Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1904 — A SOLDIER OF COMMERCE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A SOLDIER OF COMMERCE

By JOHN ROE GORDON

CHAPTER XXII. A RACE FOR LIBERTY. QOMITAN’S caravan came on slowly, for the men were walking. They had sent a portion of the force round another way to get the horse# that had been left on the cliff. Domitan and his captains rode ahead mounted on horses they had taken from the Bokharans. Following came the little army, straggling along in anything but military style, laughing, singing and celebrating their victory. It was Domitan’s watchful eye that discovered two bowed and bent priests resting by the wayside, their great hoods concealing their faces except for the eyes. “It is well,” he said to one of his captains, “that on the first day of my chieftainship I meet with two holy men upon the way. I will give them alms and have their blessings upon me.” “Most holy fathers, holy ones of the sun, bless me,” he said, “for I am but today the chief of the Zannucks.” "I bless you,” said Harvey, with a weak and trembling voice as he pocketed the gold. “We are weary, and the temple is far. Hast thou no seat for us on a camel? I see there are two with apparently but little load.” “It is well that thy presence augurs good,” said Domitan in a sort of exultation. “Those camels bear the one who will be my bride and the one who will be the bride of my brother. Surely it will be well for us if the holy men ride with them. Come.” He went back to the camels and commanded them to kneel. “Holy companions wilt thou have, my sweet ones,” he said. “These holy men have blessed me, and I have made them presents. I shall win great victories.” Harvey got into the howdah by the side of Alma, and Orskoff, with apparent feebleness, climbed in with Koura. The camels rose to their feet again, and Domitan proudly led on. It was not every day that a chieftain had two lamas in liis caravan. Orskoff was fidgety. He knew that when they reached the monastery they would be expected to leave, but he had faith that Harvey would surmount the difficulty. He saw Harvey scanning the sky and mumbling and making peculiar signs. Harvey called to Domitan, and the chief rode back. “I see mysterious signs in the heavens,” said Harvey in a manner that would inspire awe. “I see but an hour’s ride from this spot a band of soldiers of the ameer coming to give you battle. They are mighty men and armed. I have blessed thee, and therefore thou wilt surely win. But these tender children must not be taken into danger if thou wouldst have them for wives. Take thy fighting men and go meet the foe. We will remain here, where it is safe.”

“How many of the ameer’s soldiers dost thou see, holy one?’’ * “Ten score of horse.” “We are their equals. We will obey thee, holy one, leaving only enough to guard thee.” He appointed an officer and part of a company to remain to guard and led the remainder on to meet the foe. The caravan came to a halt. The camels laden with merchandise were brought up, and the soldiers put aside their arms to make camp. “Now. you gallant Russian!” shouted Harvey as he turned this camel rind gave it a prick with rne blade of his knife. The beast flew like the very wind toward Siloon, with Koura’s camel in hot pursuit. Cries of rage and consternation rose from the soldiers. A few shots were fired, but no bullet touched them. On, on, they went. Nothing stayed the mad flight. The howdahs rocked and swayed and the girls became dizzy. Harvey goaded his camel to the utmost. He could picture to himself a soldier on the best horse sent to inform Domitan; the chief’s wild ride back in pursuit; his awful rage wheu he knew he had been duped; his murderous desire for revenge. Harvey gritted his teeth and sped the camel on. Many a long journey had he *aken on the beasts and knew well the handling of them. Thus they raced on the fleetest camels in all Bokhara. For ten hours they kept up the pace. Then he knew it would be safe to rest, for the best horse Domitan possessed could not overtake them. Then on again for hours they sped along the pass; then another stop for water and fruit. They passed a shepherd’s cottage, and he gave them a good meal. “That’s enough,” said Harvey. “That will do till we reach Siloon. There’s plenty on the gunboat.” On again they went, slacking the pace but little. They reached Siloon in two days. The caravan was four days in making the distance. Siloon was astonishment wheu it saw the camelk of the ameer racing into the place with the two pretty women and two monks. It was eager to know the particulars. The streets were filled with Russian sailors, and Russian guns frowned from a gunboat in the harbor. Harvey and Orskoff alighted, while the Russians and people of Siloon gathered round.

“Where is Lieutenant Nevisky?” asked Orskoff, removing his red hat and robe and showing himself in his regular uniform. “Lieutenant Nevisky has been sent back to Sulain.” was the reply of a sailor. “Admiral Platoff is here with the gunboat, yonder, waiting for you.” “Does he understand?” “I suppose so. We knew you were coming here.” “Signal the gunboat.” While the boat was coming Harvey arranged with a bazaar merchant to have the camels returned to the ameer, who, he said, would give a reward for their recovery. The gunboat showed signs of activity, and the small boat soon took them to it. On the deck stood a grizzled old officer wearing the uniform of an admiral. He did not greet them, but looked with some curiosity at a girl in the uniform of the inspector of prisons, a grimy American clad as a lama, a naval officer with a monk’s hood in his hand and Koura, the girl who had twice been stolen from Tiflis. “I inform you that you are my prisoners!” he said curtly. “You place us under arrest!” exclaimed Orskoff. “I do. You for deserting your gunboat and entering forbidden territory and releasing captured robbers, the American as being an escaped prison-

er, Alma Jurnieff for releasing said prisoner. Koura Biartelkis is not under arrest. You shall go at once to Tiflis for trial.”

In the office of the governor’s palace at Tifliß sat a man of powerful build wearing a uniform that betokened exalted rank. He was General Urloff, governor general of the province, a man of blood and iron and one in whom the czar placed so much confidence that it was said that a command from Urloff was a command from the czar himself. Before him stood three prisoners. He listened attentively while they told the story of their adventures. It is not necessary to repeat the testimony that was given before the governor general. In the main it was Harvey Irons’ cool voice that rehearsed the adventures that culminated in the arrests by Admiral Piatoff. When the story was ended. General Urloff said: “With his knowledge of the matter, having been told by Lieutenant Nevisky wbat he knew. Admiral Piatoff was justified in making the arrests and bringing the prisoners here. As a matter of fact, it was fortunate for you that he did so. Conditions have changed in Tifiis. I came from Stavropol solely to investigate the fact that an American, of whom I had never heard, was in a Russian prison. I supposed It was one of those blatant nihilists who claim American citizenship, but after a thorough investigation I learned that the man’s only crime was loving a Russian beauty. I heard all about the Biartelkis case and had my own officers in▼astlgate it, with the result that Hafiz Bffsndi and a Bokharan named Mizik •re now in the prison from which the American escaped. There is no charge against the American. “This brings us to the case of Alma Jurnieff, who really did commit a serious offense in the eyes of Russian law. But I have weighed this matter well. I have taken into consideration her youth and the fact that the man she released was guilty of no crime, but was imprisoned by intrigue and false swearing. Therefore I have decided that there is no charge against Alma Jurnieff.' “As to Captain Orskoff, it appears from the testimony of Lieutenant Nevisky that he had arrested the American and four robbers, whom he should I have brought at once to , |'iflis, instead of which he gave thorn their liberty and went upon.Bokharan territory, which is forbidden. This, too, I have studied welL My decision is that Captain Ors-

koff performed his duties. He is hers to see tbst the law against selling women IS not disregarded. It is bis duty to follow and rescue any taken away. He has done this in the case of Koura Biartelkis. “I am glad that the news of the escape came to me, for justice would not have been done had the affair been left in the bands of local officials. I brought charges of conspiracy against Colonel Jurnleff and threatened him and his brother, the general, with Siberia. He became enraged and died of apoplexy. Prince Delluikoff has been disgraced and removed from the army for permitting a woman to wear his uniform and impersonate him.” “I sincerely thank you for your just decisions,” said Harvey. “Somewhere on the Volga I have some valuable windmills, and I want to find tbem and take them to the fair at Nijni Novgorod to sell. Alma and I shall be married aa soon as we can find some one to perform the ceremony, and I shall take her with me.” “Koura and I shall be married at the same time you are,” said Captain Orskofl! to Harvey. Harvey’s Novgorod trip was a grand success. THE END.

“How many of the Ameer’s soldiers dost thou sec, holy one?”