South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-06
4 Mexican Mystery
By Robert Carlton Brown


his gaze back TO Reichmann. whom
he noticed for the first time was
per-piring profusely.
"Oh. confound 1t" said Reich
mann quickly. There's the devil
70 pay here"
"Will you please speak in Spanish
so can Understand. said the
pouchy little Mexican firmly. step
ping up beside Reichmann.
j was only telling my friend =
was ia y hole, said R..chmaun
knowing that Poe could spea.1
enough spanish 10 set aIons. senior
Ierranova, allow me- 10 introduce
my friend Christopher Poe. the New
lork banker"
Senior Terranova took two military
steps forward. bowed formally and
pat out his hand Imply, as though
Offering q dish-rag.
who robbed the safe" asked
Poe in Spanish. looking idly at the
oig, old-fashioned American safe,
yawnins empty.
That's just it," cried Reichmann.
1T was done last aisnt. senior Ter
rarora / am afraid, is under the i'm
preston that / robbed II"
Il nave not accused said the
Mexican quickly
May ] ask what was in 1t" Poe
turned 10 Reichmann.
Il haven't a notion what was in
the silver and crystal cashet. The
q. b.. 4
Senior Terranova, president of our
mine"
There is no use concealing the
contents lonGerl" cried the Mexican.
standing back dramatically and
pOIntins his finger at q mass of de
bris in the corner. among which
. Poe recognized slabs of crysta,
| bones. dust and the CLINT of silver.
That safe contained the CasKet YOU
/ see demolished there: the casz.t
contained the remains of COrtes. TO-
sether with a priceless chalchihuitl
+ put in his mouth, as a neart. on
/ burial"
"Cortes. the Great Conqueror?
cried Reichmann.
NO other" answered Scnor Ter
ranova.
Then you are a relative of the
Duke of Terranova, who was sup
/ posed 10 have taken the remains OF
| Cortes 10 Palermo for safe burial
/ when the mob of 1928. mad with the
centennial celebration of their in
[ dependence wanted TO break open
/ his tomb and scatter the ashes OF
/ the great commander" said Chris
| topher Poe, deeply interested.
/ Exactly My name tells that. In
stead Of taking the body TO Palermo
/ however. il was brought here u
night from Mexico City and here
I it has remained since, unknown q
/ the world"
But why should anyone steal the
( skull of COrtes?'' querIed Reich
\ mann, perspiring. They left his
\ bones, all but the head"
! The little Mexican cast su. .
/ ious glance at his mine owner a
answered, An, that's the only inn
/ portant part; in the mouth lies the
! chalchihuitl. green jade stone
/ priced above all gems by the Aztecs
/ e was stolen for that"
But I am no Aztec. I don't prize
any historic Jewels Of Mexico" cried
l;eichmann excitedly. Yet YOU say
YOU think an American did it.
Il think an American stole tn,
skull for the jewel that was in il
and the gold which surrounded all
answered senior TcTranova decisive
~. besides. there are few Mexican:
around here clever enough to oper
such a sound safe
1t Is not, however. a very gooC
safe" remarked Christopher Poe
who had stopped TO examine th'
door of the massive steel structure
It's an antique pattern. Most any
clever crook with knowledge o.
tumblers could open it in an hour:
time"
The mine president drew himself
up with dignity. Il do not believe
II could be opened by anyone who
did not have the combination. anC
AIR RciChmann here had access L
The company safe in which a dupli
cate OF the combination OF this cas-
ket-container was filed"
My dear sir" said Poe, pickins
shining little article out OF i cracl
i'm the floor and setting the point o
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