The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-09-01

papers, were casting about for some
other method of killing time. One
suggested . game Of cards.
"Cards!" laughed one of his COM
panions in misery. who'd carry cards
on ferry-boat? Who, outside Of q
lunatic asylum, would start on ten
minutes voyage provided with games
to pass away the time?"
"Here is q euchre deck which is at
your service"
The speaker, evidently globe-trot-
ter, drew from under the bench a trav-
cling bag, SO much worn and en-
bellished by tags, labels and hero
glyphics that it resembled some old
veteran just returned from the wars
and still covered with surgeons plas-
tiers. From this he produced pack
of cards and rendered it to the man
who had suggested q game.
Certainly, if you will join us; but
what shall we do for table,"
"Here is a camp-stool," said the man
of the world. And in moment four
men were sitting around it, cutting for
deal. which CHANGED to fall to the
stranger.
The cards were distributed rapidly,
and the dealer was about to turn the
trump when a loud shrek pierced the
air and a woman opposite suddenly
sank fainting to the floor.
The tension among the passengers
had become so great that panic
seemed imminent.
Don't be alarmed, gentlemen; 1t is
nothing serious" said the dealer, calm
ly. ''The lady simply caught sight of
her own frightened face in the mir
ror, and the shock caused her to faint.
1t reminds me of thrilling experience
an American traveller had while bump
ing through Syria. But, pardon me,
the camel"
Once more he made movement to
turn the trump, when one of the party
exclaimed:
There can't be a better time or
place than this for telling a thrilling
experience"
eyes," said another; ''do give us
some other kind of humping than we
are having here. Let's have the story
before we begin the game"
The stranger leaned back, passed his
cigar case, and, having lighted weed
himself, began:
"It is an unwritten law among the
wild Bedouins east of the Red sea that
If an infidel traveller is attended on his
journey by one of the faithful he is
safe from the attacks of Mohammedan
robbers. AS long as the Frank as all
foreigners are called, is under the pro-
lection of the Star and Crescent, the
rascal's hand is stayed, and as they
meet, the villain, who would otherwise
show no quarter, salutes with the
grave suavity Of courtier. But let
that same traveller become separated
from the Arab guard that he has bribed
to give him safe conduct through his
own bandit-infested country, and he
becomes legitimate prey. He will be
plundered and perhaps killed, OF,
worse, If the robber thinks that cruelty
will extort any secrets of hidden spoil,
tortured or held for ransom, with each
days display losing a few fingers,
which are forwarded to the captive's
friends to signify that the rascals mean
business.
"The party in which this American
was travelling had been entering Syria
from the south, and were progressed
some IL days from the sacred base of
old Sinai. At a place called Bir-es-
Sheba, on the regular caravan route to
and from Mecca from the north, they
heard of some interesting archeologi-
cal treasures just unearthed some two
days journey to the east, and, having
made the detour, the party. snugly en-
camped by the side of q beautiful
stream under the shadow of the Tubal
chain of mountains.
"The treasures were vastly exagger-
ated, as is the custom with everything
oriental, and they soon determined to
turn back to the caravan route and
bump on up into Syria-'bumping'
being the familiar term for camel rid
ing, and very expressive word at
that. But on the afternoon of the first
resting day some one suggested q
jaunt to a famous old well, where It
was said were some very ancient tu-
null. But, knowing the Bedouins to
be conscientious liars, and sick of this
unrewarded chase for phantom treas
ures, the American begged to be left
behind in charge of two tents, which
were pitched side by side on the bank
Of the stream.
"This was agreed upon, the whole
party except himself going of on their
three days trip, leaving their COM
rade stretched at full length on a rug,
his narghili, or water pipe, lighted for
company.
"This oriental atmosphere, gentle
men, issa powerful. drug. Do what you
will to fight against it, its subtle charm
holds you captive. The man sue
cumbed to its influences and went fast
asleep. - 's
Out. Of this sweet, TRANCE like srepose
he suddenly bounded into the horrible
consciousness Of a torturing pain in
one of his hands, as though some wild
beast. was crunching the bones. But,
as he writhed to his knees to grapple
with the foe. he saw instead three
swarthy, evil-faced Bedouins bending
over him with ghoulish glee. One had
- y