Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-16

world, and vice In all, but the concentrated
essence of all the iniquities and all the
vices in all the continents finds itself at
Port Said. And through the heart of that
sand-bordered hell, where the mirage
fickers all day long above the Bitter Lakes,
move. if you will only wait, most of the
men and women you have known in this
life. Dick established himself in quarters
more riotous than respectable. He spent
his evenings on the quay, and boarded many
ships, and saw very many friends-gracious
Englishwomen with whom he had talked
not too wisely in the veranda of Shephards'
Hotel, hurrying war correspondents, skip
pers OF the contract troop ships employed in
the campaign, army officers by the score and
others of less reputable trades. He had
choice of all the races of the East and West
for studies, and the advantage OF seeing
his subjects under the influence of
strong excitement, at the gaming tables,
saloons, dancing bells, and elsewhere. For
recreation there was the straight vista of the
canal, the blazing sands the procession of
shipping, and the white hospitals where the
English soldiers lay. Dick strove to pen
down in black and white and color all that
Providence sent him, and when that supply
was ended sought about for fresh material.
II was fascinating employment, but it ran
avay with his money, and he had drawn in
advance the e120 to which he was entitled
yearly. "Now 1 shall have to work and
staryeP thought he, and was addressing
himself to this new fate, when mysterious
telegram arrived from Torpenhow in En-
gland, which said, Come back, quick; you
have canght on. Come" A large smile
oyerspread his face. $50 soonl that's good
hearing" said he to himself. ''There
Yn- piObt
or fall BY my luck. Faith, It's
time it camel He disposited half of his
funds in the hands of his well-known
friends, Monsieur and Madame Binat, and
ordered himself Zanzibar dance of the
finest. Monsieur Binat was shaking with
drink, but madame smiled sympathetically:
Monsieur needs chair, of course, and
of course Monsieur will sketch; Monsieur
amuses himself strangely"
Binat raised blue-white face from cot
in the inner room. II understand" he
quavered. 1--WE all know Monsieur. Mon
sieur is an artist, as have been." Dick
nodded. I'm the end" said Blnat, with
gravity, "Monsieur will descend alive into
hell, as have descended" And he laughed.
"You must come to the dance, too" said
Dick. 81 shall want you."
"For nv face? I knew it would be so.
For my face? My Godl and for my degra-
dation so tremendousl will not. Take
him away. He Is devil. Or at least do
thou, Celeste, demand Of him more" The
excellent Binat began to kick and scream.
"All things are for sale in Port Said, 4"
said madame. "If my husband comes it
will be so much more. Eh, 'ow you call
'alt sovereign"
The money was paid, and the mad dance
came off that night in walled courtyard at
the back of Madame BInat's house. The
lady herself in faded mauve silk always
about to slide from her yellow shoulders,
played the piano, and to the tlnpot music Of
Western walts the naked Zanzibar girls
danced turiously by the light of kerosene
lamps. Binat sat upon chair and stared
with eyes that saw nothing, till the whirl of
the dance and the clang of the rattling
piano stole into the drink that took the
place of blood in his veins, and his face
glistened. Dick took him by the chin
brutally and turned that face to the light.
Madame Binat leaned over her shoulder
and smiled with many teeth, Dick leaned