Evening star., 1927-10-02
THE ARMADI VASE

and selling antiques - generally
fakes"
We have now to consider" Peter
Bragg unused. how we can get holh
of those letters"
* y X
THE young man In the dark clothes.
l. and with the upper part of his
features obscured by a black mask
subsided into a chair in the shanpN
hack room of II Dnsmoor street west
kensington. He patted protuhcr-
ance in his breast pocket with salts
faction. The man seated opposite 10
him-A white haired. pathetic-looking
tioure--made some slight movement.
only to shrink back in his chair as ne
looked into the very ugly black cavity
Of n bull-nosed automatic pistol.
Put that thing down" he begged
tremulously. II can't do more than J
have done. I've given my word not
to move or raise my voice.
For military man. major his Wis.
avis observed, you seem to be little
nervous"
who are you the major demand
cd abruptly. Every now and then
your voice sounds familiar.
Don't worry to find out, my dear
sir You will waste your time. Look
upon me as a nightmare Of your fancy
who has pal YOU n brief visit and do
parted with your priceless vase. AS
for the letters, you can always believe
that you threw them on the back of
the fire---a generous action. major. but
why not? / am quite sure that at
some time or another during your life
you were capable Of it,"
The intruder slipped his pistol back
into his norkpt and DiCkP0 IN from
the table n porcelain vase of strange
orange and blue ColOrings
so this is Armadi porcelain" he OBJ
served. You must not fret about your
loss major. After all. as our inter.
view has passed off without disturb
ance. and ] am able to depart without
leaving indications "f my burglarious
effort. | imagine"
He broke off. Down the front stairs.
outside in the hall. came the sound of
footsteps. He glanced at the clock.
1t was five minutes past !.
Il thought YOU told me there was no
one in the house except YOURSELF" he
said swiftly.
No one excpet my niece" the ma ior
reminded him. Il warned you that
she might hear us
The masked man picked up the vase
moved across the room, and turned off
the light. He stood away from the
door, his back 10 the wall. watching.
The major showed fresh terror.
My niece may be difficult" he fal-
tered. BE careful with her. and don't
carry that vase as though it were a
ginger pot"
What do you mean difficult"
She has courage"
The door was opened, and the ma
rauder's scheme of darkness was frus.
trated by the light from the hall.
Framed in the doorway stood a very
handsome and very determined look
ing young woman. wearing rose
colored dressing gown and slippers
She looked into the room with amazed
eyes at the bureau still In disorder,
her terror-stricken uncle. the masked
man with the vase. A cry broke from
he. lips.
Madame. the burglar assured her
you have nothing to fear"
But you have" was the retort.
Put up your hands
The girls arm flashed out. Gripped
in her fingers was a be-lookinC
revolver. The masked man obeyed
her behest, but in a fashion Of his
own. He held the vase in front of his
face
1OuHR lduS, 10 warmed nPT, II
you shoot, you will destroy what I am
informed is a priceless example of
Armadi pottery"
What are you doing with it?" she
demanded. 1t belongs to my uncle"
Alas" the other replied, ''it did.
At present 1t belongs to ne-by right
of possession. We collectors some
times use violent measures. Will you
he so good as 10 step little to one
side?"
He moved closer to her. The hand
that grippcd the revolver trembled
noticeably.
She snapped on the light and closed
the door.
Stay where you are" she ordered.
She raised the revolver once more,
hut it was TOO late. There was a firm
grip upon her wrist. an arm around
her shoulder. She was powerless.
Need we argue about this little
matter" he continued. II have the
vase. It is on the carpet for the mo-
ment.- but it is now my properly.
Your uncle is resigned to its loss. Let
me pass"
She struggled in his grasp. but she