Page:The Master of Mysteries (1912).djvu/386

 Valeska's first report to Astro was sensational. "What do you think?" she announced, "Bessie knows all about the 'Soothoid' affair, and the colonel, and even the colonel's son! One of those mediums gave the whole thing away to her, and tried to get her to stand in with him to claim the heirship of the estate. But she's the squarest little brick in the world, Bessie is! She's a dear; she's pure gold! She has looked up the colonel's business herself, and is all ready to fall in love with the colonel's son, just for himself alone. It's going to be easier than I thought."

"But how about the birthmarks?" Astro inquired.

"Oh, you've no idea how hard it was to find that out, till she had a little touch of rheumatism. Then I offered to rub liniment on her back, and—well, she has a birthmark, something the shape of what you said, an angel's wings."

"What?" Astro cried.

"It's true. And how about Willie Mixter?"

"Well, he has a birthmark, too," said Astro.

Valeska burst into a laugh. "Thereby proving that the earth is round, or something like that, doesn't it? Well, what to do now, I don't see."

"You forget the ophthalmoscope."

"Have you looked at Willie's eyes?"

"Yes, and his optic disk is the ordinary, irregular circle."

"Oh, I'm so glad! Then there's a chance for Bessie's making good for the 'Soothoid' millions."

"If you can get her up here for me to examine her eyes."

"But what if, after all, I can make the match without?"