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About The Twice-a week guard. (Eugene, Or.) 1910-19?? | View Entire Issue (March 20, 1911)
THE MY5TERY OF THE PERSIAN RUG ì/am ¿/fon .Oevrlttlt. 1011. S t X»w Tork tlvreM CM. All Hr*?« r»*»r*<siy 1 HE affairs of mvstery in which It was the Adventure Hunter's business ami pleasure 10 engage usually came to him in a completed state. That one connected with tho Persian rug, however, was an exception. He came a pen tho rug before its time of mystery. It was lying among other Uttered things In an 'xecptloually Uttered room as he and his artist acquaintmee Vereker casu ally met in the hall of a friend and passed the time af day. They had paused near the open door of the littered room and the voices in It were sounding clearly. A »mall, shabby man was saying that he was going to sell the lot and go out West and that the East was an unmentionable place anyway. Then Vereker and Valentine Stone together noticed the rug lying on tho floor and clearly a part of the geu- eral sale. It was dusty nnd old, but to the eye of a rug iover It shone from its tawdry surroundings like a lewel. It was small and square and Intricate in de- ilgn. a prayer rug of an unu»ual sort. Vereker and Stone lifted almost simultaneous fingers, each to the other—the sign of future possession by the first to make it. And it was Vereker who by some fractional time signed first. He walked up to the owner. “m give you twenty." said Vereker. “for that rug. The man stared wonderlngly, as do dull men to whom events come too fast. "Go ahead," said he. dully holding out his hand. "I'm crazy. I know." said Vereker. banding over the money, “but all collectors are crazy " He rolled the purchase up. minute even for prayer rugs, put it under his arm and assumed possession Htono shook bands with Vereker and proceeded up stairs «0 bia frie.nd's chambers. When he descend«-d again voices of chaffering came from the shabby man's room. “I'm a dealer,” said a strange voice, "and I hear downstairs that you have a sale.” “Sure.” answered the shabby man who had owned the rug. “Ill buy everything you got In a lump,” said the dealer concisely. “Go ahead." said the shabby man. “And I'll give you,” the man paused, "$200 for everything.” Stone stopped. Interested. Two hundred dollars seemed a lot of money for the litter which Stone had noticed when he had paused before at the room. "Here's your money,” said the dealer, taking a yel low roll from his pocket, separating some of its con stituent parts and handing them over. “I've get a wagon downstairs, I may as well take it away now. lim!” He called in the vague direction of the street and there were answering footsteps on the stairs. "I bought the lot. Jim,” said the dealer hurriedly. “Take everything. Get busy now; I'll be back before you've done.” “He hurried downstairs, a sweating man. dark and gaunt and quick. Stone followed slowly. "Two hun dred dollars for the lot,” he thought. "Two hundred dollars for the lot." He kept thinking of that amount; It seemed so much to offer for so little. He stop(>ed at the door, looking at the wagon which waited outside and at the gaunt, dark dealer hurrying up the street to a nearby corner. “Jim" pa .ted down the stairs, taking to. the wagon piles of rubbish, and as Stone watched it and watched it be felt upon him once more one of those strange premonitions that ad venture was touching his elbow- and lieckoning him to follow. So “Jim” deposited his rubbish and ascended for another load, and the gaunt, dark man came hur rying back, and Stone was conscious that be was searching the wagon eagerly, searching aud search ing till “Jim" again appeared. “Got the rug this time, Jim?” Ug ask<-d. “What rug?” said Jly, stowing a roll of tattered rubbish. “The small nig." said the gaunt man impatiently, “the little rug with the funny marks." “I ain't got It," said Jim. “Ain't got it?' said the man impatiently. “Then get it It's there somewhere. Get It next time." But “Jim” appeared next time with unfavorable In telligence. "There ain't no little mg,” said he "I looked and there ain't none. I got all the rugs there Is.” But the dark and gaunt and sweating man wns already tip the steps and was mounting the staircase with hurried strides. Stone followed to the landing. “I bought the lot.” he heard the dealer say. "You said everything in your apartment was there." "Sure,” said the man, confidently; "so it was." "There was a rug.” said the dealer, insistently. Where's the little rug? We ain't had that.” "Oh, that?” answered the other. “I sold that. That wasn’t there when you bought the lot.” Stone heard the dealer's voice suddenly beconu- straWied and vehe ment "What was his name?” asked he. “Vereker.” said Stone, breaking in. “I wns with him when he bought It, although," lie continued, “I don't believe it’» any use, I don't believe be wants to »ell it.” The dealer took the vague address, "somewhere in Twelfth street, I think,” aud giving the carter final instructions made a final and a hurried exit. "Weil,” thought Stone, a little disappointed, “It was the rug, after all.” He felt sorry that the potential mystery of the two hundred dollars had been so easily solved. * Next morning, however, as at breakfast he scanned his first morning paper he uttered a quick exclama- tlon. and_ the words "Mysterious Murder of it Gifted Artist—ltol»ert .1, Vereker Killed!” caught his eye. There was not concretely in lii« mind af the time any connection between the deed and the attract! dealer for the rug, hilt that strange sixth si told him the case contained some mystery, 1 ment of adventure came strongly to him. again that he wns upon the verge of action and ad- “enture such as bls spirit craved. Mysterious Death of the Artist. Ilavtr.y <lc*; at dtlng bis breakfast he wa» soon upon a — "WMWWW-'iW. 1 the morning paper had been specific. On his journey be carried the details in bis mind -of the manner in which the maid, coming as usual to "dean out," had found an unexpected Impediment In the centre of the studio. Its dead tenant, Vereker. lying Hat upon the ground, with the purple marks of Augers on his rigid throat, his form stiffened in death. ri:s rings were yet upon bls Angers. Fifty dollars In bills was In bls p eketbook. Everything In the studio remained undisturbed. It was this want of plunder as the reason for tho crime that made It In a measure more puzzling. for ' ereker had been a man of placid life and no feminine • been mutdered befer; now on thè vaiue of thè trlnket. ,lt utaj bave becn thl». Ilut eien ns Stono ho re- fiected there raiur back lo hlm thè lire In thr dealer’» eager oyos, thè livree Impctimsity <>f Id« questlonhig of "Jitn," tho eager liurry on Id* way In thè dlrectlou of Verckcr's. From "Jltn" hlmself. who wn* e;i«IIy disceverali!«. Stono could gel no Information. Ile Inni been lilred te enrt »ome »tuff aw ny, w hlcli Ilio man wa« golng lo buy. Tliatwas all he knew. Ilo Inni t.-iken It lo sueh and such an nddro««. stono wont io thls. tuo. but wltb little bope of a elcw ì lio generai ncgotlntlon far thè forniture of thè «hobby man had obi lously beoti tuada rZ given up hope of coming at any solution of the pilule it was the one mystery In the long line of them wldcb had left hltu luetuphorlcnlly I hi II i »tralided and dry. And then, one morning, when lie had definitely given lip nil hope of seeing the ru • or of hearing any tiling concerning it again, lie found himself at thr w luirf of an occau liner, engaged upon tlie business of one of tho»o si'c hi I, necessary "au revoir»" with which we burden departing friends to Europe, and. being cnrly and ivultlnc. found himself staring down nt a familiar and eccentric object, squeered among petth-onta and »linvtl« and alt tlie impedimenta of an Italian bound emigrant's luggage, it was the prayer rug, arrived nt a further stage of checkered posses slon And over the bundle -Its clear possessor sat n thick, sturdy, dark eyed, olive lined shawled wotiiun, patiently mum king some bread and some onion. "Going lutek to Italy?" Atone saluted her The woman looked distrustfully for a moment, but Stone's frank face decided lier to grulnlity. "Yea." •aid «he. "Go buck go Imek to V- attachments, which hav-v In them the germs of such tragedies. Stone's mlud, however, verged after all Ids reflections but to one thing—the rug. Was there a connection between the eagerness of tlie dealer In his quest for it and the tragedy of the dead artist? Was it possible that the artist's obstinacy of |H>s«e«Hi>>n had sealed bis doom; that the other's tierce desire of possession hud overmustenal him? If so------- Stone's train of u-el.-s« speculation came to an end with his entrance to the house. He was known them as the friend of Vereker and immediately admitted by the voluble janitor. As for the body. It lay in the little bedroom white and cold, and the janitor shrugged lugubriously as lie whispered confidentially of the presence of two gen tlemen In rhe carnet line who were fulfilling some of the introductory parts of their lugubrious tasks. Stone went straight to tin- studio accompanied by the janitor, delighted at the chan e to talk. Vnder the top lights nil was as If It had lieen a month ago - yesterday, before the thing It.-id happened. A half finished oil sketch stood upon the top of the bookcase. Tlie writing tabic bad upon it «ome memoranda borne down by their familiar paper weight. Stone, however, had only what might be called a »ulx'onsclous Impression of these thing-. Quickly he looked about the place, answering mechanically the janitor's outfloiw and alert but for one tiling, the rug. it was not U[e>n tin- floor. He opened a < lo-ct at a side. It was not there. The Janitor looked wonder Ingly at Id« investigations as Stone proceeded to a smaller room nt the side and closely regarded It. "Did you leave something here? Did Mr.—did be" the jerked a thumb In the direction of the room where the professional activities were <-tting exeriisi-dt "have something you'd loaned Ulin lie commenced. “A llltle rug," Stone »aid. A sipiare little rug. Have you seen ft?” “Sure,” »aid the janitor. "He brought ft home list night. He had it under Ids arm when he came In and I joshed Lira about It. Showed II to me. isn't it here?" IF- <.'ornod to nwaken to the possibility of my.-lery. "By George. that's right!” said lie. “I don't believe it Is. That's strange, now. I'd forgotten that rug ” There was Irnt one more room at which to lodk and this was presently opened. A genial, rubicund fac- appeared and a body with a pretence to Otirl; formality of clothes. “Well, that's nil over,” he remarked Inconseqticntly to the two ns lie was joined by ids rotrqmnlon. "Strange case though, wasn't It? I've handled ninny of 'em, but you don't cotne across that kind every day. Want to have a look at Idin?” He opened the door hospitably and Stone and his companion entered. Vereker lay placid enough upon the bed, though Stone's look did not dwell upon him. for with all his pulse for action and thrilling deeds he bad a strange awe and mystery for the rundown clo kwork of the human machine. So he looked hur riedly for the rug, but there was no rug, neither on table nor lloor nor clialr. The rug was the one thing missing; the Inconsequentinl, though sufficiently cu rious rug was the one thing missing. The adventure hunter thought of these things ns he went away. Of one thing, however, he was sure. The murder had obviously been done for the rug. The denier, or the ostensible dealer, bad evidently done the murder, but, puzzle at the question as Stone w ould, he could get no suggestion of its peculiar value as the bniancc for 'Ito brutal crime. It might have L „ Mt of altercation the dealer had “WW—<m:n»a».»»« > A*. "Up'" rasped Stone. The four hancL of the intruders were raised o' • r the transaction of the rug. And It wn.-> as Stone auiqioscd The fragmentary rubbbdi that hn<i served the -dintdry man for furniture had bepii (lung into an empty room, where, doubtless, it would lie Illi the landlady claimed It She her elf could only »ay that n man—clearly the gaunt dealer from her description lin<l engaged the room a day or two before ill.-I h id allowed iLto I m - under-'tood that, he would furnish It. lie had paid a week In advance mid »hi* hadn't seen him »ln< e. That's all »he knew. So the mystery promised to remain one. Days pa-si-d Tin- whole detective service, as well 11« Stone himself, were nt fault. Not a clew of the murderer or of the rug alike were found It protulsi-d to remain one of the million murders which, in spite of provi rbs and delei llvv .1 gem-lea, remain undiscovered And then < aim- a morning when Stum* once more read Ills p.ipi rs nt brenkfaet. An Item tli-.li.-d out at him ami ti clearly prhiied photograph. Thin time the Item wus .1 robbery- ¡1 robbery on a train—and Its victim, on whose photographed features Stone looked so Intently, was the dark, gaunt dealer of the ln»i«t<-n<e and the hurry ami the eager eye—and the rug And the robber, it njqa-arid. h:ld stolen- a rug. He had been detected. Tln-re bad been a light, a quick i - i - change of »huts atal the accidental death of one of the passcngeis. For the robber, suddenly drawn Into trag edy that might cost him his life, there was nothing to do but Jump, ami ns It was nt a turning and the train had »lowed «omewhnt, lie did so It was at n siding, and from the windows of the train th»- passengers saw I lie fellow »lidlug down the bow lders, gaining a fear ful Impetu- Then, when almost nt the bottom. In- had slipped ami was hurled down U|*on Ills side lie had been (ilckcd up dead, the paper said. Ills nnmo was unknown. But, strangely enough, the rug nowliero could be found. Problem of the Rug. Valentine Stone a»slinllated these details with con flicting feelings those of pleasure that bls premoni tions of mystery were ou<-e more proven to be right; those of perplexity that the solution of the problem Was ns distant ns ever. Tin- rug wns now beginning to shape in Ills mind in strange and fanciful ways. It wns obvious now that the murder of Vereker had been accomplished for the rug alone nnd that the crime wns no result of passion. Vet what could tho rug's mys terious value be? Why should this stnnli square, worth possibly $2<«> nt tho outside value, lie so greatly a thing of tragedy and blood, taking Its possessor even ss he touched It? Who bail come by It, unii how? It wns seldom that any mystery which the Adven- ture Hunter lind determined to solve left him utterly without theories for solution, but the mystery of the ljerslan nig Was one ¡hat threatened to do so. For on<-e Htono was thoroughly at 11 loss. He made Inquiry of every dottier of prominence in the country, but no trace or suggestion concerning It could he get. Ho it was that, three months nfter the tragedy In biv 1» for two, three monf Go bn< k for l< < 1: 1 Ilin» ” ' ¡list's line." refilled Hloue. gaining n«Hurnnio with flu- warmth of ills reception "And "Amt i er. what's that yoil'le got then-? Tliai's n nu.*. Isn't it The wotnftn . Iiiterraptisl communicatively. : i > i us," siild «lie "ihiitui n rue My mini |>ceked tl»n n rug Up. Mr man w->rk « a rullroiol lie |s-ek dal ii|»—¡s-ck d.il up min. Ye», that a rug " "Twenty duilnr»,'' »nld The worn in Hiiilh-d, »bow ing tier strong t<-<ih, nml |>r<e ceedi'd to UldoPse tin- rope that compressed her I m - longing* Him smil'd inori' broadly when the yellow bill was pressed Into her hnmt. Stone rolled up the delicate, tiny object, but oven ns In- did «0 he iM-ciilna nw.ire of un anger glnni-e w ill' ll ivns dlte-ted to him. Without appearing to notice tl, he tisik an unnothed survey of the mult whose attention I m - had drawn. He wa- dark and sltabby, sinister ntid furtive. Htone »foot! talking to the woman, and. »till keeping the man In unobtrusive regard, walked nonchalantly about waltlug for bls friends, and when they llnnlly appeared he. pleading business, buds tlw-ni a brl< f "Gootlby." Then, uulknig slowly through thr street* to his home, lie gars hl* pursuer (for hit Instinct told him that once again the rrlrntle .* pursuit of the rug had ri-couiinencetl) every chance. The man followed doggedly oil the other side twen ty puce* lieblnd, taking advantage of every cover In the shape of group« of walkers In the street. Hevernl times Htono stopped to enjoy the grim humor of the man's wait, which lie saw reflected In tho window* In which he looked. And there ivn* the fellow, unob trusive but deliberate, patient but with a dogged tenacity of purjiose written upon bls fare. H<> Htone arrived nt hl* hotel ond saw the fellow waiting Htlll. seated on tip- stone step of n vacant house at some distance up the street. But Stone had on this occasion no idea of wnltlng nt home. He had a plnn,ln view which lie could l»et- ter put Into operation In tin- brown alone house of Leverltt, Ida friend. He levied upon that house through the telephone. “Will you let me Invito myself?" tie Inquired, nfter ringing tip the number. "Just for this evening, I think, though possibly for n week." The voice nt the other end of tho wire lictrayed no surprise. Htone'« friends bad no surprise* when It came to Htone. Ho Htone walked forth with Ids rug again, even obtrusively displayed, and ngaln hfs friend of toe furtive face anil tho shntAiy clothes fol lowed, nnd at Htone's entrance to the house of hl* friend waltod still. It wns dusk when Htone arrived nnd In a few words explained to hl* friend the disposition he, the ndventure hunter, wished to make of that friend'* house. The friend nodded agreeably. He was not an adventure hunter, but had lay sympathies. Ho «prend upon the table of the second floor front, mom w hich wns the library, till tho clock «truck tm, o which time Stone sent hi» obedient friend oft l oft alone Hloue turned up tho blinds nn,| IlghtM a cigar, lie took a book nnd disposed him. if to i,.((, Outside the night was calm, and ns time w<<ut on p,, sound« of man mid hl* traffic t»s-aim> mon- frugnim- tary As the clock »truck the half past midnight there wns llltle »tir. Then Htono stretched liliust.f yawned, looked ut ills wntrb. carefully pulled th« tdlnds down, turned off the elretrtc» and, leaving th« nig upon Its place on ths laide, proccedrd up stair* to the room directly above This renili, however, he did not light. Ite on!j |MS'|x>d through th* edges of the blind Then n« chuckled, for what li« had expected to *eu lie saw, aita tho »Iglit wu ¡duaaant to hltu. Capturing the Men. Alinoti oppoMp» to the iM>U»e In which he wnl'<*d wa» nn uncompleted skyscraper, It« gaunt aterí .k»|». ton structure rl«lug «ilbotirtted clearly against the white moon. But It wa« not till» for which lie l—Aed. Thl« was but th*- »ettlng. It was at the fifth »U1j |>rogre»«lng story that he peered nnd nt which bs •miled grluily It »11« the figure of a man, of two men. outlined against the trnn»pnrent sky, They stood inoltonl- •« for ten minute», for twenty. Tin clock «truck half post one Iwifor« they moved from their vigil Then they disappeared cautiously Into th* • h.idow of the lower stories Htone »-it «lulling still, clicking his wntrh, his habit of show Ing particular pleasure Then lie sat silent, listening «Illi a «Irikiug nnd silent Intensity. Tb« night by this time »a» very »till. Only some slight and distant sound came occasionally «nd seemed ta cmpho-diu» tlie brooding silence. Then came a slight, •tight movement downstair«. Item-'Vlng tils boot» b« nolM-levdy moved toward bls frh-nd's room, the door of w tileh wn« open Leverltt was waiting, warned, alert, III tho dark. Htone pressed his arm and they niovet soundlessly down the thickly carpeted stalrcate and waited without a word outside tbe room I h -I ow . "Oh. BUI. how easy!" laughed one fellow In the room In an undertone. He had tumert on one amali electrtt lamp and half sat on the table, negligently •winging Ills leg. Valentine Stone carefully covered each man ar.d signed to Inveriti, w bo touched • button. The llgbu fiashvd up. “Up!” ra»|»ed Htone. The four hnuda of the Intruders were raised "Ye«, easier r««lly than I wished." arid the adven ture hunter. "Htlll In the nig business, Mr Dealer?" The gaunter, darker man of the two quailed. Tbe» the neccssltic« of hl« position camo homo to hltn. • l ie 'em up. Mveritt." »aid Htone. “and lead out In the ball. I'll telephone," I.eierltt Imiind fellow with a handkerchief, moving toward the door. The idtecr, still with hl» bands up. followed »lowly. Near the eutranca lie waited, his l»«< k near the »id» to the door, lie scetneil to lean for a moment »nd then the lights were out He had pressed the switch. J.lke a shot In* ducked and was u(H»n Htone. wrenching tlie wi-a|M>n from tbe adventure hunter'* hand, and a fruitless re|«irt rnng out. Inveriti had pinioned tl* it her fellow, hl« Job of manacling uncompleted, la tin- dark «tone clinched with ilia man. only hoping ta crowd him nnd get the urin which held tin- weapon, lie gnim-d n hold of one arm. Iiu knew not wlil ti. Il>- did not know what moment another shot would ring out. thl» time definitely ending things. H* twist.Ml with all III» strength, engaged U( m > o th»t subtlety of Jill jltsu known «» the "come along " I n»a . lime the sharp sound of « crack, a groan nml the dull sound of .1 weapon falllug to the door. 11» bad cb->»«a the right arm from tho ¡uttery of the dark. But tin- light« suddeulv flashed on again, turned up b> Lcierltt. ami the fellow rose from the floor, up-a which he find fallen. As he did so a »mull po. ketls -k nil....... dlapluccd tu the atrucgl« f''-1 11 ""r’ Hloue lir-lufitly |M>»ses»cd hluiaelf of II- "Curious, ch'.-" »m-vrvil tho fellow. Htono opened tin- book me< li.inlcally and hl« eyes fell upon a uews- (>ii|a-r i lipping gummed to one of the leave». "Y om . that'« It," said he. "You’ve got it H wouldn't have happened If be would have parted with timi accursed rug. I"-—— Htone swiftly scanned the clipping. "Iluw did you come by it?" he asked, "and how did you know It when you »aw IlY' ’ Well. I picked It up." sulkily »aid tho man. It you want to know »0 much. 1 picked It up on th* very d.-iy I lead thut clipping In the paper, toluol- deneeY Well, more of 'em happen tn life than ,'«* think of. Then I found out It» secret. You can Hud most secret« If you go after 'em. I found It after sot»« one else hud It. too -but lie'» dead now. Well, Il hai’- |.em<l nt a time that I wn« moving, and I lost track >>f It before I'd written down what It wa«. 1 »u(>|>»-* the delivery man hud 11 wife who liked »itch tbltrt»- Thon I traced It to that fellow that »old It that day. It tis.k me «lx months. It had changed bands several in ..■ It ba tie tri u of that" —• lie was Interrupted by the entrance of the detec tive». But Slone »ciin-ely noticed the'n other than by Indicating the prisoners with bin hand. The detectives looked surprised. “H ho are th«1?. Mr. Htone?” asked he. H "The man who killed Vereker and a friend of hl«, iin-wir.il Stone, "but. wait a bit. Lieutenant. Ju«* listen to this." Ho commenced to rend, while tho policeman re garded him blankly. “Great Interest »tinche» in a peculiar way to th* recent discoveries of nm ir-nt coins nnd Jewel« wli ■ 1 came to light through Professor Jewett's exeavntlon* In Ambia on the »Ite of several ancient Assyrian cities. It brings to mind 11 legend still possessed by |,n Arabian tribe, which has coinè down through count- less generation«, that there exist* nn nlmost Incalcu lable hidden treasure In some ancient Assyrian city long since gone to ruin nnd covered by desert snml«- The story has It that the »ceret wn* written on n t"g which 1« »»[iposed to exist somewhere In the world, but of which track hns been lost for hundred» of years"------ an Id the lieutenant genially. "Say, Mr. Stone, "w-hnt's got you? ’ XVhnt lit the hell nre you talking about? I guess __ _________ It's some _______ Josh, Isn't ___ — It? . ” Stone Indli atexl the prayer rug lying on the table. "You see tlliltY' naked he. "That little square of enrpet?" Inquired the poll'1" man. "Wqll, I picked tlint up for $20 yesterday," replied the ndventure hunter. "It wns n bargain.” The policeman stroked his blue Jowl In a puzzled way. "Well, I'm damned If I are the point," said he. “Tell me that ngaln «orno other time. I'd better take tho prisoners to the station now. You're a great detective, lint I'll be banged if I «nn a»-« your jokes.