The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-14


critical appreciation that his compan-
ion grew restive.
Mr.. Ashby's impatience disappeared
when with loving hand the librarian
lifted from it's wrappings a book whose
heavy covers of solid gold were thick
set with blazing gems. Then followed
peep at reliquaries whose ornaments
of diamonds and emeralds and rubies
were in their pOssessors eyes value
! less by comparison with their sacred
contents. There were cups and chalices
beaten from soft gold; ikons framed
in pearls and amethysts-such a colleC-
, tion, in short, as a thousand years will
gather in quiet nook, sheltered from
| the storms of the troubled world. There
were gifts from the wealth of mighty
emperors like Constantine, and from
feebler gropers in the crepuscular
| middle ages like Comnenus and the
| Palaeologi Half the world had paid
tribute here; but these simple minded
monks tOiled for their daily bread,
| holding in trust a treasure whose value
neither they nor any man could tell.
And, with open door to every stranger
who came, they slept soundly o. nights
| behind their primitive bolts and bars.
Nov, if you will permit me-" said
| the taller traveller after they had
| feaSted their eyes at length, q would
| like to make a sketch or two from the
| bindings of those wonderful old vol
umes l saw first, and then let us go,
| Dimitri, t. the top of the cliff. Pray
thank the Prior for his goodness and
assure him that, for once l am quite
convinced. Such things as the librar-
| ian has shown me have never seen
elsewhere"
Nor me, neither" said Mr.. Ashby.
| "Thankee kindly, gentlemen"
Each traveller dropped a golden coin
into the offertory of the church as he
passed out.
When the sun had sunk like a great
| globe of fire over the Albanian noun
tains, and when the last trace Of red
was fading from the sky the party re-
| turned from the mountain top to the
| guest chamber. In the visitors book
| they wrote two names, Harold Nor
| gan" and civilian j. Ashby," and
then supper was placed before them.
They were served by a beautiful boy
not more than ten years old, a novice,
whose perfect breeding was the result
|
complete obedience. Demetrios, the
courier hovercd in the background,
| fearing to offend the hospitable monks
by assistance, but keeping watchful
eye upon his guests and from time to
time making a suggestion for their
| greater comfort. Then with cherry
| to their repose.
ig 1,i,
in an undertone, when the door had
closed. Dis is de easiest yet! Dere
| amt lock in de place wot weighs
less'n twenty pounds, an 1 could pick
any one of 'em wild me teef"
still" said the taller man, who sat
] at the table studying his notebook,
its just as well to neglet no reason
able precaution. i have here an ex-
cellent plan of the whole place, so far
as it concerns us, with every distance
marked and the character of each door
and lock indicated"
"Shall we need" and Ashby made
an expressive gesture toward his hip
| pocket,
Rather not! 1t isn't many years
since these monks thrashed a whole
army of Turks. They're splendid
lot of fellows and as strong as bulls.
If you fired a pop here, and they found
out about our little plans, there
wouldn't be enough of us left for the
coroner"
Unlocking both handbags. the taller
man first carefully examined the door
anad windows of the guest chamber,
and then drew out "a couple of night
gowns of sheer, fine linen, which would
pack in surprisingly little space; two