Evening star., 1922-08-10


prominent eyes, staring. and 1 could
not help studying them.
Then, Senor Kennedy" he exclaim.
ed. you know of our ruins of Chan
Chan of China-those wonderful
places-and have heard the legend OF
the peje grande?" His eyes by that
time were almost starting from their
sockets. and l noticed that the pupils
were dilated almost to the size OF
the iris. I'VE must sit down." he went
on, land talk about Peru"
The soldier of fortune also had
risen as we approached. In her soft
musical voice the senorita now in
terrupted her father
Prof Kennedy. let me introduce
you to Mr.. Lockwood, my fathers
partner In a mining project which
brings us to New York"
AS Kennedy and shook hands with
the young mining engineer l felt that
Lockwood was something more to
her than a mere partner in her ia
Tiers mining venture.
We drew up chairs and Joined the
circle.
Kennedy said something about min
ing, and the very word mine" seemed
10 excite Senor Mendoza still further.
Your American financiers have
lost millions in mining In Peru" he
exclaimed exciteGly, taking out a
beautifully chased gold cigarette
case. but we are going to make
more millions than ever dreamed Of,
because we are simply going to mine
Tor the products of centuries of labor
already done. for the great treasure
Of Truxillo."
He opened the cigarette case and
handed 1t about The cigarettes
seemed to be his own special brand.
Inoment. Ihere was a peculiar taste
aoout them, however. which / did not
like. In fact. 1 think that the Latin
American cigarettes do not seem to
appeal to an American very much,
anyhow.
AS we talked I noticed that Ken
nedy evidently shared my own tastes.
Tor he allowed his cigarette to go
out. ana after puff or two / did
the same. For the sake of my own
comfort i drew out one of NV own
cigarettes as soon as 1 could do 80
politely.
We are not the only ones who
have sought the peje grande." re-
sumed Mendoza eagerly. but we are
the only ones who are seeking 1t in
the right place. and he added, lean
ing over with whisper II am the
only one who has the concession, the
monopoly. from the government to
seek In what We know TO he the
right place: Others have found the
iittle FISH. We shall find the big fish,"
ne mad raised his voice from the
Whisper and / caught the senorita
looking anxiously at Kennedy. as
much as to say. You see? His mind
is lull or only one subject"
Senor Mendoza's eyes had wandered
from us. and he seemed all of a s,,d-
den to grow wild
We shall find it," he cried mo mat
tsr What obstacles man or devil put
IN our way. 1t is ours-for simple
piece OF engineering-ours The curse
of Manische-pouf"
lie snapped his fingers almost de-
hantiy as he said it in high pitched
Volce There was an air of brayado
ABOUT ~. and l could not help feeling
that perhaps in his heart he was not
SO sure of himself as he wouId bape
cthers think. 1t was as though some
dlabolical force had taken possession
or his brain and he fought it off.
Kennedy quickly followed the star
ing glance of Mendoza. Out on the
sroad Veranda, by an open window a
,h" ,ha % Saros from US, sat the woman of
tne wheel chair. The young man who
accompanied her had his back toward
us TOT the moment. but she was look
ing HXedly in our direction, paving no
attention apparently to the music
She was large woman. with dark
nalr. and contrasting full red Iins
iace, IN marked contradistinction
10 her Parlsian costume and refined
manners, had a slight copper swarthi-
ness about it 'i
But it was her eyes that arrested
nad held ones attention. Whether
= - was IN the eyes themselves or in
.he way that she used them, there
.ouiu oe no mistake about the hyp-
notlc power that their owner wieIded
she saw us looking at her, but il
maze no difference. Not fer an in
slant did she allow our gaze tn die
tract her in the projection of their
himself i-uis
o;I Don Luis. on his part, seemed fas-
He rose and, for a moment. 7
thought that he was going over to
speak to her, as If drawn nv thai
intangible attraction which Poe has
SO cleverly expressed in his "Imp of
tne reverse Instead, in the midst
VI o. 'ne N. number which the orchestra
was playing. he turned and. as though
oy superhuman effort. moved away
among the guests out into the bright.
er lights and gayety of the lobby.
glanced up in time to see the
anxious look on the senorita's face
change momentarily into a flash of
window. .ne
The young man turned just about
that time and there was no mistak-
ing the ardent glance he directed to-
ward the fair Peruvian. 1 fancied
that her face softened bit. too.
She resumed her normal composure
as she said to Lockwood. you will
excuse me, l know. Father is tired
of the music. I think I will take
him for turn down the boardwalk.
If you can join US in our rooms in
an hour or so. may we see you?" she
asked, with another significant glance
at Kennedy.
Craig had barely time to reply that
we should be delighted before she
was gone. Evidently she did not
dare let her father get very far out
of her sight.
we sat for a few moments smok-
Ing and chatting with Lockwood.
What is the curse of Mansiche?"
asked Kennedy at length.
oh, /! don't know" returned Lock-
wood. impatiently flicking the ashes
from his cigar, as though such
stories had no interest for the prac-
I don't know much
about the story. but I do know that
there is treasure in that great old
Chimu mound near Truxillo, and that
Don Luis has got US the government
concession to bore into 1t, II we can
only raise the capital to carry it out"
Kennedy showed no disposition to
leave the academic and become in
terested in the thing from the finan-
cial standpoint. and the conversation
dragged
II beg pardon" apologized Lock-
wood at length, but / have some
very important letters that I must
get off before the mail closes. I'll
see you. I presume, when the seno-
rita and Don Luis come back?"
Kennedy nodded. In fact, I think
he was rather glad Of the opportunity
to look things over unhampered.
Copyright. 1922.)
Continued in Tomorrow Star.