Avon Fantasy Reader No. 7 — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

BTHE WEKE-SNAKE | - 101 4 “But what has superstition to do with archeology?” demanded Miss _ Beardsley. . “We must.investigate all superstitions,” I responded. “They often furnish us with invaluable data. Lord Clayton-Maddox ignores. haunted ruins, and - the Royal Society ignores Clayton-Maddox.” hs. “What of it?” pouted Miss Beardsley. I felt that her frivolity did not be- ~ come her. _Itear,” I said, “that you underestimate the satisfaction of achievement and _ the value of rewards!’ Miss Beardsley made a gesture indicating contempt. “But they are both _ quite worthless,” she snapped. “In fifty years you will no longer desire them!” _ She stooped, and picked up a handful of grayish sand. “You will be less than minat!” she said. My guide’s eyes sparkled, and he smiled at Miss Beardsley. “It is encour- _ aging,” he said, “to hear a woman talk like that. We of the East place less _ value upon externals. We educate the soul and we do not value rewards. - With us it is a distinction to remain humble and unknown. We rather despise _ those who are rich in the world’s goods.” which I can not name “And what is the purpose of such a ridiculous attitude?” I asked. There was a hint of reluctance in his voice when he answered me. “You _ Saxons are primitive and uncivilized. You amuse yourselves with absurd toys; _ you are proud of your bridges and your automobiles, your telephones, and fireless cookers, and your vile, vicious factories; but we seek true culture and understanding. Your culture decayed before the invention of printing. Your middle ages were glorious. You had then great cathedrals, sacred and profane mysteries, magic and holy symbols. You had one great seer who surpassed the ancient East in wisdom. John Dee knew the secrets and terrors that lurk in lonely souls, and had you followed Dee instead of such children as Newton and Watt you might now be in direct communication with the unknown. The true culture of Greece vanished when the philosophers entered Athens; 3 your civilization took the wrong path and perished with the Italian renais- ‘ance. You ask me why we educate the soul. We educate the soul to make it strong. When the soul is strong it is able to conquer—but there are things _ “Fiddlesticks!” I retorted. “But tell me, do any nameless things haunt these ruins?” | My guide looked at me evasively and avoided a direct reply. “You. will need a knife, Heaven-born!” he informed me. Gomiecbooksaco im