Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-21


dancing mockory across tho desolRtion.
Strangely enough. many OF the large
plato-ElRss windows lining the arcade still
stood intact. They Elittered with the un-
canny reflections OF the nrs as the man
and woman slowly made way down the
passage.
See" exclaimed Stern. pointing. See
all these ruined shops? Probably almost
everything Ia worthless. But there must
be some things left that We can use.
See tho postoffce down there on the
left? Think of tho millions in real money.
gold and silver. in all these safes here
and all over tho clty--in the banks and
vaultsl Mlllionsl Millions
Jewels, diamonds, wealth simply incon-
ceivablc! Yet now a good water supply.
some bread. meat. coffee, salt, and so on
couple OF beds, n gun or two and some
ordinary tools would outweigh them all :"
Clothes, too" the girl suggested. plain
cotton cloth is worth Slo.oOO,Ooo an inch
now"
fright" answered Stern gazing about
him with wonder And offer bushel OF
diamonds for razor and a pair OF sois-
sors." Grlmly no smiled as he stroked his
enormous beard.
But come, this won't do. ThereIl be
plenty OF time to look around and discuss
things In the morning. Just now we've
got a definite errand. Let's get busyl"
Thus began their search for n few prime
house OF civilization, by tho dun reflections
Of the irelght and tho pallid torch glow,
Though they forced their way into ten
or twelve OF the arcade shops, they found
no clothing, no blankets or fabric of any
kind that would serve for coverings or TO
sleep upon. Everything at all in tho nature
OF cloth had either sunk back into moldering
annihilRtion or had at best grown far too
fragile to be of the slightest service.
They found however n furrier's shop.
and this they entered eagerly.
From rusted metal hooks few warped
fragments OF skins stlll hung. moth-eaten,
riddled with holes. ready TO crumble at the
merest touch
There's nothing In any OF these to help
us" judged stern. But maybe We might
nnd something else In here"
Carefully they searched the Uttered place.
all dust and horrible dIsarray. which made
sad mockery OF tho gold-leaf sign still Wis
ibls on the window 'LRngo, Importer. All
the Latest Novelties"
on the floor Stern discovered three more
OF those little dust-middsns which meant
human bodies, pitiful remnants OF an ex-
tinct race, OF unknown people In the long
ago What had no now in common with
them? The remains did not even inspire
repugnance in him.
All at once Beatrice uttered cry OF
Htartled gladness,
Look here A storage chest !"
True enough, there stood a cedar box,
all scanned and cracked and bulging, yet
still retaining ssmbl4nce OF its original
shape
The copper bindings and the lock were
still quite plainly 10 be seen, as the engl-
neer held the torch close, though green ana
cOrroded with incredible age.
One effort OF Stern's powerful arms suf-
need TO tip the chest quite over At 1t fell
II burst Down a mass OF pulVerized. worm
eaten spllnters It disinteETated,
f,,r nd
blaok and yellow and st1ped-the pelts
OF the grizzly, OF the leopard, the chetah,
the royal Bengal himself.
''Hurrayl" shouted the man. catching up
hrst one. then another, and still a third
Almost intact. A little imperfeotion here
and there doesn't matter. Now we've got
clothes and beds
whats that? Yes. maybe they arc a
trths warm for this season OF the year
but this Is no time 10 bs particular. See,
now. how do you like thatr'
Over the girls shoulders. as he spoke,
he hung the tiger skin,
Magnificent !" he judged. standing back
q pace or two and holding up the torch 10
SEQ her better. when / md you a big
gold pin 20 fastsn that with at the throat
you'll make a picture OF another and more
splendid BoadiceAl"
He tried 70 laugh at his own words, hut
merriment sat III there in that place, and
with such subject. For the woman thus
clad. had suddenly assumed a wild, barbaric
beauty
Bright cleaned her gray eyes by the
light OF the fiambeau limpld. and deep, and
earnest, they looked at Stern. Her wonder
ful hair shaken out In beWilderlng massss
over the striped, taWny sAyaEery Of the
robe, made eolorful contrasts. barbarous
seductive
Half hidden. the womans perfect body
beautiful as that OF a wood nymph or q
pagan dryad. reused ataVistio passions in
the engineer.
He dared speak no other word for the
moment. but bent beside the shattered cheat
again and fell 10 looking over the flrs.
A polar-bear skin attracted his attention
and this he chose Then, with it slun9
across his shoulder. he stood up.
Come" said he, stsadying his voice with
an effort come. we must be going now
Our light won't hold out very much longer
We've got 10 and food and drink befors
the alcohols all gone got TO look out FOR
practical shaiTs, whatever happens Lets
be going"
Fortune favored them.
In the wreck OF a small fancy groesr,s
booth down toward the end OF the arcade.
where the postoitlcs had been, they came
upon 8 stock 0f goods Ia Elass lara
AA the timed foods hAd long slnos
persisted but the impsFuaeabla slaaa seeued
% have preserved ffalfs ana tsFetahIas of