, 1904-06-08
A SOLDIER OF
COMMERCE
Blu JOHN ROE GORDON
Copyright. 1906. by F. r. Toombs
[coNTINUED.l

CONTINUED
Ignatz Biartelkis was about to close
his bazaar when the well known ngure
of Hassan walked in.
'Ny friend said Hassan, Il have
come in d great hurry to see you. IL
could have been nothing but the great
admiration | have for you and your
lovely daughter that would bring me
here at this hour. But as | was about
TO sail for the Caspian | discovered in
the bottom of my vessel bales of the
finest l~inen-better even than | brought
YOU last-from the looms of that far
country in the north that makes the
finest linen. 1t was not, like the last,
assigned to you, but was placed on
board for me to sell to any one who
would purchase. | do not wish to tar
nv till the morning, for l have a cargo
awaiting me at Astrakhan. have al
ready got my vessel in readiness to
sail, and the men are having their last
good sleep until we reach the Caspian.
| thought of you, as you have been my
friend. You have made many pur
chases. Will you not come and look at
the linen, that | may at once set sailY'
but it is night" said Biartelkis. I'm
the morning l will see it."
NAY, | cannot wait. l have just
time to reach Astrakhan to TAXI this
cargo. which will be a rich one"
81 must call my daughter. 1t is her
delight to accompany me and examine
goods and make purchases
He called Koura. Hassan gulped
down an exclamation as he saw her
beauty.
"What is it, father?'
.sThis good Hassan. who brought us
some of our best goods, is about to
start for the Caspian and has discov-
cred in his vessel some of the finest
linen he brought to sell. He asks that
we go look at 1t. If we do not. some
one else will get it. 1t is late. and the
wharfs are dangerous. What do you
say?"
las for the lateness of the hour, 1t
must not interfere with a good pur-
chase. Hassan can walk the whaffs,
and with him we should be safe"
well spoken" said Hassan.
uh>,.. uh
streets of the fair were almost desert
ed. The last band had stopped Its
blare. and the lights were being extin-
guished in the bazaars. The coHee
houses alone showed signs of life. The
merchant accompanied Hassan to the
wharf and on board his vessel. He lea
them to the cabin and offered wine.
Biartelkis sat in the cabin and his
daughter near him. Hassan, looking
over the merchants shoulder, saw the
figure of Hafz Effendi. He obeyed a
signal.
Permit me to depart and bring the
linen,' said he and walked u
st is strange, father" koura was
saving, chat l see no evidence that
Hassan has made preparations to start.
No sail is raised"
.He told me the men were taking a
good sleep before starting. ! believe
A scarf was thrown around koura's
mouth and her eyes were blinded With
folds of silk. She heard a groan from
her father as Haiz Effendi rushed up
on him and buried a dagger in his
heart.
'Quick! Fasten the girl! Bring me
roues!' he whispered to Hassan, wht
was Mortified at the terrible act.
He realized that he vas now in tn
power of Hafz Effendi, for the murdeI
had peer done on his boat and be ha
lured the merchant to his doom. HI
silently obeyed, and the girl was boun'
and placed upon a diyan. Then witt
delft fingers they wound cloths aroun'
he body of the merchant, weighted i
with stones and hurled it into the river
'Now," said Hafz Effendi in hi
blandest tones, "listen and obey the re
mainder of my commands"
st is horribler' said Hassan. II di'
not think"-
"Harken, fool! If you are found wit
this girl on your boat, you will b
shot. If Biartelkis is missed, as b
surely will be-, who visited his bazaa
to sell him linen that did not exist? l
will be to your advantage to go, an
go at once"
81 am in a trap" said Hassan des
perately, land must obey"
keep the girl where she will not b
discovered. Sail as rapidly as possibl
to the Caspian and search for a vesst
of the Persian type, which will be sal
ing without any direction or lying 8
anchor. Her masters name is Kar;
kali. When you have found him, yor
duty is done. Deliver tine girl into h
hands and return to me for your r.
ward"