Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 July 1904 — A SOLDIER OF COMMERCE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A SOLDIER OF COMMERCE

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. Chapter I—Harvey Irons, a commeeoial agent in Russia for a firm of American manufacturers, has been expelled from the czar’s dominions. The esar has just prohibited the traffic in Georgia women. Hafiz Effendi, a Turk, and Mlzik, agent for the ameer of Bokhara, are in Tiflis seeking a bride for Prince Davonca. ll—Hafiz points out to Mlzik the bride he has selected, a beautiful Georgian, Koura, daughter of a rioh merchant In Tiflis. Hafiz agrees to deliver the girl to a boat oaptain on the Caspian recommended by Mizik. Captain Orskoff of the czar's army has the Turk under surveillenoe. Ill —Hafiz and one Hassan, a greedy captain on Kur river, lure the merchant and his daughter on board of Hassan's boat at midnight. Hafiz kills the merchant, and Hassau sails away with Koura locked in a oabin. Koura has pledged her hand to Captain Orskoff. IV—While beating about the eastern waters trying to reach Novgorod Irons boards Hassan's boat against the will of the captalu, who, however, takes a bribe to carry the American to Astrakan. A Russian gunboat overhauls the craft. Hassan tells a filansibie story about the presence of Koura, mplicating Irons, who is arrested for abduction of one of the czar's subjects. CHAPTER IV —Continued. “I am Harvey Iron*, an American who 1> going te Astrakhan on your ship. I want to ascend the Volga to NIJnl Novgorod. What’s your name, may I ask? I always pay well for services, especially when I compel them." "I am Hassan. lam going to Astrabad." "You said you were going to Astrakhan." “It was a mistake, excellency* I meant to say the other.” “Why not go to Astrakhan?” “Alas, a valuable cargo awaits me at Astrabad." “How valuable?” “To the value of a thousand pieces of gold.” “Well, you take me to Astrakhan and I’ll give you 500 piasters in gold. It won’t take you long. You won’t lone that much on your cargo.” “The accursed Giaour!” muttered Hassan to himself. Harvey coolly watched the crew. Many tribes and tongues tbat bordered

on the Caspian were represented, and some were from distant countries. There were about twenty of them, a mean and disreputable looking lot “I am going to Astrakhan," he said to himself, "even if I take possession of the old tub against the law. The Russian government would not object. There Isn’t a real Russian on board.” “You must leave the vessel.” said Hassan. “So I will—at Astrakhan,” answered Harvey. “Now, look here, Hassan, my friend. lt*s no use. I must get to Astrakhan because I’ve got a lot of valuable stuff there that I must overtake. No use growling; you’ve got to go to Astrakhan or put me on board of a boat that is going there.” “And will you pay me for that?” “Of course.” Hassan looked at his men, then at Harvey. Certainly this dog of an unbeliever looked as If he could pay well. It would do no harm to let him remain on board. After disposing of his concealed passenger he bad no objections to making a little more ready money. Out upon Caspian shot the vessel, and Harvey‘watched the lazy methods of the sailors. Five good men could have handled the boat In a storm. It took all twenty of them to do it Id calm water. Hasson thought to earn the money by placing Harvey on another boat He stood in the bow and scanned the horizon. But all that day be saw none and began to get uneasy. “It seems be expects a boat to overtake him,” thought Harvey. Hassan had been looking ahead for a boat. Now he cast his eyes astern. He was looking for the Russian gunboat he knew would follow if It were suspected that Koura bad been taken away in his vessel. All night they palled, but saw nothing. In the morning a cry broke from Hassan. Just ahead lay a long, low hall, with sails that seemed capable, if properly handled, of producing great speed. Astern could be seen the black smoke that came from an approaching steamer. “Hassan Is surprised, excited and afraid,” said Harvey to himself. “1

By JOHN ROE GORDON

wonder if I’ve got myself mixed up In a smuggling game. That looks like a Russian gunboat coming.” The crew were evidently as excited as Hassan and watched with anxious eyes the gunboat “What vessel is that?” shouted Hassan to the boat ahead as they neared each other. “This Is the boat of our heavenly lord, the ameer of Bokhara,” came the answer. Hassan’s vessel was schooner rigged. The other was a sort of sloop, having a single mast with lateen sail. The sloop rounded to, and Hassan ahouted: “I have some news for you. Come close. The Muscovites are coming!” “Let us be shrewd,” said the man on the black boat. “Let not the Muscovite see us together. What have you? Have you seen Mizik?” “Yes; It Is that for which Mlzik went to Tiflis.- Hurry! If the Muscovites catch me, I shall be shot!” “And what of me?” asked the other. “Karakal Is not yet weary of this life.” The lateen sail was drawn to the wind, and the black boat shot away. “Curses upon those cowards! .What shall I do?” walled Hassan. Then, turning In fury upon Harvey, he bawled out: “This Is because of you, miserable dog of a Giaour! If they do not seize me, I will kill you! Allah, Allah be praised! Allah, 11l Allah! Mohammed Resoul UUah!”

“Strikes me you’d better be saying ‘God be merciful to me, a sinner,’ ” ■aid Harvey. “You’ve been up to something mean, I’ll bet a dollar. Yon have got the most evil face I ever saw on a man. I wonder If it Is smuggling.” There was no use trying to get away. The slow old tub was no match for the gunboat. The hull was growing larger every minute. Soon a puff of smoke was seen on the gunboat’s deck, a boom was beard, and a shot bounded three times on top of the water and sank a few feet from Hassan’s boat. “By Jove! They’ll sink this hulk with me in it!” exclaimed Harvey. “Don’t wonder that Hassan is afraid.” The entire crew stood with folded arms. Their anxious eyes rested on Hassan’s face, and their expressions were but reflections of his own. Hassan gave a command, and the boat swung round and waited. A small boat from the gunboat was soon up close, and two officers came aboard. "You beast!” exclaimed one. “What do you mean by sneaking away in the night?” “Hold on, my friend,” said Harvey, for the officer had looked at him while speaking. “I don’t sneak. I don't know what you want, but you are seriously interfering In my business. I have engaged this man to take me to Astrakhan.”

“Astrakhan! But why did you leave Tiflis In the night?” “Tlflls? I haven’t been to Tiflis.” “This boat left Tlflls In the nightthree—four nights ago.” “With that I have nothing to do. I Joined the boat at Salain and bargained with this man, who seems to be lu command, to take me to Astrakhan or put me aboard a boat that was going there.” “Is that true, Osmanll?” asked the officer. “It Is true, O great representative of the greatest ruler on earth except the padisbah.” “Then tell me why you left Tlflls In the night.” “O great one, I will tell you what happened. It is a strange tale that I can scarcely believe myself. Perhaps It Is not known to thee, O great one, that I brought a cargo of goods to Tiflis, which I sold to the bazaars. I had been waiting for a cargo to take to Astrakhan, for there awaits me there a valuable cargo for Astra bad. I discovered some of the finest linen, and as I wished to sail early In the morning I went to the bazaar of Ignatz Blartelkis and told him what I bad found. He and his lovely daughter at once returned with me to the boat. I placed some wine before them and went to get some of the linen. I was seized and knocked down and some cloth was stuffed in my mouth. I heard the merchant speaking and also the girl scream, but 1 was bound securely and could not go to the relief of this young lady. I did not know what her father was doing, but I could hear him speaking loudly -and harshly. In the morning two strangers came to me and said they had taken command of my boat They did not permit me to go far from them, and through me they gave orders to the men. We sailed from Tlflls, and at a small place just before we reached Balaln theee men left the boat But they ordered me to take the girl to Astrakhan. They also said that at Salain a Giaour would get on board and that he would go to Astrakhan also, but I believed that something eras wrong and refused to take him. At Balaln this man did come out from the wharf and came on board at the risk of his life and Insisted upon being carried to Astrakhan. He asked If I bad the yonng lady, and I told him no. I was about to put them on board that boat when I saw your smoke and be-

lieved it was wisest to wait and tsll you the truth.” “Is that true? Could you understand?*’ the officer asked of Harvey. “That part concerning me Is all true except that I asked for no young lady. I have heard of no young lady since I came on the boat.” “Where Is this young lady?” asked the officer. “I will bring her to you," said Hassan. He went Into the cabin and soon returned with Koura, who gave a scream of delight when she saw the Russian officer. “Oh, my father! What have they done to him ?’ “That is to be learned. He was attacked by two men who remained on the boat until It nearly reached, the Caspian. What do you know about this strange matter?” “So little! So little! We went to see some linen.” “Did you see Hassan struck?” “I saw nothing. I was blindfolded.” “What did your father say?” “Nothing. I did not hear him speak.” “There seems to be some truth In this story. Do you swear you tell the truth. Osmanll?” “I swear by Allah!” “And you, my friend? Who are you?” “I am an American. If I had known there was a young lady here In trouble, I would have assisted her. Looks like a game of kidnap to me.” “Never mind what It looks like to you. Explain your presence." “I am going to Astrakhan. I want to get to the big fair at Novgorod to exhibit some windmills.” “And you did not go to the big fair at Tiflis?” “No; I just came from Astrabad.” “How?” “On board a German steamer.” “I think you are a liar. At any rate, you are arrested in the name of the czar.” “On what charge do you dare arrest an American citizen?” “On the charge of abducting one of his majesty’s subjects. This matter will be settled at Tiflis. Follow me.” “Here’s luck!” exclaimed Harvey. “I’ve got to go to Tiflis a prisoner, and SIO,OOO worth of windmills waiting at Astrakhan!”

CHAPTER V. THE GOVERNOR OF A PRISON AND TH* GIRL HARVEY IRONS LOVES. fsTjOLONEL JURNIEFF, the govI I ernor of the prison at Tiflis, EHrrjj sat in his office, which was a portion of the apartments allotted to himself and family. An open letter lay beside him on a table. A perplexed look was on his face. He was a cold man, usually Imperturbable, but something In the letter had disturbed him. “May the devil take that American!” he said as he picked up the letter again. “We think he Is in Paris or New York, and now he turns up with his confounded windmills in Astrabad. What la worse, he is going to the big fair at Nijni Novgorod. By jthe gods, he is enough to turn the eittire secret police upside down! Undoubtedly he intends to meet Alma at the fair, as he did last year. But, thanks to her father's wisdom, I have her safe here where she will hear no more of that fellow's fine words.” He touched a bell and an orderly came to him. “Has a letter been written or sent from my family apartments today?” “None, your excellency.” “Has any been received?” “None, your excellency.” “You must be doubly watchful. I have trusted you thus far; I will trust you further. You understand the circumstances, do you not?” “I think I understand, your excellency. There was a bad, wicked manone of those Americans who care for nobody.” “There was indeed—not only was, but is. As you are aware, he and my niece, Mile. Alma, met each other In St. Petersburg, where the fellow was Belling some miserable American Invention to pump water with windmills. Perhaps the machines were good enough, for he sold a lot of them. But these two fools must fall in love when my brother. General Jurnieff, had already planned upon having a prince for a son-in-law. But the young people outwitted him and met at the big fair at Nijni Novgorod last year. After that we sent the American out of Russia, telling him if he ever returned we would look upon him as having forfeited the right to his country's protection and send him to Siberia or have him shot.”

“That kept him out, excellency." “Not a bit of It! I have Just received a letter from my brother, who has heard from one of our secret agents at Paris, that the American Is now at Astrabad, in Persia, selling his wares, and has said he was going to the "big fair at Nijni Novgorod, which soon begins.” “He Is a courage—he Is a fool, excellency.” “You might have finished your sentence. He is a courageous fool. Bnt, thank heaven, I have the young lady safe here in Tiflis. If he expects to meet her at Novgorod, be will be disappointed. I must send werd at once to Nijni Novgorod and Astrakhan. It may be possible to intercept him on the way.” The orderly bowed and was dismissed. A few minutes later a higher offleer entered. It was Captain Orskoff. “I salute you, colonel." “I am glad to see you, captain. Tou appear to be happy. Has anything new been discovered concerning the missing Blartelkis and his daughter?” “I am glad to say we have recovered Koura. We have captured the two who were taking her away. They will be brought here and locked up to await trial.” * “Then Blartelkis waa not really trying to sell his daughter?”

“We cannot make head or tall of it. Koura knows little, but believes in her father's Innocence. Surely he did not need the money. Moreover, be cannot be found.” “Is that rascally Turk, Hafl* Effendi, In the city?” “Yes. I have placed him under arrest” “If it was a slave selling affair. Halls hfd a finger in It. He Is a shrewd rascal. But who was It you captured, and where?” “Lieutenant Thokt, with the gunboat stationed near the Kur, ran down a

Turkish craft and boarded It The captain’s name is Hassan. He was undoubtedly trying to get the poor girl on board a strange craft—a black hull. I thing she belongs to the ameer of Bokhara.” “So you found the girl on board the Turk?” “Yes, and also an American, who, I am sure, had a hand in the affair. What bis motive was, whether he was trying to get Koura off to marry her or was acting as an agent for the ameer, I don’t know. But he was arrested and brought here. You will see him soon.” “What name did he give?” “He gave the name, I believe. Irons. Said he was going to Nijnl Novgorod to sell pumps and windmills." (TO BE CONTINUED.)

“Oh, my father! What have they done to him? ”

“They will kill her, between them!”