Frank Reade, Jr., With His New Steam Man in Central America

A STRANGE STORY FROM YUCATAN.

Frank Reade, Jr., the distinguished inventor of many wonderful machines, and particularly the new Steam Man, sat in his library one winter’s day reading a newspaper.

His wife sat near him engaged in some light needle work. She looked up to see a peculiar expression upon her husband’s handsome face.

‪“Well, that is strange,” exclaimed Frank Reade, Jr., with a whistle of surprise. ‪“I am positive that is my old friend, Buckden, whom I knew at college. Upon my word, this breaks me all up.”

‪“What is it, Frank?” asked Mrs. Reade, with interest.

‪“Why, Tony Buckden, an old college mate of mine, it seems has turned his wits to mining engineering. This has taken him down to Central America, to Yucatan, and a cablegram has just been received in New York, stating that Tony had become separated from his party and lost in the jungle. For six weeks he was searched for in vain.”

‪“How terrible.”

“It is more than likely that he has fallen a prey to wild beasts. Yet his father, the millionaire, Thomas Buckden, of New York, comes out with an offer of $50,000 to the person who will furnish positive proof that his son is alive, and bring him safely home.”

‪“That is a large reward,” ventured Mrs. Reade. ‪“I hope somebody will win it.”

‪“Poor Tony!” exclaimed Frank, with emotion. ‪“I declare I almost feel it my duty to go to his rescue.”

‪“What! leave home again so soon?”

“Yet what is my duty, dear wife? It would seem that my dear friend’s life is at stake. Ought I not to sacrifice something to save him?”

“What? You don’t really think of going yourself?”

“I don’t know,” replied Frank, agitatedly pacing the floor. “I don’t see who else can go and stand the rigors of that climate, dare the dangers of the jungle, the wild beasts and natives, and succeed in rescuing Tony.”

‪“Are you sure that you can do it?”

‪“Ought I not to be reasonably sure? Have I not the Steam Man? Barney and Pomp I am sure would go with me.”

‪“I hope you will not be so foolish as to go.”

‪“I cannot say yet, my dear. I must satisfy myself completely that it is my duty. But I think I will walk down to the shop and see the Steam Man.”

Frank bent down and kissed his wife and children and then left the house.

But just as he was going down the steps the mail carrier handed him a letter. Thus it was superscribed:

‪“TO FRANK READE JR., READESTOWN, U. S. A.”

Frank glanced at the foreign postmark and then broke the seal and read:

“DEAR FRIEND FRANK—I have been thinking of you of late and so feel constrained to write you. Moreover, I have a big scheme in which I want to interest you. While at Campeachy I fell in with a native trader from Valladolid. I was fortunate enough to do him a service and gain his friendship, and as a reward he accorded me a most astonishing tale and secret.

“He told me of his travels in the interior through jungle and swamp and forest. Also of the deadly animals and reptiles, the poisonous insects, and all the great dangers and pitfalls of the traveler in those latitudes.

“But more than this, he told me a wonderful story of a ruined city far up in the inaccessible table-lands of Tanada.

“No doubt you are familiar with the accounts of the ancient cities of Palonque and others. Well, I imagine that this ruined city, Mazendla he called it, is one of the same sort.

“But Metlo, which is the name of my informant, described a vast temple in which he said there was vast treasures of gold, silver and jewels. But ever since discovered this temple has been a perfect nest of gigantic anacondas, and none of the natives have ever ventured into the place.

“Only one man ever lived to get out of the place, and he brought forth enough gold and jewels to insure his wealth for life. “And there to-day lies untold wealth all in the possession of the anacondas.

“Many attempts have been made by the natives to destroy the snakes. A great body of men once attempted it. Six of the snakes were killed, but there seemed to be fully half a hundred left. The place seemed alive with them, and a dozen men falling victims to the monsters the attempt was abandoned.

“From that day to this no attempt has been made to recover the wealth. Metlo told me that no white man ever visited the region.

“The journey thither is a dangerous one on account of beasts and poisonous reptiles. Yet I believe it can be made. I have thought of you and your wonderful Steam Man and I feel sure that with the aid of you and your wonderful invention the treasure can be recovered.

“Now, Frank, I humbly beg of you if possible come down here and embark in this enterprise with me.

“Of course I have plenty of money, my father being a millionaire, but I have a powerful desire to visit the ruined city of Mazendla and do battle with those anacondas.

‪“I can do it alone, but I can succeed better with the aid of your Steam Man. As a favor I beg of you to write me at once to Campeachy. And now, my dear Frank, hoping to hear from you soon and favorably, I am as ever your friend.

TONY BUCKDEN.”

Frank Reade, Jr., drew a deep breath as he finished reading this stirring epistle.

His eyes shone like stars and his whole being was stirred up.

It was certainly just the kind of a trip he would fancy. His adventurous spirit was fired and he muttered:

‪“That is a new field to explore. Ah! I would like to try it. But let me see! This letter has been coming by lazy stages and has been three weeks on the way. The cablegram was received a few days ago. Since then he has become lost in the jungle. Poor Tony! He must be rescued, and who is there to do it but me?”

Frank passed down the street in deep abstraction of mind.