The Web of the Golden Spider Read online

  THE WEB OF THE GOLDEN SPIDER

  by

  FREDERICK ORIN BARTLETT

  Author of "Joan of the Alley," etc.

  Illustrated by Harrison Fisher and Charles M. Relyea

  "_With pretty art and a woman's instinctive desire toplease, she had placed the candle on a chair and assumed something of apose._" [Page 20]]

  New YorkGrosset & DunlapPublishers

  Copyright, 1909by Small, Maynard & Company(Incorporated)

  Entered at Stationers' Hall

  The University Press, Cambridge, U.S.A.

  TO MY WIFE

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER PAGE I THE CLOSED DOOR OPENS 1 II CHANCE PROVIDES 13 III A STRANGER ARRIVES 28 IV THE GOLDEN GOD SPEAKS 40 V IN THE DARK 53 VI BLIND MAN'S BUFF 63 VII THE GAME CONTINUES 75 VIII OF GOLD AND JEWELS LONG HIDDEN 89 IX A STERN CHASE 100 X STRANGE FISHING 113 XI WHAT WAS CAUGHT 124 XII OF LOVE AND QUEENS 136 XIII OF POWDER AND BULLETS 149 XIV IN THE SHADOW OF THE ANDES 164 XV GOOD NEWS AND BAD 172 XVI THE PRIEST TAKES A HAND 185 XVII 'TWIXT CUP AND LIP 200 XVIII BLIND ALLEYS 214 XIX THE SPIDER AND THE FLY 225 XX IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF QUESADA 237 XXI THE HIDDEN CAVE 253 XXII THE TASTE OF ROPE 265 XXIII THE SPIDER SNAPS 274 XXIV THOSE IN THE HUT 286 XXV WHAT THE STARS SAW 296 XXVI A LUCKY BAD SHOT 308 XXVII DANGEROUS SHADOWS 320 XXVIII A DASH FOR PORT 330 XXIX THE OPEN DOOR CLOSES 341

  ILLUSTRATIONS

  PAGE

  With pretty art and a woman's instinctive desire to please, she had placed the candle on a chair and assumed something of a pose. _Frontispiece_

  "For the love of God, do not rouse her. She sees! She sees!" 46

  Minute after minute, Stubbs stared at this sight in silence. 278

  Sorez stared straight ahead of him in a frenzy. Then the shadow sprang, throwing his arms about the tall figure. 304

  THE WEB OF THE GOLDEN SPIDER