Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-21

might have escaped. Had he been Turk
l should have taken of my hat just the
same"
They were about to enter the ravinc
From their elevated position the whole
town was visible. The American turned
In his saddle and cast a glance backward.
The smoke from score of fires tumblej
heaVenward until, commingling, it formed
a somber roof above the town. supported by
trembling and bending pillars. There was
the distant seattle very spot where the
Holy Mary" had been sunk. The little
stream whose course they had followed to
the Inflated town looked no larger than
silver thread. There was the square,
ending in the ledge upon which he had first
seen Panayota with the water jug upon
her shoulder. 1t had been but & short time
ago, few hours comparatively, and here
she sat now. captive, being led away in
all probability to a shameful fate. Curtis
seemed to have lived ages in the last few
days, and yet their whole history flashed
through his mind during the brief moment
Of this parting glance. There was the girl,
beautiful, desolate, defiant, pure snow;
her hand rested on the shoulder of her
father, in one of those pitful yet sublime
feminine caresses that cry courage when
| even God himself seems to fail. She was d
Christian. the father a Christian priest.
and this was the nineteenth century of our
blessed Lord, and there, but few miles
away. lay the great battleships of the
Christian powers of Europe. defending the
integrity of the Turkish empire.
Curtis gave such violent Start that he
nearly fell out of the saddle. Great heav-
ems. was not that the cafe on fire? The
cafe where he had left hidden his comrade
and friend. Michali, the brave, the boyish,
the undetermined?
Monsieur! he cried, 1.-The cafe! 1t is
burning!''
''Oh. think not" replied Kostakes.
But 1t is. 1 can see it plainly: you must
send people back to put it oout."
kostakes took pair of field glasses from
the hands of an orderly, and, calmly adj
justing the focus, looked down the hill.
while the little army, escorting Panayota
and her father, marched rapidly past, and
were swallowed up in the ravine.
You are right" he said. lit is. indeed,
the cafe
But you are not sending anybody back
Monsieur could hardly ask me to do
that much for sentiment Some of my ras-
calls must have eluded my vigilance. They
shall be punished
Curtis whirled his horse around, urging
1t with his fists and his foot started back
toward the town. But the way was steep
and rough and the animal had not gone
ten PAGES ere two soldiers sprang to its
head and seized the bride on either side.
Curtis kicked and struck at them, and,
suddenly overcome with paroxysm of
rage, swore at them, but all to no avail.
They turned the horse around again and
led it back to Kostakes.
"Monseur's sentiment must be very
strong said the captain, smiling sweetly.
mere d WOuUueu man III llldl Dulu &.
A wounded man, 1 tell you. and he'll burn
I'D aliver'
kostakes shrugged his shoulders.
1T cannot be helped he replied. ''in war,
what is a man more or less? But we must
not delay. Allons, monsieur
And he spurred his horse to a brisk walk.
while stout Turk. throwing the bride rein
of Curtis animal over his shoulder, trotted
along after.
The American looked back
I'D slip off and run to the cafe he
thought, foot or no foot-d-n the foot,
anyway" But another soldier with a load
ed musket was following close behind. In
his despair, the thought of his passport oc-
Cured to him. He pulled it from his pocket
with feverish haste. 1t was badly damaged
by water, but 1t held together and the big
seal was still there. Urging his horse for
ward, he flourished the document in KOS
takes face and shouted:
Il am an American citizen. Do you see
that? VOLTA! If you do not let me go you
will, suffer for it,.
But all to no avail. He was hustled along
by order of the smiling and affable Kos-
takes, and the last thing his eyes rested
upon he plunged into the ravine was a
cloud of smoke pouring from the front door
of the demarchs cafe.
(To be continued.)