Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-07
CHAPTER I.
swr DISAPPEARANCE OF AN AMERICAN.

contemplating in his New lork oluce
the increased revenues he would re-
ceive from the large sales to be made
by Harvey Irons, their hustling, en-
ergetic representative in Russia. Inc
last letter written by Mr.. Townsend
to Mr. Irons was to the effect that the
latter's suggestion that market could
be had in Russia was good one anu
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
Mfr. Irons, and other cablegrams, con-
veying money, We're sent by Mr.. Town
send. Orders came from st. Peters
burg, Moscow and other cities. AS
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. lRoNS..
AS Mr.. Townsend was somewhat
hazy on the subject of Russia and had
mo information as to how Irons had
gone in on his first visit, it can easily
he 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.
81 tell you, Burdick," he said, irons
must be in trouble. / can learn moth
Ding. There is something left unex-
plained."
There always was" said Mr.. Bur
dick. "Irons is a man who acts ac-
cording to what he finds on the spot.
I'VE can't sit in New York and tell him
what to do in Russia. If he says he is
: expelled a ,ys e going back, be ds going
sne No. cave him alone"
r an exam do nothing else" said Mr..
"as / do not know where
he is'
81 do. He is in Russia. Just wait.
You will get big orders from Russia
yet. Irons against the entire police
Of the empire. Ny confidence in him
is so unshakable l believe-well, I'll
bet you a thousand dollars he turns
up all right with Russian orders"
I'll not take the bet. share your
Eonfidence. Well wait"
And SO they waited.
Hafiz Effendi sat crosslcgged on a
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 MuScovite.' he
muttered as he drew long breaths from
his chibouk and watched an elderly
Grusian and his daughter pass by
t'The new law is in effect and the
bride for the prince not yet obtained
And Milk, the officer of the ameer, will
soon be here to ascertain the truth"
Hafiz Effendf had not travelled all thu
way from Constantinople simply t.
witness the fair at Tiflis. 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 czal
The hated Muscovite government ha
interdicted the trade in women whic
had made Circassia and Georgia il
famous.
Here was the annual fair at Tiff
under full sway, and all the wealt
and beauty of the Caucasus We're pre-
ent.
Haiz Effendi shook his head, grun
ed another curse against the Muscovit
and then, placing his chibouk in I'll
care of Muley, the keeper of the b'
zaar, wandered, or. rather, waddle'
round the gay streets Of the fair. 70
lowing in his wake was talk hant
some young officer, whose uniform,
well as his accent, proclaimed him
be from st. Petersburg.
"Ah," said this officer to himself {
he saw the frown on the face of tt
Iurk, our Iflenu tianZ seems lnui
nant. He eyes every pretty wom9
with something like greed. I'll kee
my eye on him.
For Captain Sergius Orskof was
command OF the department Of II
service that had for its object the o
liberation of the slave trade betwet
the Caucasus and Persia and Turkey.
Men from all parts were at Titiis. e
hibiting in the bazaars rugs and Goa
of rare woods from Persia, silks fro
China, costly pipes of every coneeiv
Die shape and size carved by hand
the men of YrebiZond. shoes from Ma
sachusetts, knives from England
short. the products of the world we
spread out that those who walk
could see and perchance purchase.
Hafiz Effendi turned and saw t
steely eyes of Captain Orskoff fix
upon him.
ut is great fair. excellency."