The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-06
whats in it?" he asked,

occurred TO me that Teresa is probably
an occupant of somebody's harem, and
that shall have to buy her off from
her husband. Hence, the case of rifles"
A queer look came over Captain Ket-
ties face And you'd still marry this
woman if she had another husband
living?"
'Of course Haven't 1 told you that
I've thought the whole thing thorough
ly over already, and am not inclined to
stick at trifes?''
Very WE'LL said Kettle Now let
me tell you, sir, for the last time. that
1 don't like what you're going to do.
To my mind it's a dirty thing. marrying
a woman that you evidently despise,
just for her money"
Wenlock flushed. Look here" he
said, Il refuse to be lectured. espe-
cially by you. Aren't you under prom
Use to get $50 from me the moment I'm
safely married? And didn't you fairly
jump at the chance of lingering it?''
Captain Kettle merely smiled grimly.
and said. "Get dov n into the boat, you
and your case of rifles"
For the moment Wenlock started and
hesitated. He seemed 10 detect some
thing ominouS in this order. But then
he took a brace on his courage. and,
after a couple of deck hands had low
cred the rifles into the dancing boat,
he clambered gingerly down after them
and sat himself beside the white-robed
man in the stern sheets. Kettle fol-
lowed, and the boat headed on for the
opening between the reefs.
The boat passed between a cluster
of ragged shipping, Swaying at the an
chorage, and WenlOck might have
stared with curious eyes chad he been
so minded) on real dhows which had
even then got real slaves ready for
market in their stuffy tween decks
Over the arch of the water-gate, for
which they were heading. was what at
first appeared to be a frieZe of small,
rounded balls. But a nearer view re-
solved these into human heads, in vari-
Gus stages of dessication. Wenlock
stared at the gate, with its dressing OF
heads, as though they fascinated him.
And Teresa will have been brought
up within sight of all this" Wenlock
murmured to himself. land will be ac-
customed to it. Fancy marrying a
woman who has spent twenty-four
years of her life in the neighborhood
of all this savagery!
They passed in through the gate, the
sentries staring at them curiously, and
once inside, in the full heat and smell
of the narrow street beyond, Wenlock
said: Look here. skipper, you're re-
sourceful, and you know these out-of-
start to find the girl?''
Kettle glanced coolly round at the
grim buildings and the savage Arabs
who jostled them. and said. with fine
sarcasm, well, sir, if you'll take the
tip from me. you'll crowd back 10 my
steamboat as fast as you can. You'll
find it healthier"
I'm going on with it," said Wenlock,
doggedly, "and ask you to earn your
ESQ and give me help"
Then, if you distinctly ask me TO
help you on into trouble like that, of
course, the best thing to do is to go
straight on TO the palace"
Show the way, then" said Wenlock,
CURLY.
Kettle gave the word to the white
robed pilot, and together they set or
down the narrow winding streets, with
an increasing train of Arabs and
negroes following in their wake. Wen
lock said nothing as he walked, but 1t
was evident from the working OF his
face that his mind was very full But
Kettle looked about him with open in
terest, and thoughts in verse about this
eastern town came to him with pleas
ant readiness.
The royal residence was the large
building encircled with gardens,
which they had seen from the sea, and
There was no trouble, either, about OBJ
tanning an audience. Armed guards to
the number of some forty men were
posted round the walls, and at the fur
Their end, apparently belonging to the
civil population, were some dozen other
men, squatted on the floor. In the cen
ter of the room was a naked wretch in
chains, but sentence was hurriedly pro-
on him, and he was hustled
away as the two Englishmen entered,
and they found themselves face TO face
with the only woman in the room. the
supreme ruler of this savage South
Arabian coast town.
She was seated on raised divan,
propped by cushions. and in front of
her was a huge water pipe, at which
she occasionally took a meditative pull.
She was dressed quite in oriental fash
ION. in trouser, zouave jacket, sash,
and all the rest of it; but she was UNI
English in features, though
suggestive of the Boadicea-
She was a large, heavily bOned woman,
covered with flesh, and she
landed across her knees that very un-
feminine scepter, an English cavalry
mans sword. But the eye neglected [
these details. and was irresiStibly
lrawn by the strongness of her face
Even Kettle was almost awed by it
But Captain Owen Kettle was not a
man who could be kept in awe for
ong. He took off his helmet, marched
oriskly up toward the divan, and
bowed.
said. II trust l see you well. m Captain
Kettle master of that steamboat now
ying in your roads, and this is Mr.. Wen |
ock, a passenger OF mine, who heard
hat you We're. English and has come TO |
put you in the way OF some property at |
The lady sat more upright. = am
saIour faith, Teresa Anderson"
That's the name said Kettle. Mr.. |
Wenlock's come TO take. you away TO |
step into nice thing at home"
Il am emIr here. Am L asked to be /
emir in your country?
Why, no. said Kettle. That jobs |
illed already. and We aren't thinking of |
england (whO. by the way Is a lady like /
seems 10 suit us very we'll
i do not understand. Said the woman. |
L have not spoke your language since L /
vas child. Speak what you say again.
IN leave it to Mr.. WenlOck. your I
majesty, II you've no objections, as he /
he party mostly Interested. 1 see you
ion 4 mind smoke he ADDED, and lit d |
resh cheroot.
Now, it was clear from the attitude of !
he guards and the civilians present that |
Kettle was jostling heavily on court Ell
luette, and at first the lady emir was
rery clearly inclined to resent il, and had
harp orders for his repression ready upon
Ter lips. But she evidently changed her
mind. In the meanwhile. Mr.. WenlOck
vas stating his case with forensic elO-
luence. he sight of Miss Teresa Ander-
ION in the flesh awed him. The woman
)eIore nm, whose actual age was y,
ooked So and even for a desperate man
ike himself was Impossible as a wife IN
england. He felt haunted before her
.lready.
But the Lady Emir looked on Wenlock
n very different way 10 that in which
he had regarded Kettle. Mr.. Weniock
Gas, indeed, he had himself
pointed out on the FaTakeeD d line out
ward presence, and in tact. anywhere he
Ould have been remarked on as Il person.
be man. The Lady Emir had not re-
nained unmarried ali these years through
heer distaste for matnmony. She had