The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-03

He thereupon commanded that Os-
man should be arrayed in the gorgeous
robes of the office, and summoning all
the officers and high digntaries of the
seraglio to the hall of the throne, he
presented Osman to them as grand
vizier. Then, as he dismissed him, he
said, significantly: Grand Vizier, to-
morrow we will play again"
In the evening Osman sat In the Of
fetal palace of the grand vizier. and
the Refs Effendi, an old friend of his
father. by his invitation sat at meat
with him, and they discussed what had
passed and what was to be apprehend-
ed.
"Osman," said the Refs Effendi thou
hast played a bold game and won it;
yet know too well the character and
disposition of Murad to be able sin
cerely to congratulate thee. Today
thou art victorious and grand vzicr
tomorrow thou mayest only too prob
ably be defeated and slain"
"Reis Effendl." answered Osman
each must yield to fate but for my
part, have no intention of playing a
game against the sultan tomorrow"
Thou hast no intention!" cried the
Refs Effendi, in amazement, NAY, but
|
to do so, and art thou 80 simple as to
suppose that thou hast power to re-
fuse?'
II am hardly so country bred as to
suppose that" said osman: "neverthe-
less, venture to hope that may be
able so to order things that Murad
shall not demand a game again to-
morrow"
And how is that TO be accomplish
ed?" demanded the Refs Effendi.
what dark scheme is this thou hast
in hand?"
"At present | have no scheme COM
pleted," said Osman. "but only the out
line or idea of the tactics which must
be restored to. NV aim must be to get
some affair of such urgency and i'm
portance before Murad tomorrow
, morning that he will have neither the
leisure nor the inclination for chess
playing or any other form of amuse-
, ment. In the concerns of SO great an
empire
Before Osman could complete the
sentence an attendant entered and an
nornced that an old man was waiting
without who desired earnestly an in
terview with the grand vizier.
at is late" said Osman. but if he
be an old man. doubtless he must have
an adequate reason for coming at this
hour. Let him enter"
When the applicant entered the
apartment. what was Osman's aston
ishment to behold in him no other than
his own father. After having been
: warmly welcomed by both Osman and
the Refs Effendi, the old man was
! pressed to say how it came to pass
that he had undertaken so long a jour-
| ney
|. My SON" he replied, after the de-
parture neither thy mother nor, sooth
to say. myself could control the anX-
iety and apprehension we suffered on
thine account. Therefore, having sold
the ring-the last remaining valuable
| in our posseSSion--in order to provide
the small fund necessary for my jour-
ney followed thee to learn the result
of thy rash attempt. Happily. it APP
pears that thou hast won and not lost
the game, yet whether thou art not
still in imminent peril is much to be
, | doubted"
THAT thy son Is even now in extreme
peril of his life there can be no queS-
tion," said the Refs Effendi. "Tomor-
row he must again play, unless indeed.
| lie can ulHHdSt 10 ulNtIL Tie Sulldu
attention and alter his declared nten-
ton. But in what way such diver
sion is to be accomplished 1 cannot
imagine"
? 'If that be the case" said the old
man, ''it is indeed we'll that l under
took the journey hither. for I have
brought intelligence which may now
stand us in good stead. On my way
! 1Agp hNr Of "a IX
that appears TO be Matching in ROu-
: malta. the early knowledge of which
may prove of great value to the sultan
4 and his advisers"
!, Thou art indeed Fortunate" said the
Refs Effendi "to be in possession o
that information. His majesty vii
doubtless be alarmed and his attention
engrossed by the details of such pro
ject."
When, next morning, Osman. in his
capacity as grand vizier, was closetet
with Murad, he haStened to impart tC
him the intelligence he had received
concerning the projected rising and tht
design of the rebels to march upon the
capital.
On hearing of this account, Murad
seized with panic, talked Of raising G
l HpCA
, the disaffected province.
Osman, however, said calmly: Ell
! | your majesty will permit me to express
my opinion, ! should say let no mar
know of this conspiracy, for even tn,
rumor of insurrection is apt to unsettlt
mems minds and spread the infection
of revolt The plan of the conspira
tors at present is secret; let is never
be declared; crush it in the bud. Al
this stage very small force will suf
n flee, even as the beginning of a fire
which neglected would waste a city
may be quenched with the contents O.
"A bucket. Let your majesty take 50
Janissaries with me, proceed with al
speed to AdrianOple, and two hours af
ter my arrival the leaders of the plo
will be executed and the movement will
be at an end"
), The sultan approved this reasonin!
and the advice given him by his new
grand Vizer. and bade him start a
once on the mission he had proposed.
Within an hour the grand vizier
with his escort of 500 ment; left tn
capital; Osman, as he parted with hi
friend, the Refs Effendi observed sim
ply: "The game of chess is adjourned
The grand vizier on reaching Adrian
ople proceeded Immediately to tn
house of the governor of ROumalia an,
had him executed on the spot. Hav
ing also put TO death several of hi