Page:The Master of Mysteries (1912).djvu/238

 "Then you'll tell Tulliver?"

"Certainly. With the police behind him, he can easily run down the plot and do what he wishes about it. Most likely he'll see that the manicure girl leaves town, and let the rest go."

Valeska looked thoughtfully at the huge crystal ball on an ebony table in front of her and spoke as if to herself. "I wish some other symptoms besides fatigue could be transmitted in that way. One might infuse some of the district attorney's own strenuosity and honesty, for instance, into persons who need moral stamina."

"I can think of better things than that to do." Astro gazed dreamily at the pretty flushed face in front of him. His eyes lingered on the fair curling hair, the lovely curve of the neck, the slenderly graceful, girlish hands, the sensitive mouth, the cunningly molded figure, and he sighed.

"What would you try to give me, if you were undertaking the experiment?" Valeska asked without looking up.

Astro did not answer. Instead he took one more long tender look at her. "I think," he said finally, "that first I shall have to treat myself!"