The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 89: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE GOLD DELUGE. _ : 473 Lindberg listened with bowed head, as though his life depended on his impressing each word on his mind. He asked no other questions, but was as though petrified. Mrs. Lindberg was the first to recover. “Real estate owners we are to be then!’’ she joyfully exclaimed as she stepped up to Erik and laid both her hands on his head, kissing him. ‘* You are a good man and I always said so,’’ and to herself she added quietly: “A million! No; I cannot believe it! He has certainly discovered a new steam engine, one ruuning without coal; a sort of perpetual motion machine—the kind my blessed father thought so much over. And now he will go to the United States to take out a patent on it.”’ ok *K *k *K * *k *K When the young couple were alone that evening Erik grasped his wife’s hand. _ ‘My darling,’’ he said, ‘‘we may now be obliged to face stormy times. Who knows what our fate will be in foreign lands? We must be prepared for everything. Please do not be angry, dear one, if I give you the choice between accompanying me and remaining with your parents, which might perhaps be safest, while I travel with my discovery to an uncertain fate, alone.’’ ‘Where you go, there I go,’’ she replied, clasping her arms around his neck. ‘Do you believe that I could part from you? Positively not, now. We shared happy days, and we will share the unhappy ; my place is by my husband’s side.’’ K *K ok * *K * *K On the morning, early, they boarded the express train for Berlin. While seated in the coupé, waiting for the train to leave, Erik had the unpleasant sensation of being closely watched. It appeared to him as though a pair of eyes were constantly upon him, but when he peered out into the mass of people crowding the station platform, he could discover nothing. At the last moment a German commercial traveler, with his sample case, entered the coupé they were in and seated himself in a corner, where he began reading a book which he produced from his pocket. It struck Erik as strange that such a traveler could sport the means for first class accom- modation. At last the train moved. At the stations the telegraph instru- ments ticked loudly and busily, and the telegraph poles appeared rapidly to shcot by the travelers—faster and faster. Up in the air curled around the glass caps the dozens of wires were stretched, all leading out into that world, the head of which, like the gigantic idol in the dream of the king of Babylon, was of solid gold. : These wires were carrying a secret message to the governments of all nations: There goes the man—the man who is determined to combat the mighttest potentate in the world. CHAPTER VI.—A CROWN REFUSED. TE Poulsens wished to remain in Berlin for a few days, but they were almost certain from the very moment they arrived that they were under close surveillance. Not one moment did they feel themselves alone. GOMmIcbookssco