Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1904 — A SOLDIER OF COMMERCE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A SOLDIER OF COMMERCE

By JOHN ROE GORDON

CHAPTER I. THE DISAPPEARANCE OP AN AMERICAN. RSIHI senior member of the firm I w I" I of Townseml & Burdick, manLmml ufacturers of windmills, | pumps and other appurtenances of that nature, was serenely contemplating In his New York office the increased revenues he would receive from the large sales to be made by Harvey Irons, their hustling, energetic representative iu Russia. The last letter written by Mr. Townsend to Mr. Irons was to the effect that the latter’s suggestion that a market could be had In Russia was a good one and for him to use bis own judgment. Thereafter there were no letters sent between the senior member and the agent, but cablegrams, mostly conveying large orders, frequently came from Mr. Irons, and other cablegrams, conveying money, were sent by Mr. Townsend. Orders came from St. Petersburg, Moscow and other cities. At time went on the Increase of business gave warrant for the roseate hue of Mr. Townsend’s dreams. While Mr. Townsend was contemplating hit happy future be was startled at receiving the following message from Paris: Expelled from Russia. Going back another way. IRONS. As Mr. Townsend was somewhat kaxy on the subject of Russia and bad no Information as to how Irons had gone in on his first visit, it can easily be lfnagined that Mr. Townaend had very little idea of what the other way of going back chosen by Mr. Irons might be. He cabled to Harvey Irons as follows: What do you mean? Answer at once. TOWNBEND.

He waited in vain for an answer. He became greatly perturbed and conferred with his partner. “I tell you, Burdick,” he said, “Irons must be in trouble. I can learn nothing. There is something left unexplained.” “There always was,” said Mr. Burdick. “Irons is a man who acts according to what he finds on the spot. We can’t sit in New York and tell him what to do in Russia. If he says he is expelled and is going back, he is going back. Leave him alone.” “I can do nothing else,” said Mr. Townsend, “as I do not know where he is.” “I do. He is in Russia. Just wait. You will get big orders from Russia yet. Irons against the entire police of the empire. My confidence in him is so unshakable I believe—well. I’ll bet you a thousand dollars he turns up all right with Russian orders.” “I’ll not take the bet. I share your confidence. We’ll wait.” And so they waited. • s s s s • • Hafiz Effendi sat crosslegged on a divan watching the passing show. Hafiz Effendi was himself a part of the show, but this did not concern him. Hafiz was morose. “Curses upon the Muscovite!” he muttered as he drew long breaths from his chibouk and watched an elderly Gruslan and his daughter pass by. “The new law is in effect and the bride for the prince not yet obtained. And Mizik, the officer of the ameer, will soon be here to ascertain the truth.” Hafiz Effendi bad not traveled all the way from Constantinople simply to witness the fair at Tiflis. Hafiz had made his wealth in the business of supplying wealthy Osmanlis with pretty Circassian or Georgian girls for their wives, and his income had been rudely stopped by the new order of the czar. The hated Muscovite government had interdicted the trade in women which had made Circassia and Georgia infamous. Here was the annual fair at Tiflis under full sway, and all the wealth and beauty of the Caucasus were present. Hafiz Effendi shook his head, grunted another curse against the Muscovite and then, placing his chibouk in the care of Muley, the keepqr of the bazaar, wandered, or, rather, waddled, round the gay streets of the fair. Following in his wake was a tall, handsome young officer, whose uniform, as well as his accent, proclaimed him to be from St. Petersburg. “Ah,” said this officer to himself as he saw the frown on the face of the Turk, “our friend Hafiz seems indignant. He eyes every pretty woman with something like greed. I’ll keep my eye on him.” For Captain Sergius Orskoff was in command of the department of the service that had for its object the obliteration of the slave trade between the Caucasus and Persia and Turkey. Men from all pArts were at Tiflis. exhibiting in the bazaars ruga and coats of rare wools from Persia, silks from China, costly pipes of every conceivable shape and size carved by hand by the men of Trebizond, Shoes from Massachusetts, knives from England—in short, the products of the world were spread out that those who walked could see and perchance purchase. Halls Effendi turned and saw the steely eyes of Captain Orskoff fixed upon him. “It is a great fair, excellency," he

said, with his usual Turkish salutation. “It Is oue that brings the world together.” "Good enough; but remember there is nothing sold here save what is exhibited for sale.” The Turk opened his eyes wide, as if In astonishment. ‘‘Who could have asked more? Is there not enough?” he asked, gazing at a pretty Circassian who passed with a soldier. “Yes, it seems enough; only remember,” said Orskoff, walking off with scant courtesy. “Mgs! Dogs! These Muscovites are unbearable!” growled Hafiz. He left the busy portion of the fair, went to the baths, returned to the bazaar kept by his friend Muley and resumed his pipe. The passing show seemed endless. Officers in brilliant uniforms, merchants, women of every degree, crowded the thoroughfares. The reverie of Hails was interrupted. “How Is the day? Does the sun shine full upon thee, O Hafiz Effendi?” asked a soft voice at his side. He beheld a warrior of some peculiar rare, dark skinned and gayiy uniformed. “Ah, hast thou come, O Mlzik? The day is well. The sun never falls to shine upon the faithful,” replied Hafiz. “It is so, O wise and mighty Hafiz.” “And how is my friend, the great and heaven born ameer of Bokhara?” asked Hafiz. “Our lord is well, but he is growing impatient that thy mission has not yet been fulfilled. It was told to me in the sacred precincts of the palace to come to Tiflis, seek out Hafiz Effendi and ascertain if he has found what the ameer wishes.”

“The prettiest woman in all Georgia,” said Hafiz, with a smile. “For the bride of our young Prince Davonca. And thou hast been promised much wealth, Hafiz Effendi.” “It is true, and I have found the young woman. But the accursed Muscovite ruler has made a new law which prohibits the sale of the women. We must work slowly and with caution.” “Then is the thing .that is so near the heart of my lord, that his son shall have the most beautiful bride in the world, an Impossibility?” “I did not say it was an impossibility,” said Hafiz testily. “It is dangerous. Speak in a low tone. Better, come to the kahve kept by my brother. There we can talk.” Hafiz led the way to a coffee house, where they resumed their chat. “While you are in Tiflis look not upon the women,” said Hafiz. “The Muscovite emperor has made this new law, and there are soldiers to spy upon us and compel us to obey. It is absurd, for these women are happier when in the luxury their Osmanli husbands give them than with these pigs and dogs, who are rude aud have no wealth.” “But why has the czar made this law?” “Because he likes not the fact that our princes have more than one wife.” “And has he, the ruler of the greatest country on earth, not more than one?” “It has been said.” “By the horn of the sacred bull!” “But come, if thou art refreshed with my brother’s coffee, let us depart. I would show you something.” “Ah, then you are choosing that beautiful one!” “She is chosen. Hold thy tongue snd accompany me.” And Mizik, thinking hard upon this new law, followed his guide from the kahve.

CHAPTER 11. A BEAUTIFUL GIRL AND A MYSTERIOUS CONTRACT. BLACID in his bazaar a Persian merchant sat studying the crowds that stopped and examined his goods when Hafiz Effendi led Mizik, the agent of the ameer, to a seat at the farther end of the Persian divan and purchased tobacco and pipes, taking one himself and filling the other for Mizik. “Sit where you are, watching at all times the door of the large linen bazaar opposite,” said Hafiz When the pipes were smoking satisfactorily. ‘There you will see—what yon will see.” Mlzik kept his eyes on the object spokea of by the Turk. The linen bazaar was larger, cleaner, better equipped and gave more evidence of prosperity than any other portion of the fair within sight. Bales of finest linen were displayed. Near the end of a long table could be seen an elderly merchant in Georgian costume watching'his several employees handle and sell his goods. ‘That, my friend from Bokhara,” said Hafiz, “is Ignatz Biartelkis, the richest merchant in Tiflis." “And will he supply that for which I earner* "He will." “Good. Why do we not go to him instead of sitting idly here?” “For the excellent reason, my friend, that he does not know he is going to perform this generous Bet.” Mizik shook his head again. He did not understand this slow and laborious method. His way, the way of his people, would have been to attack Tiflis and take what was wanted. Mlzik had not yet learned the power of the arm

that reaches from St. Petersburg to the Caspian. Suddenly be started from his seat. “Curses!” said Hafiz. “You will be shot, and you will have me shot by the Muscovite. There he is.” “There the is!” said Mizlk breathlessly. “There he is, as I have spoken. His eyes are not now turned this way, but hold yourself with calmness. Orskoff knows things when he sees them.” At that moment the officer mentioned, who had been sauntering along the crowded street, stopped to speak to a girl who had come to the door of the bazaar of Ignatz Biartelkis. She was a girl who would cause others than Mlzik to stare. Her complexion was like the blush of a peach. Her eyes were black and shaded with long, silky lashes. Her hair was long and fell in a raven flood below her waist. She wore a tall, bejeweled headdress that made her seem almost statuesque. From her shoulders a long, elegant covering of lace barely hid a gown that might have come from Paris. On her feet were tiny patent leather shoes from the bazaar of the Jewish trader two doors away, iUpon her fingers were various rings—diamonds, rubies and sapphires. Jeweled bracelets were upon her wrists. Her form was elegance endowed with human life. The combination of the modern and the characteristic dress of her people made so charming a tout ensemble that all who passed the bazaar paused to gaze at the girl. “Would that one content the mighty prince of Bokhara?” asked Hafiz slyly. “Would she?. She is fit for the wife of a ruler of gods! Who is she?” “That, my friend, la the daughter of Ignatz Biartelkis.” "Her name?” "Koura.” "Sons of heaven! Would he part with her?" “Bather with his life.” “Then of what avail is all our talk?” Hafiz noted the dejected look on Mizlk’s face.

“My friend, thou art not experienced in the world,” he said. “I have spoken. That is to be the wife of the son of the ameer.” “Our heaven born lord will load you with the Jewels of the earth.” “I intend that he shall. It is for no small amount that I take thia risk. Look the other way. The accursed Orskoff is turning.” As the handsome soldier moved away the girl smiled archly at him, and he saluted her in courtly fashion. “I will drink his blood!” muttered Mlzik. “Be careful, my friend, that he does not drink yours,” said Hafiz. “That man knows how to fight. His sword is no stranger to the hearts of his enemies. Come, let us move along. Ido not wish to be seen too long opposite that bazaar. There will be a stir when the thing is known.” Again they went to the kahve kept by the brother of Hafiz. “Let us, my friend, talk over this matter,” said the Turk after ordering coffee. “I came for that,” said Mlzik shortly. “I do not need to ask that your mouth be kept shut,” said Hafiz. “If our purpose were known, it is possible that the great ruler of all the tribes of the Caucasus would send his armies to sweep your people from Bokhara.” “Let them .come; we are very powerful!” Hafiz grinned derisively. "Nevertheless keep your tongue silent. Now, admitting that I am capable of getting the girl and conveying her as far as the Caspian, how shall I deliver her to you?” "On the Caspian there is a vessel manned by brave men from the ameer’s dominion. They are Taujiks, as I am,

The girl smiled archly at him. and so resemble the races inhabiting this country that no suspicion will be aroused. They are faithful to the ameer.” "How can the vessel be distinguished? Has it a name?” “There is no name. It is a long, black vessel purchased from the Persians.” “Yell me the name of the captain.” “His name is Karakal.” "Good. Then when I find this vessel whose captain la Karakal I can go on board with my charge and proceed to Bokhara.” “Certainly.” "But I do not Intend to do anything of that kind, my friend. That would be inviting my enemy Orskoff to alay me. Can Karakal be trusted to convey the girl to Bokhara and give her to the ameer 7'