Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-18

ing place. Tom and 1 will so now.
There. behind that carved screen in
the corner So long. old chap"
When John Fleming had lodged be-
hind his screen and the footsteps OF
his friends had died away on the stone
floor he saw n shaft of golden light
pierce the gloom of the mosque and
then vanish. He knew that the door
had opened and closed behind the
forms of his friends
Hours passed. People came and
went. and at the hour of sunset the
place was crowded. A priest went up
into the tower. and far below in his
place of concealment Fleming heard
the whining musical chant of the
mueZzin call TO prayer
After that all was quiet. He was
entirely alone
When it was dark. the thick. velvety
b!ackneSS of an Asiatic night. he step
ped softly TO the outer door and, open
ing it gently. whistled softly.
dark figure glided toward him.
Lean fingers gripped his throaa and
chokcd him into silence. He struggled
and tried to cry out. but he was pow
erleSs In the grip of giant
He was borne back into the mosque,
and far away from the entrance in a
tiny niche he was set down. and his
captor produced Il vile smelling OIL Tan
tern.
Then it was that Fleming saw his
captor was tall. fanatica looking in.
dividual. with wisp of dirty green
silk wound around his disordered head.
Come to the ALTAR Kissed the man
in French. You will show me and I
will dig for the emeralds of the great
shah" He pressed the blade OF a
knife suggestively against Fleming's
throat, and there was nothing to do
save to obey.
With i'll grace John Fleming consent
ed and. going to the altar. directed it's
removal as we'll as the displacement
of the great block of stone upon which
it stood.
Together they worked in silence, US
ing the rough tools the man had
brought with him. When the altar
had been removed from its bed OF
cement they pried up the stone slab
|
solid bed of cement.
Then it was that the fanatical priest
! flew madly at John Fleming and
! would have killed him had he not been
! the swifter of the two and managed
! to outrun his enemy in the dark cor
ners Of the mosque. Happily at this
moment Billy Blake and Tom Pike
| appeared, and while John Fleming
snatched up his precious roll of rugs
they covered his escape to the street
and followed him to the hotel
"Dished" said Billy Blake, disgust
eddy humping the bundle of rugs.
Say anything you like; I'll take it
ALP groaned John, sitting on the edge
of his lumpy bed in grim despair.
Tom Pike, who said little, but in his
slow and cautious way did much
thinking, removed his pipe from his
lips and dragged out his suit case.
i've got inside information that the
emeralds of the great shah will be In
America when we get there" he said
mysterioNsly. IF you want to be in at
the finish come with me and catch the
next steamer for home"
1t was significant of the subdued
mood of the two younger enthusiastic
treasure seekers that they merely fol
lowed his suggestion.
During the homeward voyage John
Fleming did not display the same so
licitous care concerning the Tabriz car.
pet. For him it had lost its value.
, When they landed in New York Tom
| DiI-o ehou-a5 Sipnc oP axcitnmanf
Fellows" he said cautiously. "soor
as we're through the customs get 9
taxi and beat it TO Johns studio"
Two hours later three excited young
men flung themselves from a taxicat
and dashed up the stairs to Fleming's
studio. Once there. they locked the dool
and opened wide the closed windows.
. well. Tom, what is it?" demanded
; Fleming and Blake in the sam,
, breath.
"Unroll your precious rug" said tn
silent one
; They obeyed, spreading the silk!
J oblong on the dusty floor.
Find the peacock altar" went Of
! Tom.
Here it is" said John. his finger o.
the rich mass of color.
| Take your knife and dig there
John. and | reckon youll find the en-
: eralds. That's my Interpretation o
the manuscript"
7 Ten minutes later three awed youn
men sat back on their heels and gaze
I at handful OF large uncut emerald
] which they had released from the care
n fully tied knots of the peacock thread
s OF the rug.
/ IL was quite true. Beneath the skill
e fully woven pattern of the altar Of til
n rose mosque the great shah had hiC
:. den his jewels. 1t had remained fc
J. Tom Pike to discover them.
b John Fleming arose and. lifting
:. bronze laurel wreath from its hook o
e the wall. carefully placed 1t on Tom
u tow colored hair.
:. What ReXt?' he asked gaSy.
l. 81 want to make plans for huu
d Ing trip" said Tom Pike mildly.