THE KING OF ARCADIA

BY FRANCIS LYNDE

Author of "A Romance in Transit," "The Quickening," etc.

ILLUSTRATED

CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
NEW YORK
1909

Copyright, 1909, by
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

Published February, 1909

To my daughter Dorothea,
AMANUENSIS OF THE
LOVING HEART AND WILLING HANDS
IN ITS WRITING,
THIS BOOK
IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED.

"You must help me," she pleaded; "I cannot see the way a single step ahead."

CONTENTS

I. The Cryptogram
II. The Trippers
III. The Reverie of a Bachelor
IV. Arcady
V. "Fire in the Rock!"
VI. Elbow Canyon
VII. The Polo Players
VIII. Castle 'Cadia
IX. The Brink of Hazard
X. Hoskins's Ghost
XI. Gun Play
XII. The Rustlers
XIII. The Law and the Lady
XIV. The Maxim
XV. Hospes et Hostis
XVI. The Return of the Omen
XVII. The Derrick Fumbles
XVIII. The Indictment
XIX. In the Laboratory
XX. The Geologist
XXI. Mr. Pelham's Game-Bag
XXII. A Cry in the Night
XXIII. Deep Unto Deep

ILLUSTRATIONS

"You must help me," she pleaded; "I cannot see the way a single step ahead."

"Señor Ballar', I have biffo' to-day killed a man for that he spik to me like-a-that!"

The muscles of his face were twitching, and he was breathing hard, like a spent runner.

"There is my notion—and a striking example of Mexican fair play."

THE KING OF ARCADIA

I

THE CRYPTOGRAM

The strenuous rush of the day of suddenly changed plans was over, and with Gardiner, the assistant professor of geology, to bid him God-speed, Ballard had got as far as the track platform gates of the Boston & Albany Station when Lassley's telegram, like a detaining hand stretched forth out of the invisible, brought him to a stand.

He read it, with a little frown of perplexity sobering his strong, enthusiastic face.

"S.S. Carania, New York.

"To Breckenridge Ballard, Boston.

"You love life and crave success. Arcadia Irrigation has killed its originator and two chiefs of construction. It will kill you. Let it alone.

"Lassley."

He signed the book, tipped the boy for his successful chase, and passed the telegram on to Gardiner.

"If you were called in as an expert, what would you make of that?" he asked.

The assistant professor adjusted his eye-glasses, read the message, and returned it without suggestive comment.

"My field being altogether prosaic, I should make nothing of it. There are no assassinations in geology. What does it mean?"

Ballard shook his head.

"I haven't the remotest idea. I wired Lassley this morning telling him that I had thrown up the Cuban sugar mills construction to accept the chief engineer's billet on Arcadia