Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1904 — A SOLDIER OF COMMERCE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A SOLDIER OF COMMERCE

By JOHN ROE GORDON

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. Chapter I—Harvey Irons, a commeeclal agent in Russia for a firm ot American manufacturers. has been expelled fromtheciar s dominions. Tbe czar has just prohibited the traffic in Georgia women. Hafiz Effendl, a Turk, and Mizik. agent for the ameer of Bokhara, are in Tiills 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 Tifiis. Hatiz 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 surveillence. Ill—Hafiz and one Hassan, a greedy captain on Kur river, lure the merchant and his daughter on board of Hassau’s boat at midnight. Hafiz kills the merchant, and Hassan sails away with Koura looked in a cabin, Koura has pledged her hand to. Captain Orskoff. IV—While heating 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 foFabduction of one of the czar’s subjects. V—lrons is taken to Tiflis. In the family apartments of the prison where he is confined nis sweetheart. Mile. Alma Jurnieff. niece of the governor. Colonel Jurnieff 1 , 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. Vll—Prince Dellnikoff is coming to Tiflis. He is the choioe 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 Sovernor gives a ball in honor of Prince 'ellnikoff. Alma, by her graciousness and witchcrv. 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 Dellnlkoff to have the betrothal announced at the ball. Dellnlhoff 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 gives 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 prison. Alma escapes with Irons, and they hide under the hay. Xll—Soldiers search the boat. It is ordered to leave Tiflis at once. Xlll—Captain C’harka is lost overboard during a storm, and the crew go to his rescue and refuse to return. XlV—The drifting boat falls Iri 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 ha. V-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 board a gunboat. Orskskoif hearsthe story of K Bora's plight atnl Alma's adventure. Plan to rescue the girls from the black boat. XA IT— Orskoff will take his prisoners to Triflis. Irons prevails upon him to turn traitor to the czar and release the prisoners, then join in pursuit of the black boat. XVlll—Palpak, a robber chief, is bribed to help the lovers. They intercept a caravan, wich Alma and Koura travel from the coasttn the palace of the ameer. XIX —The people of the coast rally to Palpak. Two hundred armed men gather in the pass. CHAPTER XlX—Continued. Palpak waved his hands for silence and, assuming a serious mien, said: “Listen, O my people! Before we start I have something to submit to my captains. It was at tbe cave where we hid the treasure. I had divided it according to my custom—a portion to each - of my brothers, a portion to myself, and the greater bulk to be brought here and divided among my people and to pay the tax demanded of us by tjie ameer. My brothers rebelled against my decision and, led by Domitan, attacked me to take my life. I was assisted by the American, as I have said, and then the Russian soldiers came and captured us all. But the crime of Domitan remains. It is the custom for the captains to settle upon a punishment.” “Kill him! Fasten him on a spear and place him high!” These cries came from all sides. Domitan turned pkle. He looked appealingly at Palpak, but the face bf the chief was as stone. “O chief!” said * a captain, rising. “It is well that the Zannucks know their chief to He always safe. If he is in danger from his own brothers, then what may we expect from others? If these brothers have attempted to kill thee, they should be punished. It is the will of the people that be whom they love shall be protected and those who seek to kill him shall themselves be slain.” “It is so,” said another captain, “but this took place far away. Let us give Domitan and the other brothers of our chief an opportunity to explain their conduct.” “It is well spoken,” said Palpak, “Let my brother Domitan, next in the line of chiefs, who will be your chief if I should die, explain his action.” All eyes were turned toward Domitan. “O chief, my brother,” he cried, “and captains of the Zannucks, hear me and believe me! When we started in our boat to the island cave to obtain the treasure and bring it here, there was no thought against onr brother, the greatest chief the Zannucks ever had. We love him well, but we drank much wine, and in our wine madness thought to overcome him and obtain the treasure. In our right minds we would not think of this. Humbly do we seek pardon of our chief. We promise faithful allegiance. We will fight by his side evermore.” There was a murmur, and all eyes turned to Palpak. “It will be well if this is true,” he said. “I trust my brothers again. I wish no confusion now. We will hasten to meet the soldiers of the ameer.” There was little delay. Horses were being led in from nearby fields, and men with arms were gathering. On the road to the southward they formed, and it seemed a formidable array. First rode

Palpak, with Harvey and Orskoff, mounted on fresh horses. After them rode a hundred men, divided in bands of twenty-five, each under a captain. Then came another hundred under Domitan, these being divided the same way. Harvey had never experienced so difficult a ride. At times they seemed on the verge of going over a cliff and hurling themselves a hundred feet or more to certain death, but the rugged little horses seemed to know every inch of tbe way and found stepping places where a man could not as they wound around the perpendicular scarps of mountains. “I wouldn’t like to do this for a living,” said Harvey. “I prefer to sell windmills.” “This is real mountaineering.” answered Orskoff. But their eyes did not meet as they spoke, for Harvey, who was ahead, did not dare to turn his head. In crossing table lands they traveled in sections, and Domitan often came up and spoke to Palpak. He had lost none of his surliness. Harvey could not understand why Palpak so easily forgave the man who wanted to kill him. Orskoff explained that he had talked with the captains and learned that Domitan was much admired for his many exhibitions of bravery. "It is a good thing for us that Domitan is not chief,” said Orskoff. “He hates us sorely,” They camped at night in a ravine, and the cooks of the companies prepared a meal consisting mainly of a sort of cake and coffee. After partaking of a goodly quantity Orskoff and Harvey lay down near Palpak and went to sleep. In the morning, refreshed, the cavalcade set out and passed another day in even more difficult traveling. Another night they camped on an open field, and on the third day they came to rest on a cliff overlooking the Siloon pass. CHAPTER XX. THE ATTACK ON THE CARAVAN. ay N the morning, after waiting i and watching all night, the caravan was discovered slowgSSfiy ly making its way along the pass. Palpak called Harvey and Orskoff to him at the edge of the cliff. “We will attack the caravan in this way,” he said. “My men are noAV divided, and one-half is under my brother Domitan, who is very brave and a good officer. His section will go up the pass to head off the camels if they bolt and run beyond our reach. My own section will attack at this spot. You will be with me.” “I should say so,” said Harvey. “We want to be in this business from start to finish.” “But it would be safer to remain hidden.” “It would be impossible. Orskoff is a fighting man and would not remain idle Avliile his sweetheart is in danger. I am not a fighting man. but I could not remain in hiding while you were fighting for the girl I love.” Domitan came up. “It will be well for us to plan, my brother,” he said. “The caravan will soon be here.” “We have already planned,” said Palpak sternly. "You will take your men farther up the pass. I.ie in wait there. If the camels bearing the young women escape, you can capture them. I will remain here and attack.” “Heretofore I have been asked in councils,” said Domitan surlily. - “You will obey,” said Palpak. “It is evident.” said Harvey to Orskoff, “that, though he forgives, lie does not forget.” Domitan soon had his men under way. They took a winding path through the woods leading- to the pass. “I trust there will be ns little bloodshed as possible,” said Harvey to Palpak. “We want to get the girls, but j do not wish to commit unnecessary j murder. These soldiers are simply 1 obeying orders, ns your own men are ! doing.” “We will save your women, but the rest of the matter must be left to us. I see by the size of the caravan that j there is much treasure.” The caravan came oil Riding ahead j was an officer of the ameer in brilliant garb. Following him were twenty horsemen, all well armed. Then came two camels, each led by a soldier. The first bore in its howdah the girl intended for the bride of the prince, Alma was in the second one. She still wore the uniform of the inspector general of prisons. Then came twenty more horsemen, a string of camels and mules bearing merchandise of all kinds and horses on which rode TurkPersian and Hebrew merchants. Silently Palpak led his men down a steep and difficult path. They waited in hiding till the head of the caravan was opposite. A peculiar cry from Palpak sent them dashing into the road. Palpak's men had left their horses above on the cliff and were at a disadvantage, but they outnumbered the Bokharans. At the first volley three of the ameer’s soldiers fell from their horses. A terrific outcry followed, but the officer In command was brave and calm and soon rallied them.

They formed in a circle around the camels bearing the tAvo girls, while the merchants and the camels bearing their goods scuttled for safety. Palpak rallied his men aud led them In a ferocious onslaught, but the direct and steady

fire from the mounted riflemen of the ameer sent a dozen of them to the ground. * Palpak shouted out his commands and formed his men for a rush, but the ameer's men Avere first, and the horses came dashing upon the Zannucks. For a time it looked like a victory for the Bokharans. Orskoff aud Harvey were compelled to run aside when the ameer's horsemen came upon them. The battle of the ameer’s men was being waged chiefly by the officer In command, who seemed not to know the word fear and Avho seemed to be impervious to bullets. Mounted on a fine horse, be led every charge. Harvey saw that so long as the Bokharans were inspired by this officer they Avere well nigh invincible. lie watched his chance to cope with the commander in person. J At last it effrne. The officer, in making a dash through the forces of the Zannucks, Avas beset by several of them Avith spears. He brought his horse suddenly to a halt, tried to swerve, and the horse came doAvn almost on his haunches. AVith a quick leap Harvey sprang upon the horse behind the officer. Spears about to be hurled were lowered, and the men stood in amazement. The officer tried to turn, to reach Harvey with his sword, but the iron arms of the American were around ids neck, and lie was soon choked into submission. With a shout of victory Harvey hurled him to the ground. “Noav, Palpak! Now!” he cried, and with a rush the Zannucks attacked again. Their onslaught was so ferocious that the soldiers of the ameer fled along the pass, to be-met by Domitan with the remaining hundred. “Victory!” cried Harvey. “Victory!” lie sped to the camels, as did Orskoff, and at the command of Koura, who could manage the beasts, the camels knelt. Alma and Koura were soon In their lovers’ arms. “My darling! My darling! You are saved!” cried Harvey. “The Bokharans have been defeated!” “They Avould not have been.” said Orskoff, “but for the brains of. your American.” “How is it you are on Bokharan soil against the command of the czar, my captain?” asked Koura. “To save you, my sweet one; to save the girl I love. I learned my duty from the American.” So. absorbed were they in their greetings that a cry from.the Zannucks did not read) them. Happening to turn his head, Harvey saw the form of Palpak stretched upon the ground. “Good heaven! Palpak killed!” he exclaimed. He rushed to the chief and found that lie was severely wounded. “Who knows anything a limit surgery V” be asked. As no one answered, Harvey knelt beside the chief and begun dressing the bullet wound in his side. “Is it the last of me, my friend?” said Palpak. “Perhaps not. I’m pretty good at this sort of thing. Be patient, and we’ll see what can be done.” The hoofs of a horse pounding the road caused them to look up. Domitan soon appeared. “How goeth the fight here?” he demanded. “AA r e ha%-e defeated the soldiers of the ameer.” “And so did we,” said one of the cap tains, "but Palpak, our chief, is wounded.” "Palpak wounded!” They led Domitan to bis brother. There was no sympathy in his dark face. “Art thou Avounded to thy death, my brother ?” “Tliis American friend saith he can do much, yet I fear the bullet has reached a spot that kills.” "It is customary for a dying chieftain to proclaim his successor. I am thy eldest brother and so will become chief.” Already the eyes of Palpak were glazing, and he was growing weaker. “Yes, thou art chief,” he Avhisiiered. Then, motioning to his captains to gather round, he said: "Domitan is chief. I die.” Domitan, as soon as he was convinced that his brother was dead, became a changed man. “Zannucks.” he shouted, “I am thy chief! Obey me as thou obeyed my

brpther, and I will make thee rich with the spoils of i,Ue caravans. We will pay no taxes to the ameer, but will give him buttle in the mountains and kill his soldiers. And thou, American and Muscovite, slialt become my slaves and wait upon me in the palace I will build. I shall not be called chief, but king, and the prettiest of the girls we have rescued from the Bokharans shall be my queen.” “Nonsense!” said Harvey. “Your brother promised that we should be sent to the coast safely.” “Let my brother fulfill his promise. I am chief, and thou art notv my prisoners. Obey me or thy life will go as lid my brother’s.” Ilarvey made a gesture as if to draw his pistol, and Domitan sprang upon him. “The other! Seize the other! Bind them both!” he cried. Alma and Koura screamed with terror as they saAV their gallant lovers almost buried under the Zannucks that hurled themselves upon them. In a few minutes Ilarvey and Orskoff were securely bound. “Dogs of unbelievers!” cried Domitan, shaking his fist in their faces. “Thou interfered with my plans before! Remember the cave! Now will I pay in good coin! Slaves, forever shalt thou serve me!” Harvey did not answer. He looked at Alma. The poor girl was trembling with terror, and tears were pouring doAvn her cheeks. “Cheer up, my darling!” he said to her. “We will soon he out of this!” The clatter of horses on the road could be heard, and the force Domitan had left fighting came up. “We routed them well,” said one of the captains. “What! Is Palpak killed?” “I am thy chief!” said Domitan. “But there was treasure in the caravan! Where are the camels of the merchants?” “BeloAV. They fled. After them, and bring them back!” Fifty started, and the remainder prepared to bury the dead. It was now late in the day, and Domitan was eager to get his caravan off the highway lest a returning force of Bokharans turn victory into defeat. “We have two of the best camels of the ameer,” be said. “We cannot take them up the side of the cliff. We must travel by way of the road farther up. We will arrange for the burial of the dead, foes as well as frieuds. Remove all trace of the fight.” The two girls were tenderly eared for, Domitan studying them carefully, as if to decide which was the more beautiful. “There is my queen,” he said, pointing to Alma. “The Georgian is beautiful, but this one, this Muscovite, suits me. I will make her my Avife.” “Not much,” said Harvey. “There’s going to be another deal all around before that takes place.” “Dog! Pig! Be silent!” growled Domitan. A meal Avas served, and the two girls were royally treated. A dozen soldiers waited upon them. After this delay Domitan ordered his men to move, and the entire caravan, captured camels, horses and all. withdreAV from the highway and made camp in the thick forest that forpied the border of the pass. The horses were left upon the cliff in charge of a feAV men, and camp was made for the night. Plans for removing the booty to the Zannuck village could be made in the morning. Sentinels were stationed, and a guard was placed over the tAvo girls. Ilarvey and Orskoff. bound, were thrust under a bush and left there. “This is terrible!” groaned Orskoff. “We have failed, with all our planning.” “Sli-h," whispered Harvey. “Make ! them think we are sleeping.” “The fellow has another plan,” : thought Orskoff. The hours of the night dragged wearily. The soldiers slept; and. not being accustomed in their wild life to keeping guard at night, most of the guards were asleep by midnight. Ilarvey and Orskoff lay close together. A wriggling motion on the part of Harvey attracted the Russian. In a moment he felt a nudge in the sidei Harvey Avas sitting up, his hands free, industriously untying the cords around his legs and feet. With a swift slash of his knife lie set the Russian free, “Come!” lie whispered. He crawled away in the darkness, keeping in the deeper shadows of the trees. Orskoff followed. Neither spoke for many'minutes. They kept working their way in the direction of the road and*away from Siloon. At last, having cleared the camp, Ilarvey stood up straight. “What is your plan?” whispered Orskoff breathlessly. “I have none except to get away,” said Harvey. “Free, we can do something. Let's walk along this road, and as we walk we can think.” (TO BE CONTI NUED.)

The iron arms of the American were around his neck.