Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-08
DAUGHTER OF THE SUN

beyond the doorway hid from anv chla
eyes what might lie In this room oSs oaSss
when the door was again sbnt om!
locked did Zoraida push Tho and and
aside. Another match, another b;r am
lighted-and kendric needed No ,anp Amp
that he was in an ancient tressnls es,uns
chamber. 'asurs
There were long cleaning .,on..,
tables of hardwood; there were Vpped s,p
sitely wrought and embroidered fnhGl fhqGl-
covering them; strewn across Tho ,stis
were countless objects of inestiu.U.es' iUe'
value. Vases and pitchers and niavIe
of hammered gold golden goblets t.s va
with rich stones; ropes of silver vos.sss ss'
of many curious shapes, some "a S smsS
as walnuts, some az large as watn.u
pitcher, but all of the precious motoI..
knives with blades of obsidan ana Sns
dies. of gold mirrors of selected ohSa
ian, bound around in gold; k.u' neck.oou.
coronets, polished stone Jars heaped NIL
golddust. One table appeared 70 "'ta Y,
hcaped high with strange. looking bookU%a W
ancient writings, Zoraida told SIu,
hieroglyphs on the manguey that is ~
like the papyrus of the Nile. "
And look" laughed Zoraids. "Hs,,
is something that would open tie gresds
eyes of your friend Barlow" "
She opened n cedar box and nopr.d
forth the contents. Pearl, pearls h.
the double handful, such as she boS
worn that night at Ortega's gambIins
house, many times in number tboss
which Barlow had declared would mai,
Kendric's twenty thousand dollars "loo,
SICK In the lamplight their soft q.
fulgence stirred even the blood Of lin
Kendric.
"When the great Tin Guatamo knew
that he would die dogs death at N,
hands Of the conquerors." Zoraida saM
''he had as much Of the royal treaS,r;
as he could lay his hands on brought
here. The Spaniards guessed and do.
manded to be told the hiding place
Guatamotzin locked his lips. Tbsv
tortured him; he looked calmly back ipts
their enraged eyes and locked bis lin,
the tighter. They killed him, but /,
kept his secret" ~
She had mentioned Barlow, and iuJ
now Kendric's thoughts had more b,
do with the present and the immedat,
future than with u remote and legendarJ
history. =
80" he said. "while Barlow and /
made our long journey, south, seekini
the treasure Of the Montezumas, you al.
ready had had it safe under lock and
key for God knows how long,"
Choose what plcases you most
Senor jim" she said. That I MAJ
make you a rich gift.
But though for moment the glow.
ing pearls, the gold and silver trinkeu
held his eyes, he shook his head.
"It strikes me-" he said bluntly,
that you and I are not such frlendi
that rich gifts need pass from one +,
the other Of u.s.
"Then not even all this" and with
q quick gesture she indicated all Of tn,
wealth that surrounded him. "Can NOV,
you? Arc you man. Jim Kcndric, q
a mechanical thing of levers and spring.
set into mans form?"
II have never had the modern mad.
ness of lusting for gold that is ALL" h,
told her.
"Not entirely MODERN" she retorted
"since here arc ancient hOardings; moi
yet entirely mad, since it is pure wis
dom to put out hand for the suprems
lever Of worldly power. You are q
strange man. Scnor Jim ~
~ am what ] am" he said simply
"And, like other men, content with
my own desires and drcamings."
She studied him, for while in oper
perplcxity, then in as frank CLOWN;
admiration. That he should set asid,
with careless hand that which meant
so much. TO her, but made of him il
her eyes sort of superman.
THE thing to do" said Kcndrt
out of short silence. ''is to open YOU
doors and let me 30 back to the States
came here looking for treasure trove
your claim antcdatcs mine and | an
no highwayman.
Ioraida seated herself in big carvet
, chair by the long table whcrcon lay th
ancient writings, folded like fans ant
protected between leaves of decorated
woods of various shapes and Colors.
. Te be continued tomorrow