unhappy case of

"Tonight at eight o'clock, Captain Hervey the sailor Gustav Vasa, if you prefer the name steams down

the river in his new boat The Firefly. I received a note from him" he displayed a letter "stating that he will

pass the jetty of Gartley at that hour, and will burn a blue light. If I fire a pistol, he will send off a boat with a

full account of the theft of the mummy of Inca Caxas, written by himself. Then I will hand his messenger

fifty gold sovereigns, which I have here," added Don Pedro, pointing to a canvas bag on the table, "and we

will return. I wish you to go with me, senor, and also I wish your friend Mr. Hope to come."

"I should not be surprised if he tried to trick me in some way, and I wish you and your friend to stand by me.

Were this man alone, I would go alone, but he will have a boat's crew with him. It is best to be safe."

"I agree with you," said Random quickly. "Hope and I will come, and we will take revolvers with us. It

doesn't do to trust this blackguard. Ho! ho! I wonder if he knows of the Professor's flight."

"No. Considering the terms upon which the Professor stood with Hervey, I should think he would be the last

More people than Don Pedro wondered as to the whereabouts of Braddock and his servant, for everyone was

inquiring and hunting. The marshes round the cottage were explored: the great house itself was searched, as

well as many cottages in the village, and inquiries were made at all the local stations. But all in vain.

Braddock and Cockatoo, along with the cumbersome mummy in its case, had vanished as completely as

though the earth had swallowed them up. Inspector Date's idea was that the pair had taken the mummy to

Gartley Pier, after the search made by the soldiers, and there had launched the boat, which Cockatoo

judging from his visit to Pierside apparently kept hidden in some nook. It was probable, said Date, the two

had rowed down the river, and had managed to get on board some outwardbound tramp. They could easily

furbish up some story, and as Braddock doubtless had money, could easily buy a passage for a large sum. The

tramp being outwardbound, her captain and crew would know nothing of the crime, and even if the fugitives

were suspected, they would be shipped out of England if the bribe was sufficiently large. So it was apparent

However, as the day wore on to night, nothing was heard of Braddock or Cockatoo or the mummy, and when

night came the village was filled with local reporters and with London journalists asking questions. The

Warrior Inn did a great trade in drink and beds and meals, and the rustics reaped quite a harvest in answering

questions about Mrs. Jasher and the Professor and the weirdlooking Kanaka. Some reporters dared to invade

the Pyramids, where Lucy was weeping in sorrow and shame, but Archie, reinforced by two policemen, sent

to his aid by Date, soon sent them to the right about. Hope would have liked to remain with Lucy all the

evening, but at halfpast seven he was forced to meet Don Pedro and Random outside the Fort in order to go

As the hunt for the fugitives had continued all day, everyone, police, villagers and soldiers, were weary and

disheartened. Consequently, when the three men met near the Fort, there seemed to be few people about. This

was just as well, as they would have been followed to the jetty, and obviously it was best to keep the strange

meeting with Captain Hervey as secret as possible. However, Don Pedro had taken Inspector Date into his

confidence, as it was impossible to get past the cottage of the late Mrs. Jasher, in which the officer had taken

up his quarters, without being discovered. Date was quite willing that the trio should go, but stipulated that he

should come also. He had heard all about Captain Hervey in connection with the mummy, and thought that he

"And if I see fit I shall detain him until the inquest is over," said Date, which was mere bluff, as the inspector

The three men therefore were joined by Date, when they came along the cinder path abreast of the cottage,

and the quartette proceeded further immediately, walking amongst the bents and grasses to the rude old

wooden jetty, near which Hervey intended to stop his ship. The night was quite clear of fog, strange to say,

considering the late seamist; but a strong wind had been blowing all day and the fogwreaths were entirely

dispersed. A full moon rode amongst a galaxy of stars, which twinkled like diamonds. The air was frosty, and

their feet scrunched the earth and grasses and coarse herbage under foot, as they made rapidly for the

When they reached the top they could see the jetty clearly almost below their feet, and in the distance the

glittering lights of Pierside. Vague forms of vessels at anchor loomed on the water, and there was a stream of

light where the moon made a pathway of silver. After a casual glance the three men proceeded down the

slope to the jetty. Three of them at least had revolvers, since Hervey was an ill man to tackle; but probably

Date, who was too dense to consider consequences, was unarmed. Neither did Don Pedro think it necessary

to tell the officer that he and his two companions were prepared to shoot if necessary. Inspector Date, being a

prosy Englishman, would not have understood such lawless doings in his own sober, lawabiding country.

When they reached the jetty Don Pedro glanced at his watch, illuminating the dial by puffing his cigar to a

ruddy glow. It was just after eight o'clock, and even as he looked an exclamation from Date made him raise

his head. The inspector was pointing outstream to a large vessel which had steamed inshore as far as was

safe. Probably Hervey was watching for them through a nightglass, for a blue light suddenly flared on the

bridge. Don Pedro, according to his promise, fired a pistol, and it was then that Date learned that his

"What the devil did you do that for?" he inquired angrily. "It will bring my constables down on us."

"I do not mind, since you can control them," said De Gayangos coolly. "I had to give the signal."

"And we all have revolvers," said Random quickly. "Hervey is not a very safe man to tackle, inspector."

"Do you expect a fight?" said Date, while they all watched a boat being lowered. "If so, you might have told

me, and I should have brought a revolver also. Not that I think it is needed. The sight of my uniform will be

"I don't think that will matter to Hervey," said Archie dryly. "So much as I have seen of him suggests to me

"It seems to me, gentlemen, that you have brought me on a filibustering expedition," he said, and seemed to

enjoy the novel situation. Date had been wrapped up in the cottonwool of civilization for a long time, but

his primitive instincts rose to the surface, now that he had to face a probable roughandtumble fight. "But I

don't expect there will be any scrap," he said regretfully. "My uniform will settle the matter."

It certainly seemed to annoy Captain Hervey considerably, for, as the boat approached the shore, and the

moonlight revealed a distinctly official overcoat, he gave an order. The man stopped rowing and the boat

"You've got a high old crowd with you, Don Pedro," sang out Hervey, in great displeasure. "Is that angel in

"No. I am here," cried out Random, laughing at the description, which he recognized. "My friend Hope is

"Yes, I've taken it all in," said Hervey sourly. "I guess the news is all over Pierside. Well, it's none of my

picnic, I reckon. So chuck that gold over here, Don Pedro, and I'll send along the writing."

"For that theft of thirty years ago," laughed De Gayangos. "Nonsense! Come along. You are quite safe."

"Shan't take your damned word for it," growled Hervey. "But if those two gents can swear that there's no

trickery, I'll come. I can depend on the word of an English aristocrat, anyhow."

Thus being made certain, Hervey gave an order and the boat was rowed right up to the beach, immediately

below the jetty. The four men were about to descend, but Hervey seemed anxious to avoid giving them

Date, ever suspicious, thought it queer that the skipper should behave so politely, as he had gathered that

Hervey was not usually a considerate man. Also, he saw that when the captain was climbing the bank, the

boat, in charge of a mate as the inspector judged from his brassbound uniform backed water to the end

of the jetty, where it swung against one of the shellencrusted piles. Hervey finally reached the jetty level,

but refused to come on to the same. He beckoned to Don Pedro and his companions to walk forward to the

ground upon which he was standing. Also, he seemed exceedingly anxious to take time over the transaction,

as even after he had handed the scroll of writing to the Peruvian, and had received the gold in exchange, he

engaged in quarrelsome conversation. Pretending that he doubted if De Gayangos had brought the exact sum,

he opened the canvas bag and insisted on counting the money. Don Pedro naturally lost his temper at this

insult, and swore in Spanish, upon which Hervey responded with such volubility that anyone could see he

was a pastmaster in Castilian swearing. The row was considerable, especially as Random and Hope were

laughing at the quarrel. They thought that Hervey was the worse for drink, but Date clever for once in his

life did not think so. It appeared to him that the boat had gone to the end of the jetty for some reason

connected with the same reason which induced the skipper to spin out the time of the meeting by indulging in

The skipper also kept his eyes about him, and insisted that the four men should keep together at the head of

"I daresay you're trying to play low down on me," he said with a scowl, after satisfying himself that the

"So have I," cried Don Pedro indignantly, and slipped his hand round to his hip pocket, "and if you talk any

"Oh, you bet, two can play at that game," cried Hervey, and ripped out his own weapon before the Spaniard

But he had reckoned without his host. While covering De Gayangos, he overlooked the fact that Random and

Hope were close at hand. The next moment, and while Don Pedro flung up his hands, the ruffian wad covered

"Great Scott!" cried Hervey, lowering his weapon. "Only my fun, gents. Here, you get back!"

This was to Inspector Date, who had been keeping his ears and eyes open, and who was now racing for the

Hervey uttered a curse, and, plunging past the trio, careless of the leveled weapons, ran down to the end of

the jetty, and, throwing his arms round Date, leaped with him into the sea. They fell just beside the boat, as

Random saw when he reached the spot. A confused volley of curses arose, as the boat pushed out from the

encrusted pile, the mate thrusting with a boathook. Hervey and Date were in the water, but as the boat shot

into the moonlight, Random and now Hope and De Gayangos, who had come up saw a long green form

in amongst the sailors; also, very plainly, Cockatoo with his great mop of yellow hair.

"Shoot! shoot!" yelled Date, who was struggling with the skipper in the shallow water near shore. "Don't let

Hope ran up the jetty and fired three shots in the air, certain that the firing would attract the attention of the

four or five constables on guard at the cottage, which was no very great distance away. Random sent a bullet

into the midst of the boatload, and immediately the mate fired also. The bullet whistled past his head, and,

crazy with rage, he felt inclined to jump in amongst the ruffians and have a handtohand fight. But De

Gayangos stopped him in a voice shrill with anger. Already the shouts and noise of the approaching

policemen could be heard. Cockatoo gripped the green mummy case desperately, while the sailors tried to

Then De Gayangos gave a shout, and leaped, as the boat swung past the jetty. He landed right on Cockatoo,

and although a cloud drifted across the moon, Random heard the shots coming rapidly from his revolver.

Meanwhile Hervey got away from Date, as the constables came pounding down the jetty and on to the beach.

"Chuck the mummy and nigger overboard and make for the ship," he yelled, swimming with long strokes

This order was quite to the sailors' minds, as they had not reckoned on such a fight. Half a dozen willing

hands clutched both Cockatoo and the case, and, in spite of the Kanaka's cries, both were hurled overboard.

As the case swung overside, De Gayangos, balancing himself at the end of the boat, fired at Cockatoo. The

shot missed the Kanaka, and pierced the mummy case. Then from it came a piercing yell of agony and rage.

"Great God!" shouted Hope, who was watching the battle, "I believe Braddock is in that damned thing."

The next moment De Gayangos was swung overboard also, and the sailors were lifting Hervey into the boat.

It nearly upset, but he managed to get in, and the craft rowed for the vessel, which was again showing a

flaring blue light. Random sent a shot after the boat, and then with the policemen ran down to help De

Gayangos, who was struggling in the water. He managed to pull him out, and when he had him safe and

breathless on shore, he saw that the boat was nearing the ship, and that Date, torn and wet and disheveled,

with three policemen, was up to his waist in water, struggling to bring ashore Cockatoo and the mummy case,

to which he clung like a limpet. Hope ran down to give a hand, and in a few minutes they had the Kanaka

ashore, fighting like the demon he was. Random and De Gayangos joined the breathless group, and Cockatoo

was held in the grasp of two strong men who required all their strength to hold him while Date, warned

by Hope's cry of what was in the case, tore at the lid. It was but lightly fastened and soon came off. Then

those present saw in the moonlight the dead face of Professor Braddock, who had been shot through the heart.

As they looked at the sight, Cockatoo broke from those who held him, and, throwing himself on his master,

howled and wept as though his heart would break. At the same moment there came a derisive whistle from

The Firefly, and they saw the great tramp steamer slowly moving down stream, increasing her speed with

almost every revolution of the screw. Braddock had been captured, but Hervey had escaped.

At the inquest on the Professor and on the body of Mrs. Jasher, it was proved that Cockatoo had warned his

master that the game was up, and had suggested that Braddock should escape by hiding in the mummy case.

The corpse of Inca Caxas was placed in an empty Egyptian sarcophagus in which it was afterwards found

and Braddock, assisted by his faithful Kanaka, wheeled the case down to the old jetty. Here, in a nook where

Cockatoo had formerly kept the boat, the Professor concealed himself all that night and all next day.

Cockatoo, having got rid of his boat long since (lest it might be used in evidence against him and his master),

ran through the dense mist and the long night up to Pierside, where he saw Captain Hervey and bribed him

with a promise of one thousand pounds to save his master. Hervey, having assured himself that the money

was safe, since it was banked in a feigned name in Amsterdam, agreed, and arranged to ship the Professor in

Thus it was that Hervey kept the four men talking up the jetty, as he knew that Cockatoo with his own sailors

was shipping the Professor in the mummy case underneath, and well out of sight. Cockatoo had come down

stream with The Firefly, and in this way had not been discovered. Throughout that long day the miserable

Braddock had crouched like a toad in its hole, trembling at every sound of pursuit, as he knew that the whole

of the village was looking for him. But Cockatoo had hidden him well in the case, in the lid of which holes

had been bored. He had brandy to drink and food to eat, and he knew that he could depend upon the Kanaka.

Had Date not been suspicious, the ruse might have been successful, but to save himself Hervey had to

sacrifice the wretched Professor, which he did without the slightest hesitation. Then came the unlucky shot

from the revolver of De Gayangos, which had ended Braddock's wicked life. It was Fate.

At the inquest a verdict of "wilful murder" was brought against the Kanaka, but a verdict of "justifiable

homicide" was given in favor of the Peruvian. Thus Cockatoo was hanged for the double murder and Don

Pedro went free. He remained long enough in London to see his daughter married to the man of her choice,

Of course the affair caused more than a nine days' wonder, and the newspapers were filled with accounts of

the murder and the projected escape. But Lucy was saved from all this publicity, as, in the first place, her

name was kept out of print as much as possible, and, in the second, Archie promptly married her, and within

a fortnight of her stepfather's death took her to the south of France, and afterwards to Italy. What with his

own money and the money she inherited from her mother in which Braddock had a life interest the young

Six months later Sir Frank came into the small San Remo where Mr. and Mrs. Hope lived, with his wife on

his arm. Lady Random looked singularly charming and was assuredly more conversational. This was the first

time the two sets of lovers had met since the tragedy, and now each girl had married the man she loved.

"My yacht is over at Monte Carlo," said Random, "and I am, going with Inez to South America. She wants to

"Yes, I do," said Lady Random; "and we want you to come also, Lucy you and your dear husband."

"We would rather stay here in San Remo," said Mrs. Hope, becoming slightly pale. "Don't think me unkind,

Inez, but I could not bear to go to Peru. It is associated too much in my own mind with that terrible green

"Oh, Don Pedro has taken that back to the Andes," explained Sir Frank, "and it is now reposing in the

sepulchre in which it was placed, hundreds of years ago, by the Indians, faithful to Inca Caxas. Inez and I are

going up to a kind of forbidden city, where Don Pedro reigns as Inca, and I expect we shall have a jolly time.

"What about your soldiering?" asked Hope, rather, surprised at this extended tour being arranged.

"Oh, my husband has left the army," pouted Inez. "His duties kept him away from me nearly all the day, and I

"So you see, Mrs. Hope," laughed Random gayly, "that I have had to succumb to my fireside tyrant. We shall

go and see this fairy city and then return to my home in Oxfordshire. There Inez will settle down as a real

English wife and I'll turn a country squire. So, after all our troubles, peace will come."

"And as you, will not come to my country," said Lady Random to her hostess, "you cannot refuse to visit

Frank and myself at the Grange. We have had so much trouble together that we cannot lose sight of each

So it was arranged, and the next day Mr. and Mrs. Hope went over to Monte Carlo to see the last of Sir Frank

and his wife. They stood on the heights watching the pretty little steamer making for South America. Archie

"No," she replied, placing her arm within his own. "I only want to be with you."

"That is all right." He patted her hand. "Now that we have sold all the furniture in the Pyramids, and have got

"Yet I can't help thinking of my unfortunate stepfather, and of poor Mrs. Jasher, and of Sidney Bolton. Oh,

Archie, little as we can afford it, I am glad that we allow Mrs. Bolton a small sum a year. After all, it was

"I don't quite agree with you, dear. Cockatoo's innate savagery was the cause, as Professor Braddock did not

intend or desire murder. But there, dear, do not think any more about these dismal things. Dream of the time

"I am your lady now. But," added Lucy, perhaps from an association of ideas of color and the Academy, "I

"That's unlucky, considering it is Nature's color. My dear, in a year or two this tragedy, or rather the three

tragedies, will seem like a dream. I won't listen to another word now. The green mummy has passed out of

"Amen, so be it," said Lucy Hope, and the happy couple went home, leaving all their sorrows behind them,