BY
ARTHUR D. HOWDEN SMITH
Author of "THE DOOM TRAIL" "BEYOND
THE SUNSET," etc.
NEW YORK
BRENTANO'S
Publishers
Copyright, 1923, by
BRENTANO'S, Inc.
Copyright, 1923, by
THE RIDGEWAY COMPANY
All rights reserved
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
To
JACK NASH
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I. The Cable from Hugh's Uncle
II. The Broken Message
III. The Papers in the Charter Chest
IV. The Gunroom at Castle Chesby
V. A Blind Alley
VI. The Hilyer Party
VII. The Fight in the Gunroom
VIII. The Prior's Vent
IX. Hide and Seek
X. Stole Away
XI. We Split the Scent
XII. The Balkan Trail
XIII. The Road to Stamboul
XIV. The House in Sokaki Masyeri
XV. Watkins Plays the Goat
XVI. The Red Stone
XVII. The Dance in the Courtyard
XVIII. The Big Show Begins
XIX. First Cruise of the Curlew
XX. Out of Luck
XXI. Watkins to the Rescue
XXII. Hilmi's Friend
XXIII. Our Backs to the Wall
XXIV. In the Storm
XXV. The Reckoning
XXVI. Under the Red Stone
XXVII. Antiques, Statuary, Chgs. Pd., with Care
The Treasure of the Bucoleon
The messenger was peering at the card above thepush-button beside the apartment entrance as Icame up the stairs.
"Chesby?" he said laconically, extending a pinkenvelope.
"He lives here," I answered. "I'll sign for it."
The boy clumped off downstairs, and I let myself in,never dreaming that I held the key to destiny in myhand—or, rather, in the pink envelope.
A samovar was bubbling in the studio, and my cousinBetty King hailed me from the couch on which she satbetween her father and Hugh.
"Here you are at last," she cried. "Dad and I havecome to say good-by to you."
"What's the matter?" I asked. "Can't you standHugh any longer?"
Hugh glowered at me.
"Always raggin'," he commented.
Betty laughed.
"We are going to Constantinople to hunt for Greekmanuscripts."
"I have a theory," explained my uncle, Ve