Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-02-17
CHAPTER I.
The Message in the Box.

M
Anticipating the possibility of my
train arriving, late, I had named the
hour of my meeting with Cummings
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 a small side
room. and. merely to pass the time
pleasantly, l entered and began exam
ming the strange collection Of wares
on display.
There were several articles 1 lin
gered over, tempted to purchase. but
eyes perceived a 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 it forth. "You have love for
such things?"
"A deep interest at least" I. 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 I cannot answer as to its Or
igin. The inscription. which can only
be, read with a nicroscope"-he traced
with his fingers ancient Arabic,
but no wild Arab ever gid the lac
Yet so strange a curio must have
a history, an imaginary one, at-least.
What is the story?'
Positively none" he admitted re-
gretfully. THE fact is, this article was
found Inv - hn~hov~no; -: -
the hotel rooms, and turned in to the
manager. He made every effort to
trace the guests, only to learn that
the two men by Me way, had regis
tered falsely. He even advertised, but
with no response. and finally, after
thirty days, was persuaded Ia accept
my offer for tho Article"
You have put a price OF this"
Eyes, ridiculously dow, no doubt, yet
bringing me a good profit"
He named a price, and, still with
temptation, and bought it. The article
was sufficiently small to find lodge
ment in an overcoat pocket. and, AZ
Cummings appeared a little later, wa
soon forgotten in the earnestne&s OF
u conversation. We later. had din
ner together, and attended the thu
alter in company, my mind so occn.
pied with other matters that / scarce
ly once thought Of the strange pur-
chase / had made, which remained
securely hidden. It a only after
ing midnight. that it was again re.
called to meEaery.
Only an idle curiosity and q feeling
of sleeplessness induced mo to4draw
the article forth. and remove its
wrappings, but the sight served i'm
mediateIy to increase my interest. It
was certainly a wonderful find, arts
tically beautiful, and most unusual in
design. There was . mystery that
must have exercised a strange spell
over my imagination, for I dreamed
Of the long-dead workman who fash
Toned 1t, forsetful Of the passing night
hours. A clock somewhere IN the
neishborhood struck, and Il cb4nted
twelve, arousing myself. Perhaps
was already half sleeping, for as !
turned to rise my sleeve struck the
box at the edge Of the table, and be-
fore I could prevent the fall. it lay
upon the floor at my feet.
AZ ] stopped hastily to recover the
discover the bottom slipped partially
aside, a. though soTne secret sprine
had been touched, revealing 20 narrow
q receptacle that the ordinary eye
would never suspect the possibility
OF its existence. Not only was there
a false bottom. but the opening re-
veafed a closely folded paper. I grasp
ed this quickly, a thrill running
through me. What ancient and long
buried message Was about 70 be I'M
folded?
But no! This was plainly modern
Ia clean, white sheet, no folded
pa~ehrnent Of old. but some mystery
OF yesterday. There was writing
there, in Spanish, 20 family traced I
COLD baralv decfpher the words yet
clearly revealed - Of this day ana
generation. / know Spanish fairly
well. having had q year In Mexico
City. yet it required some time before
] could puzzle out the message on
this sheet. The paper mad BEEN xorn,
SAeqainEIy sundsre9 from q much
l0nSer lstter. and rse1Srysd merely