Evening star., 1921-10-30

0u spoke Gi my niEn 1ess es
you ever troubled by dreams. Achi-
SOM"
Rarely" the lawyer replied.
There's one dream that dream
what is it?' Achison asked. with
involuntary curiosity. and then
checked himself quickly. Don't
think me prying. but it sometimes
relieves the mind to talk of these
IT'S an odd dream" schofleld an
swered. musingly, land always the
same. l seem to be standing on the
Drink OF a clear, narrow stream. 1t
runs through a fertile country
den something like that on the other"
He waved his hand toward the
ftower-bright lawns beyond the win
dows. Then I feel a strong impulse.
l know that 1t is a bad one at the
time. but am not able to resist it. 1
divert 1t from its course. l work like
beaver. and when 1 have finished
the water flows out over desert
tract and disappears. The sands into
which 1t sinks seem dryer than ever.
My labor has been worse than USE
less: l wake up in terrible state
or depression. 1t takes a long time
for me to throw it off" His voice
trailed away: he sat huddled dejectedly
in the chair.
odd. and unpleasant" Achison
his mounting exultation out of his
voice by an effort of will. But. my
dear Mr.. Schofield, one doesn't have
to be a psyche analyst to interpret
that. Think moment. When Fred
dogs. 1t distressed you to contemplate
diverting the property from the
Schofleld line; yet you resolved to do
so rather than to risk it in his hands
after you were gone. All your love
! and pride: all the hopes you had CEN
| tered on him. you ruthlessly put out
of your mind. But they still cOntin-
ued to live in that storehouse of sub
merged memories. the subconscious
and to find their outlet in this dream.
The dream Is merely symbolic pic
ture of former state of mind His
! tone was dramatically impressive.
The Schofield property. including
| this wonderful old place. husbanded
ceeding heir, typifies the stream de-
fiected from it's course and flowing
out over the barren sands; the dam is
wall you built up between your
rigid sense of duty and your heart.
I believe"-his voice rang out domi-
natingly-"that this will release you
from that wretched nightmare for
good and all"
"A stream DETECTED from Its
course" Schofield muttered, "the dam
of duty and my desire. Achison"-
he looked at the other strangely
| you have said more than you imag-
inc"
Again he lapsed into silence. and
, at last appeared to come to deter
mination which cost him an effort.
II am not sure, not sure" he hesi-
tated. Then: II would like to show
you something. We will go up to the
gallery"
They passed through several rooms,
the windows of which were heavily
barred and wired with burglar
alarms. Achison longed to loiter and
indulge his proprietary delight in
what he already regarded as his pos
sessions. his pictures, his tapestries.
his rugs. potteries and bibelots; but
Schofield hurried him on.
paused beside a cabinet of antique
| snuffboxes. Schofield opened the
door, and, pushing aside two or three
of the specimens. pressed concealed
spring in the satinwood floor. About
a square foot Of the marquetry slid
noiselessly inward, revealing a shall
low aperture. From this the old man
lifted a carefully wrapped package.
Achison watched his movements
with fascinated interest. The un-
steady fingers united the cord ana re-
moved the wrappings; and then
with flash of triumph on his face,
In his hands was a book, the, golden
covers of which were wrought In
marvellous designs.
poise was shattered "Why-why-"'
He stretched out his hand, and
Schofield reluctantly. as II he hated
to see another touch it, gave the
book to him.
The amazement deepened on Achi-
sons face. as he put up his eye
glasses and examined it minutely..
at must be-there can't be a doubt
of the work" His voice vibrated
with excitement It's genuine Ben
venuto Cellini-ad beyond question
made for Francis I. Look! Here is
the salamander, particular device
of Francis. and the stag, one of his
emblems Good heavens, Schofield.
how did this come into your hands?
It's place is in the Vatican. the Cfizl
or the Louvre"
you are right" murmured Scho-
field in harsh whisper. 1T came
to me some years ago from very du-
bious sources There was a reward
offered by the italian government
it still stands. you know-their law
against removing art treasures OF
over a certain value. But l had to
about the dream - something de-
fected from it's true course
"I've made up my mind again and
again to send it back. But when the
moment came 1 couldn't bear to part
with it,
Achison. touching almost reverently
the exquisite modelling of the covers.
"Ah, but you have yet to look in
side" Schofield took the book from
him and dramatically exultant,
turned over the leaves. "A missal
Illuminated by Albrecht Durer"
Achison fell back a step or two. and
then leaned forward eagerly to scan
the coloring at closer range.
ITS incredible," He Strengthened
up. "Impossible. why. man. it's
Saasmns ase is df 5fNn1u1 pa1sng aiih anS ys"
stolen goods" croaked the old
man. "And you have shown me what
1 must do. There'l1 be no more inde-
cision or faltering. 1t goes back to-
morrow"
, A deep flush colored Achison's face.
If he before had coveted Scarlet
Naples and all that it contained. he
coveted it a thousand times more.
now that he knew it held this treas
ure of kings. He was overwhelmed
by passionate determination to
possess at any cost this joint master
piece of two of the worlds greatest
craftsmen. to know that it was his
own. to gloat over it in secret as a
miser over his gold.
Just as he was summoning all OF
his persuasive. argum entative powers
to combat the old mans announced
purpose there was the sound of rapid
footsteps approaching, and before
Schofield could conceal the book