Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-06-29
CHAPTER XIV.
The Jewel Worshiper.

MoreauX came to stop in front OF
a low, one-and-a-half story brick struc-
ture which once had been a stable,
although it was plain that a long time
had elapsed since it had been put to
such uses. The wide doors seemed to
be solidly sealed; but smaller one
had been cut through it, and into the
lock of the little door Birge Moreaux
fitted one of the keys.
He stepped through quickly, closed
the door after him, and then struck
. match, and so found the switch of
the electric lights.
The room in which he stood extend
ed the entire width and half the depth
of the small building. 1t was the
studio, the workroom, of sculptor.
Busts, figures, groups, plaques, re-
liefs, many of them finished or half
finished and others just begun and
abandoned, were everywhere, on ta-
bles, tabourettes, shelves, and even
chairs. Mounds of clay waiting to be
softened for use were there.
There were some valuable paintings
against the walls; there were curios
and decorations about the room which
evidenced the fact that the sculptor
whoever the sculptor might be-did
not depend upon art for livelihood.
In the left half Of the partition
which divided the depth of the build
ing door was wide open, and through
1t Moreaux could see luxur'ously ap-
| pointed lounging room. To the right
of the door the partition was con-
cealed by tapestry of unques ma
BE richness.
Moreaux, without hesitating, step
ped forward and pulled the tapestry
aside, and so disclosed second door,
which was locked
But the small object that Crewe
had taken from the oblong silver box
in the safe-deposit compartment Of
Lorna Delorme's room, and which
Rickett had not been able to see, was
the tiny key to the lock of that door.
Moreaux produced it, opened the
door, and so disclosed another door
behind it-a door which was unmis-
takably made of steel, and which was
fastened against intruders by a COM
bination lock.
And here MoreauX referred to the
small, silver-bound book which, as
CIewe, he had been at such pains to
procure, and the clasp of which
Rickett had forced for him in Lorna's
room.
In tIa tnly
gilt-edged leaves rapidly until he
found the place he sought, studied the
figures he had found for moment,
and then turned his attention again
to the steel door, reaching out hand
toward the dial of the combination
lock-
But his extended hand paused ere it
touched the dial.
Moreaux bent forward and studied
1t attentively for several seconds.
Then, with a startled intaking of his
breath, he grasped the handle of the
door below the dial and turned it.
The steel door was not locked!
He pulled it open with jerk-and
then, with an exclamation of startled
amazement, he sprang through the
opening and got down upon one knee
and beside PROSTATE figure that was
lying at full length upon the rug OF
black velvet that covered the floor.
The PROSTATE, motionless, uncon.
scious figure on the floor was Lorna
Delorme Beverly, the bride Of less
than three days before.
Moreaux paid no attention to the
glittering array of jewels that adorned
the walls of that remarkable room,
the walls and ceiling and floor OF
which were entirely covered with
black silk-velvet; nor to the ebony
pedestals, tall and short, with which
the room was Uttered, each one bear.
ing its precious burden of precious
stones.
He lifted Lorna gently in his arms
and carried her into the lounging
room at the other side of the parti.
tion; and he saw, when he put her
down upon the couch, that she had
only tainted, and that nature was rap.
idly restoring her again to conscious.
ness.
Knowing that she would open her
eyes presently to full realization of
her surroundings. he left her and re.
turned to the velvet room and its
intellectually valuable contents, where
single cluster of electric bulbs
glowed from the middle of the black
bound ceiling overhead.
The riches, the values, the won
drous collection Of precious orna.
ments and stones that were there ap-
@Gs