Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-10-07
HERO FOR AN HOUR.

"Never mind, old fellow, ifyour uncle
has leftall his money to found society
for the distribution of bath towels
among the heathen of Central Africa.
Cable to his attorneys in New York to
begin proceedings at once to contest the
will on the ground of insanity andcome
with me. I've just got acommissionas
assistant director of the sanitary de-
partment at Tunis, and I'll take you
with me; it will fill in the six months
which the courts of New York will con-
sumo in getting ready to try your case.
And hear there are no end of pretty
Moorish girls to fall in love with one in
Tunis,, quoth Amadie Freycinet, my
chum during the three years course Of
study in the hospitals Of Paris, and so,
month later, found myself one of the
garrison at the city of Tunis.
Twas down in the great square of the
city, watching the crowd, for it was the
end Of the month Ramadan, and great
feast day with all the Mohammedans.
ayes, no end of pretty Moorish girl" l
repeated mentally, thinking of Amadie's
anticipations; "but they might be hourls
from paradise and we would never
know. What with litter, curtains and
and those confounded wells the women
all wear, haven't seen the end OF the
nose of the fair sex, except the slaves,
since I've been here" and gazed long,
inply at the litter, which was now close
to me.
The green curtains were at that mo-
ment drawn little, and could see that
the occupant was peeping forth, appar-
ently at me, could catch the gleam OF
pair of wonderful dark eyes.
I seized the chance when the Oldest
of the slaves was not looking and raised
nv hat with most impressive bow, and
smiled at the pair of eyes. The corner
OF the curtain was at once dropped, and
a noise which sounded like silver bell,
smoke from the interior, evidently bid
ding the slaves to go on. And this was
the way had conquered in the first ef-
fort had made the flirt with the Tunl-
sian beauties. ..,.
sHang it! wish those black devils
would stumble and fall and spill you
out of the litter, so that could have the
satisfaction of picking you up and see
ing your face" I thought, revengefully
as I gazed at the green curtain.
At that moment there arose from the
side of the square shrill, piercing cry
which, somehow, made my blood cur
die, It was so unearthly. Then arose
chorus of cries from the throng, whlcf
made general rush toward us.
"An insurrection against U.S."
thought, and drew my revolver and sa
ber, and prepared to run an OLD rasca
through the body as he rushed at me.
But instead of trying to harm me n
plunged headlong under the fruit boot
behind me, yelling: "El medhl! +
medhl!" and disappeared among Tn
melons. AS stood there, hardly know
ing whether to laugh or swear, the crow
past in a regular stampede, not takin
the slightest notice of me, but all shriF
ING "El medhw at the top of the1
voices.
The litter was still before me. IN
four blacks were staring the other wa.
motionless, apparently deeply inter
ested in what they saw. But the ne'
moment with yell ,one ofthem droppe
his end and bolted, and then the 9TH
three followed, letting the litter CON
down with a bang on the pavemen
throwing out on the stones a fema
figure, thickly veiled. At that instal
the cause of the general panic appeare
It. was an immensely tall ma
save for breech- cloth, his matted ha
covering his breast. His body WI
frightfully emaciated and his ia
looked more like that of wild, amin
than of human being. In one cla'
like hand was a heavy scimeter dri
ping with blood. He was evident
mad, perhaps one of'the few saints, d
scendants of the prophet, who are wo
shipped by the fanatical Mussulmal
and allowed to do as they please,
their persons are sacred.
AsI stood with my revolver in Il
hand, the last one of the bearers of t
litter, as he fled from the madman, n
into me, knocking me backward in
the booth, himself on too and bringl
the frail structure down in the heap u
on us. I crawled out as quickly a
could, gasping for breath, for the ras'
had struck me full in the pit of
stomach. My revolver was gone
could not tell where, probably unt
the demolished booth where the bla
rascal lay without stirring. Hooked
the litter. The mad prophet was stal
ing beside it, glaring at the female, W
lay as if parolyzed with terror. 1
square was now cleared Of everybo'
and could see several bodies viii
marked the course of the maniac to
last victim, the occupant of the lit
o,,J eyDrnnr ot him