Part 31 (1/2)
”That is generous of you, and quite in contrast to--er--to the conduct of our leader I trust he may awaken to a sense of the injustice he did you”
But Professor Beecher was not there to hear this He had stalked away in anger
”Huovernment concession was all a fake, Professor, else he'd have put up a fight now Contemptible sneak!”
In fact the story of Toround land of wonders is ended, for with the discovery of the idol of gold the main object of the expedition was accomplished But their adventures were not over by any h there is not room in this volume to record theet the golden ie out of the cave of the ancient city It was not accoold was heavy, and Professor bu off of soof one of the half dozen extra arly idol was furnished
Finally it was safely taken out of the cave, and along the stone passage to the opening formed by the overthrown trees, and thence on to camp
And at the ca-delayed mail had been forwarded from the nearest place of civilization and there were letters for all, including several for our hero One in particular he picked out first and read eagerly
”Well, is every little thing all right, Torin spread itself over his chum's face
”I should say it is, and then some! Look here, Ned This is a letter frouess?”
”Oh, I'm a mind-reader”
”Huh! Well, you know she hen I went to call to say good-bye, and I was a little afraid Beecher had got an inside edge on h He went to see Mary in Fayetteville, just as you heard, before he came on to join his party, but he didn't pay much of a visit to her”
”No?”
”No Mary told hi to Central A, as she didn't care for him as much as he flattered himself she did”
”Good!” cried Ned ”Shake, old lad!”
They shook hands
”Well, what's the matter? Didn't you read all of her letter?” asked Ned when he saw his chu the epistle
”No There's a postscript here”
”'Sorry I couldn't see you before you left It was a mistake, but when you come back----'”
”Oh, that part isn't any of your affair!” and, blushi+ng under his tan, Tom thrust the letter into his pocket and strode ahile Ned laughed happily
With the idol of gold safe in their possession, Professor bu other explorations in the buried city This they did, as is testified to by a long list of books andstrictly with archaeological subjects, touching on the ancient Mayan race and its civilization, with particular reference to their syste and foolish, would not consent to delve into the riches of the ancient city, being too rined over the loss of the idol It seeive a part of it to Mary Nestor But he never got the chance