Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-11-20

fixed it prominently in the belt of my
Norfolk jacket.
The morning after my arrival in Fee
l encountered my American companion
of the voyage. Our meeting was
strange one. had ramb.ed aimlessly
with my guide through the new town
into the old one until had lighted by
chance upon the slave market in front
of the ruins of the ancient Grand
Mosque and upon Ga human auction
which was then proceeding. No scene
so full of shame had l ever beheld, but
the fascination Of the spectacle held
me, and | stood and watched and lis
tened The slave being sold was black
girl, and she was beautiful according to
the standard of her skin, bareheaded,
barefooted, and clad as lightly over her
body as decency allowed
Now, brothers," cried the salesman,
look, see,'' (pinching the girls naked
arms and rolling his jewelled fingers
from her chin Gownwards over her
bare neck to her bosom) Sound or
wind and limb, and with rosy lips, fit
for the kisses Of king-how much?'
"a hundred dollars" cried a voice
out of the crowd. l thought | had
heard the voice before and looked up
to see who had spoken. 1t was tall
man with haik over his turban, and
blue salam ON top of yellow HAITIAN
"A hundred dollars offered" cried
the salesman, "only a hundred. Broth
ers, now's the chance for all true be-
iievers."
"A hundred and five," cried an
other voice.
"A hundred and ten"
"a hundred and fifteen
~ hundred and fifteen for this jew
ell of a gsS,' cried the salesman. Its
giving he- away, brothers. By the
prophets, if ye are not quick III keep
her for myself. Come, look at her,
Sidi, isn't she good enough for a sui
tan? The prophet God rest him)
would have leapt at her. He loved
sweet women as much as he loved
sweet odors. Now, for the third and
last time-how much? Remember, |
guarantee her seventeen years of age,
sound, strong, plump, sweet-and in
tact"
ga hundred and twenty" cried the
voice l had heard first. l looked up at
the speaker again. 1t was the Ameri-
can in his Moorish costume.
| could bear no more of the sicken-
ing spectacle, and as l turned aside
+ with my interpreter | was conscious
that my companion of the voyage was
I following me- When we came to some
dark arcades that divide Old Fee
from New Fee, the American spoke
| and I sent my interpreter ahead.
| You see | am giving myself full
tether in this eXecrable land" he
said.
Indeed you are" l answered.
well, as the Romans in Rome, yol
knOW-it was what came for" he said
Take care l replied. Take care.
He drew up shortly and said, "B!
the way, ought to be, ashamed to NEE
| you"
Because" said ne, Il have failed t.
act up to my principles.
In What?' | inquired.
In saving the life of a scoundrel a
! the risk of my own" he answered.
| = Then he told me his story. Il lief
| Tangier," he said, with four men il
my cavavan, but it did not suit me tt
/ bring them into Fee, so | dismissed
full for the whole journey and making
a present over My generosity was 6
blunder. The Moor cannot comprehend
an act OF disinterested kindness, and
saw the ruffians lay their heads together
to find out what it could mean. Three
of them gave it up and went off home
I but the fourth determined II follow the
trace. His name was Larby; he was
my guide, and most brazen hypocrite
always cheating me. | let him do so
it amused me-always lying to my face
and always fumbling his beads-'God
forgive me, God forgive mean appro-
pirate penance, you know the way of it.
Peace Sidi!' said the rascal; Farewell,
Allah send we meet in Paradise But
the devil meant that we should meet be-
fore that. We have met It was a hot
moment. Do you know the Hamadsha
Mosque? 1t is a place in "a side street
sacred to the preaching of a fanatical
follower Of one Sidi Ali bin Hamdoosh
and to certain wild dances executed in
a glass-and-fire- eating-frenzy. | thought
| should like to hear a Moorish d. L.
Moody, and one day | went there AS |
was going in | met a man coming out.
1t was Larby. 'Beeba!' he whispered
with a tragic start-that was his own
name for me on the journey. Keep
your tongue between your teeth, l
whispered back, 1 was Beeba yesterday,
to-day I'm Sid Mohammed' Then I
entered, spread my prayer-mat, chant
ed my first Sura, listened to a lusty SER
mon, and came out. There, as l ex-
pected, in the blind lane leading from
the Hamadsha to the town. was Larby
waiting for me- 'Beeba,' said he with a
grin. you pay double hand of cards
Then said l. take care l don't trump
your trick The rascal had thought I
might bride him, and when l knew that
| would not | saw murder in his face.
He had conceived the idea of betraying
me at the next opportunity. At that
moment he was as surely aiming at my
life as if he had drawn his dagger and
stabbed me. 1t was then that l dis
graced my principles. "
How? how?" | said, though truly I
had little need to ask.
I'VE were alone. l tell you, in a blind
lane" said the American, ''but 1 re
membered stories the man had told me
of his children. Little Hoolia,' he call
ed his daughter, a pretty, black-eyed
mite of six, who always watched for
him when he was away"
,rtn srar .Dy