Canyon City news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1903-1908, 1904-10-07
A SOLDIER OF
COMMERCE
BY JOHN ROE GORDON
Copyright. 1902. by F. r. Toombs
CHAPTER NIX.

IEMSfNI who seemed to he OF n race
~ they looked upon as enemies.
yet their chief Palpak. treated these
men MS friends. Palpak was n chief who
gave no explanations Of his acts. and
when he demanded horses for himself.
his brothers and his friends they were
ut once forthcoming.
DOmitan. the brother who had been
SO eager to kill Palpak. was mOrOse
and showed but little favor to the
guests. The latter. confident that their
plans would be successful. treated him
considerably. They thought not OF
the risk they ran in going. with rob-
bers for escort into n country from
which few travellers had ever return.
cd. The moving power was love. and
love laughs Mt danger.
From the village n winding path led
from the low shore land to distant
range Of hills. Along this their prog
ress was rapid; but. arriving Mt the
hills, they found n rugged. rocky road
over which travelling was slow. The
small horses Of the Zannucks were
sturdy animals and went unshod over
the jagged stones that covered the mar
row path.
The natives stared Mt them in amaze
mcnt. A Russian officer in uniform.
accompanying their chief on terms OF
friendship. was scene they had never
contemplated. Some thought Orskofr
was prisoner. though he did not act
like one. Harvey seemed actually to be
the leader.
Hidden among great knOlls and &C.
qnestrred In fertile valleys were little
villages seemingly devoted to peaceful
pursuits. Flocks Of the world famous
sheep. the skins Of whose lambs are
sent to Persia. where they are made
into garments or cured md sent to
Europe and America. were browsing
on the hllsidcs.
All the hcrdsmcn bore arms. One
would have rifle; another wore n belt
I'm which two or three pistols were
thrust; some carried the old time spear.
Their Sarb was most picturesque. The
turbaned Turk, the iaunty Clrcas
Sian the jacket Greek. none Of these
could match the gay dress Of these hill
men.
The road grew roughor and more diff
ficut. They climbed labOriOusly. stop
ping often to give their horses n breath
ing spell. On either side the jagged
rocks rose to great heights and III"
mountains stood majestically about
them.
"NO wonder these people cannot be
subdued," said Harvey. Mature has
built for them fortress that no guns
can batter down"
"rhe trouble is." said Orskoff. "that
nature does this only where n fortress
is not necessary. When it comes TO
guarding city, placing battlement
upon passage between two seas, ma
turc may be gracious enough to bcstOw
a rock or two. but they must be fash
iOned by tho hand Of man to suit the
purpose Of defense"
THE reason is not that nature is
grudging." said Harvey. ut Is that
man Is so stubborn that he establishes
his cities in places where they can he
established. Natures Notifications are
IN places where no one ever wants to
60"
Except ourselves Mt the present time.
Hello! There Is big town."
They had reached high point in the
road and looked down sloping stretch
into a valley. where a town was laid
out that called forth exclnmatiOns from
both. Amid green and luxurious sur
roundings. on the banks OF little
river that found its devious way into
the Scythiau gulf. this city Of the Fan
nucks was laid out with precision
that would do credit to an English or
American town. Following the almost
straight line Of the river. the main
street stretched a half mile. On this
were the principal bazaars and market
places, with drainage directly into the
river. At right angles to this were
other streets. with houses OF stone or
wood, ornamented according to the
taste Of the owners. each having u lit.
tie patch Of green and fruit trees and
garden.
"OrskOff." said Harvey. pointing to
an elevation back Of the town. ''proba'
bly, the only thing this town lacks is
good drinking wafer. Id like to put
up one Of my windmillS and a pump
right there I'll ask Fnlpak for con
cession when the other business Is
over"
$50 confident ar" you In the success
Of the expedition that you can talk of
windmills.'
rive tnlked windmills nil my life.
Inndc them when ! WAS Il boy. ] can
nick ont u likely spot for one with my
eyes shut"
Harvey was interrupted by the I'M
petuo'is welcome given to the return