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 it, though. I have several appointments that can't be postponed. Suppose I wire you as soon as I have read it. Or, better, I'll send you the solution direct by a messenger."

"All right. I'll be dying of impatience; so I hope you'll hurry."

"I'll promise it some time to-morrow. But another question: Did your mother read Greek?"

"Oh, yes, she had a magnificent education."

"And how about the second Mrs. Dalrymple?"

The girl's lips curled. "I should say not! Why, she was an ordinary chorus girl when father married her!"

"Well," said the Seer, rising to assume a poetic attitude, "I shall consult my crystals and see what I can find out. If I am not mistaken, though, the will will be probated and you will come into your inheritance. And I shall be the first to congratulate you!"

After a quick friendly hand-shake, like a boy's, Miss Dalrymple walked gracefully out of the room.

As soon as she had left, Astro called his assistant and showed her the cipher. Valeska pored over it without speaking for some time. Finally she sighed and said pathetically, "What a pity I don't know Greek!"

"Cheer up!" said the Master, with a whimsical grimace. "You probably know as much about it as the one who composed this childish little cryptogram did. It has the mark of the tyro upon it."

"Why! how could you tell that?"

"Suppose a Fiji Islander attempted to copy a lot of English that is, the so-called Latin alphabet.