New-York tribune., 1922-11-23
The Lantern
THE GREAT GLAND MYSTERY
copr.. New Yers Tribune Inc, iaga


sion, Dartie Dunn, the reporter,
fought his way through the cobras
in the secret crypt and left the mys-
terious mansion.
| Several of the cobras bit him.
"Bahl 1t is nothing" said the
brave reporter. "Only a scratch OF
two"
He repeated rapidly to himself
several times: Every day in every
way, / am growing better and bet
ter" and the cobra bites healed at
once.
Dartie kept up with the times.
Very few things escaped him.
He was not to be daunred by q
few snake bites.
But what should he do with the
box containing the Gland?
All the world was looking for this
Gland.
He had it in his possession.
To print the facts about it would
be to pull off great journalistic
feat.
1t would make Dartie Dunn IA
nous and rich.
His paper would probably raise
his salary SIS a week.
Ambition tempted him to rush to
the office and write the story Of
how he found the Gland and have
picture of the Gland itself made to
go with the story.
On the other hand there was
printed on the box: "Not to be
opened until Christmas"
And the woman in Purple has said
she trusted him.
1t would be dishonorable on his
part to betray this trust.
No good reporter ever betrays
confidence.
Dartie knew that.
Who would be willing to betray
this confidence for him?
His city editor?
No! A thousand times no!
He would not tempt his city editor
to fall.
He would not let his city editor
do an unworthy action for his sake.
He loved his city editor.
Suddenly an idea occurred to him.
He thought Of way to get
photograph Of the Gland without
opening the box until Christmas.
He would take it to an X-ray
specialist.
He would get his picture Of the
Gland without betraying the trust
reposed in him.
Both ambition and honor should
be satisfied.
It would give an additional zest
to the story he would write to print
how honorable he had been
He would turn his conscience into
IN asset instead Of a liability.
Few men can do that.
Dartie had in him the makings of
a great public man.
If his career was not interrupted
he would go far.
Just then it was interrupted.
A bludgeon fell upon his head.
1t was welded by burly ruffian.
Dartie, who had been walking by
the side of the river, fell into the
water.
He was unconscious. He sank.
But the cold water revived him.
He gained the surface again. "Day
by day in every way" he said.
just as he crawled ashore he saw
the burly rufian climb into a taxi
cab, with the box containing the
precious Gland tucked under his
arm
Break all speed laws!" shouted
the burly rutian. Dartie heard him.
The man was evidently a des-
perate character.
Dartie hailed another taxi.
Flinging the driver a handful Of
gold and silver coins, he pointed out
the taxi into which the buriy ruffian
had climbed.
"Catch that cart" he shouted.
Then he added, as an after
thought: Break all speed laws!"
Two could play at that game, he
said to himself, smiling grimly.
II the other man was desperate, he
was desperate himself.
He opened the window in front Of
his cab and cried to the driver:
"Drive like the devil!'
For the answer the chauffeur
picked UP short, heavy iron bar
and struck Dartie repeatedly, with
q giants force, between the eyes.
Dartie realized at once that this
chauffeur himself must be one Of the
gang Of Gland thieves.
He almost tainted.
But as the iron bar fell upon his
head again and again he had the
presence of mind to repeat with each
blow, "Day by day, in every, grow
better and better"
Presently the chauffeur quit strik-
ing him.
He looked at him in establishment.
Then he looked at the heavy iron
bar in his hand. 1t was bent.
It'll be damned!" said the chauf-
feur.
Nor was the man bluffing.