Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 September 1904 — A SOLDIER OF COMMERCE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A SOLDIER OF COMMERCE

BY JOHN ROE GORDON

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. Chapter I—Harvey Irons, a commeecial agent in Russia for a firm of American manufacturers, has been expelled fromtheczar’s dominions. The czar has just prohibited the traffic in Georgia women. Hafiz Effendi, a Turk, and Mizik. agent for the ameer of Bokhara, are in Tiflis seeking a bride for Prince Davonca. 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 eaptain on the Caspian recommended by Mizik. Captain Orskoff of the czar’s army has the Turk under surveillence. 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 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 Hassan's 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 abduction of one of the czar's subjects. V—lrons is taken to Tiflis. In the family apartments of the prison where he is confined his 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. Vl—Colonel Jurnieff is conspiring to crush Irons. Hassan appears in court as witness against the American, who. he says, was abducting Koura. VII— Prince Dellulkoff is coming to Tiflis. He is the choice of Alma’s father for a son-in-law. Alma buys a ship's cargo of hay to be delivered at Astrabad. Persia, and stipulates that the ship shall carry a man as passenger. VIII—The governor gives a ball in honor of Prince lellnikoff. Alma, by her graciousness and witchorv. captivates both the prince and her uncle. IX—Colonel Jurnieff expects to win promotion by bringing about The marriage of his niece and the prince. He urges Dellnikoff to have the betrothal announced at the ball. DellniUoff proposes and promises Alma any favor she may wish. She asks for one of his uniforms to indulge in a lark as pretended inspector of prisons. X—Disguised as the prince. Alma inspects the dungeons. The prince himself, enveloped in a long cloak, accompanies her. Dellnikoff gets stupid from wine. Alma locks him in a cell, first securing his cloak, which she give* to Irons, whom she releases. Irons passes the guard unchallenged. Xl—Alma conducts Irons to the hayboat, As the lovers are about to separate the alarm sounds in the Erison. Alma escapes with Irons, and they ide under the hay. Xll—Soldiers search the boat. It is ordered to leave Tiflis at once. Xlll—Captain Charka is lost overboard during a storin. and the crew go to his rescue and refuse to return. XlV—The drifting boat falls in with the black boat of Bokhara which Hafiz had engaged to convey Koura to the ameer’s country. Alma is taken on board. Meeting of Alma and Koura. Irons left to his fate on the hay-boat. XV The hayboat runs on an island. Irons falls in with robbers. Captain Orskoff appears with a band of soldiers and captures the whole party. XVl—lrons taken on hoard a gunboat. Orskskoff hears the story of Kuora's plight and Alma's adventure. Plan to rescue the girls from the black boat.

CHAPTER XVl—Continued. Orskoff made a gesture of Impatience. "Koura had been living with her uncle in Tiflis. I saw her every day, and If I was not on duty I spent the evening at the house. One night I was on duty and did not go. I stopped to see her the next morning, and her uncle, who was beside himself with terror, told me she had gone out the night before and had not returned. I knew abe had been stolen, and, as that was the morning you escaped from prison, I knew you had taken her. I searched the river and learned that Charka’s hayboat had gone down toward the Caspian. It was said that a man and woman, the woman disguised as a man, had gone with Charka. I reached the coast as soon as possible, but I could not overtake you. The launch had gone before I made the discovery, or all this would not have happened. On the gunboat I cruised everywhere, using the searchlight at night. Last night we discovered the hayboat and at once went to the island.” “I was off Charka'B boat,” said Harvey, “and if you had used any reasoning powers you would have known that it could not have been Koura who was with me. You say you were told that the woman with me was disguised as a man. Now, how could I get Koura In such a disguise? When a woman disguises herself, it is for a purpose. Koura was stolen; she did not go of her own accord, as did Alma.” “You apeak of Alma Jurnieff, niece of the colonel.”

“Yea. She assisted me to escape, and, as our attempt waa discovered before she could return to her apartments, it was necessary for her to fiy with me. On the Caspian the hayboat met with disaster, and Alma and I were left on it alone. We drifted all night, shivering with cold and hunger. In the morning we found ourselves under the bows of a long, black boat belonging to the ameer of Bokhara.” “I know the boat It is used to carry goods to Persia.” “Not this time. It Is being used to carry Alma Jurnieff and Koura Biartelkis to Bokhara. They permitted Alma to go on board, and I, like a tool, in my excitement allowed them to know she was not what' her clothing would show. They would not take me, and the captain, whose name, I believe, Is Karakal, or something like that, shouted out to me that they had the daughter of Biartelkis and that soon both girls would be the brides of princes.” ‘ls this true? Do you swear you are telling me the truth? How did they get Koura?” “Hafiz Kffendi passed us In a cayik. He was intercepted at the mouth of the river by the launch, and something was said about sacks. They were permitted to depart. Undoubtedly the Turk had Koura congealed.” Orskoff spent several minutes in thought. Suddenly turning to Harvey he held out his hand, saying: “I believe you. I ask your pardon for the laaulta I have heaped on you. Thla is terrible! Koura gone! A. slave to the heathen ameer, sad I helpless to

aid or rescue her! It makes one mad! I couln drive this sword biade into my heart." “Sit down and be calm.” said Harvey. “We can rescue Alma Jurnieff and Koura or kill the men who marry or harm them. Let us work the game together. I am starving. Give me some food.” The food was ordered.

CHAPTER XVII. A. TRAITOR TO THE CZAR. r ~ IAPTAIN ORSKOFF paced up I I and down the deck feverishly while the American ravenUsSaU ously ate his meal. Harvey, when he had finished, asked for a cigar. “You are maddening!” said Orskoff as he handed the American a cigar. “One can see that you are not In love—not as I am.” “Sit down,” said Harvey. They took chairs on dccß. “Getting excited is not going to help us any,” said Harvey, putting at his cigar. “I am as eager as you to rescue the girls. The difference is that you. without any plans, want to rush off and probably Involve us in greater trouble, while I wisli to plan out a line of action. Now. that boat went somewhere on the Bokharan coast—where, we do not know, The thing is to get what information we can out of the robbers.” “They would lie to us.” “I don't think the chief, Palpak, would lie. Except for my presence

the other robbers would have killed him, and he must feel some gratitude.” “But these fellows are shrewd. We could do nothing with them unless we granted them their freedom.” “And that, of course, you would not do.”

“No! lam an officer of the czar!” “What do you intend to do with me?” “It is my duty to return to Tiflis with you and give you over to the authorities.”

“Just so. You are one of these machine made soldiers so common in Russia—fight for the czar and die for yourself. Is that it? No; that isn’t quite right—fight and die for the czar and to the devil with yourself; that’s more like it. Let’s look over the premises. Take my own case In a business sense. I don’t know where my windmills afe. They were taken to Astrakhan by that fool of a German. Well, supposing I was at liberty to go after them, the first thing I would do would be to outline a plan of getting as quickly as possible from where I am at this moment to the spot where I considered it most likely I would find them.” "I don't see—the connection.” “No, of course not. But tell me—what is your duty in the matter of these robbers?” “I have already stated that. I must take them to Tiflis and charge them with robbery. Several times the officers In charge of the money to pay the soldiers have been robbed. We suspected that it was done by some of the mountain robbers and mistrusted the Bokharans. But we could never catch any.” “That’s because you are a machine soldier. The third section of your police does not work that way.” “What way?” “Without thinking. Pardon me, you Insist it is your duty to go at once to Tiflis?” “Certainly, unless we can Intercept that vessel belonging to the ameer.” “Suppose we do not intercept it? Suppose the rascals make a port in Bokhara ?” “Then I mast return to Tiflis and ask permission to enter the territory of the ameer in search of Koura.” Harvey looked at him and whistled. “My friend, you accused me a short time ago of not loving as you do. Yet yon sit calmly here and say you would go to Tiflis to ask permission to rescue the girl you claim to lore.” “I am a soldier of the oar!” “Verily *eu aro, aqd well hsv you

learned your lesson. I am a soldier of commerce, and love it, but I would consider neither trade inor honor nor citizenship against the chance of saving the girl I love. To the deuce with a patriotism that destroys love. Orskoff, do your duty! if you feel that it is your duty to take me and the robbers to Tiflis, do so, and forever bid farewell to Koura Biartelkis.”

“But whnt can I do? The girls are by this time perhaps on Bokharan soil. It is against the orders of the czar for a Russian soldier to step foot in that country.” “Tiflis is severnl days’ journey from here; Bokhara but a short distance. Somewhere, in the clutches of the Bokharans, are the girls you and I love. Your duty calls you to desert them in their need; mine calls upon me to die for them If necessary. Rather than let you take me back to Tiflis I’ll fight you to the death.”

Orskoff stared. Harvey turned und resumed his walk. He took several turns and closely watched Orskoff. The Russian was deeply thinking, ills brow knitted in perplexity. “Stop!” he commanded suddenly as Harvey reached him again. “You sell windmills. To no one save those who employ you do you owe allegiance. You come and go as you see fit. You are shrewd and brave and take your wares to all countries and run risks of death to promote the commercial interests of the company. You have spoken

»f your love. Under the whiplash of your tongue I am torn in halves with the bitterest conflict of my life. I have led my company in battle and have faced the enemy without a tremor, but that is nothing compared to the hell that is surging in m.v breast now. In me, in this breast, there is a conflict that overshadows anything in my experience.” “I don't understand,” said Harvey. “You would understand if you were a Russian officer and at the same time a man in love. Remember, I am performing my duty when I place you under arrest and take you back to Tiflis. You are a condemned prisoner who has escaped. With your Innocence or guilt I have nothing to do. It is my duty to take those robbers to Tiflis, and it is not my duty to permit one of them to talk. Yet, as against this duty, the girl I love is in the hands of the Bokharans. You, the man who is most wanted in Tiflis, and these robbers are the only men on earth who can help me. For,once tint girls are on Bokharan soli, I am helpless.” “Helpless?” “I cannot stir regiments to cross the border. The order must come from St. Petersburg. By the time we get that order the girls will be married to the princes.” “That is what I have been striving to show you—the uselessness of your duty in this case. I claim your duty is to go after the girls.” “Impossible! There is a secret corps for such work. I am not a soldier once off Russian soil unless sent there.”

“Who asked you to be a soldier? Come with me. Let us rescue the girls. Alma has really committed a crime, I suppose, but we must risk the danger of Tiflis. I'll take care of that part when we get the girls.” “You would try to escape—would even try to kill me to escape.” “Nonsense. If you will assist in rescuing the girls and let Alma Jurnieff escape, I will go back to Tiflis with you and take my medicine.” “You would risk death and disgrace for the girl you love?” “Yes. I’d risk hell for the girl I lovo.” “That Is love! That Is love! It Is as I feel myself. Let me think! What a problem for a man to solve!” He abruptly left Harvey, who sat down, preferring to let Orskoff work out the problem himself. Orskoff paced gravely up and down, never once looking at Harvey. “Have you a plan?” he asked suddenly, stopping before Harvey. “Give me your answer to the problem you have set out to solve, and I will give you the plan I have tbought of.”

Again that monotonous pacing up and down the deck. It seemed to Irons as though the Russian was growing older looking each moment Again the feverish eyes and working Ups. It came to an end at last. With a sigh as If exhausted Orskoff dropped into the chair by the side of Irons. “Well, I have fought the fight,” he said wearily. “And won?” asked Harvey. “No; God knows it is no victory! I have lost My patriotism goes down before my love. I am a Russian. I know the Russian cruelties to those who defy the czar. I know the pitiless rule that breaks the hearts and destroys the lives of those who even permit a culprit to escape. Knowing this—knowing the punishment, the disgrace, the horror of treachery—l have resolved to become—a traitor!” “A traitor! What nonsense!”

“Yes, a traitor to the czar! You and I will soon be under the same condemnation. We will go together to the very throne of Bokhara if necessary and rescue those we love or die in the attempt. It is settled. I will not turn back!”

CHAPTER XVIII. A CONTRACT WITH A ROBBER CHIEF. |«» IARVEY broke the spell of siI £ £ | lence: “I thought you would see Vlllltsgßlf daylight. Now that we agree, let us go on and plan. We must not lose sight of the fact that we are dealing with unknown quantities. We have no method of learning just where the girls are. We must use measures that will assist us. What was your idea when you spoke of becoming a traitor?” “I become a traitor the moment I give you your liberty and accompany you upon the proscribed ground of Bokhara.”

“You must go even further than thfl& We must use the robbers.” “Palpak! I must at least send him and his brothers to Tiflis.” “You will then throw aside the one staff that cau assist us over the difficulty.” “What use can the robbers be to us?” “This fellow Palpak is chief of a clan called Zannucks, who hate the ameer and all those who are faithful to him. I overheard them talking in the cave. It seems the ameer levies such exorbitant taxes that the Zannucks cannot pay. He taxes everything—wives, children, cattle. That is the reason the chief seeks to rob the ameer and his people—to reimburse the Zannucks. Palpak would not hesitate to help us If by helping us he could work injury to the ameer. Grant the robbers their freedom. Let them tako their booty to their people on condition that they assist us in rescuing the girls.” “Set free robbers who have attacked Russian paymasters!” “You said that you would not turn back. Now you are trying to turn two ways—one toward Tiflis, the other toward Bokhara. It will not do. If you wish to accomplish anything in this affair, you must go the whole figurestake all and win or lose. That is the way I do business.” “What is your plan?” “Have Palpak brought here and let us talk with him in a straightforward, businesslike way. Any man will help

another if he can also benefit himself by doing so.” “I leave it to you. Your head is full of plans, while mine is simply taken up with thinking of poor Koura.” “I think of Alma as much as you do of Koura. But simply thinking will not rescue them. We must act, and act quickly.” Orskoff sent for Nevisky. The lieutenant was pacing the bridge, eager to be off. He could not understand why the captain did not hurry to Tiflis with the prisoners instead of wasting the time chatting in an apparently friendly way with one of them. “Lieutenant, have the chief robber brought to me,” said the captain. As Palpak was being led toward them Orskoff said to Harvey: “Conduct the negotiations. I will agree to anything you plan.”

(TO BE CONTINUED.)

"Stop!" he commanded suddenly.