The Mena weekly star., 1913-04-03

muscular arm was scared by two long, ugly knife-wounds, scarcely healed. Next he drew up a trousers leg, disclosing a battered shin. And there's another on my shoulder-blade the closest call 1 ever had. A man who takes his life in his hands, as have done, merits some reward. MT Jones, I'll be frank with you. am a kind of derelict. Since I was a boy, l have hated the humdrum of offices, of shops. l wanted to benny own man, to go and come as l pleased. To do this and live meant precarious eX- ploits. This rug represents ope of them. I am telling you the family secret; I am showing you the skele- ton in the closet, confidentially. l stole that rug; and when I say that the seven labors of our old friend Hercules were simple diversions com pared, youll recognize the difficulties I had to overcome You know some thing of the Oriental mind. 1 hand led the job alone. may not be out of the jungle yet"
 George listened entranced. He could readily construct the scenes through which this adventurer had gone; the watchful nights, the untiring patience, the thirst, the hunger, the heat. And yet, he could hardly believe. He was e trile skeptical. Many a rogue had made the mistake of playing Georges age against his experience. He had made some serious blunders in the early stages of the business, how ever; and everybody, to gain some thing in the end, must lose something at the start.
 If that rug is the one I have in mind, you certainly have stolen it. And if it's copy, I'll tell you quickly enough"
 That's fair. And that's why" Ryanne declared, q wanted you to look at it. To me, considering what nave gone through to get it, to me it Is the genuine carpet. To your expert eye 1t may be only fine copy. know this much, that rare rugs and paint ings have many copies, and that some one is being hooked, sold, bamboozled, sandbagged, every day in the. week. If this Is the real article, want you to take it off my hands," the adventuref finished pleasantly.
 There will be hue and cry"
 No doubt of it."
 And the devils own job to get it out of Egypt" These were set phrases of the expert, prellminaries to bar gaining. "One might as we'll carry round a stolen elephant"
 But a man who is as familiar with the game as you are would have little difficulty. Your integrity Is an estab' lished fact, on both sides of the water. You could take 1t to New York as a bopy, and no appraiser would know the difference. It's worth the attempt. I'd take it to New York myself, but you see, I am fiat broke. Come; what do you or care about a son-of-a-gun of Turk?" drolly.
 "What do you want for 1t, suppos- ing it's genuine?" Georges throat was dry and his voice harsh. His con science reused herself feebly, for 1t had been long time since occasion had peeessitated her presence.
 Ryanne narrowed his eyes, carefully balancing the possibilities. Say, one thousand pounds. It Is like giving il away. But when the devil drives, you know. It is beyond any set price; il is worth what any collector is willing to pay for It. I believe l know ths kind of man you are. Mr.. Jones. and that is why, when learned you were in Cairo, I came directly to you. Tor would never sell this rug. No. You would become like a. miser over his gold. You would keep it with youi emeralds q have heard about them tool; draw the curtains, lock the