THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10466, 2 November 1911, Page 2

THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

CHAPTER XlV.—Continued

"Well, sir, if yon must go, get ready," concluded tho master. "-If they will tako you, all right, though I could not seo my way clear to send you on board myself." Miutafa ran below and secured Ins own suit case and also tho bag left by Alma, and was back, thrilling with the idea that perhaps fate was giving ■him one more chance to retrieve himself, by overtaking the fair girl who had so completely bewitched him from the hour of that fateful marriage by proxy. „ At tho gangway, a, strange omcer, having finished a short conference he had with the captain, was about to descend the ladder to his own boat. Mustafa took him aside. "I want you to take me on your ship to Liverpool," ho began. "I will pay iiborally. Will you consent?" "Impossible. We do not carry passengers. Ours is a private yacht. Why didn't vou go on board the Sardinia with the mails. I learn that they were sent on."

"I—l was asleep," stammered Mustafa, preferring to lie rather than bo left 1 behind. "Indeed you must take me. I will give little trouble and eat and sleep anywhere. My heavy luggage will come on later." I VWell, get in the boat.", This half impatiently. "If our captain is willing, alright. If not, we can fetch you back. Your steamer goes so slow I guess it can bo managed." "What ship are you," asked Mustafa, when they were returning. "It looks like a fast boat." "If there is a liner who can show us 1 his heels, we haven't met him. Not j even the new Cunarders. You will ' find out our name when you get on 1 board." . I "That sounds odd," thought MustaI fa. "But I must not be particular. If she is as fast as that, one can overlook almost anything." "Have you got the "lady," .roared a commanding voice as they drew alongside.

. "NosiW" This from the boat's'officer. "She and several others boarded the Sardinia about sunset last evening. I have brought a passenger who wants to make Liverpool with us. Will I bring him up of take him back, sir?"

An earnest hum of voices was heard on the bridge; then the same commanding voice' proclaimed:

"Bring us the passenger. We will consider the passage after we see him." I

Mustafa was passed up an iron ladder, and along a side deck, then up some steps to a deck in the stern. Here a small group of men was gathered. These were already joined by an officer from the bridge, w;ho at once met the young Turk. N "I hardly think we can take you," said this man,' replying/to a hurried entreaty '■. from Mustafa. "This is a private yacht. But we would like to ask you about the lady who——" "Good HeavenSjDouglas!' l>egan another voice, as a.tall man stepped forward ; then interrupted himself with: "Hello, Mustafa! What the devil are you doing herer 1 "

For once the Turk fell back more dismayed than amazed. and disgusted. Tho tall nian was Sidney Greer. * *

CHAPTER XV,

ON BOARD THE MIST.

Captain Douglas regarded the two men in surprise'. At the same time three others approached, drawn by Greer's exclamation. *

One of these, dark, black-mou-sfcached, fiery-eyed, was the prince of Dalvorig, known more widely as Dalmar, the Armenian liberator.

"See Douglas," said Sidney, pulling the other aside.. "Hoist your boat and heave ahead. I forgot that you have not yet met this rascal. But he certainly knows more about Alma than we do, though why he was on the Balearic beats me. If he wants a passage, take him, and we'llundertake to pump him dry before we get to Liverpool."

"Monsieur, you forget," interposed Pavlidis, now careles of liis identity. "Marsovian and I saw him on the steainer as she was leaving the dock." He turned and bowed ironically* to Mustafa. "You were too sharp for, me there, but I fancy you have ruu yourself into our hands at la st."

, "What do you mean.?" blustered the Turk, seriously alarmed by the look in Dalmar's eye. "Am I among foes. I will go back to our steamer." I But as Mustafa turned toward the ladder on the side, he saw the boat being swung inward over the rail, and a muffled throbbing below told him the gray yacht was again upon her course. "Not so!" declared he whom we will still call Pavlidis, the silk merchant, though with lessening frequency ,• "you will remain. Just now you wished to pay for a passage, lam told. We will take you for nothing provided you answer certain questions."

"Do you talk thus to me—a Turkish nobleman?" blustered Mustafa, not knowing what other resistance to make. "I demand to be taken backto the Balearic."

OUR SERIAL.

BY [WILLIAM PERRY BROWN

His eye wandered from the herculean figure of Greer to the scarcely less imposing one of Pavlidis, whom he remembered encountering at the dock. "You are no nobleman," sneered Pavlidis. "When you wero in Trebizond, three years ago, with Rotan Pasha, your master, your name was Shemo. You were a barber "

"You lie," began Mustafa, but he got no further.

An iron hand cktched his throat and eyes like live coals seemed to U:rn themselves into his brain, as Pavlidis continued, shaking him the while, as he emphasised Jus words.

"Your master, with his retinue,, of which you were the least, rode into the country to visit Michael Gru, the holy patriarch? of the province for the Armenian church. Returning to the city, Rotan and his escort, -including you, were captured. You were taken to a place where your master was made to sign an agreement, insuring the liberty of certain noble Armenians whom tho Porte had condemned to imprisonment or death. Among the hostages left by Rotan was you."

"Do you remember who you shaved and waited on for the next two weeks, or until you, with others were permitted to return to Trebizond after those patriots were liberated?" Hero Pavlidis released the man, who appeared to be magnetised iby the other's fiery gaze. Mustafa held a hand to his head, saying:

"Are you — ; But it cannot- be. Surely you are not Dalmar, Prince of Dalvorig?" Here he suddenly collapsed utterly. "Why should I further pretend? Oh, effendi, if you are Dal-, mar, surely you know me." ''Know you ?" Pavlidis laughed unpleasantly. "Shemo, Ido know you. And I demand from your rascally tongue the truth concerning the things which will be asked of you. First, this. is Captain Douglas, captain and owner of this ship. Next, this is M. Sidney Greer " "I have the'honour of knowing M.< Greer," interrupted Mustafa, utterly; crushed by his accumulating troubles. "I—l ask your pardon for some things which have passed betweenus." j

"Oh, well—Mustafa, or Shemo,,or what ever your name is," returned Greer, grimly, "we don't care so much who a man is in our country, but are chiefly guided by what lie is. Whait gets me, though, is that it seems as 'ijf" you had imposed upon old Marsovian and his niece."' j

;• "Me, effendi?" Mustafa stared;, puzzled'to know, at what Sidney was [driving.; "How—— " : ■■''■ \ '■

"Yes, you. The fact that you, representing Rotan, whom the devil confound I— stood up and was married to an innocent girl, makes your con- , duct tall the blacker if, instead of being a bey, you were only a barber. Jt you had only gone through the ceremony as a barber, the blame would have been a trifle less on.your part." "M. Dalmer himself ,knows that I; am no' longer a barber-. lam a bey, monsieur, by the grace of His the Sultan, in answer to a petitionjof I my patron, Rotan Pasha." ;. : I

"You are certainly Rotan's creature—in rank a bey," said Pavlidis carelessly. "But as to your-being,a gentleman, the sultan himself cannot make you one. When Madam Rotan's friends heard how she had been deceived by herltricky master and you, we searched' for her in New York. But when we found that you had taken her on board the Balearic, Ave determined to pursue by the next steamer. When the news came that your ship had been disabled off Fire Island, Captain Doug- '. las offered the use of his fast yacht. So all of us, except Marsovian and his relative Burian, instead of taking the Sardinia, have come this far on the. Mist. Even M. Filian and M. Goganian decided to go with us. We resolved to see if Madam Rotan had left the disabled Balearic, .'aid sent the boar, that brought us —you;" • Mustata looked'as if he wished the boat had brought anybody else, and eyed the grave circle about, him apprehensively. ,

(To be Continued.)