Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-19
INsTALLMENT xxxvIII.


ee natin' document written In
Egyptian hieroglyphics. Wei
see"
He spread the paper out
smoothly on the top of the sarcophagus
It was almost exactly like the letter
Vance had pieced together in Bliss
study. The color of the paper was
the same and it contained four rows OF
hieroglphS drawn in green ink.
Vance studied It while Markham and
Heath, who had returned to the mu-
scum, and looked on.
LET me see how well ! remember
my Egyptinan," he murmured. Its
been years since did any transliter-
ating."
He placed his monocle in his eye
and bent forward.
''Meryet-Amun, aha-y o er you son
maut-y en- mery-y men seshem pen
dua-y EN- yeb-y en- marwet mar-en WI
rekha-t khet nibet nir-sa hetpa-t nay
kheft shewa-n EN- debat nefra-n entot
hena-y. This is done very accu-
rately, Markham. The nouns and adj
jectives agree as to gender and the
verb endings-"
Never mind those matters" Mark
ham interrupted impatiently. What
does that paper say?"
ST beg of you, Markham, old dearp'
Vance protested. Middle kingdom
Egyptian is a most difficult language.
Coptic and Assyrian and Greek and
Eanskrit are abecedarian beside 1t.
However, can give you literal trans
lataion." He began reading slowly:
Beloved of Amun, stop here until
comes the brother of my mother. Not
do wish that should-endure the stu
alton. have-placed in my heart that
I should-act for the sake OF our we'll
being. Thou shalt-know everything
later. Thou shalt-be-satisfied toward
me when we are-free from what-blocks-
the-way, happy-are We, thou together
with me- Not what you'd call
Harvidian. But such were the verbal
idiosyncraSies Of the ancient Egyp-
tians"
wen, it don't make sense to me-"
Heath commented sourly.
But properly paraphrased it makes
flendish sense, sergeant Put into every
day English, it says: 'Meryt-Amen: I
am writing here for my uncle. I can
not endure this situation any longer;
and I have decided to take drastic
action for the sake of our happiness.
You will understand everything late.:,
and you will forgive me when we are
free from all obstacles and can be happy
together I say, sergeant, does
that make sense?"
''I'll tell the worldi" Heath looked at
Vance with an air of contemptuous
criticism. And you sent that bird Sal
veter to Bostonl"
Hell be back tomorrow" Vance
assured him.
'sBut see here"-Markham' eyes were
fixed on the discriminating paper
what about that other letter you
pieced together? And how did this let
ter get In Scarlett's pocket?"
Vance folded the paper carefully and
placed it in his wallet.
1.-THE time has come" he said slowly,
stto tell you everything It may be,
when you have the factsmin hand, you
can figure out some course of procedure
can see legal difficulties ahead, but I
now have all the evidence we can ever
hope for" He was uneasy and troubled
"Scarlett's intrusion In tonight's hap
penings changed the murderers plans.
Anyway, can now convince you of the
incredible and abominable truth"
Markham studied him for several mo-
ments and startled light came In his
eyes.
God Almighty" he breathed. at see
what you mean He clicked his teeth
together. But first I must phone the
hospital. There's q chance that Scar
lett can help us-h he lives"
= He went to the rear Of the museum
and mounted the spiral stairs to the
study. A few minutes later he re-
appeared, his face dark and hopeless.
spoke to the doctor" he said
There's not one chance in q thousand
for Scarlet. Conclusion of the brain
and suffocation. They've got the pull
motor on him now. Even If he des pull
through he'll be unconscious for a week
or two"
IT was afraid Of that" I had rarely
seen Vance so distressed eve were too
late. But-dash 1t alll-I couldn't have
foreseen his quixotism. And I warned
him"
Come, old man" Markham spoke
with paternal kindness cts not your
fault. There was nothing you could
have done. And you were right in keep
Ing the truth to yourself"