Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-07-09
Richard Washburn Child
Copyright by r. p. Dutton q Co.l
(W. N. u. Service)

They were not Illuminating. There
were few letters from stock brokers
as to investment changes, and few
bills.
One Of these bills was the only piece
Of matter that gave Peter the slightest
interest. 1t was from the famous old
John Henry Wycof of Baltimore Of
whose death Peter had read by
chance, a man remembered only
among those who are book collectors,
a dealer whose black coat was al
ways covered with dandruff and who
left a third Of million dollars. This
bill was for two thousand eight hun
dred Of these dollars-an account that
had probably been settled by Parm-
lees attorney, Lanfrew. 1t was
something of a bill for one book-a
book described as Kolb's privately re-
printed version of the Jesuit MSS. en-
titled Explorations of Father Carlos
in Mescalero Desert" shipped via
registered post on 18th inst. Below
this statement of account were the
words, please see letter" There
were two pin holes at the corner of
the paper as if Wycoff had attached
his letter to the bill.
Peter thought it would be interest
ing to see book, so obscure, that was
worth nearly three thousand dollars.
He even wondered what plausible ex.
PLANTATION the old dealer had given.
His letter, however, was now missing
Peter spoke aloud; he said: "Parm-
alec wanted that book badly" He
looked at the. date of the bill. Il Won
der If this was the zeal of collector
who has a passion for perfect copies.
The words defined a thought for
Peter. It would be interesting to see
whether "The Explorations OF Father
Carlos in Mescalero Desert" had dis
appeared with Parmalee when he had
answered his strange impulse to go to
some unnamed destination. Peter
turned toward the library shelves and
then with the thought that. search
among these volumes would be saved
if he found a catalogue he went again
to the desk. The copy Of the book was
Hereunder two or three other books
Ia handsomely bound volume Of large
pages whose thick paper rather than
the length of the text gave it bulk.
The book had been printed in Eng
lish in 1880 from copies of manuscripts
of Jesuits that with other records had
hoou Loot In tho daS+r,,otf0V, OP Tho mic.
sion church in Los BanOs in 1912.
The work was a beautiful piece Of
bookmaking in perfect preservation
and Peter, though interested in quaint
descriptions Of this cid missionary
who had braved the terrOrs of thirst
and heat TO penetrate the country
along the eastern border Of New Mex
leo, was admiring also the rare skill
and beauty Of the pages when he sud-
denly came upon a hiatus In it's con-
tinuity. Page thirty-two began de
scription Of the Lost Pueblo, where
according to legend city whose age
was of centuries had been ended as q
punishment for failing to worship the
god Of water. A scourge of thirst had
been visited upon the degenerate
Indian dwellers who had been so long
protected by the terrors that the
waterless desert must have had for
more warlike tribes who would other
wise have attacked them. The well
around which the pueblo had been
built-the very life of the people-had
been dried up in one night by q
miracle.
MANY and curious are the carvings
upon the walls of this Lost Pueblo
To copy them and their heathenish
devices was sorely tempted and
would have done so had time been
given me-" said Father Carlos
Especially / noted figure Of great
size upon the wall that faces the set