The Gold of the Gods | Page 8

the interests we represent." He turned to us. "You will excuse me, I
know," he added, "but I have a very important appointment. You know
Don Luis and I were assisting in organizing the campaign of Stuart
Whitney to interest American manufacturers, and particularly bankers,
in the chances in South America which lie at hand, if we are only
awake to take advantage of them. I shall be at your service, Senorita, as
soon as the meeting is over. I presume I shall see you again?" he
nodded to Kennedy.
"Quite likely," returned Kennedy drily.
"If there is any assistance I can render in clearing up this dreadful
thing," went on Lockwood, in a lower tone to us, "you may count on
me absolutely."
"Thank you," returned Craig, with a significant glance. "I may have to
take up that offer."
"Do so, by all means," he reiterated, bowing to Norton and backing out
of the door.
Alone again with Inez Mendoza, Kennedy turned suddenly. "Who is
this Senor de Moche?" he asked. "I gather that you must have known
him in Peru."
"Yes," she agreed. "I knew him in Lima"; then adding, as if by way of
confession, "when he was a student at the University."
There was something in both her tone and manner that would lead one

to believe that she had only the kindliest feelings toward de Moche,
whatever might be the case, as it seemed, with his mother.
For a moment Kennedy now advanced and took Senorita Inez by the
hand. "I must go now," he said simply. "If there is anything which you
have not told me, I should like to know."
"No--nothing," she answered.
He did not take his eyes from hers. "If you should recall anything else,"
he persisted, "don't hesitate to tell me. I will come here, or you may
come to the laboratory, whichever is more convenient."
"I shall do so," she replied. "And thank you a thousand times for the
trouble you are going to in my behalf. You may be sure that I
appreciate it."
Norton also bade her farewell, and she thanked him for having brought
us over. I noticed also that Norton, though considerably older than any
of us, had apparently succumbed to the spell of her wonderful eyes and
face.
"I also would be glad to help you," he promised. "You can usually find
me at the Museum."
"Thank you all," she murmured. "You are all so kind to me. An hour
ago I felt that I had not a friend in all this big city--except Mr.
Lockwood. Now I feel that I am not quite all alone."
She said it to Norton, but it was really meant for Kennedy. I know
Craig shared my own feelings. It was a rare pleasure to work for her.
She seemed most appreciative of anything that was done for her in her
defenceless position.
As we passed out of the apartment house and sought our cab again,
Kennedy was the first to speak, and to Norton.
"Do you know anything more about these men, Lockwood and de
Moche?" he queried, as we sped uptown.
"I don't know a thing," he replied cautiously. "I--I'd much prefer not to
talk of suspicions."
"But the dagger," insisted Kennedy. "Have you no suspicions of what
became of it and who took it?"
"I'd prefer not to talk of mere suspicions," he repeated.
Little was said as we turned in at the campus and at last drew up before
Norton's wing of the Museum.
"You will let me know of any development, no matter how trivial?"

asked Kennedy, as we parted. "Your dagger seems to have stirred up
more trouble than there was any reason to suppose when you came to
me first."
"I should say so," he agreed. "I don't know how to repay the interest
you have shown in its recovery. If anything else materializes, I shall
surely get word to you immediately."
As we turned to leave, I could not help thinking of the manner of
Lockwood and Norton toward each other. The name Stuart Whitney ran
through my head. Stuart Whitney was a trustee of the University who
had contributed heavily, among other things, to Norton's various
expeditions to South America. Was it that Norton felt a peculiar loyalty
to Whitney, or was he jealous that any one else should succeed in
interesting his patron in things South American?
The actions of the two young men, Lockwood and de Moche, recurred
to me. "Well," I remarked, as we walked along, "what do you think it
is--a romance or a simple crime-hunt?" "Both, I suspect," replied Craig
abstractedly. "Only not simple."

III
THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL DETECTIVE
"I think I'll go into the University Library," Craig remarked, as we left
Norton before his building.