The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-01


felt 1 might rely. AS soon as / had
obtained the number / thought suffi-
cient, / armed them, and introduced
them secretly into the garden at night.
Then / posted them behind some
shrubs, with instructions to watch for
the entrance of any stranger, and IL
|-Iany such appeared, to instantly seize
him and detain him till arrived.
r These arrangements completed,
gave out to my regular household that
/ was going to sup with friend, and
should not return for some hours.
took my departure, spent an hour away
and then returned by way OF the gar
den.
heard loud cries and a group of men
came rushing away down the road. 1
noticed that they were supporting one
bin the center, who was closely wrapped
nup, and who appeared to be unable to
walk by himself. i also observed that
the gate from which they were hasten
bing was standing an inch or two ajar.
The next moment IT was flung wide
open and my men streamed out in pur-
suit of the fugitives
al "a secret intuition warned me to re-
strain them, and to let that yelled fig
cnre go in safety. Filled with vague
sforebodings, 1 led the way inside, and
sasf soon as the door was closed and
locked / made them tell me what had
taken place
rf.' 1t appears that Immediately after
my own departure the head eunuch, on
whom / had so blindly relied, had gone
TOUT by the postern gate alone. At the
end of an hour he returned, letting
himself in with the key with which he
was entrusted. Behind him entered
amuff1ed up stranger, who paused to
give some direction to body of men
outside.
Hardy was he well within the door
when the slaves, whom I had posted,
ward to take him. He turned to flee,
land would have escaped entirely had
mot some one in the confusion pushed
the door to in time to catch him by the
left foot.
10" His friends outside began franti-
cally attacking the door to release him,
and then IL was that one of the slaves,
fearing that the intruder would get
clear away, gave a sudden blow with
his sword, and cut clean through the
ankle with one stroke Thereupon the
wounded man had been dragged off in
the manner / had witnessed.
os"'In proof of their story the men held
up the still bleeding foot. Impelled by
the dread which had taken possession
of me, drew off the slipper. You have
seen that horrid sight, know what it
was that made me shudder as 1
looked!
5e" Years ago, had heard of a dark
tradition in the palace that the foot of
w
that there was some revolving blemish
hereditary in the house of Osman,
which had to be concealed from all
eyes. The moment / had looked upon
this foot, realized my dreadful situa-
ton. That Abdul AZiz had been mutt
lated by my household was little but 1
had stumbled upon the knowledge of
those palace secrets which even the
mothers of sultans hardly dare whis-
e per to each other; at the bare hint of
w hai PC nd ttrrp
pale, to be suspected of knowing which
means death.
g There was only one alternative. 1t
was the sultan's life or mine. / depart
ed instantly to the palace and sought
secret audience of the mother of Prince
Murad.
1--WE arranged the matter swiftly
Every moment was heavy with peril.
Fortunately, everything was ripe for
this revolution, which 1 had too long
delayed, and you are no doubt already
acquainted with the steps by which IT
was carried. AS soon as Prince Murad
had been proclaimed, and the oaths of
allegiance had been taken summoned
the officer of the guard and a dozen
picked soldiers, and, under their escort.
accompanied by the sultan, forced a
way through the terrified eunuchs into
the presence of Abdul Aziz. He had
just set his seal to paper as we en-
tered / snatched IL up and read. It
was only death warrant
THE vizier trembled as he came to
this point. 1t was an experience to un-
nerve even a brave man.
II II then informed Abdul Aziz that he
had ceased to reign. He received the
news In perfect Stupor. pointed to the
soldiers and invited him to escape the
degradation of death at their hands.
He understood the situation and cow
cred down on his couch, shrinking from
us in peculiar and dreadful way.
he 20 lie 20 hfx.. he
had long intrigued for his downfall.
and knew that her son would not be
safe while Abdul Aziz lives, she urged
him to preserve his honor
Still he hesitated, and finally NUT
tered something about not having a
weapon. Instantly the sultana snatched
a sharp pair of scissors from her waist
and thrust them into his unwilling
hands. Still he hung back. 1t was be-
coming shocking. Finally had to or
der one of the soldiers to advance with
his sword down. Then at last, with a
sob, the sultan thrust the steel points
into his arm at the place you saw-and
the soldier was allowed to finish the
work
This was the viziers account In
country like Turkey such things are
done every day. Nevertheless, the af-
fair impressed me unpleasantly. /
parted from Mehemed Rushdi with per-
feet courtesy, but did not take his
hand
However, as 1 have said. was able.
in consequence of the secret which /
possessed, to exert a powerful influence
over the course of events, and on the
occasion of my meeting Lord Beacons-
field at the conclusion of the Berlin
treaty, he even went so far as to say
to me:
- If IL had not been for you, Baron.
the Russians would not have had Bat
oum.'"
/ regarded the ambassador in 81
lence for few minutes. Then 1 OBJ
served:
II suppose you do not entertain any
doubt as to the truth of the grand viz