The Green Mummy Part 28

"Certainly not," was the prompt answer. "Only I cannot understand how the mummy came to be in her garden."

"It was brought up from the river, I expect."

"But why to Mrs. Jasher's garden?"

Hope shook his head.

"I cannot tell that. The whole thing is a mystery, and seems likely to remain so."

"It seems to me," said the girl, after a pause, "that it would be best for my father to return this mummy to Don Pedro, and have done with it, since it seems to bring bad luck. Then he can marry Mrs. Jasher, and go to Egypt on her fortune to seek for this tomb."

"I doubt very much if Mrs. Jasher will marry the Professor now, after what he said last night."

"Nonsense, my father was in a rage and said what first came into his mind. I daresay she is angry. However, I shall see her this afternoon, and put matters right."

"You are very anxious that the Professor should marry the lady."

"I am," replied Lucy seriously, "as I want to leave my father comfortably settled when I marry you. The sooner he makes Mrs. Jasher his wife, the readier will he be to let me go, and I want to marry you as soon as I possibly can. I am tired of Gartley and of this present life."

Of course to this speech Archie could make only one answer, and as that took the form of kissing, it was entirely satisfactory to Miss Kendal.

Then they discussed the future and also the proposed engagement of Sir Frank Random to the Peruvian lady. But both left the subject of the mummy alone, as they were quite weary of the matter, and neither could suggest a solution of the mystery.

Meanwhile Professor Braddock had pa.s.sed a very pleasant hour in examining the swathings of the mummy. But his pleasure was destined to be cut short sooner than he desired, as Captain Hiram Hervey unexpectedly arrived. Although c.o.c.katoo--as he had been instructed--did his best to keep him out, the sailor forced his way in, and heralded his appearance by throwing the Kanaka head-foremost into the museum.

"What does this mean?" demanded the fiery Professor, while c.o.c.katoo, with an angry expression, struggled to his feet, and Hervey, smoking his inevitable cheroot, stood on the threshold--"how dare you treat my property in this careless way."

"Guess your property should behave itself then," said the captain in careless tones, and sauntered into the room. "D'y think I'm goin' to be chucked out by a measly n.i.g.g.e.r and--Great Scott!"--this latter exclamation was extorted by the sight of the mummy.

Braddock motioned to the still angry c.o.c.katoo to move aside, and then nodded triumphantly.

"You didn't expect to see that, did you?" he asked.

Hervey came to anchor on a chair and turned the cheroot in his mouth with an odd look at the mummy.

"When will he be hanged?"

Braddock stared.

"When will who be hanged?"

"The man as stole that thing."

"We haven't found him yet," Braddock informed him swiftly.

"Then how in creation did you annex the corpse."

The Professor sat down and explained. The lean, long mariner listened quietly, only nodding at intervals. He did not seem to be surprised when he heard that the corpse of the head Inca had been found in Mrs.

Jasher's garden, especially when Braddock explained the whereabouts of the property.

"Wal," he drawled, "that don't make my hair stand on end. I guess the garden was on his way and he used it for a cemetery."

"What are you talking about?" demanded the perplexed scientist.

"About the man who strangled your help and yanked away the corpse."

"But I don't know who he is. n.o.body knows."

"Go slow. I do."

"You!" Braddock started and flung himself across the room to seize Hervey by the lapels of his reefer coat. "You know. Tell me who he is, so that I can get the emeralds."

"Emeralds!" Hervey removed Braddock's plump hands and stared greedily.

"Don't you know? No, of course you don't. But two emeralds were buried with the mummy, and they have been stolen."

"Who by?"

"No doubt by the a.s.sa.s.sin who murdered poor Sidney."

Hervey spat on the floor, and his weather-beaten face took on an expression of, profound regret.

"I guess I'm a fool of the best."

"Why?" asked Braddock, again puzzled.

"To think," said Hervey, addressing the mummy, "that you were on board my boat, and I never looted you."

"What!" Braddock stamped. "Would you have committed theft?"

"Theft be hanged!" was the reply. "It ain't thieving to loot the dead.

I guess a corpse hasn't got any use for jewels. You bet I'd have gummed straightways onto that mummy, when I brought it from Malta in the old Diver, had I known it was a jeweler's shop of sorts. Huh! Two emeralds, and I never knew. I could kick myself."

"You are a blackguard," gasped the astonished Professor.

"Oh, shucks!" was the elegant retort, "give it a rest. I'm no worse than that dandy gentleman who added murder to stealing, anyhow."

"Ah!" Braddock bounded off his chair like an india-rubber ball, "you said that you knew who had committed the murder."

"Wal," drawled Hervey again, "I do and I don't. That is I suspect, but I can't swear to the business before a judge."

"Who killed Bolton?" asked the Professor furiously. "Tell me at once."

"Not me, unless it's made worth my while."

"It will be, by Don Pedro."

"That yellow-stomach. What's he got to do with it?"