Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-02
CHAPTER Nv.
An Old Acquaintance.

That faculty which decides on the law
lessness Of our actions-so the noted ety.
mologist described conscience. 1t fell to
another distinguished intellect to add that
conscience makes towards Of US all. Ay.
She may be overcome at times, siGetrack-
ed for any special Cesire 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-"Dont do ft!'
She herself Is not wholly without cunning.
She rarely stands boldly upon the track to
flag us as we come. She realizes that she
might be permanently ditched. No; 1t is
far safer to run after us and catch us. A
DEPRESSION perhaps, but more per-tnently
an 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, in
terminable drone which makes one marvel
how ever 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 ali
his forehead in the soulless sand and
make the air palpitate with his plants to
Allah. No. The disturbance was due te
the fact that never before had he been
Willingly the purchaser OF stolen goods
He never tried to gioze over the subtle
distinction between knowing and suspect
ing; and If he had been variously suspi
cious in regard to certain past bargains
conscience had found no sizeable wedge
for her demurrers. The Yhiordes Wal
He paused, with his hand upon the door
knob of his room. II he didn't keep thu
rug. 1t would fall into the hands OF 9
collector less scrupulous To return 1t t
the pasha at Bagdad would be pure folly
and thankess. It was one of the mos
beautiful weavings in existence. It was
as priceless in its way as any Raphae
in the Vatican. And he desired It's pos
session intensely. Why not? Insidiou!
phrase! Was it not better that the worie
should see and learn what a wonderful
craft the making of a rare rug had been
than to allow it to return to the eordit
chamber Of a harem, to inevitable ruin
AS Ryanne said. what the deuce was 8
fanatical Turk or Arab to him?
Against these specious arguments In "a
vor OF becoming the adventurers abettol
and accomplish, there was first the pos
sible stain Of blood. The man agreet
that he had come away from Bagdad il
doubt George de mot mot as ehs hgn
dred emeralds. not one Of which wa
without its red record. Again. II he car
ried the rug home with his other pur
chases, he could pull it through the Gus
toms only by lying. which was as dis
tasteful to his mind as being receiver
He had already paid a goodly sun
against tho purchase: and it was not IKE e
h;a collars and cuffs would take hack tn,
rug and refund the money. The Yhtorde'
was his. happen what might. SO con
science snuffed out her red lantern and
retired. :,
wheeled in time to see woman open &
door. stand for minute in the full ligh
and disappear. It was she. Georg,
the r,,r, inside and tiptoed along the cor
rdor stopping for the e, b ths1 1oo thine
SeIt vastly more guilty in performing THU
harmless act than in smotherins hi
mentor.
bureau: thus. nnobserved and unem
barrassed. he vas FREE to INSPECT H b ,n.
never seen q name quite like that. IT.