THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10468, 4 November 1911, Page 2

THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

CHAPTER XVI— Continued

'"One reason is because she is ; i fool. Ho was bewitched by a pretty faco. Then, again, ho has for a time posed as a gentleman. We upset ins spurious dignity rather too rudely, and ho lias capped his folly by trying to commit murder." "Then you think that our charge and ourselves are safe. - "' "Vorily, yes. Why are you alaimod Do vou fear the Turk ? I tell you plainly that it is this unmanly spirit 011 the part oi so many of m> countrymen that disheatens mo moie Hum the cruelties of tho Kurds. 1 suppose it is because of generations of vassalage. But bo of good cheer; tho treasure is safe. Tho friendly Franks will defend it with their lives if need be. Your real danger, arid mine, begins when we enter the dominions ol tho sulian." With this explanation the Armenians were forced to bo content. Palmar was their prince. In him spoke tho blood of their ancient rulers; and one, too, who had never yet bowed MlO knee to Baal, in tlic person of the tvrant of Stamboul. ' That day and the next the yacht was driven' at a speed that astonished them all. The log showed them twen-ty-throe knots which at this period of ocean travel was unequalled. "Tf tho Sardinia gets in ahead of us at this pace," remarked.Greer, as he and Douglas watched the lasfheavo of the line and its mathematical method of being reeled in, "I will eat my lltll " "If this weather holds the Sardinia will bo in our wake before we reach , St. George's Channel, or—" Captain Douglas made Tlielma a polite bow, "1 will make Miss Burian a present of the Mist. That is, if she will do me the honour to accept." "Which, of course, I would not. I am surprised at you, captain. What would Ido with a yacht? I would much rather have my sister." "You shall have both—eh, Greer? I say, tho way wo aro reeling off tho log line, wo ought to make the Mersev in less than five days." "Well, captain," and the girl now blushed prettily, "though I don t want tho Mist myself myself, I am sure she is a beauty, and ought to belong to one who understands her good points as well as you do." I "Do you think so? Well, then, I you might perhaps, become a a part ( owner of a craft that you think so well of. some day." "Hush, sir." Thelma was colouring more deeply than ever. _ ' 'Because you are so good a captain, do you think I can accept you as a prophet? Fie! for shame." Nevertheless she took his arm and they walked the deck together, oblivious of the others; while Sidney, looking after them sighed, feeling that his own prospects as a lover were far from being as bright as his friend s just then. This brought Alma to his mind more vividly. "Where do vou think the poor girl will fetch up at?" lie asked suddenly, turning to Pavlidis, who was regarding the backs of Thelma and Douglas with a rare smile. "I mean tho other one, Miss Alma." "Why do you not call her Madam 1

Rotan, M. Greer?" "I suppose I ought to, sine© she has chosen that title. But somehow, I cannot. It —it does not seem right. We must overtake her before that scoundrel gets her in his power." "Yes, we will visit the chief Liverpoo! hotels. She will almost certainly stop at one of them for a meal, and perhaps overnight. Shemo said that she met a clergyman whom she knew on the Balearic, and that the captain ' said that they had left the crippled steamer together. Don't worry. A girl that can baffle a sly rascal the way this girl baffled Shemo, can take earo of herself." "I see you still call that scoundrel Shemo."

"Shemo is his real name. He assumed that of Mustafa because it sounded more aristocratic in Eastern ears. Still our peasant names rare not had. Sarkis, Shemo, and the like. They are honest and smack of the home soil. I love the peasants of my native land. Look at Sarkis. My servant could vanquish a dozen of Mustafas and other fellows of highsounding titles and names." "One thing our prince does not tell," remarked M. Gorganion, who had heard these words. A few years back, bcfcu'9 2H n ' iS!ir ' |,ps °f Armenians began, Abdul Hainid, finding that Dalniar would not surrender to force, offered him a pashalik and all titles that this Rotan now Jms. We Armenians these things, though 11 + ; ilG seraglio they <ieny it tOnlay. Is it not so, M. Filian?"Sidney hurst into a loud laugh ns lis grasped the chieftaili's hand. - "You might be rich, ,hav£ yoUi' own harem, with any number of pretty Georgians, and slabsided eunuchs hanging about on guard. I am amazed at you, friend." But Dalmar, understanding this raillery, only smiled. "Listen," replied the prince. "If your country were like mine you would live upon roots in the fastnesses of your native mountains rather than accept tho gold and titles of vour oppressors." "I guess you are right. To be governed by a tyrant in a country your ancestors once ruled as freemen —that would be a hard pill to swallow, no matter how it was gilded. Well, prince, you are a man all over, as sure as my name is Sid Greer." Tho turbine yacht made uncommonly fast time for the next few days. Within the time specified the anchor was dropped in the broad Mersey, but when morning came tho Sardinia had slipped into her dock, having also made a record passage. While the owner and guests were making hurried preparations to go ashore on a tug that Douglas had signalled for, Sarkis came to his master with concern written 011. bis face. The big Armenian, though still pale from tho wound, was ableto get about. "Master —your Highness," began

OUR SERIAL,

BY WILLIAM PERRY BROWN,

CH APTER XVII

(To be Continued.)

he, in his native tongue, "I am an. unfaithful servant. Wo aro undone!" "Speak," commanded Dalmar, who had been thinking of something else. "What is wrong now?" "Littlo father," this in his native tongue, "tho Turk litis escaped."

HOLDING A CONSULTATION

The face of Pavlidis darkened nr he heard this.

"Thero must be treachery at v.;;rk. See if any of the bouts are missing." Douglas, once made acquainted with tho situation, made instant and thorough search throughout the vessel. Meantimo Pavlidis went to the stateroom where Mustafa had been confined.

in consequence of the Turk's subsequent good behaviour, the handcuffs had been removed three days before. The lock of tJio stateroom had not been broken, thus indicating that the door had not been locked, or that a key was used when tho door was last opened.

Tho contents of Mustafa's bag were emptied on the berth. Tho bag itself was not to bo found. Dalmar was sti!! looking when lie hoard cries from tho saloon.

Hastening forth he found M. Filian and M. Gorganion seated 011 the floor of their double stateroom before tho open door of tho safe, that seemed to be empty, and the interior in disorder.

The two men were tearing their hair and loudly lamenting after the fashion that prevails among Orientals in times of great affliction. "What has happened?" cried Dal-" mar. "Is tho treasure still here?"

"Woe unto us," they cried. "Tho Turk hath gone and taken that that we were appointed to steadfastly guard. The treasure has gone from us, and whither we know not. Woe! Woe! AVoe!"

"What mean ye?" Pavlidis now noticed tho condition of the safe. "Incapable that ye are! Is the money really gone?" While speaking he strode over anu examined the safe. It was open and empty, aior was tho key in the lock, for there was no combination, and was of an old and rather obsolete kind.

Once tliis catastrophe was comprehended, the prince bid them to cease wailing and relate what they knew of the matter.

Meanwhile others were attracted by the tumult. Among these came Douglas with the news that a small gig was gone, together with one sailor who was missing, and who had been placed as a sentry over the Turk's room at eight bells, or midnight, as they were Hearing an anchorage in the Mersey. "Hero is something that may help in exqlaining things." Dalinar held up a small vial that contained an anaesthetic. "This I found, in <a corner behind the safe. To my mind the affair is quite clear. That villain Shemo, after corrupting the sentry, induced him to help in this robbery. Together, they have stolen away." He turned to the Armenians.

"How feel you, brothers? Are your brains clear, or are you heavy and tremulous, like men after a debauch " "My head is light, yet it throbs fu[riously, confessed M. Filian.

j "It is the same with me, only worse still," said M. Gorganion, still rocking himself to and fro.. "Alas! my heart is heavy with grief." "That villain Mustafa," put in Sidney wrathfully, "after bribing the sentry, got out, came here, and doubtless with his aid, sliloreformed these gentlemen. He finds the key and proceeds to open the safe, the lock of which is antiquated. But how did lie j get'the chloroform?"

"Eight here, Sidney," said Douglas, who had been rummaging in his medicine chest. "It is seldom locked." He pointed to a small glass-fronted small cabinet on the wall filled with the usual drugs ships carry at sea'. Out of courtesy to his guests it was t2 r.~.T2« e aft.

"The chloroform vial is absent, and Pavlidis found it behind the safe in the double How simply OVei'ytlliiig Secfli" it) li;i ve worked to thd r&icrti's hands." Meantime the two custodians continued to beat their breasts and bemoan their loss. Pavlidis looked at thorn as though rathei* disgusted.

"Look ve brethren," counselled the prince. "You profess to regard me as your lancient ruler. Am I not equally responsible with you for this money? When the 'council of safety' at home ruled that this money should be brought over in negotiable money instead of a bank draft. I demurred. But I was overruled. I brought to you in New York their demands and their reasons. The letter if instructions from Armenia ordered you to bring the money as specified, and petitioned me to act as guard. I —the guard—remained in another room, for even I foresaw no treachery on our, friend's yacht.