Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1904 — A SOLDIER OF COMMERCE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A SOLDIER OF COMMERCE

By JOHN ROE GORDON

CHAPTER 111. THE BOAT ON THE ECS.

ST one of the wharfs on the Kur river, near Tiflis, a peculiarly shaped vessel lay moored. It was a substantial enough vessel for the purposes for which It was used—to convey merchandise from one port on the Caspian or Its rivers to another. It had just brought a cargo of goods to the bazaars at tbe fair. It had a high curved prow, with & strange looking carving as a figurehead. It was broad amidships, and at tbe stern a high deck covered the cabin accommodations. It was manned by dusky sailors, and the captain was Hassau, a Turk from Constantinople. Hassan was a man well along in years and had taken to the Caspian water trade as the best means of making sufficient wealth with which to settle down In his home fit Stamboul and enjoy himself. Unfortunately for Hassan the trade had not proved as profitable as he expected, because the Russian government had given rights and privileges—concessions they called them—to a German company to run a line of steamboats from port to port Hassan’s field—or sea—of activity was therefore limited to those occasions when tbe falx at Tiflis or a sudden rush of goods to Astrakhan made the usual boats unable to accommodate the increase of trade. A caravan from Trebizond had brought to one of the Caspian ports a vast amount of goods for the fair, and Hassan had succeeded in getting some of the overflow for bis vessel. Having delivered these goods to the Persian, Russian, Jewish and Turkish merchants to whom they were assigned, he lay at the wharf trying to pick up a return cargo.

The night of the day on which Hafiz Effendi and Mlzik, from Bokhara, had met, Hassan strolled on the upper deck at the stern of his vessel smoking a cigarette. He was disconsolate and was seriously contemplating leaving the river and getting back to the Caspian, for his chances of obtaining a cargo for any Caspian port seemed slight.

Suddenly a figure clad In a long black coat,- bent and bearded like the usual trading Jew at the fair, stole from behind the shadow of a warehouse on the wharf and came cautiously toward the vessel. Hassan, bracing himself and pulling from the folds of his garments a dagger, advanced to the edge of the deck. “What do you desire, stranger?” he asked loudly. “In the name of Allah, hold your tongue!” came a reply In low tones. “It is I.”

“By that voice I should say it was Hafiz Effendi,” said Hgssan hopefully, for he knew that if Hafiz Effendi had business that necessitated a disguise it would pay well. “I am Hafiz,” said the old slave trader as be walked upon the deck. “Are we alone?"

“Sufficiently alone to talk. The men are asleep.” “Let us sit down and talk. I have come with an otter that no man who la not a fool will refuse. Hassan, hast thou a wife?” “Thou knowest well I have two." “Are they well cared for?”

"1 am poor and should have but one. I was once better supplied with wealth.”

“As I thought my friend. Allah be praised that you have so good a Mend as I to think of you at s time when your parse could again be filled. How would you like to earn a thousand goldpieces of 26 piasters each by taking a certain person down the Kur to the Caspian r “By tbs prophet’s beard! A thousand pieces of gold! Hast thou come to make me rich?"

“It is that if what I ask i« done. A thousand pieces of 25 piasters in gold." “In the name of Allah, what cargo hast thou found?"

“A woman, one who will be a princess. Harken, Hassan. In Tiflis there is a certain young woman beautiful as a goddess. Like a marble statne is she. Pure white Is her skin and like velvet One caress from her lips would turn you from the Koran. She is desired In holy marriage by a certain prince.” "And she desires that I convey her to bis palace?" "Nay; she desires nothing. She does not even know." “Why does not the prince ask her to accompany him to bis palace?” “For two reasons, Hassan. One is that the prince is not here and woifld not set his foot npon the dominions of the hated Muscovite. The other ia that were be to do so the father of this young woman would spurn him, for the Muscovite does not regard his father as a king." “Thou speakest either of the khan of Khiva or his enemy, the ameer of Bokhara."

"It is of Bokhara I speak." “That is sufficient. No good Muscovite would consent to that" “But this young woman is not a Muscovite. She is a Georgian." "Hols! Thatvis different! A Georgian would sell bis wife." “This man will not I have in the past tried to obtain from him tbs consent to the marriage of bis daughter

with a wealthy Osmanli. He will not consent” “He hates us?”

“Perhaps. It Is not that alone, but she loves a Muscovite, the bated Orskoff, that captain of the Muscovites who has watched us and prevented our trade. She loves him. I saw them together this very day."

“Ib he rich?” “I know not. I did not come to talk of him. But let us get to our business. Did you not sell to Ignatz Biartelkla a certain portion of your cargo?” “Allah! Mohammed! Is it the daughter of Biartelkla of whom you speak?” “The same. The prince of Bokhara desires her for his wife, and of my own knowledge she is promised to be the wife of Captain Orskoff. But we can secure the girl for the prince, and a thousand pieces of gold will fall mysteriously into your pocket.” “Oh, thou great and wily dealer in fgir women, tell me how I can obtain this rich reward!”

“Is it not possible that somewhere in this vessel are goods that have been overlooked and that Biartelkis would buy?” “You mean—that I am to say that such is the case?”

“Exactly. You know that his daughter always accompanies him to purchase goods.” “I know. Well, what then?” “Go to the bazaar. Tbe bands are still playing. There is still life in the fair, for It is not yet midnight. Tell Biartelkis that you have discovered some of the finest linen hidden in tbe bottom of tbe vessel and that you must start from here before morning, as an Important business demands you at Astrakhan.”

“By the beard! I know not what plan you have, but a thousand pieces of gold are not picked up in a year. What will you do in the meantime?" “Await you here.” "Very well. I will go.”

Hassan put aside bis ordinary garments aud replaced them with his best, which he always wore to the bazaars. He bade Hafiz adieu and walked away. Iguatz Biartelkis was about to close his bazaar when the well known figure of llassan walked in.

“My friend,” said Hassan, “I have come in a great hurry to see you. It could have been nothing but the great admiration I have for you and your lovely daughter that would bring me here at this hour. But as I was about to sail for the Caspian I discovered in the bottom of my vessel bales of the finest linen—better even than I brought you last—from the looms of that far country in the north that makes the finest linen. It was not, like the last, assigned to you, but was placed on board for me to sell to any one who would purchase. Ido not wish to tarry till the morning, for I have a cargo awaiting me at Astrakhan. I have already got my vessel in readiness to sail, and the men are bavlng their last good sleep until we reach the Caspian. I thought of you, as you have been my friend. You have made many purchases. Will you not come and look at the linen, that I may at once set sail?” “But it is night,” said Biartelkis. “In the morning I will see it.”

“Nay, I cannot wait. I have Just time to reach Astrakhan to take this cargo, which will be a rich one.” “I must call my daughter. It la her delight to accompany me and examine goods and make purchases.” He called Koura. Hassan gulped down an exclamation aa he saw her beauty. “What is it, father?”

“This good Hassan, who brought us some of our best goods, is about to start for the Caspian and has discovered in his vessel some of the finest linen he brought to sell. He asks that we go look at it If we do not, some one else will get It It is late, and the wharfs are dangerous. What do you say?” "As for the lateness of the hour, it must not Interfere with a good purchase. Hassan can walk the wharfs, and with him we should be safe.” “Well spoken,” said Hassan.

They were soon ready to start. The streets of the fair were almost deserted. The last band had stopped its blare, and the lights were being extinguished in the bazaars. The coffee bouses alone showed signs of life. The merchant accompanied Hassan to the wharf and on board bis vessel. He led them to the cabin and offered wins.

Biartelkis sat in the cabin and his daughter near him. Hassan, looking over the merchant’s shoulder, saw the figure of Hafii Effendi. He obeyed a signal.

“Permit me to depart and bring the linen,” said be and walked out. “It is Strange, father,” Koura was saying, “that I see no evidence that Hassan has made preparations to start No sail is raised.”

“He told me the men were taking a good sleep before starting. I believe”—

A scarf was thrown a round Koura’a month and her eyes were blinded with folds of silk. Bhe beard a groan from bar father aa Halls Effendi rushed upon him and burled a dagger in his heart. “Quick! Fasten tbs girl! Bring me ropes!" he whispered to Hasean, who was horrified at the terrible act He realised that he was now In the

power of Hafiz Effendl, for the murder bad been done on his boat and be bad lured the merchant to hi* doom. He silently obeyed, and the girl was bound and placed upon a divan. Then with deft fingers they wound cloths around the bo£y of the merchant, weighted It with stones and hsrled it into tbe river. “Now,” said Hafiz Effendl in his blandest tonss, “listen and obey tbe remainder of my commands.” "It is horrible!” said Hassan. "I did not think”—

"Harksn, fool! If you are found with this girl on your boat, you will be shot If Biartelkis Is missed, as be surely will be, who visited his bazaar to sell him linen that did not exist? It will be to your advantage to go, and go at once.” “I am in a trap,” said Hassan desperately, “and must obey.” “Keep the girl where she will not be discovered. Sail as rapidly as possible to the Caspian and search for a vessel of the Persian type, which will be sailing without any direction or lying at anchor. Her master’s name is Karakal. When you have fquud him, your

She heard a groan from her father. duty is done. Deliver the girl Into his hands and return to me tor your reward.”

“Is it to be a thousand pieces of gold of 25 plasters?” “Yes. Go, for In the morning they will search for Biartelkis.”

“I will go. I must arrange for this girl. If she Is to be the wife of a prince, she must be well treated.”

“Lock her in the room and feed her well. If she Bcreams, you must bind up her mouth.” “I understand. You rppeat, Hafiz Effendi, it is to be 25,000 piasters in gold.” “Yes. In the name of Allah, yes. Go!”

He crept away in the shadows, and an hour later the long curved prow of Hasifan’s vessel divided the waters of the Kur, and with gathering speed the peculiar craft slipped sileutly from Tiflis.

CHAPTER IV. MR. HARVEY IRONS HAS AN EXPERIENCE. MO“ %N the wharf facing the Kur at the town of Salain, at the river’s mouth, a tall, good looking youug man paced rapidly to and fro. “Confounded liara!” he growled, shaking his band at a disappearing steamboat. “They told me I would have four hours here, and I haven’t been away three. Now, I’d like to know bow I am going to get to Astrakhan. I don’t want to stay In this beastly place s week." “Excellency, has something vexed you?” asked a man In the dress of a peasant. “Yes,” replied the young man in the language used by the other. “I am an American and took passage on that German boat for Astrakhan; left Astrabad on that boat thinking It would be the quickest to reach the Volga. When she touched here, the captain told me I could take four hours to see the town. I’ve been only three, and they have gone. I’ll be stuck here a week.”

The peasant shrugged his shoulders. It amused him to see this intense emotion over a delay of a mere week. “But there will be other boats, and the Inn of Borbous is a good one."

“Hang the inn of Borbous! I don’t want to stay here. I’ll punch that fellow’s head if I get to Astrakhan in time. When doee the next boat atop here?”

“It Is difficult to tell. One may come In a week, or It may be two weeks." "Pleasant that!” muttered the American. “Fancy putting In two weeks amid this squalor!" “Excellency, yon would bare time to go to Tlflla to the fair, although tbare are but a few days more of it” “Hang Tlflla! It is the fair at Nljnl Novgorod I want to get at I’ve got some important business there.” “Then yon are not a rich gentleman traveling for pleasure." “What the devil la that to you? But there’s no uae In my being a savage, and I’ll tell you. My business la selling American pumps, windmills, chain pumps—all kinds. I’ve put a lot in some of the Persian towns. Now I want to go to Nljnl Novgorod and exhibit there. The stuff la all on that boat Qh, why did I leave It? And aot a chance to make a sale la this Mamed town either!" “The boats are beginning to come down the Kur from Tlflla, and one may be going to Nljnl Novgorod." “If there Is one. It will tat* me If X have to shoot my way eo board. My

name Isn’t Harvey Irons for nothing. I’ll show them I’ve got an iron cheek, Harveylzed at that.”

“I will watch for the boats while you wait,” said the peasant. “I am waiting for my sons, who went to the fair with goods to sell.” “Do they own a boat?” “Yes, but it is not much of a boat. It could not go to Astrakhan.” Mr. Irons walked up and down the rude wharf, smoking furiously. His thoughts were Interrupted by the peasant.

“A Turkish boat is coming down, excellency. I do not know where It is going. But these boats go anywhere. Shall I call them?”

“Yes. That’s a good sized boat. I must got to Astrakhan.” “But it is difficult to talk at that distance. If we take one of these little boats and go to meet them, it will be better.”

“Good. I’ll get on board and make them take me to Astrakhan. Come on. I’ll pay you for your work.” Irons and the man got into a boat, and it shot out into the stream.

“How Is it that a Turkish boat plies on this sea?” asked Harvey. “There are a few only, excellency, but the Osmanlis are everywhere. The trade here is as good as ou the Black sea.” ,

"Queer that the czar permits the Turks to compete with his own people and I am not supposed to sell windmills.”

“The little father is liberal. All may sail upon the sea, but they must not commit crimes.” “You mean the slave trade? I have heard it was abolished.”

“Yes, his majesty would not permit It Many of the" Circassian and Georgian people sold their daughters to be the wives of wealthy Turks." “Hail that fellow.” “Ay-oo!” shouted the peasant “Stop!" "“What do you want?” came a voice from the vessel. “Whither are you bound?” "To Astrakhan.” “Jumping Jehoabaphat! What luck!" shouted Irons. “Get me on board, quick!”

“A passenger for Astrakhan!" shouted the peasant tugging away at the paddles.

“We cannot take passengers.” “You’ve got one anyway!" answered Irons, who could make himself understood in many eastern languages. "We have no passenger on the boat!” came the reply. “No, but you will have one mighty soon,” said Irons. The little boat was almost directly in the path of the sailing vessel. Irons pulled his wallet from his pocket and chose some piece* of gold. “Pull In front of her; make her run us down.” “We shall be killed!” “No, we won’t be killed. Do as I say."

He placed the gold on tbe bottom of the boat The peasant sent the boot under tbe very bows of the sailing vassal. There was a about of “Allah!" on beard, and Irons, giving the little boat a kick that sent it out of the way, grasped the rugged outlines of the figurehead and awung himself on board. "Who are you ? What do you want?" demanded tbe captain. fVO B> CO.TTIWUXP.I