Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1904 — A SOLDIER OF COMMERCE [ARTICLE]

A SOLDIER OF COMMERCE

By JOHN ROE GORDON

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. Chapter I—Harvey Irons, a oommeeelal agent in Russia for a firm of American manufacturers, has been expelled from the osar’s dominions. The czar has just prohibited the traffic in Georgia women. Hafiz Effendl, a Turk, and Mizik, agent for the ameer of Bokhara, are in Tiflis seeking a bride for Prince Davonoa. ll—Hafiz points out to Mizik the bride he has selected, a beautiful Georgian, Koura, daughter of a rich merchant in Tiflis. Hafiz agrees to deliver the girl to a boat captain on the Caspian recommended by Mizik. Captain Orskoff of the czar's army has the Turk under turvelUence. Ill—Hafiz and one Hassan, a greedy oaptain on Kur river, lure the merchant ana his daughter on board of Hassan’s boat at midnight. Hafiz kills the merchant, and Hassan sails away with Koura locked in a cabin, Koura has pledged her hand to Captain Orskoff. IV—While beating about the eastern waters trying to reach Novgorod Irons boards Hassanz boat against the will of the captain, who, however, takes a bribe to carry the American to Astrakan. A Russian gunboat overhauls the craft. Hassan tells a plausible story about the presence of Koura. implicating Irons, who is arrested for abduetlon of one of the czar's subjects. V—lrons is taken to Tiflis. In the family apartments of the prison where he is confined nie sweetheart, Mile. Alma Jurnieff, niece of the governor, Colonel Jurnieff, is kept in seclusion. Her father and uncle had caused the banishment of the American to separate the lovers. Alma hears of Irons’ plight and vows to save him. CHAPTER V—Continued. Colonel Jurnieff nearly fell off hit chair. He stared at Orskoff till that officer thought the governor of the prison was daft. "Do you know him? Did the lieutenant do wrong?" 4*Do I know him! Now we have him in our hands we will finish him. Do I know him! We have watched him for a year, but he Is like a rat So he was stealing Biarteikis and his daughter?" "I don’t say he was stealing Biarteikis. We can find no trace of him.” "Call that orderly." The orderly came In again and sainted. “Alexander, that man of whom we spoke is under arrest. He was not content with following one of the most beautiful of Russian girls, but It was he who abducted the daughter of Biarteikis.” "Has she been found?” asked the orderly, forgetting his manners In his intense interest. “Yes, thank God! But her father Is yet missing. We shall know more after we have heard them all. You understand your duties. I charge you to be shrewd and faithful. Go!" The orderly, Alexander Borge, walked through the corridors of the prison with lagging steps. An officer passed him. “My captain. I am not well,” he said. “May I be relieved for an hour?” The captain nodded and walked on into the office. Alexander hurried to another portion of the prison, where there were rooms luxuriously fitted up. He knocked cautiously at one, giving a certain signal. A young Russian girl opened the door. “Alexander! You not on duty? What has happened?” “I got relieved for an hour to tell you something for Mile. Alma." “Quick! In here!” She ushered him into a small storage closet and listened breathlessly. "The colonel charged me again with my duties,” be said. “He bad received a letter from his brother that the young American whom we could not trace was in Astrabad, Persia. He was to go from there to Nijni Novgorod to meet Mile. Alma, aa last year. Later I learned that he is under arrest for taking away Koura Biarteikis.” “It is impossible. He has not been in Tiflis.”

•‘I know, bat that Is the charge. Ha was on the boat that took her away. Would you tell Mile. Alma?” “Tea, certainly, I must tell her everything. I believe this Is a false charge got up to put the American in prison.” “Perhaps. But I must be off. I will watch. I will return if anything la new.” In another suit of apastments a lovely young girl, with pale face and longing eyes, sat listlessly looking from a window. The girl whom Borge had Just left entered. “Marie, what Is the excitement In the streets?” asks Mile. Alma. “Something unusual, even for fair time, has happened. One girl, one of the few friends I have made—l have always met her when making purchases at her father’s baxaar—ls already missing. I hope the Turks have not found a way to outwit the law.” “Koura Biartelkis is found, mademoiselle.” ' “Then that must be the cause of the excitement Oh, when will this cruel exile come to an end? Marie, suppose Alexander should be sent away where you could never see him.” “I should cry, mademoiselle.” “Cry? Tears alone will not unite lovers. If they would, I could shed rivers. It must be grand to live where love is not a thing for prison walla.” “But you are not a prisoner, mademoiselle.” “Am I not? I have the privilege of driving out In my uncle’s carriage. But am I not watched constantly? Is not my uncle forever giving orders that no letters shall be allowed to reach met Could I send a letter even if I knew where—he—was ?” With a burst of sorrow Marie Ml at the feet of her mistress. “Oh, mademoiselle! I have such bad news for you I I would not tsll, but I know you wish te bear aIL He is here!”

“Here! You mean M. Irons—here in Tiflis!” "Yes, mademoiselle, will soon be in this very prison.”® Alma’s fingers clutched at her bosom, and ahe half rose from her chair, but, swaying, fell back. “Will you have water, mademoiselle?” “No; I want news. How—where did they take him? Is it true? Did Alexander tell you?" “Yes. It seems he was on the same boat. They say he was taking away Koura Biarteikis.” “I do not believe It! No; I know he loves me. It was not M. Irons.” “Perhaps not, mademoiselle. But we shall soon know.” “Yes, but my heart will break with apprehension. If they have taken him, after warning him to keep out of Russia, they will charge him with anything to pnniah him. You must help me, Marie. Good, brave, faithful girl! And Alexander too! What would I do without you both? O God, help him! Preserve him from their vengeance and cruelty!” She broke down under the strain and slipped to the floor. Resting her arms on her chair and burying her face In them, she burst into spasmodic sobs. “They will kill her, between them!” muttered the maid.

CHAPTER VI. A ONE SIDED TRIAL—ALMA JURNIKFF’S RESOLVE. ff + IOLONEL JURNIEFF gazed I I coldly upon the prisoners RSrWSI when they were brought beIfißsy fore him. Hassan was cringing and servile, begging for mercy; Harvey was straight and calm, but angry. “This is an outrage upon an American citizen, and it will not go unpunished,” he said. “You have no right to arrest me or prevent my traveling to Nijni Novgorod.” “What is your name?” asked the colonel. “Harvey Irons.” “I remember that name—somehow In connection with a command. Ah, I have it! Were you not ordered to leave Russia and never return?” “No, I was not. I was told that if I came to Russia something would happen to me. It was not done by the order of the czar. It was merely an attempt to separate me from a young lady whom I love.” “So that was It,” said the colonel, with a aneer. “You are sure it was not done by the ordeT of the czar?” “I am sure of it, for an Investigation was made at my request by our minister, and he assured me that so far as the czar and his high ministers were concerned they had issued no such command. I was told I was at liberty to enter Russia to sell my goods at any time.” “After this remarkable Investigation, As you call It, were you informed that you were at liberty to come to Russia and carry off her daughters?” "No, nor have I any desire to carry them off—that is, save one, whom I ■hall marry sooner or later.” “May I ask the name of that one? Is it Koura Biarteikis?” “No. I had nothing to do with that affair. And it is none of your business what the name of the other la.” “Insolent dog! Do you know who 1 am?” “No, and I don’t care.”

“I will take some of the impudence ©at of you before I am does. I am Colonel Jarnieff.” "The uncle of Alma?” "Yea, the uncle of Alma.” “Then you already knew the name of the girl I love, and your questions were simply perfunctory. I demand in justice that I be released.” "That will be settled later. Juat now you are my prisoner. Take him to the prison of detention!” Two soldiers forced Harvey to accompany them. Then Colonel Jurnleff fell into a study. "This dog is right," he said. “The order waa our own. This espionage under which we have kept him was eot by order of the minister of police, but at the request of the general, my brother. I must silence him somehow. He is irrepressible and will de us harm. He must never be acquitted of this charge, no matter what the evidence may be. With Alma here and that fellow in Siberia there will be distance enough between them to save ua from further cure.” Harvey saw no one for several days except the guard who brought his meals. One day the guard, as be pushed the dinner through the door, said to Harvey: "I have been paid well to hand you this. Take it Swallow it when you have read it.” It was a note written on thin paper la pencil. It read: My Deer M. Iron*—l here been weeping my eyes out since I learned that you were In prison. After our meeting et the fair last year my father sent ms here to Colonel Jurnleff, his brother. I have been almost s prisoner svsr sines. I have not besn sbls te ascertain where you were. Year letters, even bed you known where I was, would hove been seised. I assure you I knew yen ware not guilty of killing M. Biartelkis or taking nway his daughtar. but my unde will try to have you convicted end sent to Siberia. I shall do all I con to reash year Assartana representative at St Petersburg, but may not be able t« accomplish It I toys

hut two friends. One of Tfieoi fii bribing the guard to give yo\i this. Whatever happens, remember I love you and believe In you. ALMA. Harvey kissed the note and sobbed. "My poor darling,” he murmured. Bit by bit be chewed the paper and swallowed It. Then came the trial. The tribunal WM semimilitary. Colonel Jurnieff and Captain Orakoff were present Tie magistrate, a stern old man, looked with unsympathetic eyes upon Harvey and with loathing upon Hassan. Captain Orakoff first offered what he knew -•or what he did not know, which Harvey felt amounted to the same thing so far as his chances were concerned.

"In performing my duties during the fair,” said the captain, “I saw Hafiz Effendl, who was known to be a dealer in the slave girls of Circassia and Georgia before his Imperial highness the czar issued his ukase that all such truffle be stopped. JL.watched Hafiz Effendl, but could discover nothing that would lead me to believe he contemplated breaking the law. I saw him with this man from Bokhara who calls himself Mizik, and when I learned that Biarteikis and Koura were missing I suspected them. They denied having anything to do with the crime. According to the brother of Hafiz, who keeps a coffee house, both of them spent that night at his place. There was no one at the bazaar who could tell where the proprietor had gone. I discovered that a boat manned chiefly by native sailors and captained by Hassan, a Turk, bad left Tlflia during the night No one had seen the boat depart, and there seemed to me something mysterious in this. I sent word to Lieutenant Thokt, who at once started to intercept the boat The gunboat overtook Hassan on the Caspian. He had spoken a vessel with a black hull, but the persons on board evidently wished to have nothing to do with Hassan, for the black boat went away. Lieutenant Thokt arrived in time to prevent the escape of Hassan. He can tell himself what he did.” “I went on board,” said Lieutenant Thokt, “and found Hassan in command and this other prisoner, evidently as much In a hurry to escape as Hassan. He said he was %n American going to Astrakhan. The vessel had not at any time been headed for the Volga. Hassan told me his story and the American told me his. They agreed In some respects, but differed in others. I found Koura Biarteikis on board, a prisoner, and brought her back to Tiflis and arrested Hassan and the American.”

“O great ones of earth!” moaned Hassan when called upon to speak for himself. “It is with trembling tongue I attempt to tell even the truth, for what am I? What am I that I should speak to such as thee? But it was as I said and as I will say again. I came to the fair with my boat filled with rich stuffs to sell to the bazaars. I did well, excellencies, and made a profit on my goods, but it does not pay to hire sailors for two ways and carry goods only one, so I remained at the wharf waiting for a cargo to take to Astrakhan, where I knew there awaited me a valuable cargo to take to Astrabad, but I waited too long, O excellencies, and it came time for me to depart without a cargo. “In preparing to leave Tiflis I discovered some linen which I knew Ignatz Biarteikis would purchase. I could not wait till morning, for then I could not reach Astrakhan early enough to take on my cargo. I went to the bazaar of Biarteikis and told him of my discovery. Biarteikis was just closing his bazaar, and when he heard of the linen he and bia daughter accompanied me back to my boat. I took them to my cabin and set wine before them and went to prepare the linen for examination. I was suddenly attacked and knocked down. A fold of cloth was placed In my mouth. I beard the young woman scream, but I could not go to her assistance.

“I heard Biartelkis begging for mercy and some one talking to him. Then some one took command of my boat, and we moved down the river. I was kept in Ignorance for hours, your excellencies, but in the morning I was astonished to see two men on board that I bad never seen before. One was a tall man, looking like a Russian, and the other was certainly an Osmanli. They informed me that unless I and my sailors did as I was bid I would be killed. They did not release me, but we kept on down the river. Just before we reached Salain they left the boat. They told me that Biartelkis had agreed to the sale of his daughter to an American who would board my boat at Salain and that I must take them both to Astrakhan. They told me that I would be watched and unless I obeyed I would be killed. They said I could not go back to Tiflis without being murdered. "I was afraid, your excellencies, and did what they told me. At Salain, however, it wag not my intention to take on the American, but to proceed until I reached a Russian gunboat, when I would turn over the young lady. But the American knew which boat she was on, for he came out In a small boat directly in my path and leaped on board. He threatened me with a pistol, and I was compelled to do his bidding. Seeing another vessel on the Caspian, I wished to get assistance from them, but they feared us and ran away. The gunboat came, and I told the officer the truth. I swear It, by the prophet’s beard. I have told the truth. I know no more.” The magistrate turned coldly to ▼♦7“All of what that man says Is a Me,” said Irons, “except the mere fact that I did get on his boat in the maimer he describes at Salain. I had taken passage from Astrabad for Astrakhan on a boat belonging to the German line They had also some machinery if was going to exhibit at the fair. Arriving at Salain, the captain of the boat In-

formed me that I would haae four hours In which to Mil the town. I ■pent three hours and came back to the wharf only to zee the zteamer disappearing. I was enraged. I wanted particularly to reach the fair early, and there would not be a boat up the Volga for another week after the one I had lost I was standing on UP wharf talking with a peasant when X aaw the boat owned by Hassan coming down the Kur. We hailed the boat and were Informed that she wAs hound for Astrakhan. There I was, with a week to stay in that place and a boat passing me that was going straight to where I wanted to go. The peasant got a small boat and rowed me out to Hassan’s. I climbed on board and remained there. I did not know until the officer from the gunboat came on board that there was a young lady there.” Colonel Jurnieff nodded, and another man, evidently of the poorest class, spoke to the magistrate. The dignitary started, stared at Harvey and said: “There appears to be a multitude of lies in all this testimony. Let ua hear what this witness has to say.” “I saw that American in Tiflis a week ago,” he said, pointing at Harvey. “I saw him in the bazaar of Biarteikis, and he spoke to him. I saw much gold change hands, but do not know what it was for. The American took nothing away.” “That la the worst lie of alir* exclaimed Harvey indignantly. “I was never In Tiflis before in my life.” “Take the prisoners back to their cells. The case needs deliberation,” said the magistrate. Harvey was marched to his dungeon. An orderly, who beard all the proceedings, hurried to relate them to Marie. From the moment that Alma Jnmleff heard what had taken place at the trial she was a changed person. “So they have conspired between them to destroy the man I love,” she said slowly and deliberately. “1 have been a tame kitten in the hands of a tiger. I, too, have some of the tiger’s blood, and I will show them the claws of another Jurnieff. I will save him or I will die with him.' God help me and give me strength!” (TO BE CONTINUED.)