Putnam patriot., 1911-03-31
A Rug From Mazandaran Its Wonderful Powers
 Are Verified By CLARISSA MACkIE
 
By CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
 citation. 1911.

the Golden Horn faded from view the little group of tourists on the Neptune turned to one another with a cheerful sense of companionship born of many days spent on board the hospitable vessel and other days employed in pleasant excursions ashore. < The Neptune carried party of sew eral hundred travellers, and her charter \ covered every port of interest in the orient. Constantinople was the last stopping place. and now they were homeward bound.
 Professor Trayle and his pretty daughter Madeline were joined by sev- * eral others whom they had found & congenial during the tour. At times A they had been separated for a few days. as each party followed its own < particular itinerary beyond the princi- pal stopping places. Once more they < gathered their steamer chairs into close proximity about the professor T and fell to talking of the city they had Z just left.
 There was Alexander Felton. tall and lean and clever looking and very glad to be with Madeline Trayle once more. # There were James Hanford and his Q wife. seekers after health and recrea- q tion: Miss Emeline Gray. a middle aged spinster. whose fad was collect ing odd rings from every country she visited, and lastly there was young Arthur Clayton, Miss Gray's nephew. < "I just hated to leave Constantine % ple." sighed Mrs. Hanford, there were 2 such heaps of things wanted to buy, so many queer, smelly, oriental look ' ing boxes and jars. such sweet silver # #filigree work, and some of 1t looked as # if it might have been made centuries ago and worn by-who knowsT'
 "All that stuff is made right in the N bazaars under your very noses." ex- plained Arthur Clayton practically. "A # fellow told me all about it-how they # give 'em that aged look" # Don't tell me about it." cautioned Miss Gray severely 'I don't want < the romance knocked out of my ad- ' Mventures Really, Arthur, you do turn E things inside out in such a manner I wish I had left you at home! Can't you realize you've been in the land of
 
 your Arab NlghtsT
 Clayton joined in the laugh at his own expense and turned to Alexander # Felton.
 "I say. Mir. Felton, we haven't heard what you've been about for the last month or two. You dropped off at Constantinople on the outward trip"
 "Yes," said Felton. '1 made a little Journey into Persia by way of the Black sea and Trebizond. I arrived in Constantinople just in time to catch my steamer.'
 s "Persiaw exclaimed Madeline with ! a little catch of the breath. You must have had perfectly lovely time. BOh dad. wish we might have gone therer'
 Professor Trayle exchanged glance with Felton Sounds very romantic, my dear. but really the travelling is s.syery rough-not fit for woman, eh. Feton?''
 ga The other nodded. "I rode horseback most of the way from Trebizond to Teheran'
 Y Did you find any treasures. Eel tonY asked Hanford with interest.
 You said you were after something Especially nice"
 Felton hesitated as he glanced about the little group of friendly faces. Then De smiled as the call for dinner emp 11ed the decks After dinner. if you will meet me here. l will show you what I brought from Persia"
 "Is there a story in P" asked Made line as they moved toward the com :. panionway.
 @ "A dozen." he said lightly. You $ may choose to add another" be con cluded in a lower tone. @ Somewhat mystified and with a otrange. sweet content in her heart, Madeline avoided his eyes and went below.
 # After dinner. when they had gather &d about Felton on the moonlir deck. where they sat apart, they demanded that he show them his treasure from Persia. For answer be drew from his Docket a thick square packet which Hnfolded into rather large silky rug, %Ehieh he threw on the deck between hem
 "A Persian prayer rug!" cried Miss &ray eagerly. How perfectly lovely! H we had known you were going you night have fetched one for each of us ~if you would have been so kind"
 TT would gladly have fulfilled such <pmmission." said Felton gravely.
 But there happens to be no other in De world just like this one.''
 Not in the worldp' echoed Made
 pc dreamiIy. She leaned over and 0uched the silky surface. exclaiming N the silvery sheen melting into rose @d pale blue and green. It almost 1emed as if the rug palpitated with
 Ae, so changeable were its colors, so Uonderful its intricate weaving and Aelicate harmony of pattern.
 Tell us about it, Felton, if you don't Mnd." suggested the professor after a @tte pause.
 Tt can be told in a few words.
 eard of its presence in an obscure viii
 Ee in Mazandaran."
 % Has it history?" asked Mrs. Han 11rd
 It is called the carpet of truth.
 & is said to have belonged to one or z De favorites of an ancient ruler, ana
 principal virtue is that whoever
 ts upon it is compelled to tell the Wuth while he sits thereon"
 That would prove invaluable when Gra miniup u{tpasSas observed MT.