Page:The Master of Mysteries (1912).djvu/144

 "I haven't had time to look over The Star. What is it?"

Valeska read from her list the last addition:

For thou hast made him most blessed forever; thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance. (Ps. 21:6.) Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah. (Ps. 21:2.) Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it. (Ps. 35:21.) I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. (Ps. 38:6.)

"Poor devil!" Astro grew serious. "I did see a paragraph in Town Gossip this morning about a Fifty-third Street belle who was about to make a brilliant match. It was thinly disguised, and evidently referred to Ruth Lorsson."

"He evidently believes she is engaged," said Valeska; "but I don't. No girl would give up such a romantic lover."

"Now," said Astro, "the question is: How are we going to get hold of her side of the correspondence? I'm getting as interested in this affair as if I were paid for it. The fact that there is a misunderstanding does alter the matter too, and I don't see but that we'll have to straighten it out if we can. I've thought of a way to get hold of to-night's message by a trick. It may work, and it may not. Of course it's rather low of us to interfere with their private post-office; but we may be able to make that up to them later. Anyway,