The indicator., 1904-07-02
A SOLDIER OF
COMMERCE
BY JOHN ROE GORDON
Copyright BY Toomhs
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

"Marie." lie said, what has brought
Heretofore she has been morose and
sad: now she is smiling and cheerful.
What has caused lt2 She acts like one
who knew that her lover had come to
zee her"
Marie started. Did he know that Al.
ma was aware of the presence Of Irons
In the prison2
"It is not that, think, Colonel Jur-
nieff. but that perhaps one Is coming"
"Do you mean-you cannot mean the
princeT
at may be. though Mile. Alma says
little to me. Is he not great ofticert''
"He has high and honorable posi-
ton. He IL inspector general Of pris-
.ons."
"Ah! That enlightens me, your ex-
eellency. l know what she wanted it
for now"
"Wanted what forT'
1.-THE book-the pictures of uniforms.
1 saw her studying the uniform of the
inspector general of prisons. She seem
cd pleased after that"
Jurnieff turned away.
"What was there In the generals let
ter to produce this changer" he asked
himself. at is remarkable. l can now
write to him that he is in fair way
ought to be promoted myself II that
somes off,"
"What did my uncle ask you, Ma.
rie?" inquired Alma as the carriage
was being driven off,
"He had noticed that you were gay
and smiling of late. He asked me the
cause. l said believed it was be-
cause the prince was coming. l told
him you had studied the uniforms of
the inspector general Of prisons and
had seemed pleased"
IL must be cautious"
Arriving at one of the largest ba.
zaars, Alma left Marie in the carriage
and proceeded to do her shopping alone
She was attired becomingly, her gown
setting off her form to advantage
Among the things she purchased was a
ground, having hood for covering the
bead in winter.
Permit me, lady, to carry your pur.
chases to your carriage" said the mer.
chant
You may, but not yet: shall need
some more things. l am going to q
cafe for lunch and shall wear my new
hood and cloak. These Persians and
Turks stare at one so. When return,
I shall make more purchases"
81 will await your return with i'm
patience, lady, and your goods will re-
main in my charge"
Not even Marie noticed the cloaked
figure that came from the bazaar. A
drosky was standing near, and Alma
stepped into it
"Take me to the hay wharfs," she
said.
The ivoshtshik stared, but the money
that was put into his hand was many
times the regular charge. and he did
not hesitate.
The hay wharfs on the Kur were in
themselves part of the show. Boats of
all descriptions crowded against one
another, for the supply of hay needed
during the fair for the horses and cam
els was very great. The shouts of Cir
cassians, Georgians and Turks and Per
SLAMS were deafening.
Alma sat in her drosky and looked
about at the busy scene. These hay
boats were mostly from the towns
along the upper Kur and the Volga.
They were of all kinds, sizes and de-
grees of safety. Those from the Volga
were the largest, for they needed sta
bility to travel on the Caspian. Near
one of these, with an Astrakhan owner
and crew, she halted.
No subjects of the czar hate the
Muscovite rule more than the Astra'
khans. 1t was only after prolonged
war that Astrakhan was subdued, and
her fealty has never been more thar