The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-09-22
CHAPTER I.
The Message In the Box.


as three O'Clock, and, In consequence
OF our reaching the city exactly on
time, was compelled to loiter idly
about the hotel for an hour. However,
In passing through the corridor my
attention was attracted by an unique
curiosity shop occupying u small side
room, and, merely to pass the time
pleasantly, i entered and began exam
lining the strange collection Of wares
Oh display.
There were several articles / lin
gered over, tempted to purchase, but
drifted on, n,rather undecided, until my
eyes perceived very quaint lacquered
Jewel box, Of a class of workmanship
quite unusual. The proprietor, per-
ceiving my interest, Joined me,
THE jewel box attracts you" he
said pleasantly, opening the case and
bringing 1t forth. You have love for
such thingsT
"A deep interest at least" admit
ted. taking the article from his hand,
"a collector In an amateur way. What
Is the workmanship-surely not Jap
anese"
NO." smilingly. although posi-
lively cannot answer as to its or
igin. The inscription, which can only
be read with microscope"-he traced
with his finger-''is ancient Arabic,
but no wild Arab ever did the lacquer"
yet SO strange curiO must have a
history. an imaginary one, at least.
What Is the story?"
positively none," he admitted re-
gretfully. 1.-THE fact is, this article was
rOund Dy II ciruIihei maid Il. o::e of the
hotel rooms. AMI turned III TO the man
ager. He made every effort to trace
the guests, only to learn that they, two
men. by the way, had registered false-
ly. He even advertised, but with no
response, and finally, after thirty days,
was persuaded to accept my offer for
the article"
"You have put price on this?"
"Yes, ridiculously low, no doubt, yet
bringing me good profit"
He named price, and, still with the
box In my hands, yielded to the temp
tation. and bought It, The article was
sufficiently small to find lOdgment In
an Overcoat pocket. and, as Cummings
appeared little later, was soop for.
gotten II the earnesiness of our con-
versation. We, later had dinner to-
gether, and attended the theater IN
company, my mind SO occupied with
other matters that I scarcely once
thought OF the strange purchase had
made, which remained securely hid
den. 1t was only after returning to
my own room, then nearing midnight,
that 1t was again recalled to memory.
Only an idle curiosity and a feeling
Of sleeplessness induced me to draw
the article forth, and remove It's wrap
pings, hut the sight served immedi-
ately to Increase my interest 1t was
certainly wonderful find, artlstically
beautiful, and most unusual In design.
There was a mystery that must have
exercised strange spelr over my
Imagination, for i dreamed OF the long
dead workman who fashioned 1t, for
Retful of the passing night hours. A
clock somewhere in the neighbOrhOod
struck, and / counted twelve, arousing
myself. Perhaps l was already half
sleeping, for as ! turned to rise my
sleeve struck the box at the edge OF
the table, and before could prevent
the fall, II lay upon the floor at my
feet.
AS stopped hastily to recover the
overturned box. was astounded to
discover the bottom slipped partially
aside. as though some secret spring had
been touched. revealing so narrow a
receptacle that the ordinary eye would
never suspect the possibility OF Its ex-
istence. Not only was there false
bottom. but the opening revealed
closely folded paper. / grasped this
quickly, thrill running through me.
What ancient and leng-buried message
was about to be unfolded?
But no! This was plainly modern
q clean. white sheet, no folded parch-
ment of old, but some mystery of yes
terday. There was writing there, In
Spanish, so faintly traced could
barely decipher the words, yet clearly
revealed as Of this day and generation.
know Spanish fairly well, having had
q year in Mexico City, yet 1t required
some time before / could puzzle out
the message on this sheet. The paper
had been torn, seemingly sundered
from much longer letter, and pre-
served merely because Of the specific
address and instructions II contained.
Beyond doubt all else had been de-
stroyed. What remained may have
been sufficient guidance to the party
who had the benefit Of what went be-
fore In the original epistle, but was
obscure to anyone else. Yet It was
modern, something relating to this
very time. menace; something to be
Rra5ped and understood. This conyic-
tion absolutely gripped me. l stared
at the rather sinister words, blindly
cropping at what lay hidden behind
them, instinctively scenting a conspIr-
acy Of evil which could not deter.
mine. All unintentiOned I had Stun
bled into ciew which might lead to
startling results, yet It seemingly gave
me no hint OF who was involved. or
Of its real nature. put the words to-
gether. weighing each one with care