The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-11-04


Il suppose that was English you
were speaking as entered said the
colonel. Il do not understand It,"
THAT IS well for your soul" return
ed Darrell. The language was yio-
lent"
What was the natter" asked Kor-
ma, and then without waiting for an
answer, what are you going to do
with that thing?'
This question referred to the faded
cloak which Darrell had taken from
the idiot, Musef.
II have. made fool Of myself Colo
mel Korna,' said the American. please
do not ask me how, but take my word
that 1t was done In way that the
most brainless monkey ever born in a
tree could not have bettered. Having
done it, | was naturally reminded Of
this Idiots belongings. DO you sup
pose there is any beeswax In yladikau-
kas:'
us that question a part of your dis
guise?' laughed Korna, for Darrell had
put on the cloak ana taken up the pipes
upon which Musef had played.
Darrell convinced Korna that he was
serious, whereupon the latter replied
that Ii would be singular If town OF
the size of Yladlkaukas contained no
beeswax, but he did not know just
where ii could be found.
1--WE have had great news" he add
ed. "a spy has come down all the way
from Stavropoi The report of the rail
way wreck which has delayed the Rus
sian force is confirmed. Moreover
II am out of favor with the khan"
said Darrell, interruptng. II do not
feel that | should listen to your mill
tary secrets"
Koruna stared. and then. seeing that
Darrell was serious. he was about TO
express his sympathy when he was
hastily summoned TO the khan's pres
ence.
Darrell put away the CLOAK and pipe
and went out into the town, where, he
found many small stores open, for
there was excellent order in the place
and secured without great difficulty
supply of beeswax and black goats
hair with which he built up beard
almost as wild as Musef's. A beard
constructed In this way by a man ex-
perienced In the art will bear close In
spection. Having completed his task,
he wrote note to Korna in these
words:
Ny Dear Colonel going to try to get
through the Russian lines with a copy Of the
khan's cipher message TO Prince Kizisr. II | am
not heard OF within ten days, will you please in
form the khan Of my attemptf would have You
maintain silence Tor that interval, il you eau do
% without serious inconvenience. and II ! do not
return would have you remember me pleasantly.
as shall remember you 80 long as | retain the
faculty.
He left this where Korna would find
II and then, mounted upon a grotesque
little mule that he had purchased,
made his way out through the Circas'
sian lines, the seal of the khan upon
the order that he bore being his war
rant.
The mule was sturdy brute, and,
though Darrell made a wide detour, 80
that he seemed 20 be coming up from
the east 1t was not later than o'clock
I'm the afternoon when he was halted
by Russian pickets upon the right
wing Of their force.
An utter recklessness had taken pos
session Of Darrell since his wretched
interview with Vera. He had ridden
along the road rehearsing the demean-
or of Musef as he. had observed IL,
practicing the peculiarities OF speech
that had distinguished the idiot and
fitting crack Drained jests from his own
memory to the language In which they
must be uttered.
He had given some attention also to
the pipes. but found II easier because
Of his especial aptitude TO Initiate the
sound Of the instrument than TO pihy
upon Il.
Whep the picket cried out Halt.
Darrell cuffed the mules ear and cried
.Haltr' to him in an excellent copy OF
the Russian soldiers tone. whereat
another soldier laughed. Meanwhile
the mule kept straight on and DID NOT
stop until the soldiers had him by the
bride. one on each side.
LIT is Musef the Traveller" said the
soldier who had laughed. Il have seen
him in Stavropol"
IL Darrell had been in a bumOr IA
vOrable to fear. this utterance would
have alarmed him seriously. He had
not attempted a PRESERVATION. II was
impossible that he should be mistaken
for Musef by any one who had more
than the feeblest recollection Of the
original. II had not occurred TO Oar
rell's mind that the imbecile could
have 50 wide a fame. His sole idea
had been 10 take the guise OF a harm
less character. II detected as a coun-
terfeit. he might expect a spy's fate.
Il don't remember you" be said.
''but still you may have seen me. I
played under the windows Of the jail"
Ii was the other soldiers turn to
laugh. and he welcomed the chance.
His comrade took the jest without Of
Tense.