Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1894-10-11
A NARROW ESCAPE.

'NNSNf iihN llltlI VI <AlluCIGOll ,, MdS
Gated to love and wine The book was
in Persian manuscript, was superbly il
Illuminated and was at least 200 years old.
Fred, did you buy this book abroad?"
asked.
He looked at me in queer way and
then said:
No, didn't. stole it."
| stared at him in surprise.
Not Intentionally" qualified he as he
lit fresh cigar and showed the box to-
ward me.
1T was an adventure" said as | set
tied down in an easy chair. u am ready
to hear it"
He watched wreath of smoke as it
curled away to the ceiling and then told
me the following story:
81 was haunted by 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 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,
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 package of
henna, with which to dye her fingers,
while ! bought some incense wood for
pastil lamp.
THE next place met her was in the
slave market, and it struck me that was
queer place for her to be- She stared
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 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 | 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
fatalist in attendance, ripple of laugh
ter stirring her thick veil. could not
understand what she said, but supposed
the conversation was about me. was a
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 slight, tender
pressure. had friend, an attache to
the American ambassador, and | told
him about the mysterious houri. He just
laughed at me.
"You can't designate them by their
eyes, he said. They all look alike
"'She wore turquoise rings said.
1T is favorite gem with them,' re-
piled he.
"'She took hold of my hand in the ba-
zaar
"That's nothing new. She was prompt
ed by curiosity. Their idea of modesty
includes the yelling of their faces, and
that's about all. 1t may not have been
the same woman every time
"1 am positive that it was, rejoined,
I'll follow her the next time
you'll be fished up out of the Bos-
porus the next morning, replied my
friend, with shrug. III walk down to
the morgue to see if can recognize you.
81 saw 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 meeting2 The cities of
the dead are numerous on the hillsides.
They are not large are shaded by close
growing cypress, and each one has a
small minaret pointing skyward in the
center. There is great deal of rural
beauty about them, and they are never
without Wis; tors, 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
discreet? 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
short drive we stopped at small villa.
She entered the house, and followed
her, the Abyssinian slave joining us a few
minutes later, At 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 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, a sweet odor
and a sensuous look pervading it all.
Leaving me alone for a few minutes.
she returned and handed me very rare
and richly illuminated Hafz | saw at
once its value to bookworm.
'PekkeP said, which is the Persian
word for admiration. What do you
wantg
"She looked at the Abyssinian and said
something in Persian.
"'Sell,' he said, looking at me.
'FrankP
THAT is the name applied in the east to
the people from western Europe
American, | said.
II found he was familiar with English,
and we kept up running conversation.