The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-08-23
tconrinued from Mondays 1ntelngenoer)

Yes. should say so. Not OF Spanish
descent. though. She was rather OF the
Indian type. She seemed TO be much in
tereSted N the various exhibits asked
me several questions, very lntelllgsntly.
TOO. And-oh, yeS-there was another
q man. little man, as recall. with
shaggy hair. He looked like Russian
TO me. l remember. because he came to
the door. Peered around hastily. and went
away.
Was Norshrop IN his room while these
people were here?
Yes: he had locked the door so that
none OF the students or visitors could
disturoy him.
Evidently the woman was divertin5
your attention while the man entered
NorthropS room by the window. rum
mated Craig. as we stood for moment
in the outside doorway.
He had already telephoned 10 our old
friend Doctor Leslie, the coroner. 10 take
charge of the case. and now was ready
to leave.
Why should any one want to steal
tablets OF old MiNtec inscription5" l
asked tnouEhttully. as W. walked sadly
over the campus in the direction o. me
. chemistry building.
seem incomprehsnsibls.
Who was the mysterious MEXICAN
asSed myself.
While I was engaged in the vain effort
TO unravel the tragic affair by pure r"a-
son Kennedy was at work with practl-
cal science.
H. began by examining the little dark
cylinder on the end Of the reec. pn
piece Of the STUFF. broken of. he poured
dark liquid from brown glass oottte.
Then he placed it under microscope
What do you think Il ts?'' asked, un-
able to restrain myself.
which the active principle is the deadly:
poisonous aikaloid. acontin. Il IS one OF
the few substances which. in the present
state Of toNiCology, might be crimlnaltF
administered and leave no positive evil
Gence Of the crime. II a small but fatal
dose OF the poison were 10 De .Siven. IS
pecially if 1t were administered hypo-
dermically. the chances OF its detection
In the body after death would be pTac-
tlcally none.
An idea flashed over ne.
How about the letters:' I suggested.
Good. Walter" he exclaimed.
Northrop had given him and glanced
quickly over one after another OF the
All" he exclaimed. fairly devourins
one dated at Militia. "Listen-it tells
about Northrop's work and GOES on:
~ have been much interested In =
cavern or subterraneo. here. in the shape
OF a cross, each arm or winch EXTENDS
the center it is guarded BY block OF
stone popularity called the Pillar OF
Death r here Is superstition that
whoever embraces it will die before the
From the suorerraneo Is said TO lead
a long. underground passage across the
court to another suoterranean chamoeF
which is full Of Mixtec treasure. Treas;
ure hunters have dug all around II. and
it IS said that two old Indians. only;
know Of the immense amount Of buried
gold and silver. but that they Will not
reveal IT,"
c
link which I had been waiting for.
There at least. Is the motive" I
blurted out. That is why Bernardo was
so re,icent. Nortarop. In his innocence
Of heart. had showed him that inScrip-
Kennedy said nothing as he finally
tied up ths Ilitle packet OF letters and
locked It in his safe. He was as,, not siy9
he one who chung doSSedly TO "a pre-
conceived theory.
1t was sttll early. in tho afternoon.
Craig and I decided 70 drop into TIC
museum again in order 70 see Doctor
Bernardo. He was not there, and we
Sat down 20 walt.
Just then the letter box in the door
clicked. Il vas the ,poStn1an on his
picked up the letter.
The postmark bore the words. Mex
leo City" and a date somewhat later
than that on which Sorthrop had left
vera CEuL- III .ue iO"e! W. 'A' u4'HS
scored. were the words, "Personal-
Urgent"
I'D like to know what is in that"
remarked Craig. turning 1t over and
He appeared 70 BE- considering some
thing. for he rose suddenly and showed
the letter into his pocket.
I followed and few moments later.
across the campus in his laboratory. he
was working quickly o"er an N-ray ap-
paratrs He had placed the letter in
These are what are known as low
tubes" he explained. They give out
soft rays'" He continued to work
for a few moments. then handed me the
Nov. Walter" he said. If you will
just hurry back to the museum and re-
place that letter. I think l will have
something, that will astontsh you
though whether 1t will have any bear
ing on the case remains 70 BE- seen"
What Is Ic?" I asked few min
utes later. when 7 had rejoired him.
after returning the letter. He was
portnx intently over what looked like
negative
I looked carefully Us he traced out
something on the negative. On It was
easily possible. following his guidance.
10 read the words inscribed on the sheet
OF paper inside.
Together We managed TO- trace out the
contents Of several paragraphs Of
which the significant parts we're as fol-
lows:
II am expecting tha, my friend Sem
ora Herrera will be- In Ner York by
the time you receive this. and should
her every courtesy She has been in