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 tised is not her brother, the opal is, of course, not the 'Luck of the Merringtons'; but she will never know whether it is or not. If her brother has gone on a rough trip to Mexico, he'll scarcely escape without an accident of some kind, though it may be slight. Whatever he finds as a relic, he can't prove it is the true 'luck,'—can he?—and I'll have the benefit of the doubt. But we must look him up immediately and get his story. I confess I'm still at sea about that hand."

"Why didn't he let his sister know, if he was injured?"

"Probably didn't want to frighten her. Perhaps he was drunk. Now he's lost the 'luck,' he hopes to get it back before she finds out he is here, so as not to disappoint her. But come. I confess I can't wait. We can't get in after eight o'clock."

The two set out, therefore, without waiting for dinner, and after Astro had sent up a card marked "opal", a nurse brought word that her patient could be seen. He had been robbed and sandbagged, as Astro had surmised. He had lain unconscious for several hours; but was now recuperating, and would need only another day in which to be quite well.

He was frankly curious as to his guests, and could hardly greet them before he had sent away the nurse and demanded their errand. In a few words Astro told him exactly what had happened to the famous opal, without confessing how it had been traced. In as mysterious a manner, he let Merrington know that as a Seer he was aware of the esoteric and magic properties of the stone and its tradition.

Merrington listened with immense interest, delighted