Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-15
CHAPTER NNX1x.


bohm and Curtis start for Canea
CHAPTER NNXIX.
pity! PITY" whined the lepers. exposing
their hideousness with all the skill ol
subtle and experienced merchants They
were all there by the roadside leading INTO
Canea and mad commenced business lor the
day Curtis stared at them. unable TO re-
move his eyes from the dreadful spectacie.
Lindbohm fumbled nervously in his pock-
cts with averted face and, producing two
or three coppers. tossed them to the al
fiicted group.
"Come away" he said, pulling Curtis
along Il cannot bear to look at them.
The Turk had been telling them Of the
leper colony, and they were not totally un-
prepared for this sight yet the realty
far exceeded the description.
But YOU should sea those VINO are not
able to come down here and beg, exclaimed
the major; these are comparatively Wen
yet you know.
Lindbohm. Il hope L may never see these
again $50
The Swede bore the Turk no ill-will for
the enforced detainment 1t had not lasted
for long, and the major had shown his
guests every attention. and had expl alned
again and again that he had carried Lind
bohm off 10 save his HE.
But those who are no longer able 10
beg asked the lieutenant, do they
starve?"
ION. no, indeed. They are living monu-
ments TO the tender-heartedness of my au-
gust master the sultan. Each of the ie-
pers is furnished one loaf of bread u day.
"Oh, | see said Lindbohm.
Curtis took no part in the conversation.
He did not even hear what the others were
saying. but walked on beside them with MS
eyes fixed upon the ground, like man III
a trance. Every now and then he ejacu-
lated. Good Cod with the accent on the
good
AT last he stopped so abruptly that the
Turk who was directly behind, nearly
Knocked him over
Il say said Curtis, whrling around and
choking a stream of fluent apologies with
q vehement question.
DO people who are not lepers ever go
into that village? To see their friends you
know, or to stop over night. or anything
of that sort?
Put monsieur is talking English, which,
unfortunately, l do not understand"
"Oh, d-n!' and he repeated the question
In Harvard French.
Impossible. You have seen the disease.
Do you think any one would run tle risk
of catching it?'
Curtis strobe on and became again
mersed in thought, vaguely hearing the
majors explanation of the fact that nearly
ali the lepers of Crete were Greeks.
At each side of the gate of Canea stood
an English marine. in red jacket and cork
helmet. A busineSs-lfke halt! woke Cur
tbs from his abstraction.
Il am Peter Lindbohm. lieutenant of cav
airy in the Swedish army" said Lindbohm
In English. pulling an immense portfolio
from the breast pocket of the Prince AL
bert. Here Is my card"
One of the marines took the proffered
pasteboard. glanced at 1t solemnly and sa-
luted.
And here's mine" said Curtis. I'm an
American And this gentleman is a Turk
ish officer. We were coming across the
b. u,
danger of being massacred, so he took us
to his house and kept there till the En-
glish landed and here-here's my passport,
too, If you can manage to read 1t. It's been
in the water"
What do you want to do now sir?''
We have friends inside replied Lind
bohm. and we wish to find out whether
they are safe not. We wish to go in
strict orders to hadn't no one for the
present"
But we two are not Turks-nor Cretans.
] am a Swede and my friend here is an
American.
Very sorry, gentlemen
But this may be a matter of life and
death! A Christian lady, the betrothed OF
this young gentleman, Is in the hands of the
Turks
Very sorry. gentlemen. Move away
from the gate. please"
LindbOhm too good a soldier not to
know what that meant. SO they went to a
house near by. belonging to a friend of the
major and waited two whole days, during
the most of which time the Swede and the
American had the pace to themselves. for
the major and hi6 friend were arrested and
carried off befor SDthe end of the first day.
They went repeatedly to the gate, demand
ing admittance, and were refused as often
by the sentinels, until the third morning
when they were greeted with smile and a
Hits hall right now gentlemen. you may
henter-'im givin' hup is sword, which will
be restored to i'm at 'eadquarters''
Iindbohm raised his hand in military sa-
lutte to the red bandana and passed under
the ancient archway. Curtis handed over
the scimeter and followed.
"D'yever two such guys?' asked one
red jacket OF the other. "Nevern me loife
But the tall ones soldier, all right Dye
see I'm s''ootT'
Now had two men attired as were Cur
tbs and Lindbohm at that moment entered
any other town in the world their grotesque
appearance would have excited attention
not to say teers, and a crowd OF small
boys would have been following at their
heels. The gray Prince Albert was wrin-
killed and faded and so badly shrunken that
IL causel Lindbohm's arms to fall trife
akimbo. Altogether. 1t was a garment very
inharmonfous with the tall yellow boots
into which his trousers were tucked and the
gaudy handkerchief. which. twisted about
his brow, did service for a hat He had
picked up slender stick, which took the
place OF his bamboo cane and with which
he occasionally warded of an imaginary
thrust as he strobe up the street looking
eagerly about him. Curtis once natty bust
ness suit had been torn In several places
He also wore Cretan boots and his costume
was completed by a Turkish fez provided
by the hospitable major. who had man
aged. In addition. to afford his two guests
bath. an opportunity to shave and neg
Nge shirts.
Llndbohm was quite voluble.
Bear up. my friend" he said. 1--WE shall