"
Craig reached in and pulled open a steel drawer directly in front
of him.
There in the shadow lay the dagger--with its incalculably valuable
secret, a poor, unattractive piece of metal, but with a
fascination such as no other object, I had ever seen, possessed.
There was a sudden cry. The Senora had darted ahead, as if to
clasp its handle and unloose the murderous blade that nestled in
its three-sided sheath.
Before she could reach it, Kennedy had seized her hand in his iron
grasp, while with the other he picked up the dagger.
They stood there gazing into each other's eyes.
Then the Senora burst into a hysterical laugh.
"The curse is on all who possess it!"
"Thank you," smiled Kennedy quietly, releasing her wrist as he
dropped the dagger into his pocket, "I am only the trustee."
XXIV
THE POLICE DOG
Craig faced us, but there was no air of triumph in his manner. I
knew what was in his mind. He had the dagger. But he had lost
Inez.
What were we to do? There seemed to be no way to turn. We knew
something of the manner of her disappearance. At first she had,
apparently, gone willingly. But it was inconceivable that she
stayed willingly, now.
I recalled all the remarks that Whitney had ever made about her.
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