Part 37 (2/2)
”Highness, is there no way of recovering your father's fortune?”
She shook her head
”It is gone,” she said quietly, ”and if Russia were pacified to-morrow I should be poor--you know that, Malcolm!”
He nodded
”I have not even,” she smiled, ”poor Israel Kensky's wonderful book”
”I was a careless fool,” growled Malcol to the auto that I did not realize the book had dropped out We hadn't a second to lose,” he explained for the third ti in the yard when Malinkoff found the breach in the wall I hated leaving you----”
”Aw!” said the disgusted Cherry ”Ain't we settled that? Didn't I hear you tellin' Percy--and say, is it true that the young lady is--is broke?”
”'Broke' is exactly the word,” she said cheerfully ”I a to be a nice Scottish wife and live within my husband's means--why, Cherry?”
He had a book in his hand--the ”Book of All-Power”
”Where----?”
”Found it on the road,” he said ”I broke the lock an' tore out a couple of leaves to light a flare I wanted to flag the train--but I've got 'em--the leaves, I mean”
”You found it?”
She reached out her hand for the voluive it to her
”I can't read Russian,” he said ”What does this say?” and he pointed to the inscription on the cover, and she read, translating as she went on:
”THE BOOK OF ALL-POWER
”Herein is the ic of power and the words and symbols which unlock the sealed hearts of men and turn their proud wills to water”
Cherry was silent
”That's a lie,” he said quietly, ”for it didn't turn my will to water--take it, , and turned the broken cover She could not believe her eyesand turned the leaves quickly Every page was a Bank of England note worth a thousand pounds
”That was how Kensky kept his money evidently,” said Malinkoff ”In such troublesoht it safest to convert his property into English money, and when he had reached the limit of his hoard he bound the notes into a book”
The girl turned her bewildered face to Cherry