The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1915-08-19

Hotel, where his suitcase had been
sent, and engaged room for himself
and his friend-a pal of his dressed as
a woman, he explained to the clerk.
who thought it a good joke that the
man in the woman's wig mad got dead
drunk and was just coming to with the
rays of dawn.
Christopher Poe, having fortified
himself with the short nap on his ride
to Mexico City, sat up and waited
while the masker regained conscious
ness, slipped off into slumber, and
partly repaired the liquor stupor he
had been in. Then Poe awakened him
gently, told hin. how he came to be
there, and asked abruptly:
How much did you think the Ma
tional Museum here would give you
for the skull and the gold and silver
plates engraved with proofs showing
that in the casket from which they
were torn reposed the real remains Of
Cortes?"
The fellow looked up stupidity, and
answered in American:
II guess you've got the whole dope,
If you even know what stole it for"
II certainly have. Wait moment.
I'll sketch it to you. Some native
told you that 1t was surmised around
Catorce that Cortes was buried some
where there. You went up and inves-
tigated, pretended to be miner. You
got on the trail Of the fact that it was
in the old safe at Senior Terranova's
office. You bribed peon to help you,
with glass ring or something easily
swallowed by the gullible fellow"
How'd you guess that?"
That's what you gave the mule
boy for taking you down to the rail-
road station In hurry, after you'd
pulled of the trick and hidden the
skull in that false-bottomed water
bottle which looked as though it
couldn't possibly take in anything
larger than hickory nut through that
small opening at the top"
you've got mel" cried the prisoner,
dropping back limp on the bed, and
holding his head between his hands.
But how'd work the combination
on that safe which held old Cortes?
I've got you there!"
"Oh, no." answered Poe with a re-
served smile. THAT is just as evident
to me as the fact that you couldn't re-
sist coming down to the carnival,
picking up gay girl, and in the ex-
element Of the dance promising to
give her the chalchihuitl, the worth Of
which here in Mexico you probably un-
derestimated, basing your hopes en-
tirely on selling the skull of Cortes
to the government for several thou
sand pesos"
"Your logic isn't half bad" answer
ed the reckless fellow, suddenly leap
ing to his feet and jerking out thin
stiletto, his belt buckle serving as a
handle for the cleverly contrived
weapon sheated in the leather girdle
that supported his trousers.
Poe, unprepared and unarmed.
sprang to his feet, and watched the
fellow closely, nervously lingering his
coat lapel.
With a maniacal CLINT in his slit
like eyes, the thief snarled, his teeth
barring partly between his thin, wom-
anish lips.
81 entertained you this morning by
dancing like a girl and letting YOU
knock me out; now suppose you amuse
me by stepping into that snug little
clothes-closet behind you and pretend
ing you're mummy, while l walk
downstairs and out of the front door?"
Christopher Poe did not turn to
look behind at the closet door; his
upper lip jerked In sneering smile.
Don't be foolish!" he said calmly.
You aren't going to get away"
What do you mean?" screamed the
other. Another bluff? You can't
fool me! Same line of talk you gave
me about knowing how l worked that
SAFE"
mention. I was going to give you
chance to reform, but / guess you
aren't decent enough sort to waste
ones time on"
The stocky little man twisted his
womanish waist, thrust forward his
full chest. and leaped on Poe, the
stiletto aimed for his breast.
Poe stood steady in the path Of the
stroke. but as the blade descended.
quick as flash he jerked the slender
embroidery needle from his coat lapel.
and thrust 1t deep into the cheek of
his adversary. A scream Of pain, and
the stiletto dropped from paralyzed
hand.
"Cabron! You dirty gringo!" cried
the thief.
Poe simply tripped him backward
onto the bed from which he had leap
ed with the drawn dagger; he held the
crimson-tipped needle before the slit
like eyes OF the criminal, his hand
trembling slightly with anger.
There. you fool" he exclaimed