A moment Balcom considered her, as though undecided to speak, then made
up his mind.
"Because," he replied, slowly, "he knows the secret of your birth, knows
who you really are."
Zita had no further chance to question Balcom, for at this instant Eva
and Locke, still carrying the inventions, were leaving the library.
Locke turned down again toward the stairway leading to the Graveyard of
Genius, while Eva, nodding pleasantly to Zita and Balcom, mounted the
stairs leading to her father's room.
Zita turned questioningly again to Balcom.
"Half of everything that girl possesses rightfully belongs to you," he
whispered.
Zita apparently did not understand. "What shall I do to obtain my
rights?" she asked.
"Do as I say," returned Balcom, as he left quickly.
It was some hours later that in the dark corner of the Graveyard of
Genius the huge rock slowly swung outward. There was a clanging and
clanking of metal. Two fiery eyes gleamed through the aperture and out
stalked the hideous monster, the Automaton. With strange ominousness it
went directly to the two models which Locke had returned, took them,
turned and went back through the great gap in the wall from which it had
come.
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