Page:The Master of Mysteries (1912).djvu/139

 And, turning, therefore, to the third book of John, chapter one, verse two, she read aloud:

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

"Now let's arrange the whole correspondence as far as we have it," Valeska suggested, after the four messages were all deciphered. "It certainly is a charming set of love-letters!"

"It may well be, written by the ablest literary men of King James' epoch," said Astro. "You read off the texts, and I'll write them down. It's a relief from solving murder mysteries and dynamite outrages and stolen jewels."

Valeska, having the references checked off, read as follows, insisting that Ruth's lover should be called Chester, from the name in the second advertisement.

Ruth

I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. (Ps. 18:1.) Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Ps. 16:11.)

Chester

And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. (2 John, 5.) I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. (Ps. 143:6.)