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

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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.

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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 ORIENTAL MYSTERY 23 Ten days later at the same hour, another meeting was held. Connors' Hgrini' of the previous occasion was con- spicuous by its absence, as Yacht Harbor had been most diligently shadowed without any startling revelationsg and notwithstanding another lot of rugs had mysteriously arrived at the Turkish Building. It was Redding's turn to laugh when the chief announced that, as Connors' solu- tion had proven incorrect, his theory would be given a trial. Thereupon the chief selected several men, including Redding, to guard the Marina between the hours of twelve and six a. m. Accordingly each night at the appointed hour, a little band of men made their way to the Marina, and there separated to patrol the shore until the first rays of daybreak should tint the sky in the east. Three nights were thus spent without anything out of the ordinary being discovered, but as long as no rugs were smuggled in they held out hopes for the ultimate suc- cess of their plans. Perseverance conquersf, if we are to believe the adage of our forefathers, and in this case it proved true, for at about three-thirty a. m. of the fourth night, a bright light was seen to flash three times out of the darkness. Immediately those on duty knew that there was a ship in the channel, from which a small boat would soon put off. In a few seconds a red light, in answer to this signal, was seen by the shore in the rear of the Cali- fornia Building, and it was surmised by the silent watchers who, by this time, had gathered together, that that was where the small boat would land. A few minutes later, as a rift in the clouds let forth the silvery rays of the hitherto hidden moon, they heard a rowboat grate upon the rocky beach at the point where the red light still shone out upon the silent waters. 22 if vk ik ak ak vi: Ik 211 jack Redding's heart beat fast with joyful expectancy as the revenue cutter slipped noiselessly out into San Fran-