St Ignatius College - Ignatian Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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AN ORIENTAL MYSTERY 21 Redding was the title given him by his most intimate friends, and in these words he was indeed well described- six feet two in his stocking feet, with massive square shoulders and a well developed chest, Redding was prob- ably a physically perfect man. But you desire to know why he should be interested in the Turkish exhibit. Well, that is what I am about to tell. When the doors of the Turkish Building were thrown open to the ever curious public, only a few rugs were placed on display. As time went on, these oriental prod- ucts were sold with increasing regularity, and yet there was no record of any, other than the first shipment, having passed through the San Francisco Custom House. This finally came to the notice of the Exposition officials, who immediately proceeded to look into the matter. The affair was placed in the hands of the Exposition secret service squad, of which Redding was a member. The latter, being assigned to the case, posed as a collector of oriental goods, and under this guise spent much of his time around the Turkish Building in order to discover whether or not its stock was replenished. However, he was not the only one on ,such a mission, for Connors and Larkin, two other members of the squad who had frequently tried to get ahead of him, were also working on the case. Conse- quently you can readily imagine, after the information just gained, his haste in making his way to the chief's office in the Service Building. Arriving there, he at once re- ported what he had learnedg he had scarcely finished when in came Connors and Larkin with the same story. The chief, a rather uncommunicative type, made little comment on the subject, merely announcing that there would be a general council at nine o'clock the following morning. That night Redding sat in his room emitting massive clouds of smoke from his favorite meerschaum until the Wee small hours of the morning. Rugs were certainly being smuggled into the Exposition grounds, but how?

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An fmrirntal illlgntrrg ACK REDDING came to an abrupt halt as 'H' -y he was about to ass unnoticed a pile of Yi - ir P l.-4? oriental rugs, which bore the placard, All goods on exhibit are for sale.'l A smile of exultation immediately overspread his coun- . ' tenance, but realizing that he must act with the utmost discretion, he assumed an air of semi-interest, and approached a nearby clerk. I see you have some new rugs, he remarked, as the ever attentive little Turk came forward to ascertain his wants. ' Yes sirf' replied the attendant, and some very fine ones too. VVou1dn't you like to look them over? All right, consented Redding, pretending to become deeply concerned in the excellencies and defects of the various rugs which the salesman hastened to display. Vlfhile the Turk was reciting the history of one particu- larly expensive and most exquisite piece of workman- ship he ventured to inquire when another new lot would be received. 'Q It is hard to say, answered the Turk, lending' empha- sis to the words by a shrug of his shoulders, but pretty soon, I think. A Having learned as much as he desired, Redding was anxious to be off, but realizing that a hasty departure would probably arouse the suspicions of the crafty Orien- tals, he lingered about for some time, and then, having sauntered carelessly out the entrance, hastened to board a Fadgl Auto Train. Now to the casual observer the actions of jack Redding might not have seemed in any way extraordinary, nor would they have been for a mere visitor, but he was more than this. He was a prominent member of the Expositions coterie of rubber heeled sleuths. Big John

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22 IGNATIAN That was the question that presented to him such a baffling problem. At last, however, a solution Hashed upon his mind, and the longer he considered it, the more positive he became that he had struck upon the correct theory. How simple it was after all, he thought, and wondered why it had not occurred to him before. Finally tired and brain-weary, he Hung himself upon the bed, to pass a few troubled hours in slumber, in which he saw giant-like Turks swarming over the Marina, and flinging out into the sea those who came to challenge their ad- vance. Nine o'clock found the whole force assembled at head- quarters, eager to hear what theories would be advanced. The chief took his customary position at his desk, and remarked that anyone should do so at once. a most grave manner sideration all evidence who had any suggestions to make, Immediately Connors arose and in stated that, after taking into con- at hand, he had come to the con- clusion that some vessel anchored in Yacht Harbor had been meeting incoming ships and receiving the rugs. Then, he explained, it has been an easy matter to transfer the goods from Yacht Harbor to the Turkish Building. Following these words a good deal of arguing on the likelihood of the theory took place. Finally silence was again restored, and Redding arose to chief. I can hardly agree with Mr. Connors he said, for it seems far more probable to rugs are being smuggled in from a ship in I address the theory, sir, me that the the channel under cover of darkness by Way of the Marina. Over the Marina! That's a good one, ridiculed Lar- kin, as several wiseacres around him began to scoff at Redding's explanation. I am rather inclined, spoke the chief to favor the idea of Mr. Connors, and therefore I wi'l appoint himself and several others to watch the vessels in Yacht Harborf' Thereupon the meeting broke up, with Connors smiling gleefully at the discomhture of Redding.