Page:Oriental Stories v01 n01 (1930-10).djvu/146

 

vast treasure that Alexander the Great left behind him before he crossed the Indus in his attempted conquest of India was legendary throughout the Orient. He left a bandit Jerawah to guard the treasure until he returned, and the secret was passed down from age to age by the Jerawahs, an outcast band of robbers.

this secret was discovered by Bugs Sinnat, how the King of the Jerawahs was murdered because he possessed the Key to the Secret, and how his murderers were stalked across a weird desert by a bearded Afghan of the Durani Clan makes as fascinating a story as you have ever read. It will be published complete in the

Isaacs has an unsavory reputation in some sections of Singapore. He is unscrupulous, lawless. I do not think it will take long to connect him with a capital crime. I myself have good reason to doubt him. I was his guest and he threatened my life. When proof of a crime has been established I will turn you over to the authorities whose pleasure it is to deal with criminals."

Dick had taken a wild chance that Davga was really a criminal. He went on the theory that the house which he had kept under the name of Mr. Isaacs was a hotbed of crime. It seemed to reek of it.

Mortimer Davga collapsed into a chair. His face was ashen. By his expression, Dick knew that his words had struck home.

"I will see my lawyer at once," said he huskily, "and have the necessary papers drawn. After all, there is no reason why Dolores should not marry whom she likes."

"That is good," replied Dick. "Nevertheless we'll hold you prisoner until the proper papers have been prepared." As he spoke he seized Mortimer Davga by the arm and thrust him into the hidden chamber. Then he closed the panel and returned to Dolores.

He took her into his arms. "I've decided not to give you up," he whispered softly.

"I guess," she drawled, "I don't want to be given up."

He did not bother telling her that although she believed she was marrying a poor man, he was really as rich as she. He had inherited a fortune and had left New York to escape the countless people who wanted him for his money, not for himself. He had sailed for Singapore in quest of adventure and romance. He had found both. Having found Dolores, he had found all. O. S.—9