THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.
CHAPTER XV--Continued
"If she has resumed her voyage wo will continue our quest," added Pavlidis. "Wo will follow her into the very harem of your master, if necessary. If you want to stand well with us here, She mo, you will bo candid and truthful. If yoii still lie —I would as soon throw you overboard as eat my breakfast. Bear that in mind while you eat yours." A sort of tigerliko aloofness in the great Armenian's manner made Mustafa, cringe involuntarily. At this juncture the tall servant Sarkis appeared on deck. "Como hither Sarkis," said his master. "Do you remember this dog of a Moslem?"
Sarkis, after saluting the rest, came close to tlio Turk, whom he scrutinised closely; then he drew back, uttering a grunt of disgust, "Is it the slave Shemo who begged so hard for his life on the heights of Yapitka, near Trebizond?" "Nay, thou art. too plain," laughed the prince. "I would have left the last out. This is Mustafa Bey, attache of the Turkish legation. Have more respect for your betters, Sarkis.'' "My betters?" Sarkis looked both hurt and disgusted. "I am but a poor peasant of Dalvorig, yet am I better than this pliant Shemo. Shemo is false, cowardly and treacherous! Am I not true—oh Dalmar, son of my father's sovereign?" - Sarkis, who had spoken in his native tongue, turned gloomily ",way. "True and steadfast art thou," returned Dalmar. "Nevertheless, take this son of Islam, who is not worthy to undo thy shoes, and find him entertainment. We will "
"Hold on," cried Sidney, noticing that Pavlidis was turning away. "One of these satchels is marked in the name of Alma. How comes it in your hand, Mustafa?"
The ex-interpreter, whose courage was at the. lowest ebb, from each successive humiliation, now told all that had passed between himself and the girl, smoothing out his own actions as best he could and passing lightly over Alma's contempt and distrust.
When Sarkis had taken the fellow away, Greer laughed loudly. He was in better spirits.
"The girl is true blue," lie asserted. As soon as she had sounded this knave and his purpose, she rounded on him, locked liiiri up in the stateroom and left. Think of Jiis impudence! I'll bet she rounded on him with her tongue more than he lets on. But what is his notion in wanting to follow her so persistently " "To put himself right with his patron who is the biggest scoundrel of the two," commented Pavlidis grimly. "What started him after her in the first place we do not know. But he undoubtedly had some venal and vile end in view. For some reason she turned against him, after having previously truyted him sufficiently to represent Rotaii Pasha at" the wedding But now, being discredited in her eyes, it only remains for him to maintain his credit with his scoundrelly master. Once Rotan turns him off, then Mustafa Bey becomes merely Shemo the vagabond. Doubtless he thinks by rapid pursuit to still accomplish his jiudacious purpose."
When breakfast was announced.the gentlemen met Thelnua. and Madam lagilos, her chaperon. Mustafa hearing the summons, started from the small stateroom to which he had been assigned; but at the door of the din-ing-room Sarkis interposed -his bulky person.
"Thou wilt breakfast with the sailors, Shemo. Such are my masters orders."
"Dog of. an Armenian," exclaimed Mustafa, his gorge rising above all sense of humiliation. "In thine own country not thus would thou dare to address a son of Islam."
Sarkis, a man of inction rather than of words, regarded the Turk with, amused contempt. Then he seized him and walked him toward the plain, comfortable mes-room used by the lower officers and the crew.
"We are.not in Turkey now," said the giant as Shemo writhed helplessly. Here the will of my master, Prince Dwlmar, is law, by the courtesy of the noble Frank, Captain Douglas." The morning watch was just sitting down, prior to going on duty. '"Gentlemen," said the smiling Sarkis, easily holding the struggling Turk, and speaking in his imperfect
OUR SERIAL.
BY WILLIAM PERRY BROWN
CHAPTER VI
Phiglish, "dis man he no eat in cabin. He eat here—my master say so. Ha!" Mustafa boiling with rage wrenched himself free and stepped back. Sarkis again stretched forth his hand. "Out, slave!" cried the Turk, his pride of race rising above the fear of consequences. "Is it for you to dograde one who has been honoured by the sultan? Touch me not again!" But Sarkis persisted, and as his big hand once more gripped the Turk, Mustafa whipped out a knife from somewhere in his clothes and plunged it- into the Armenian with a swift movement as of thought. Sarkis staggered and fell his length on tho floor.
THE MIST REACHES LIVERPOOL,
Everyone sprang up at this tragic culmination. But Mustafa, now raised to desperation, felt tliat his case was hopeless, and bore himself as if the bey and not the barber, ruled his actions.
"Stand back," he shouted, waving the blood-stained dagger. "I will not be taken by such as you. Back!" Sweeping his arm to deter those who might have seized him, he ran aft, and burst into the dining room with the bloody knife still in his hand. Flinging this down on the rich carpet, he folded his arms and scowled at the company assembled around the table.
"You that are masters here, take me!" he said. "But I will not be trod on by your servants! No, by the soul of the prophet!"
This, in Turkish, was only partially understood by some of those, present. Besides the two ladies, .there were present Captain: Douglas, Prince Dalmar, or Pavlidis, Greer and the two (Armenians, M. Filian and M. Gorganjion.
Then in rushed one of the junior officers who pointing t,n the Turk, said to Douglas;
"That man has just stabbed this gentleman's servant," indicating Pavlidis. "His cause for the act we do not know."
"Thou, Shemo," said Dalmar, rising and advancing, "what hast thou done?" He kid a firm grip on Mustafa.
"You have humbled me and I subletted. But M-hen your servant dragged me to eat with other .servants I struck him down. That is all." him, men," commanded Douglas. Take hi m to his stateroom forward and have a guard placed over him. If murder has been done on a Bnteh ship, the fellow must answer for it at Liverpool."
Two brawny sailors, "having entered at a signal, sprang upon Mustafa, and dragged him off despite his struggles. "Not to thecie dogs," he cried as they swept him out, "but to thee, Dalmar, do I surrender!" "Away with, him," interrupted the prince, strongly moved by his servant's plight. "Lock him up quickly."
And the pseudo silk merchant hurried forward to see how Sarkis fared.
''What a dreadful man!" .was TheJ-' ma's comment, after the prisoner, contending fiercely, was forced from the saloon, confined in his small stateroom forward, and securely handcuff- 1 ed. "Can it be that he was ever the friend of Alma?"
"Not at all," replied Greer.. "She only regarded him as the proxy sent by the man that she felt that she was vealfy marrying."
Meanwhile the two Armenious in charge of the half a million of money then reposing in the small safe in their double stateroom, sought Dalmar, after returning from the wounded .man's side. ;
"How is Sa,rkis?" asked one i.u Armenian, the tongue most frequent r ly used in the cabin after French though, in giving out orders to the crew, English was employed. "He will recover. His wound is severe, but not dangerous."
"Thinkest thou that the treasure is safe?" queried M. Filian. "Why not? Have you not me to guard it?"
"Why should this Mussulman cur strive to come with us? Why did he fight against going forward among thecrew?" ' " • .;
(To be Continued.)
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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10467, 3 November 1911, Page 2
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1,322THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10467, 3 November 1911, Page 2
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