, 1904-07-20
A SOLDIER OF
COMMERCE
BY JOHN ROE GORDON
Copyright, 1902. by F. r. Toombs
BY O II ROE GORDON
Copyright. 1902. by F. r. Toombs

Chapter I.-Haryey Irons, a com
mercial agent in Russia for a firm o
American manufacturers, has beer
expelled from the cars dominion
The czar has just prohibited the traffic
in Georgia women. Hafiz Ehendi, 9
Turk, and Milk, agent of the ameel
of Bokhara, are in Tiflis seeking 8
bride for Prince Davonca.
Chapter II.-Hafiz points out tC
Milk the bride he has selected, a beau
tiful Georgian, Konra, daughter OF q
rich merchant in Tiflis. Hafiz agrees
to deliver the girl to a boat captain on
the Caspian recommended by MILK.
Captain Orskoff of the czar's army has
the Turk under surveillance.
Chapter III.-Hafiz and n Hassan,
a greedy captain on Kur, river, lure
the merchant and his daughter on
board of Hassan's boat at midnight.
Hafiz kills the merchant, and Hassan
sails away with Koura locked in a
cabin. Koura has pledged her hand
to Captain Orskoff.
Chapter beating about
the eastern waters trying to reach Nov
gorod Irons boards Hassan's boat
against the will of the captain, who,
however, takes a bride to carry the
American to Astrakhan. A Russian
gunboat overhauls the craft. Hassan
tells a plausible story about the pres
ence of Koura, duplicating Irons, who
is arrested for the abduction of n of
the czar's subjects.
Chapter V.-Irons is taken to Tif1is.
In the family apartments of the prison
where he is confined his sweetheart,
Mile. Alma Jurnief. niece ofthe COVER
nor, Colonel Jurnief, is kept in seclu-
sion. Her father and uncle had caus-
ed the Punishment of the American to
separate the two lovers. Alma hears
of Irons plight and VOWS to save him.
Chapter VI.-Colonel Jurnieff is con
spring to crush Irons. Hassan appears
in court as witness against the Ameri-
can, who, he says, was %abducting
Koura.
Chapter VII.-Prince Dellnikoff is
coming to Tiflis. He is the choice of
Alma's father for a son-in-law. Alma
buys a ships cargo of hay to be deliv-
cred at Astrabad, Persia, and stipu-
lates that the ship shall carry a man
as passenger.
Chapter VIII.-The governor gives
a ball in honor of Prince Dellnikoff.
Alma by her graciousness and witch
cry, captivates both the prince and her
uncle.
Chapter IX.-Colonel Jurnieff ex-
poets to win promotion by bringing
about the marriage of his niece and the
prince. He urges Dellnikoff to have
the betrothal announced at the ball.
Dellnikoff proposes and promises
Alma any favor she may wish. She
asks for n of his uniforms to indulge
in a lark as pretended inspector of
prisons.
Chapter x Disguised as the prince
Alma inspects the dungeons. The
prince himself, enveloped in a long
cloak, accompanies her. Dellnikoff
gets stupid with wine. Alma locks
him in a cell, first securing his cloak,
which she gives to Irons, whom she re-
leases. Irons passes the guard unchal-
lenged.
Chapter XI.-Alma conducts Irons
to the hay boat. As the lovers are
about to separate the alarm sounds in
the prison. Alma escapes with Irons,
and they hide under the hay.
Chapter XII.-Soldiers search the
boat. 1t is ordered to leave Tifiis at
once.
Chapter XIII.-Captain Charka is
lost overheard during a storm and the
crew go to his rescue and refuse to
return.
Chapter XIV.-The drifting boat
falls in with the black boat of Bokhara
which Hafiz had engaged to convey
houra to the ameer's country. Alma
is taken on board. Meeting of Alma
and koura. Irons left to his fate on
the hay boat.
Chapter XV.-The hay boat runs on
an Island. Irons falls in with robbers.
[coNTINuED.1
He moved slowly and cautiously. 1t
was difficult to locate where the light
had been. He CROPPED along, wander
ing in many curve Trees were on the
island, but he could see no trace of a
building. After cropping some time in
the darkness he discovered what an
peared to be Il rock about five feet
high. Feeling the surface of this. he
found that 1t was not a solid rock. but
a rocky formation with an opening on
one side. Lying fiat on the ground
and peering in, he saw a light far in
the earth, apparently from a lantern
hung on a peg. He slowly crawled in
side the cave. After advancing for
several feet he found that he could
stand up and walk.
A voice came from behind a shelter
of the rocky wall that projected into
the chamber. 1t pleased Harvey that
it was not the voice of a Russian, fol
Russians were the only people he had
any reason to fear.
Il have spoken" said a calm, stern
voice within the concealed chamber,
81 have given the treasure as it should