Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-10
The Argus Daily Story
The Crystal Baby Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted. 1918. by Associated Literary Bureau.

, it cleared, and I seemed to see the IN
/ terror Of a small room rich with orien-
tai furniture. A man was in the fore
ground, and. even though his back was
toward me, recognized my nephew.
l screamed as l also saw that two men
were standing over him with drawn
swords. Then the picture blurred and
! faded and the crystal ball reflected
nothing save the brilliant sunshine and
the hard blue sky.
Take me to him at once, II you
know where he is pleaded.
1.-THE Turk lifted a skinny hand and
pointed toward the corner. Follow
( the narrow way until you come to a
blue painted door in the wall. Knock
there and If you hasten you may be in
time to deliver your nephew from his
enemies
Il tossed a number of coins on to
the narrow counter and fastened around
the corner into the alley had noticed
Presently l found myself in another
street, overlooking with light and col
or and hurried on looking for a wall
which might contain a blue painted
deor.
AT last 1 came to It and knocked
with trembling fingers on the carved
panels. 1t opened inward with star
Ting suddenness and entered, crop
ing my way through semidarkness I'M
til a parallelogram of rose color in
Dictated a lamp lit room. paused for
a moment to take breath and to gain
control of my scattered senses.
| ~ cnonA.
ed room, rich in gorgeous colorings
from hangings and heaped up pillows
on floor and divans, l saw another
room. In the middle of this second
room I saw enacted the same picture
that had been depicted within the crys-
tai.
81 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 I
was gently lifted from the floor and
conveyed to a softly cushioned divan,
where strong hands confined my
wrists and carefully bound them with
soft silken scarfs.
az heard Arthur's voice calling my
ISllluS Lie W nave hO LCois bAAbI
all would be arranged in a few mo-
ments, and then his voice ceased.
1.-The voice of my benevolent friend
of the Street of the Goldsmiths now
broke upon my strained hearing.
Madame is convinced of the dan
ger of her relativeT he asked smoothly.
Yes said.
"'Madame values the life of her rel
alive at great priceT he continued.
"'Of course How much do you
want? l asked bluntly.
There was little silence, and then,
How much has madame got? he ask
ed politely.
I'm spite Of my discomfort 1 laugh
ed outright at his impudence. Re
lease me at once and l will give you
everything, provided my nephew is re-
stored to me unframed
= 1.-The relative of madame win be
: awaiting her outside the door, he
promised. And then very gently he
removed the cloth from my head and
:. unfastened my silken 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'
81 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.
- 81 opened the door and found my
. self in the crowded, busting street l
turned around to look for my nephew
and sRw 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-
:, bles and money under promise that !
y should go unframed. He had been
= held behind one OF the lattices 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 chail
. and laid an affectonate hand on young
Clayton's arm. Tell them how you
:. were lured behind the blue painted
a door," she said.
4 Arthur laughed ruefully. 81 suppose
was an easy mark for them. 1t ap
/ pears that the shop Of the rascally rus
II merchant was connected with a shoI
In the Street of Swords, and the old
r man was in charge Of both. He hat
just entrapped me into his rooms Il
4 examine some fine Damascus blades
6 when Aunt Emeline appeared before
\. his other shop Foreigners are easy
h. prey for these clever chaps, and thii
IN one Immediately connected US together
a. and so played off one against the othel
n TO his financial benefit"
n But how about the crystal ball
n Did you really see the picture Of Mr.
Clayton struggling with his captors?'
asked Madeline Trayle eagerly.
20 81 really did see It," affirmed Mis-
r. Gray. Perhaps Professor Trayle car
"a explain the matter to US"
10 The professor shook his head. II an
"a afraid that incident must be added t.
other unexplsinable mysteries of thu