Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-07-08
CHAPTER 1.
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF AN AxERIc.

~7HE senior member Of the firm
of Townsend & Burdick, man.
ufacturers of windmtlls,
(SG9sGj pumps and other appurte-
nances of that nature, was serenely
contemplating in his New York office
the increased revenues he would re-
ceiye from the large sales to be made
by Harvey Irons, their hustling, en-
ergetic representative in Russia. The
last letter written by Mr.. Townsend
to Mr.. Irons was to the effect that tho
latter's suggestion that market could
be had in Russia was q good one and
for him to use his own judgment.
| Thereafter there were no letters sent
between the senior member and the
agent, but cablegrams. mostly convey
ing large orders, frequently came from
Mr.. Irons, and other cablegrams, con.
veying money, were sent by Mr.. Town
send. Orders came from st. Peters
burg, Moscow and other cities. Az
time went on the increase of business
gave warrant for the roseate hue of
Mr.. Townsend's dreams.
| While Mr.. Townsend was contem-
plating his happy future he was star
tied at receiving the following mes
sage from Paris:
Expelled from Russia. Going back an
| other way. IRONS.
| AS Mr.. Townsend was somewhat
hazy on the subject of Russia and had
no information as to how Irons had
gone in on his first visit, 1t can easily
be imagined that Mr.. Townsend had
very little idea of what the other way
Of going back chosen by Mr.. Irons
might be.
He cabled to Harvey Irons as fol.
lows:
What do you mean? Answer at once.
TOWNSEND.
He waited in vain for an answer
He became greatly perturbed and con
ferred with his partner.
II tell you, Burdick," he said, irons
must be in trouble. l can learn moth.
ing There is something left une1.
planned"
dick. irons is man who acts &C.
cording to what he finds on the spot
We can't sit in New York and tell him
what to do in Russia. If he says he is
expelled and is going back, he is going
back. Leave him alone"
II can do nothing else" said Mr.
Townsend, "as I do not know where
he is"
II do. He is in Russia. Just wait
You will get big orders from Russia
yet. Irons against the entire police
Of the empire. My confidence In him
Is so unsuitable believe-well, I'll
bet you thousand dollars he turnl
up all right with Russian orders"
"I'll not take the bet. share you
confidence. Well watt
And SO they waited.
Hafiz Effendi sat crosslegged on Q
divan watching the passing show
Hafiz Effendi was himself part Of the
show, but this did not concern him
Hafiz was morose.
Courses upon the Muscoviter' hi
muttered as he drew long breaths from
his chibouk and watched an elderly
Grusian and his daughter pass by
1.-THE new law is in effect and thu
bride for the prince not yet obtained
And Milk, the officer Of the ameer, will
soon be here to ascertain the TRUTH"
Hafiz Effendi had not travelled all tn,
way from Constantinople simply t
witness the fair at Tifis. Hafiz hat
made his wealth in the business Of sup
plying wealthy Osmanlis with prett.
Circassian< or Georgian girls for thei
wives, and his income had been rudel,
stopped by the new order of the car
The hated Muscovite government ha,
interdicted the trade in women whicl
had made Circassia and Georgia in
famous.
Here was the annual fair at Tiff
under full sway, and all the wealtl
and beauty of the Caucasus were pres
ent.
Hafz ErenH shook his head, grunt
ed another curse against the Muscovit
and then, placing his chibouk in tn
care Of Muley, the keeper Of the ba
! zaar, wandered, or. rather, waddled
round the gay streets Of the fair. Fo
lowing in his wake was q tall. hand
some young officer, whose uniform, q
well as his accent, proclaimed him t
be from st. Petersburg.
"Ah," said this officer to himself q
he saw the frown on the face Of th
Turk, "our friend Hafiz seems indit
nant. He eyes every pretty woma
with something like greed. I'll kee
my eye on him."
For Captain Sergius Orskoff was
command OF the department Of til
service that had for its object the Of
liberation Of the slave trade betwee
the Caucasus and Persia and Turkey.
Men from all parts were at Tifis. e.
hibiting in the bazaars rugs and coat
Of rare woods from Persia, silks frol
u China, costly pipes Of every conceiv,
. BILE shape and size carved by hand b
the men of Trebizond. shoes from Ma
q sachusetts, knives from England
$ short. the products of the world WEI
spread out that those who wake
Z could see and perchance purchase.
/ Hafiz Enendi turned and saw II
!, steely eyes of Captain Orskoff axe
upon him.
O. ut is a great fair. excellency."
said, with his usual Turkish salut
ton. ut is one that brings the wor
together"
y "Good enough; but remember thel
- Y. t.