The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-27
The Eue,,ing Story
vivian's Prayer Ring.
(By Donald Allen.)
Hurry up. Hurry up!

Thieves, robbers, murderers!"
In the house?" !
mo, just went up the road!" /
And who has been murdered or
robbed?"
''They threatened to murder me,
but I looked SO ferocious that they
kept hands on. Miss Vivian, you
know the Persian prayer rug that
your father brought you from Bos-
ton?"
.of course. I know it. You don't
tell me that--'s
THAT rug has been stolen right un-
der our noses. or right under mine.
for OF course you wasn't here. 1t was
right on that veranda when you went
away. wasn't it?'' 7-'%-
"Of: course it was stepped on it,
''Well. about ten minutes ago I
came out of the kitchen to look for
you. was jest In time to see man
coming up the path. He was scrub
looking. I took him for q tramp who
wanted a cold bite, and waved him
or and said: Hike away, sir-noth-
ing doing today!'' -
You are mistook.' he says.
| There's lots doing. I'm after the
prayer rug"
"'Who. sent your -,
My minister. He says can new
er be real good till I have q prayer
rug to pray on
"And with that. Miss Vivian, he
snatched it up. I yelled for the police
and made a kick at him and over
balanced myself and fell Nat. When
got up he was at the gate, and he
calls to me:
II it don't helr my prayers I'll
make a hoss-blanlket of it!' /"
"And he carried it off?" asked the
girl.
HE did. and he made up a face at
me as he went
WAS he on foot %
II kinder think he had an auto, but
am not sure.''
MARY. you go up to my room and
fetch me my revolver!"
But he's gone, Miss Vivian"
But I'm going after him and get
that rug back If have to follow him
fifty miles and shoot him six times!'
Mr.. Collier. the insurance man. had
residence in a suburb. There were
beggars. tramps and fruit and chick
en- thieves in plenty. but he paid scant
attention to the complaints against
them.
There is bound to be something
wrong with any place you live in" he
always replied to his daughter Vivian.
''and If we look at these things too
seriously we should spend half our
time in court
You may put up with it, but
shan't!" she exclaimed.
'Well, don't go to shooting anv.
body because they steal a few apples.''
Miss Vivian had been out for a spfn
In her runabout and had returned to
hear the cooks story as given above.
Ine cook hadn't been sure whether
the rug robber had an auto or not.
but somehow the girl felt quite sure
| he had. She therefore started off at
| top speed and did not slack up anv
until she had got to the crossroads five
/ m q 0vTy0V -
make inquiries Of the first person that
came along, when an auto with a
young man driving it turned In from
the other road.
This young man wore a rather old
business suit. but he hadn't a bold.
bad look If prayer rug hadn't
been stolen in broad daylight Miss
Vivian wouldn't have had the least
suspicion. AS it was. the strange
Young man did something to increase
| those suspicious. After he had passed
her few rods he turned and looked
back. II she hadn't been looking she
wouldn't have known it. but she was
looking, and at once exclaimed to her
| self:
There's the chap who stole my rug
and he's got to give it back!"
Just moments thought-just a
bit Of logic would have made the girl
other girl ever known q young man
who didn't look back when it was
| worth looking at? They have to-
They can't help 1t. It's magnet that
has got to come or the neck will be
twisted off like that of a luckless
chicken And, to clinch the case,
wasn't Miss Vivian looking backwards
as we'll as the young MANI"
There was no stop for logic or de-
ductions. however Around came her
auto and she was after the young man.
He must give UP that prayer rug or
volvers begin to bark the consequences
may be very serious for some one.
What did the young man do when
he found he was pursued! A very
Miss Vivian for a bit of a harum-
scarem who wanted to try out the
speed of her runabout- It would be a
grave discourtesy not to accede to her
wishes.
He runs away. He is surely the
rug stea1er:''
A runabout was not made to catch
an auto. In using only half his power
The race had lasted two miles when
| a bullet whizzed over his head and he
heard the bark of a revolver behind
him. In his sudden stoppage he ran
his machine. He was hardly out Of
his seat when Miss Vivian came glid-
ing up to present her revolver and say:
you cannot escape me! Hand over
that prayer rug!
4 The look of astonishment prepared
her for his reply as he raised his hat
Prayer ruge Why. what can you
mean?s
.You stole a Persian prayer rug
from the veranda of Mr.. Golfers RESI-
dence an hour or two agO!'
s.And where is Mr.. Golfers resi-
dence. please? he Querted with =