The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-08
Stories of Strange Cases Solved in Secret by
Banker-Detective-- By ROBERT CARLTON BROWN

| play. As the hoy finished. the bankcI
smiled his appreciation. and. leaning
over, touched ring on the boy 5 fin,
ger, asking in Spanish:
"Whorc did you get tbatq,'
The boy glanced at it with conscious
| pride, and flashed the white stone in
the sun: At first he was reluctant IA
reply, then he said quickly in his ma.
tive tongue:
An American gave it me for quick
ride down the mountain
When asked tho traveller. idly
Inspecting the cheap imitation dia-
mond.
Last night. The boy swung the
guitar back TO its place across his
shoulders, slipped Off the burro in front
of lane between two mud walls. and
waved his hand. "Adios, - he said. II
spend the night here with a friend. y
.ihe caravan continued for half a
mile further through steep streets
paved by hand with small pebbles, the
smoothness OF which indicated that
they had served the sure hoofs of bur
ros for centuries. At the maison Of
Senior Rafael Saleido the banker dis.
mounted, paid his guide, and asked the
direction to great silver mine where
he hoped to find his friend,
Having reached the Office Of the
mine through several abrupt. twisty
streets, Poe opened the door and asked
a black-haircd Mexican youth if Mr.
Reichmann were in. The boy directed
him into second room. and there
short, stout, blonde German-American
stared at the traveller, and rushed up
to him, grasping his hand firmly and
crying:
NV old friend Chris Poe. by all that's
Yes. What's the mntter. Bilre?'
asked Poe. AS he glanced from a low
browed Mexican with saggy stomach and
pouchy eyelids 20 an open safe in the
corner, and then completed the triangle
by bringing his gaze back to Reichmann.
who he noticed for the first time was
perspiring profuscy.
''oh, confound it, said Reichmann
quickly. There's the devil to pay
here!"
will YOU please speak in Spanish, so
tie Mexican firmly, stepping up beside
RelchmanD.
Il was only telling my friend was in
2 hole" said Reichmann, knowing that
Poe could speak enough Spanish 10 get
along. Senior TerranoVa. allow me TO
Introduce my friend, Senior Christopher
Poe. the New York banker"
Senior TcrraDova took two military
steps forward, bowed formally. and put
out his hand Imply, as though offering
a dish rag.
Spanish, looking Idly at the big. old
fashioned American safe. yawning empty,
'"Thats' just itl'' cried Reichmann. "It
was done last night. Senior Terranova.
! am afraid Is under the Impression that
II have not accused said the Mexl
"May l ask what was IN it?" Poe
II haven't a notion what was in the
silver and crystal casket The safe is
the personal property OF senor Terra
nova, president OF our mine"
&c n
tents longerr cried the Mexican, stand
ing back dramatically and pointing his
finger at a mass OF debris in the cor
uer, among which Poe recognized slabs
OF crystal, bones. dust and the CLINT
Of silver. THAT safe contained the re-
mains of Cortes, together with price
less chalchihuit put in his mouth, as
heart, on burial according to the old
custom"
"cortes. the Great conqueror?" cried
Reichmann.
''No other" answered senor Terra
"TheD you are relative of the Duke
of Terranova. who was supposed TO have
taken the remains OF Cortes 10 Palermo
for safe burial when the mob of 1929, |
mad with the centennial celebration OF
their independence, wanted 10 break open
his tomb and scatter the ashes OF the
great commander said Poe, deeply in
terestcd.
Exactly. My name tells that. In
stead OF talking the body TO Palermo.
however, IL was brought here at night |
from Mexico City. and here It has re-
mained ever since, unknown to the |
world
But why should anybody steal the
skull OF Cortes?" pueried Reichmann. per- |
spring. They left his bones all but
The little Mexican cast suspicious
glance at the mine manager and an
swereds
"Ah. that's the only important part |
N ~ mr. chn1chihIit1.
Jade stone. priced above all gems by' the |
Aztecs II was stolen for that"
But ! am no Aztec. I don't prize any
historic jewels of Mexico" cried Reich |
mann excitedly. ''Yet you say you think |
an American did it
II think an American stole the skull |
for the Jewel that was in it and the gold |
Terranova decisivey. Besides, there are |
few Mexicans around here clever enough !
to open such safe.
remarked Christopher Poe, who had |
stopped TO examine the door OF the mas |
Slve steel structure ITS an antique
SsT OF anE 'e could open it in
half IN hours time.
The mine president drew himself up
with dignity
81 do not believe It could be opened |
bina ton. and Mr. Reichmann here had |
access 10 the company safe In which a |
duplicate OF the combination OF this
caskct container was filed
MY dear sir" said Poe. picking a |
shining little article out OF "A crack In the |
floor and testing the point OF IL with, his
forefnGcr as he addressed the Mexican
directly "your suspicious are absurd |
You are only excited beyond your self,
control by this great loss. II you VIII |
allow me- 7 think with this fine needle |