THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10477, 14 November 1911, Page 2

THE EASTERNERS. OR MARRIAGE BY PROXY.

BY WILLIAM PERRY BROWN,

CHAPTER XXlH—Oontinued. THE ILLUSION OB 1 A WANDERING DERVISH. A few hours prior to the events last related a man changed his attire in a private compartment of a train that would be duo in Constantinople within fifteen minutes.

The garb he disgarded was that of a Turkish captain of infantry. The robes he assumed were the shabby but holy habiliments of a wandering dervish, of the superior class. At the depot ho looked for a conveyance. The few ramshacklo hacks were already engaged. He hailed a travelling chair such as women mostly use, threw into it a large satchel, and followed the satchel himself. Drawing the curtains, he shrieked some directions to the head attendant, then felt for a wallet concealed in his bosom.

• While the chair jogged on he completed with the aid of a small handmirror some minor adjustments to ins nose and one eye, that gave his visage soniowhat the appearance mentioned by Sena Yapoul to Douglas.

It wa? Mustafa Bey. .Realising that his stopping at Belgrade was a mistake, owing (to his having become aware that Perrone was after him, he took another train at a. small station outside that city, and was half way to Constantinple before the detective discovered that iiis bird had again flown.

"I must reach Rotan Pasha's presence. With me I bear a sure pardon for any precious blunders I may have committed." He meant the wallet. "If that girl has arrived, and I guess she has, nothing that she can say or do will outweigh the fact that I have brought my patron a half a million in gold. With His Highness I am safe from these energetic, furious Franks. I will be allowed a snug sum for myself. Rotan will keep a large half for his own use, and the rest will swell the imperial coffers, enlisting for us the protection of our government. Then can I snap my fingers at these infidel dogs who persecuted my peace!" Reasoning after this fashion, he suddenly interrupted himself. The chair was threading the crowded street of MaJioud, where the bazaars are thickest, the carriers going at a slow jog-trot, uttering at each step the res"hough! hough! houghl" peculiar to their class. Mustafa, peering between close-drawn window curtains, saw tlirough the open front of a perfumery shop, as he thought, no less a person than Madam Rotan herself standing <alone in the bazaar. Instantly he halted the chair, preduced a gold coin and wliispered to the head porter, giving him the gold, and concluding with: <

"Say it is a dear friend, a friend who wishes to speuk to her for a moment. When she is inside make with all speed for the Galata Bridge. Stop for -nothing. There will I procure a

carriage." With gold wonderful things may be accomplished, especially in Stamboul. The head carrier consulted hurriedly with his mates, then doffed Jiis low cap to Thelma. who was standing, waiting for the return of Douglas.

Her extreme likeness to Alma accounted for Mustafa's error, especially as he expected that Madam Rotan would make for Constantinople. "Here she is," chuckled the rascal. "If I take her as well ms the fortune to Rotan, my future is assured!"

Eagerly then he watched the man now speaking and pointing to tho chair. The youg woman, in Western garb and unveiled, was a, noticeable figure amid that Eastern scene. Finally she returned rat'her hesitatingly, to tho chair.

•'Madam, your friends have sent me to bring you to them at once," began Mustafa, keeping well behind the curtains. "It is alright. Be pleased to step inside."

Those words, suavely spoken in good French, were reassuring, but the sight of <u bearded dervish in flowing robes puzzled her.

"Wait," sa,jd Thelma cautiously. "The gentleman with me will be here in a moment."

This was disturbing to Mustafa, and something vaguely unfamiliar about her was •suggested. But there was no time, for hesitation. He nodded and two of the carriers seized Thelma. by the arms and pushed her inside the chair and closed the door with a bang. "Release me!" cried the girl, but a quick, strong grip 'held her to the seat into which she had fallen. A hand

OUR SERIAL.

holding a kerchief saturated with some stifling anaesthetic, pressed upon' her mouth, preventing any outcry beyond a gurgling sound that was inaudible outside the chair. Tho chair dipped and swung as the carriage trotted off, the leaders tittering quick, shrill cries, as was their custom when calling for tho right of way. The girl still struggled, but the man was strong, and the stupefying drug was too great. She soon, lapsed into complete insensibility. Mustafa shouted to the carriers to hurry hurry, still holding her tight, until the general limpness of her figure told him she had swooned from fright, horror and exhaustion, aided by tho powerful drug. Not until the bridge was crossed did he breathe easier. He was now in the chief Mussulman section, of the city, where the dingy turban of the dervish was everywhere looked on with respect and reverence by the faithful. The chair halted by a line of public carriages drawn up by the mosque of Sultan Mehmed I. The head carrier spoke to tho driver of one, then Thelma's insensible form was quickly put from one to the other, without creating a ripple of excitement among the passers-by. Mustafa flung some more gold to the carriers, who bowed with reverence as to a holy man, and followed, shouting to the driver: "To the Valide Gate! Five gold piasters extra if you reach it in ten long minutes! God be with thee, 0 holy one." And so on, for of such mettle is the piety of Islam expressed, nor is it greatly different in essence from th<> piety among similar religions, when time and occasion unite to make ?t profitable. The carriage rolled rapidly over the rough cobble-stones, scattering dogs pedestrians and nearly running over a knot of Mohammedan students whose anger subsided at once on sight of the stern face of the dervish peering out of the curtains. On —on! The driver lashed his horses up and down steep grades of crooked streets until a large gateway was reached. Through this they passed to a ledge of rocky, uneven ground, with a flowing stream and a lot of steps leading to the water. A lot of boats were strung along the bank amid small groups of chattering '" Mustafa paid the driver so well that Qie almost went on his knees in thankful devotion. Selecting a covered boat with four oars-and ample curtains, he bore Tlielma within and bade the oarsman row at full speed upstream. Behind lay Seraglio Point, with the city straggling l>eyond, covering the long promontory between the Golden Horn and the Bosphorous. Far to the Bast rose the white and green outlines of Scutari. The girl now showing symptoms of recovery, Mustafa passed from the cabin to where the cliief oarsman pulled lustily. The crew bowed low. Was not this a (holy dervish, one of those strange, eccentric fanatics who often accomplish things that an ordinary man, be he Moslem or Christian, would bo persecuted and perhaps slain for attempting. "Know ye the palace Bukhere, on the bank of the River Achu?" Asking this of the head oarsman he took i'rom a pouch at his waist one gold coin after another, unil six lay on his open palm. "Effendi, oheffendi!" cried the captain. "What is thy holy will?" "Allah is good to those who obey his commands. I and mine must l>e there in one hour before the muezzin's call." "Are we not your slaves?'' cried the captain, feasting his eyes on the fv>l-7 "Allah must be obeyed." i Mustafa gave one piece to each man and gave a second one to the captain. "This amount will bo doubled when we arrive," he declared. "Be hot moved at what you hear. His Highness Rotan Pasha hath need of another slave that is bought with a price. Understand yo "

(To be Continued.)