The Washington herald., 1913-07-27

the personal property OF Senor Terra
nova. president of our mine
!, There is no use concealing the con
tents longer!" cried the Mexican, stand
ing back dramatically and pointing hi
finger at a mass of debris in the corner
among which Poe recognized slabs o
crystal, bones, dust, and the CLINT Q
silver. That safe contained the caske
4 you see demolished there; the caske
| contained the remains of Cortes, to
gether with a priceless chalchihuiti pu
in his mouth, as q heart, on burial"
| ''Cortes, the Great Conqueror?' criet
Reichmann.
mo other" answered Senior Terra
nova
Then you are a relative of the Duke
/ of Terranova, who was supposed to hav,
taken the remains of Cortes to Palermo
for safe burial when the mob of 1873
mad with the centennial celebration Of
| their independence. wanted TO break oper
his tomb and scatter the ashes of the
great commander" said Christopher Poe
deeply interested.
| Exactly. My name tells that Instead
of taking the body to Palermo, however
it was brought here at night from Mex.
leo City and here it has remained since
unknown to the world"
But why should anybody steal the
skull OF Cortss?" queried Reichmann
perspiring. They left his bones, all but
the head"
The little Mexican cast a suspicious
glance at his mine owner and answered:
'Ah, that's the only important part: in
the mouth lies the chalchihuIti. a greer
jade stone, priced above all gems by the
Aztecs. 1t was stolen for that"
But i am no Aztec, 1 don't prize any
historic jewels of Mexico" cried Reich
mann eNcitedly. Yet you say you think
an American did it,
Il think an American stole the skull
for the jewel that was in it and the
gold which surrounded ALL" answered
Senior Terranova decisively. Besides,
there are few MeNicans around here
clever enough to open such a sound
safe"
1t is not, however. a very good safe.
remarked Christopher Poe, who had
stopped to examine the door Of the mas
sive steel structure. Its an antique pat
tern. Most any clever crook with a
knowledge of tumblers could open it in
an hours time"
The mine president drew himself up
with dignity. Il do not believe it could
be opened by any one who did not have
the combination, and Mr.. Reichmann
here had access to the company safe in
which 4 duplicate OF the combination OF
this casket-container was filed
NV dear sir said Poe, picking n
shining little article out of a crack in the
floor and setting the point of il with
his fore-hnger as he addressed the Mexi-
can directly. Your suspicious are alb
surd You are only excited beyond YOUR
self-control by this great loss, If YOU
Will allow me / think with this fine
needle here in my fingers | can prick Il
little hole in the black veil that will
throw a little light onto his mystery"
He held up an exceedingly fine en-
broidery needle.
The other two men stared at II wonder
ingly.
What do YOU argue from that?" asked
Senior Terranova anxiously.
1T is something accidentally dropped
bv the person who robbed your safe of
its historic treasure. Look at it care
fully" he dropped the needle onto his
ralm and held il out plainly before the
wondering eyes of the anxious pair
What would YOU argue from that
needle?"
Neither spoke, but both stood staring
silently at the thin hair of steel.
You don't use a needle in any part of