Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-01-06
CHAPTER ".

mat FACULTY WnlCn decides OH the
lawlessness of our actions; so the not
ed etymologist described conscience.
1t fell to another distinguished intel
lect to add that conscience makes cow
ards of us all. Ay. She may be over
come at times, side-tracked for any
special desire that demands 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 with
out cunning. She rarely stands boldly
upon the track to flag us as we come.
She realizes that she might be lperma-
nently ditched No; it is far safer to
run after ls and catch us. A digres.
sion, perhaps, but more pertinently af
application!
Temptation then no longer at his
shoulder, George began to have
qualms, little chaps, who, started
buzzing 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 lesolate
Turk or his minions whose careless.
had made the theft possible. For all
George cared, the Moslem might grind
his forehead in the soulness sand and
make the air palpitate with his plants
to Allah. No. The disturbance was
due to the fact that never before had
he been Willingly the purchaser OF
stolen goods. He never tried to glOze
over the subtle distinction between
knowing and suspecting; and II he had
been variously suspicious in regard to
certain past bargains, conscience had
found no sizeable wedge for her de-
murrers. The Yhiordes was confess.
eddy stolen.
He paused, with his hand upon the.
door-knob of his room. II he didnC
keep the rug, it would fall into the
hands of collector less scrupulous.
TO return it to the pasha at Bagdad
would be pure folly, and thank1ess. It
was one Of the most beautiful weav-
ings in existence. 1t was as priceless
in its way as any Raphael In the
vatican. And he desired it's possess
sion intensely. Why not? Insidious
phrase! Was it not better that the
world should see and learn what
wonderful craft the making of rare
rug had been, than to allow 1t to re-
turn to the sordid chamber of q harem
to inevitable ruin? AS Ryanne said,
what the deuce was fanatical Turk
or Arab to him?
Against these specious arguments
in favor of becoming the adventurer's
iabettor and accomplish 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 hundred emeralds, not
one of which was without its red rec
ord. Again, if he carried the rug home
with his other purchases, he could pull
It through the customs only by lying,
which was as distasteful to his mind
as being a receiver Of stolen goods
He had already paid goodly sum
against the purchase; and 1t was not
likely that man who was down to re-
yersing his collars and cuffs would
take back the rug and refund the
money. The Yhiordes was his, hap
pen what might. So conscience snuff
feG out her red lantern and retired.
Some light steps, a rustic. and he
wheeled in time to see woman open
a door, stand for a minute in the full
light. and disappear. II 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 mum.
Der Of that room. He felt vastly more
guilty in performing this harmless act
than in smothering his mentor