The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-02-27

ions. After he had passed her a few
rods, he turned and looked back Ii
she hadn't been looking, she wouldn't
have noticed itbut she was looking,
and at once, exclaimed to herself:
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 doubt her conclusion Had she
or any other girl ever known a young
man who didn't look back when it
was worth looking at? They have
to. They can't help it, It's magnet
ism that pulls the head around, and
the head has got to come or the neck
will be twisted off like that of
luckless chicken And, 10
clinch the case, wasn't Miss Vivian
| looking backward as we'll as the
young man?
There was no stop for the logic or
| deductions, however. Around came
the auto and she was after the young
man. He must give up that prayer
rug or take the consequences and when
revolvers begin to bark the conse-
Quences. may be very serious for some
one.
| What did the young man do when
he saw that he was pursued. A very
natural thing, to be sure. He took
Miss Vivian for bit of harumscar-
UNI who wanted to try out the speed
of her runabout 1t would be a grave
discourteSy not to accede to her wish
| es.
"He runs away He is surely the
rug stealer"
A runabout was not made to catch
an auto. In using only half his pow
err the autoist could maintain the lead
| The race had lasted two miles when
bullet whizzed over his head and he
heard the bark of a revolver behind
him. In his sudden stoppage he ran
into the ditch and made cripple OF
his machine. He was hardly out of
his seat when Miss Vivian came Gid
ing up to present her revolver and
say:
"You cannot escape mel Hand
over that prayer rugW
The look of establishment prepared
her for his reply as he lifted his hat
to her
Prayer rug? Why, what can you
mean?''
"You stole a Persian rug from the
veranda of Mr.. Golfers residence an
hour or two agol'
"And where is Mr.. Golfers resi-
dence, please?" he queried, with a
smile.
six miles south of the crossroads"
"And you are?'-
His daughter, sir"
"And you positively identity me as
the thief"
Moo. wasn't home at the
time, but the cook gave me a clear
description of the thief"
81 see And you thought | was
running away from you to escape ar
restY
at looked that way"
well, my machine is in the ditch,
as you see, and can't be used, but ii
you will give me a seat in your runa-
bout | will cheerfully accompany you
home and interview the cook. She
must be a Sherlock Holmes to iden-
tify a person who has never been
nearer your house than the cross
roads. | beg pardon, but my name
is Robert Bellaire. You may have
heard of my uncle Stephen, who is a
State Senator and lives mostly at his
country home, called Long View"
"O-ohp gasped Miss Vivian.
"And in case the cook fails to iden-
tify me and brings about my dis
charge from arrest, | think | may be
able to put you on the trail of your
rug, -,
IL shall be very glad, sir"
; when | was within half mile Of
the crossroads l saw farmer dicker.
ing with a youngish man over Per.
sian rug. | heard him offer it to the
farmer for 81, and he probably got
/ his price. | am afraid, Miss Collier
/ that you are somewhat reckless with
! firearms"
81 ask our pardon, Mr.. Bellaire,
S replied the much-abashed girl
, "Oh, no harm done. Shall we &c
over and see the farmerF
r "If you will be so kind"
2 The farmer and his wife sat on the
doorstep with the rug spread out be
e fore them to be admired.
: as that the one?" asked Mr. Bel
: laire, as the drove up.
n eyes, the very one"
e They entered the gate and advan
ced to the steps and the young maj
1 said to the farmer:
80 you paid him his price, eh9
e Nope" was the reply. HE want
ed 81, but I beat him down to a dol
t lar and a half. How much is it wuth ?
This young lady will pay you jus
what you paid the tramp 10. il"
It she won't do no such darned thing
This is a prayer rug, and I'll bet 1t
d wuth all of $40"
eyes, and you add hundred to tina
1t was stolen from her fathers hous
t few hours ago"
n "By ginger"
And you'll have to give it up"
d The farmer made no objection t
e that, and when it had been placed i
/ the runabout, Mr.. Bellaire said;
e "You are not rid of me yet VIII
st not ask me to go home with you an
hear what the cook has to say?
g "If you are bound not to spare mi
le then come along"
n, Less than an hour later the coo
L. L. ettrx a