The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-21
London News.

Calverley had lived so long in East
ern climes that he was continually beng
mistaken for a Turk. I told him so one
evening as I sat smoking IN MIS- rooms
In ConstantinopIe.
''That so? I was at the selamlik yes
terday," Calverley said presently; and
the sultan came along with a wild glare
In his eye. They say he's going mad.
You should have seen how he wobb' ed
about all over that grey Arab of his-rhe
old one who always dances to the muse,
you know"
You have just the same look in your
eyes" I said, refilling my pipe. Hope
to goodness you won't go mad, Calver-
ley, before you get that mining conces-
sion we're after. You're suspiciously like
the sultan already-just the same cut,
though your boards little too long, and
you're in a trifie better condition.
Calverley walked to the glass and
made a rapid snip at each side of his
beard with a pair of scissors. Then he
stuck on a fez, flung himself upon a
divan, crossed his legs, and waved his
hand to me in a manner that implied
was an infidel dog to whom audience
must be granted.
I was startled. Turn up the collar Of
your dress coat, and pin 1t over, and no
one could possibly tell you from the sui
1
has ever noticed it? You had an audience
with him about that concession. Was
he polite yesterday"
Calverley uncurled his legs. I'm con-
WINGED that the sultan's as mad as a
halter, and that his minister's know it,
he said excitedly. You remember old
Kislar Agha, the chief of the Eunuchs?
I nodded.
''WeH, old Kislar is very chummy with
me because I did him a good turn once,
Yesterday he kept looking from thu
sultan to me and from me to the sultan
in absolute bewilderment, as If he didn't
know t'other from which. He always
swears how much he likes me, but that
doesn't prevent his asking me for too
much backsheesh over this concession for
copper mines in Asia Minor, and so he s
blocking the way. 1 could have talked
the sultan over, had he been sane enough
TO understand what 1 was saying. Now,
1 must have that concess. on. If l get
1t 1 make a hundred thousand pounds d.
rectly the frmaum is in my possess ION.
Old Kislar's too willy however. He got
me in corner today and sad that he
wanted to see me this evening. When
ne comes, you get behind the curtain and
hear all that passes. There's m schilf
afoot omewhere-someth.n shady is
going on, but, for the life of me, can't
put my finger on it. I can hear him
coming down the street now"
Calverley flung open the window and
we both looked out. An Abyssnian
slave ran in front with a torch. Behind
him was a muffied-up man. although the
evening was warm, mounted on a SUI
perib bay Arab. Behind the Arao was a
sedan chair, and behind the sedan char
ran two more attendants, armed to the
teeth. The bay Arab stepped dainti.y
over dog lying in the middle of the
road, and began to slip about on the
rough cobble stones.
Get your head in quick" said Cal
verley Don't you see he's looking r5und
TO find out whether he's being follow
ed!'
We shut the window noiselessly enough,
and / dived behind the cur a MS just as
a ring at the door announced that the
FIislar Agha had reached his dest.nat on.
In accordance with Oriental etiquette,
Calverley went down to meet him, put
his hand under the Agha's armpit, and
laboriously hoisted him-he was a heavy
man-up the stars. Fortunately the
embrasure in which l was hidden was
draped just like the other hang.ngs
which covered the walls, and no recess
was visible. The Ag'ha dropped short
sentence to his servants. who Crew a
couple of susgest,Eely sharp yataghans
and stationed themselves outside The
door Now" he said, looking Calverley
full in the face, no one can overhear
us?'
Except the One who hears ALL" sad
Calveriey gravely, as the Agha seated
himself on GiVan and waited for S
slaves to bring in coffee and nargh-lahs.
The Agha was a willy man, ami never
trusted other peoples cofee-wh.ch was
OF hA
turned to dangerous uses in the Easl.
For some time, both men smoked
impassively and drank the frag ant cof-
fee haaded to them in little filigree cups.
When they hal finished their coffee tie
Agha made sign that the jeweled cups
were Calverley's, and prepared to talk
business Calverley put the cups away
In a cupboard (they were worth at least
a hundred pounds) without betraying any
surprise at the costliness of such pres
ent He knew well enough that the
Agha, as a rule, found it more blessed
to receive than to give.
The Agha looked at Calverley search
ingly, and made a syn to man just in
side the doorway. HE is mute" he
said to Calveriey; that is why 1 bought
him"
The mute handed the Agha a straight
cut black coat, with stand-up collar.
At have brought you a Turkish coat"
said the Agha, handing it to him.
Calverley began to see what was COM
ing, and his face lit up with satisfaction.
"Inshallah, it is a beautiful coat, but q
tride tight in the armpts,' he said, as he
tried 1t on. Now, Agha, what do you
want?"
"InshalaA, it is a beautiful coat" said
the Agha slowly. MY lord and master,
the sultan of all Islam, wore it himself
at yesterdays selalik."
"W-whatW
"'s-s-sh!' said the Agha slowly. II
have little plan, E;fendi. A little plan"
"Ah," said Calverley, reseating himself
on the divan. Yes, I thought that you
would have q little PLAN
at is for you to wear this coat and sit
on the throne of the sultan for twenty
four hours" said the Agha.
"And what becomes of the sultan in the
meantime?"
The Agha impressively put his hand on
Calverleys arm, and drew him to the
window. "See!" he said imperturbably,
sit is full moon tonight" @
Calverley looked at the silver moon as
It sailed over the housetops, and was
mournfully greeted by a fanatical muez-
gin from the minaret Of the neighboring
mosque "Sor' he said. At understand
now. Is he always mad at the full
moon?"
Always. -EffendL"
"And?"
''He has to receive the great English
Eltchi (the English ambassador in full
audience tomorrow. The Eltchi declines
to be put off any longer"
''I see. am to receive the ambassador
FOR you?"
Evet (yes), EEendi; you must receive
the great Eltchi"
And how am to come safely out of
it?" z
The chief OF the Eunuchs laid his hand
q. is L,:cas.t ..I II % Lo q