Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-03-28
The Curse of
Quetzal
&s
BY ]. u. Giesy and ]. B. Smith
Copyright The Frank A. Munsey Company
BY ]. u. Giesy and J. b. Smith

where do you suppose he got all that
money!"
shook my head. On the other side
of the body 1 was searching its scanty
clothing for any bulky object. Quite
plainly there was none to be found,
and / gave over my examination.
Laredo had taken a chair and was
w"."hing our work without any par.
ticular interest. In fact, his express
sion was bored.
Heffy stepped back.
"All right, Osborne" he said to the
physician, who had been waiting to
make his examination. Jump in and
see what you can find out about it.
Honest, it begins to look to me as IL
Charley tried to get the old boys roll,
an got his'n, an then the professor
had been hurt so bad he'd stumbled
often the cliff, or somethin' or other
like that"
Osborne already at work, ma
king a deft examination. Now as we
watched he lifted Wingarde's head
and turned it hack and forth, side
ways. "This mans neck is broken" he
announced.
Heffy nodded. "The fall done
that" he dec'7red. "Bill said he was
fifteen feet down. I reckon he toppled
off an lit on his head"
"Wait a Bit" said Osborne. / no.
ticed that he was observing the body
with frown. Now he lifted first one
of the hands and then the other.
After that he glanced at the stout Eng
lish shoes on the feet and shook his
head
Turning his attention back to the
face, he bent his own close and be-
gan to scan the skin of the neck and
cheeks, while his frown of perpleXity
deepened.
"Looks a bit swollen and peculiar
in color, doesn't he, doctor?" l threw
| in.
"Yes, he does" Osborne admitted.
you don't happen to know just where
the bodies were found, do you,
Hefy?"
Bill didn't say, but he said Charley
was lynn back of pile of stones, as
understood him.
Osborne lrunted. He turned and
gave the Indian glance. rose and
crossed to the table. "This body
looks swollen, too, though you can't
mark it's discoloration so WE'LL" / re-
marked.
Again he nodded and began an ex-
animation similar to that he had made
of Wingarde, save that he drew up the
trouser legs and looked at the bare
legs of the Indian beneath them.
They were only pair of overalls, and
would not have offered much protec-
ton from bite or sting, such as
fancied he was looking for.
While he was about his work also
began close scrutiny Of the upper
part of the body. / lifted the Indians
chin, which had thrown his neck into
shadow because of the overhead
lights, and Osborne, noting my action,
put down the leg he was holding and
joined me.
Laredo also arose, and Heffy. They
came closer to where we were work
ing. On each side of the table the ply.
sician and I bent over the body. And
then Osborne uttered short exclama-
tion and laid his finger on the right
side of the throat.
"Look at that, will you?" he ex.
claimed.
We all bent forward and stared at
what looked ike tiny puncture in
the skin. 1t had not bled. 1t didn't
look much larger than pin prick. 1t
was just a tiny hole in the skin, but
the flesh about it was slightly more
swollen than the rest of the neck.
That was all!
Laredo let out lis breath in sigh
Something bit him, senores," he said
softly. "Hah! Alone in the night
something bit him SO that he died
What, Senior Doctor a serpent, a
scorpion among the rocks, tarantula
-perhaps?"
Osborne anpeared puzzled.
"He wouldn't die SO quickly from 4
scorpion bite, if at ALL" he declared
He'd $ .iell from a tarantula bite, but
that would take longer to kill him
too. Still-something bit or stung him
in the neck, from the looks of this
and-gad, II it killed him, 1t killed
Wingarde also-his body is swollen
worse than this man's!"
"That's right" said Heffy. well
see II you can find out where he was
bit, then" He moved over toward the
other table where Wingarde lay.
The physician followed. He began
more careful inspection Of the
professors body. Abruptly he desist
ed
Hold on a minute!" he remarked
"I'm going to my room and get q
glass. ! want to examine that mark
more closely and any others we find.
He left the room with quick. bust
nesslike stride.
Heffy and sat down. Laredo stood
staring down at Wingarde's body, with
an expression of deep consideration on
his elongated face. Presently he shook