The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-03-18

"At last l came to it and knocked
with trembling fingers on the carved
panels. It opened inward with star
Ting audiences and l entered, crop
ing my way through semidarkness I'M
til a parallelogram of rose color In
dicated lamp lit room. paused for
a moment to take breath and to gain
control of my scattered senses
ACROSS the width of warm, scent
from hangings and heaped up pillows
on floor and divans, saw another
room. In the middle Of this second
room saw enacted the same picture
that had been depicted within the crys-
tai
II screamed again and again for
help At the sound Of my voice Ar
thur lifted his head and saw me. He
gave a leap forward just as something
dark descended over my head and
was gently lifted from the floor and
conveyed to a softly cushioned diyan,
where strong hands confined my
wrists and carefully bound them with
soft silken scarfs.
81 heard Arthurs voice calling my
name, telling me to have no fear, that
all would be arranged in few mo
ments, and then his voice ceased.
''The voice of my benevolent friend
OF the Street of the Goldsmiths now
broke upon my strained hearing
Madame is convinced of the dan
<,%k \
eyes said
MADAME values the life of her rel
alive at great priceT he continued.
"'Of course How much do you
wantr l asked bluntly.
There was little silence, and then.
How much has madame gotT he ask
ed politely.
"In spite of my discomfort laugh.
ed outright at his impudence Re
lease me at once and l win give you
everything, provided my nephew Is re-
stored to me unframed
The relative of madame will be
awaiting her outside the door, he
promised And then very gently he
removed the cloth from my head and
unIaSteneu my H1lKen bonds.
Madame values her life too highly
to make mention Of this friendly little
visit to the rug merchant. 1t would
be painful indeed for relatives to find
her body in the Bosporus'
II nodded in return and FASTENED
down the passage. My eyes were now
accustomed to the dim light, and !
saw that the walls were pierced here
and there with carved lattices.
II opened the door and found my
self In the crowded. busting street. ]
turned around to look for my nephew
and saw the door fly open once more
to eject him into my arms When we
compared notes ! discovered that AL
fred had been relieved of his valua-
bies and money under promise that
should go unframed. He had been
held behind one of the Iattices and had
watched me pass out of the place
| Quite penniless, but very happy at be
ing restored unhurt to each other. we
made our way back to the hotel and
after luncheon went aboard the steam
er. That covered our experiences In
| Constantinople"
Miss Gray leaned back in her chair
and laid an affectionate hand on young
Clayton's arm. Tell them how you
were lured behind the blue painted
door," she said
Arthur laughed ruefully Il suppose
| was an easy mark for them. 1t ap-
pears that the shop of the rascally rug
merchant was connected with a shop
in the Street of Swords. and the old
man was in charge of both. He had
| just entrapped me into his rooms to
examine some fine Damascus blades
when Aunt Emeline appeared before
his other shop. Foreigners are easy
prey for these clever chaps, and this
one Immediately connected us together
and SO played of one against the other
to his financial benefit"
But how about the crystal ball
Did you really see the picture Of Mr.
| Clayton struggling with his captors?"
asked Madeline Trayle eagerly
II really did see it." affirmed Miss
Gray. Perhaps Professor Trayle can
| explain the matter to u.s.
| The professor shook his head II am
afraid that incident must be added to
other unexplainable mysteries of the
east" he said slowly