Page:The Master of Mysteries (1912).djvu/327

 The alternative gift was an old Aztec relic. Miss Merrington did not herself know its exact nature; but she did know that all sorts of good luck were attributed to its possession. It was this gift that the major had chosen. "The Luck of the Montezumas" it was called; but, as the "Luck of the Merringtons" its name seemed to be as inapt as it had been to the Aztec emperors. With it, whatever it was, and escorted by a trusted negro slave named Ptolemy, the major had journeyed half-way from Chihuahua to El Paso, when his party was attacked by brigands. Their last stand was made in an adobe ruin, where the major had been killed. What had become of the "Luck of the Merringtons" and what it really was, was what Miss Merrington had come, in a rather skeptical and playful humor, to ask of Astro the Seer.

She had got so far, when a muffled electric bell was faintly heard in the studio. Astro, who had listened attentively, excused himself to get a book of astrologic tables which he said it was necessary for him to consult before he could answer Miss Merrington's question. Around a corner of the book-shelf was a sort of alcove cupboard, hung with black curtains. He parted them, and a glass window was disclosed. Pressed against this was a newspaper showing the "Lost and Found" column. One was ringed about with a blue pencil. It read:

"LOST—A large opal, on Second Avenue, Thursday last, at two Finder will be paid a generous reward and no questions asked., Bellevue Hospital."

Astro dropped the velvet curtains, reached on the shelf for an immense volume bound in heavy leather