Canyon City news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1903-1908, 1904-08-05

AaSJ moored. 1t was substantial
enough vessel for the purposes for
which it was uSed-to convey mer-
ChundiSe from one port on the Caspian
or lis rivers 10 another. 1t had just
brought Il cargo Of goods to the bazaars
at the fair. 1t had Il high curved
prov, with Il strange looking carving
as fyurchead. 1t was broad amid
ships, and ut the stern high deck GOV,
cred the cabin accommodations 1t
was manned by dusky sailors. and the
captain was Hassan, II Turk from Con-
stantinople.
Hassun was q man well along in
years ana rad taken to the Caspian wa
ter trade a5 the best means of making
sufficient wealth with which to settle
down in his home at STEAMBOAT and cn.
JOY himself Unfortunately for Hassan
the trade had not proved as profitable
as he expected, because the Russian
government had given rights and priv
ilcgeS- concessions they called them
to Il German company to run a line Of
steamboats, from port to port. Hassans
field or sea-of activity was therefore
limited to these occasions when the fair
at TlliS or a sudden rush of goods to
AStraklIuu made the usual boats unable
to accommodate the increase Of trade.
\ caravan from TrebiZond had
brought TO one of the Caspian ports a
vast amount of goods for the fair. and
Hassan had succeeded in getting some
OF the overflow for his vessel. Having
delivered these goods to the Persian,
Russian. Jewish and Turkish mer-
chants to whom they were assigned,
he lay at the wharf trying to pick up IL
return cargo.
The night of the day on which Hafiz
Encndi and Milk, from Bokhara, had
met. Hassan strolled OH the upper deck
at the stern of his vessel smoking a /
cigarette He was disconSolute and /
was seriously contemplating leaving
the river and getting back to the Cas- /
plan, for his chances OF obtaining II /
cargo for any Caspian port seemed
slight
Suddenly figure clad in long
black coat, bent and bearded like the /
usual trading jew at the fair stole |
from behind the shadow of Il ware /
house on the wharf and came cautious
ly toward the vessel Hassan. bracing
himself and pulling from the folds Of .
his garments a dagger, advanced to .
the edge of the deck.
"What do you desire, stranger" he /
asked loudly.
IN the name of Allah, hold your .
tongue" came IA reply in low tones. /
at is l."
by that voice should say it was |
Hafz Effendi," said IIassan hopefully, |
for he knew that if IIaiiZ Eifcndi had |
business that necessitated n disguise |
it would pay well.
II am Hatiz," said the old slave trad )
er as he walked upon the deck, Are .
we alone?"
sufficiently alone to talk. The men ,
are asleep"
Let us sit down and talk. / have .
come with an offer that no man who .
is not fool will refuse Hassan, hast .
thou 4 wife,
Are they well cared forT
~ am poor and should have but one
was once better supplied with |
wealth"
AS | thought. my friend. Allah be
praised that you have so good friend .
as | to think uf you at time when
your purse could again be filed How
would you like TO earn a thousand gold
pieces Of - piastcrs each 10y tukiug a
certain person down the kur to the
CaSpianW
by the prophets beard! A thou
sand pieces Of gold Hast thou come
TO make me rich f''
"It is that If what ask is done. A
thousand pieces of - piasters in gold"
"In tie name of Allah, what cargo
hast thou found?''
"A woman. one who will be n prn-
cess. IIarken. IIaSsan. In TifiiS there
is certain young woman beautiful as
a goddess. Like marble statue is she.
Pure white is her skin and like velvet.
One caress from her lips would turn
yOu from the Koran She is desired in
holy marriage by Il certain prince"
And she desires that convey her to
his palace"
Nay: she desires nothing. She does
not even know
why does not the prince ask her to
accompany him to his palace?'
For two reasons Hassan. One Is
that the prince is not here and would
not set his foot upon the dominions of
the hated Muscovitp The other is that
were he 10 do so the father of this
Young woman would spurn him. for
the Muscovite does not regard his IA
ther as king"
Thou speakest either of the khan OF
Kbiva or his enemy, the ameer OF