The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-04-21
A NARROW ESCAPE.

Ouc udy saw d COpy VI I1duZ Oh TIC
table of a friend. Hafiz was a Persian
poet of the fourteenth century, whose
verse, like that of Anacreon's, was dedi-
Gated to love and wine. The book was
in Persian manuscript, was superbly il
Illuminated and was at least 200 years old.
Fired. did you buy this book abroad:"
asked.
He looked at me in a queer way and
then said:
mo, / didn't. stole it,"
stared at him in surprise.
mot Intentionally" qualified he as he
lit a fresh cigar and showed the box to-
ward me.
1T was an adventure" l said as l set
tied down in an easy chair. II an ready
to hear it."
He watched a wreath of smoke as it
curled away to the ceiling and then told
me the following story:
81 was haunted by a pair Of superb
black eyes while at Constantinople. They
rested on me frequently in the various
marts. and they seemed significant with
meaning despite their steady gaze. OF
course they belonged to a young woman.
Her figure was not too obese to be grace
full, and though her face was covered
with the traditional veil | was sure that
it was as handsome as the eyes.
Il first met her in the drug market, a
place that looked like the archway to a
covered bridge, dim and mysterious and
odorous with spices. the venerable look
ing Turk scarcely visible through the
smoke that curled from the bowl of his
pipe. his eyes dreamy from the use of
opium. and his trembling fingers count
ing his spicewood beads. My unknown
dark eyed beauty bought a package of
henna. with which to dye her fingers,
while | bought some incense wood for a
pastil lamp.
The next place | met her was in the
slave market. and it struck me that was
a queer place for her to be. She stared
a little sadly at the Nubian damsels
standing around like so many pieces of
black statuary awaiting the pleasure of
the auctioneer. When her eyes met
mine. it was again with q prolonged, un-
winking gaze. and | thought | saw signs
of emotion.
THE third time | met her was in the
bezestein. that most oriental of bazaars,
devoted to the sale of bric-a-brac, largely
of a military kind, and only open in the
forenoon. | was pricing some jewel hilt-
ed daggers. when who should l see by my
side but the yelled unknown. She picked
up each dagger as | laid it down. exam
ined it and spoke to the gray bearded
fofo1Ivf in otfap1nnna :, rrD1o 1f l,,,o1
ter stirring her thick veil. could not
understand what she said, but | supposed
the conversation was about Inc. | was
good looking fellow and had plenty of
money and a fancy for everything that
was quaint. She took my hand, looked
at it closely and gave it a slight. tender
pressure. | had a friend. an attache to
the American ambassador. and | told
him about the mysterious houri. He just
laughed at Inc.
You can't designate them by their
eyes, he said. They all look alike
She wore turquoise rings | said.
1T is a f~avoritc gem with them re-
piled he.
She took hold of my hand in the bar
zaar.
"'That'snothing new. She was prompt
ed by curiosity. Their idea of modesty
includes the yelling of their faces, and
that's about all. It may not have been
the same woman every time.
am positive that it was rejoined.
I'll follow her the next time.
You'll be fished up out of the Bos-
porus the mex morning. replied my
friend. with a shrug. I'll walk down to
the morgue to see if can recognize you.
81 saw a grave look cross his face, but
that did not deter me from my purpose.
The next day | met her within the reli-
gious gloom of one of the cemeteries.
Was she following me-. or was there a
fatality in our meeting? The cities of
the dead are numerous on the hillsides.
They are not large. are shaded by close
growing cypress, and each n has a
small minaret pointing skyward in the
center. There is a great deal of rural
beauty about them. and they are nevel
without visitors. for relatives hold their
dead in great reverence.
Again those fascinating eyes met mine
and | felt my heart beat faster. She
placed her finger upon her lips and then
walked down one of the paths. What
did the act mean but Follow me and be
discreetY followed her, trembling some
what with excitement. Outside stood
an aruba, drawn by horses and attended
by an Abyssinian slave.
He opened the door of the carriage,
and the girl entered. She motioned to
me to join her. and complied. After a
short drive we stopped at a small villa.
She entered the house, and ! followed
her. the Abyssinian slave joining us afew
minutes later. At a sign from her he
brought in four small gilded saucers,
two of them containing some sort Of
snow white delicacy and two filed with
ounce jelly almost done to a candy.
1.-The room was the most elegant bou-
doir eye ever rested upon, with rich
rugs, ottomans. statues. vases and no
end of oriental conceits, 3 sweet odor
and a sensuous look pervading it all.