Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1912-08-15
Copyright 1911 by Bobbs-Mcrrill Company
CHAPTER w.
An Old Acquaintance

That faculty which decides on the
lawlessness of our actions; so the
noted etymologist described con-
science. It fell to another distin-
guished intellect to add that con-
science makes towards OF us all. Ay.
She may be overcome at times, side
tracked for any special desire that de-
mands a clear way but she's after us,
fast enough, with that battered red
lantern of hers, which, brought down
from all tongues crisply into our own,
reads-"Don't do it," She herself is
not wholly without cunning. She rare
ly stands boldly upon the track to flag
Us as we come. She realizes that she
might be permanently ditched No; it
is far safer to run after us and catch
us. A dispersion, perhaps, but more
pertinently am application.
Temptation then no longer at his
shoulder, George began to have
qualms, little chaps, who started buzz
zing into his moral ears with all that
maddening, interminable drone which
makes one marvel however do school
teachers survive their first terms
Among these qualms there was none
that pleaded for the desOlate Turk or
his miniOns whose carelessness had
made the theft possible. For all George
cared, the Moslem might grind his
forehead in the sOulless sand and
make the air palpitate with his plants
to Allah. No. The disturbance was
due to the fact that never before had
be been Willingly the purchaser Of
stolen goods. He never tried to gloze
over the subtle distinction between
knowing and suspecting; and if he had
been variously suspicious in regard to
certain past bargains, conscience had
found no sizeable wedge for her de-
murrers. The Yhiordes was confessed
ly stolen.
He paused, with his hand upon the
dOor-knob of his room. If he didn't
keep the rug, it would fall into the
hands of a collector less scrupu1ous.
To return it to the Pasha at Bagdad
would be pure folly. and thankless. It
was one of the most beautiful Weav-
ings in existence. 1t was as priceless
In its way as any Raphael in the Vati-
can. And he desired it's possession in
tensely. Why not? Insidious phrase!
Was it not better that the world
should see and learn what a wonderful
craft the making of a rare rug had
been, than to allow it to return to the
sordid chamber of a harem, to newt
able ruin? AS Ryanne said, what the
deuce was a fanatical Turk or Arab
to him?
Against these specious arguments in
favor of becoming the adventurer's
'abettor and accomplice, there was
first the possible stain of blood. The
man agreed that he had come away
from Bagdad in doubt George did
not like the thought Of blood. Still,
he had collected a hundred e-neralds,
not one of which was without it's red
record. Again, if he carried the rug
home with his ether purchases, he
could pull it through the customs only
by lying, which was as distastefu1 to
his mind as being a receiver of stolen
goods.
He had already paid a goodly sum
against the purchase; and it was not
likely that man who was down to
reversing his collars and cuffs would
take back the rug and refund the
money. The Yhiordes was his, hap
pen what might. So conscience snuffed
out her red lantern and retired.
Some light steps, rustic, and he
wheeled in time to see woman open
a door, stand for minute in the full
light and disappear. 1t was She
George opened the door of his own
room, threw the rug inside, and tip
toed along the corridor, stopping for
the briefest time to ascertain the
number of that room He felt vastly
more guilty in performing this harm
less act than in smothering his men
tor
There was no one in the head-por-
ter's bureau; thus, unobserved and un-
embarrassed, he was free to inspect
the guest-list. Fortune Chedsoye. He
had never seen name quite like that.
It's quaintness did not suggest to him,