Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

CHAPTER XlX—Continued,

Ho was in his old bunk in the Mist's forecastle, and the familiar aspect of his surroundings doubtless numbed his faculties with vague terror. "How came I here?" he gasped, staring blindly around, and for the first time noticing his handcuffed wrists. His head throbbed, his throat burned, and he broke forth: "Oh, Lord! Tho darbies on, too. What is the matter I pinched?" As he sank he finally brought his eyo.< to bear again on the upright figures facing him, and further glimmerings of tho real situation stole over liis awakening comprehension. "Mercy, good gentlemen," he pleaded. "I didn't do it! Sure as preachin', I didn't!" "Liar!" hissed Dalmar menacingly, at tho same time shaking the fellow as a terrier would shake a rat. "Tell us the truth—op die!"

. The gleaming knife, the glowering faces, the handcuffs, and, more than all, the betraying roll of bank notes, completed the unnerved rascal's surrender. In a few trembling sentences, he told all lie knew. It was not much. Mustafa had tempted him more than onoe when on guard. ■ He had finally yielded. He had liberated the Turk, who, having secured the chloroform, drugged the sleeping Armenians and obtained the safe key. The money, being mostly in bills and security of large denominations, was packed in two hand grips, while the sailor saw to it that the captain's small gig was ready under the stern. Scarcely had midnight succeeded the brief bustle of anchoring, when the Turk and his accomplice dropped quietly into the boat and drifted off on the strong tide unJieard and unseen. Making the dock without any trouble, the gig was turned adrift on the ebb tide. Then they parted quietly, Mustafa having given the sailor one thousand dollars for his.aid.

"This is the truth, gentlemen, so help me God!" concluded the man. "I did not want to pari with the iSirk so easily, for 1 thought that I might get more from him. But he slippedoff while I counted my'money, and I saw him no more. Then I got drunk, like a fool —a blooming fooll Send me to jail. That's where I ought to ibe." "No doubt of that /'assented Douglas. "But —we will see."

"Aye, rascal," growled Dalmar, "you will get\ punishment enough—

don't doubt that."

However, having gotten all the news from the man that he had to give,they left him under lock and key. Bland was to start the next day, for the replenishing of the stock of provisions had gone on for hours and would continue all night. It was determined to keep the sailor on board as a prisoner, j

In case of Shemo's capture the man might be wanted as a witness. Douglas and,Greer now started for the detective agency. Thiajvas one that had numerous branches in European cities, and an agency in New York.

"lor one who has spent the maini portion of iiis life in the mountains of Asia Minor, you seem to beipretty well, up to things," commented the Westerner. ( "Know this," replied Dalraar. "Al- : though my headquarters are in Armenia, I must have eyes everywhere. Before I left New York I cabled to Liver- I pool, or had Marsovian to do so. Being anxious about liis niece, he probably spared no expense in giving these men full descriptions both of Mustafa and Madam Rotan."

"Why not say Miss Alma?" ' ' 'As long as she deems 'herself Madain Rotan, we, who are her friends, must not be discourteous 011 so small a matter." /

"I am glad you think it small, prince. To me she is still Alma Buriaii, whom I loved as a'girl, and whom I hope to win yet—by the Eternal." Da I mar clasped the big Westerner's hand.

"Sir, I honour you for the way you honour the one who is akin to me by blood. My life is uncertain; my career perilous. It would please me much to see both of these girls married to solid, honest men like Douglas and you. But —" he sighed—"time alone will tell." Being shown into a private room, to them shortly came the manager. "Oh, yes." explained this person, when, he knew who and what these

OUR SERIAL.

BY WILLIAM PERRY BROWN

(To be Continued.)

men represented. "I will send Mr Peronne to you. He was assigned to this case when Mr Marsovian's cablegrams began to come in." "I hope lie is a very good man —for this affair."

"One of our best, especially for Europe and the East. M. Marsovian insisted on this and spared no expense, having placed, subject to our order, a large sum with Stag and Co., bankers here. He also added that we were to

turn over to you, M. Pavlidis, any ;i~ mount that might remain. Ah! here is Mr Peronne now!"

While speaking the manager had pressed a button and found time to say something down a speaking-tube'; The result was now before them in tho shape of a small, wiry man, whose mild eyes, close-clipped hair, neat black tie, and 'Suff-brown business suit made him look like a subordinate city clerk. "Mr Peronne," said the manager, "I will introduce you to M. Pavlidis and Mr 'Greer. The Marsovian case, you know. Long cablegram and two short' ones. Armenian, affair —you know what I mean. Place yourself at their service." And with a general bow the manager withdrew. Prince Dalmar regarded the dapper little man in dubious disapproval, ajid Greer did not know what to say. "I hope—er—you— er " hesitated Dalmar; then Suddenly recovering, he snapped: "Parlez vous Francaise?"

Mr Peronne smiled. "Oh, yes. I also speak English, German, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Russian, Turkish, — what you will."

"But not Armenian.- You are quite a polyplot, as it is. Suppose we stick to French. All of us understand that. I can talk some English, but it bothers me." ' i sir, what do you wish to know?" "Know?" Dal mar smiled. "First, do you know who I am?" '

"You are supposed to be Pavlidis, a silk merchant, but you are Prince Dalmar, of Dalvorig, the Armenian, liberator "

"There, there," the prince laughed His respect for Peronne was growing, "You do know something to start ou. Tell me of my cousin."

"The lady you seek landed here a clergyman, M. Talbot, and a rich Ar- : menian from Colorado, with ihis wife, the Dentons " v

"Hello!" ejaculated Sidney, alertly. "I know the Dentons. Good people — rich as sin—though ignorant of everything European; but with plenty of, Western independence and go.''

"They stopped at the Hotel St. George, had supper, and left on the night express for London. I wired to' one of our men to keep track of them/

and also to watch for a Turkish at-

| taohe of your legation at Washington, j whom M. Marsovian thought would be I about.' 4 "Ah, this begins to 3ook like business," said Dalmar cheerily. "Pray ; proceed, M. Peronne." "Our man wired that the party' passed through London, stopping oulyf for breakfast, then left via Charing/ Cross for Paris, where M. Talbot, the! clergyman, will leave the party. One of our best men will meet them at the Garde Du Nord, and their further movements will be duly reported, here j or in London, as may be desired."

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAG19111108.2.3

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10471, 8 November 1911, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,217

THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10471, 8 November 1911, Page 2

THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10471, 8 November 1911, Page 2

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert