Page:The Master of Mysteries (1912).djvu/383

 and remove your clothes, I shall chart your birthmarks and compare them with your horoscope."

Ten minutes later the Seer joined Valeska in the studio. In his hand was a little diagram, an outline of the human form shown in four positions, from the front and back, the right and left sides. Little crosses were marked where the moles on the colonel's body appeared. He handed it to his assistant with a wink, and she left immediately. The colonel came in soon after, as faultlessly dressed as ever, and, after a few more questions from Astro, was permitted to take his leave.

"Now," said Astro, when he was again alone with Valeska, "you have a delicate piece of detective work to do. Do you think you can get a position in Bloom's confectionery store and scrape up an acquaintance with Miss Maverick?"

"I shall be delighted to try," was her reply. "I suppose I'll earn six dollars a week at it, won't I?"

"Colonel Mixter is worth millions. I expect it will pay you pretty well."

"Besides being lots of fun!" Valeska's eyes shone. "But, really, it seems to me that there's a much simpler way of settling the question. Why not marry young Mixter to Miss Maverick? Then, whoever is the true heir, he or she'll have the use of the money."

"That is exactly what I propose to do. It's the only solution possible. Heredity can't be proved by any method known to modern science, of course; but we'll have to make three persons believe that it can. I believe I can convince them all. At any rate, it's as pretty