Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-22

OF which required the aid OF Peter |
Crswe. He had assisted me in the un- |
-avelling Of many a case which baf-
fed the detective forces both Of New
York city and London. chiefly by vir>
tue OF his invaluable gift Of optical
INSTALLATION. l therefore made an
appointment at my once for the fol-
lowing day, when the two men were
to meet.
Now. sir. will you repeat your
story as you told II to me yesterday"
said to the Englishman, after the
formalities OF the introduction had
been complied with.
Sir Arnold was al Englishman Of
international reputation as an expert
on ancient textiles. He had. in fact.
come TO New York at the invitation
OF Phineas Boone, the multi-miIlion-
aire. to assist him in the classified
ton Of his rare collection or Oriental
rugs.
You had valuable rug destroyed
recently by vandals?" asked Crewe,
before the Engllshman could COM
mence his story. There was an &C.
count OF It in last Sundays papers,
together with illustrations OF the
mutilated corner"
Yes. but Il Is not Of that wish to
speak" replied Sir Arnold. THE mat
ter Is in the hands Of the police. who
hold out every hope Of discovering
he criminal. / want 10 tell you OF
my dog"
Crewe leaned back in his chair and
allowed Sir Arnold TO proceed with
bis story
THE fact IS" he said. that both
my wife and ! are being Swallowed by
Syrians. She is almost Frustrated
with fear and anxiety. and the mat
ter must be cleared up at all hazards.
And the chief objective Of the
II wretches seems TO be my dog, or my
wife's dog. rather"
Recently acquired" asked Crewe.
"Only last week" Sir Arnold an
rwered Lady Blythe was passing
own Broadway on Thursday after
noon and had Just reached its inter
section with Thirty-sixth street when
her attention was attracted by a
Syrian man. who was Offering some
!. wife Is fond of animals and OF an i'm
rulsive nature One OF the creatures
came fawning toward her. and she
)uld not resist the temptation to
purchase II. The animal Is only q
.longrel and the fellow demanded an
undue price for Il; finally he threw
n a pretty Syrian dog blanket, Of
modern make but an excellent imita-
ION of an old Persian weave. This
iinchcd the bargain. and Lady Blythe
bought the beast and took II home.
ION the following morning. when
= he had the creature on a leash in
he park. she noticed that she was
sing followed by the same Syrian.
he sat down upon a bench to rest
and the man passed her. traversed
short distance. turned back and
'histled. Immediately the dog broke
from her control and set off at full
peed toward its former owner. Hap
lily a gentleman who had witnessed
the occurrence gave chase. caught
the beast and restored 1t TO Lady
blythe, while the fellow succeeded in
.lalSing his escape. Much upset by
this occurrence Lady Blythe returned
homo
"The next day sac took the dog out
again. but. on reaching Fifty-ninth
street once more perceived the same
man following her. She was so IN
nerved at the sight that she called a
taxicab and came home and went TO
BED That night a death threat was
h. he dol
blanket and all. at a certain spot, the
following day, or our lives would be
forfeited.
Il called In the police and II was
arranged that messenger should
AXE the dog to the place agreed
upon But nobody arrived; however
on the next morning another letter
was received by me. II was signed
with a bloody hand and in effect re
peated the former menace. but still
more strongly. The creature is val
ueless: the blanket is worth. at most
two dollars. and am wholly at loss
70 understand the cause Of this perse
cution."
This rug that was mutilated was
cut with a pair Of scissors" said
crewe. did not that strike you al
stranger"
Il would prefer TO discuss ons
thing at a time" replied Sir Arnold
The mutilation of Mr.. Boone's rus
has nothing to do with the matter
have been speaking Of"
Nevertheless. would like TO heal
about the rug" persisted Crewe
There may be some immediate con
nection. VIII you tell me. Sir Arnold
the circumstances OF that AFFAIR.""
There Is nothing to tell. beyont
what the papers said" answered tn,
Englishman testify. "one Of the rugs
a Persian textile Of great antiquity
had a corner cut away with a pair o
scissors. leaving a jagged tear. Tn,
act was perpetrated some time sfte
midnight on Wednesday. and the pei
petrator succeeded in making his Cd
cape undetected."
The police have discovered N
clue?"