The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-11-20
THE GOLD OF THE GODS
BY ARTHUR B. REEVE a. xy R:ss. s.ss Ss


At the big building we had no
trouble IN finding the director and pre-
senting the note. He was q close
friend Of Kennedy's and more than
willing to aid him IN any way.
You will excuse me a moment!" he
apologized. Il will get from the South
American exhibit just what he wants. "
We waited several minutes IN the
office until finally he returned carry
ing gourd. incrusted on its hollow
inside surface with kind of blackish
substance.
THAT is what he wants, think, /"
the director remarked, wrapping 1t up
carefully in a box. II don't need to
ask you to tell Professor Kennedy to
watch out how he handles the thing.
He understands all about it"
We thanked the director and hurried
out into the car again, carrying the
package, after his warning. as though
it were so much dynamite.
Altogether, don't suppose that we
could have been gone more than an
hour
We burst into the laboratory, but, to
my surprise. l did not see Kennedy at
his table stopped short and looked
around.
There he was over In the corner,
sprawled out in chair, tank Of
oxygen beside him, from which he was
inhaling laboriously copious draughts.
He rose as he saw us and walked un-
steadily toward the table.
Why-what's the matter? cried,
certain that In our absence an attempt
had been made on his life, perhaps to
carry out the threat of the curse
"N-nothing," he gasped, with an at
tempt at smile. -Only think was
right-about the poison"
I did not like the way he looked.
His hand was unsteady and his eyes
looked badly. But he seemed quite put
out when suggested that he was
working too hard over the case and
had better take turn outdoors with
us and have bite to eat.
"You-you got it," he asked, seiz-
inng the package that contained the
gourd and unwrapping It nervously.
He laid the gourd on the table, on
which were also several jars Of var
ious liquids and number of other
chemicals. At the end Of the table was
large, square package, from which
sounds issued, as if it contained some
thing alive.
"Tell me-" l persisted, what has
happened. Has any one been here
since we have been gomez"
mot SOUL" he answered, work
ing his arms and shoulders as If to
get rid of some heavy weight that op-
pressed his chest.
''Then what has happened that
makes you use the OXYGEN repeat
ed, determined to get some kind Of
answer from him.
He turned to Leslie ''It was no
ordinary asphyxiation, Doctor" he
said quickly.
Leslie nodded. 81 scDuld see that"
he admitted.
Eve have to deal in this case" con-
tinued Kennedy, his will-poWer, over
coming his weakness, with poison
which is apparently among the most
subtle known. A particle of matter
So IIliIuIc as " NC La uiy uiolAHSuiSH-
able by the naked eye, on the point
of lancet or needle, prick of the
skin not anything like that wound of
Mendoza's, were necessary. But, for
tunately, more of the poison was used,
making it just that much easier to
trace, though for the time the wound,
which might itself easily have been
fatal, threw US off the scent But
given these things, not all the power
in the world-unless one was fully pre-
pared-could save the life of the per-