The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-08-19
CHAPTER XXI.

Cobb: the car is assaulted. pillaged. ran
sacked: the gold and precious stones. to
the value of fifteen millions, are torn
from the grasp Of the Celestials, who
yield after a courageous defense. As to
the Passengers, another two minutes of
sleep would have settled their fate
and mine.
But all that disappeared with the
vapors OF the night. Dreams are not
fixed photographs; they fade in the sun.
and end by effacing themselves.
In taking my stroll through the train
as a good townsman takes his stroll
through the town. l am Joined by Major
Noltitz. After shaking hands, he show
ed me MongOl in the second-elass car,
and said 70 me, THAT is not one Of those
we picked up at Douchak when we pick
Ell up Faruskiar and Ghangir."
That Is 50" sand l; Il never saw that
face in the train before"
Popof, TO whom | applied for infor-
nation. told me that the Mongol had got
IN at Tchertchen. When he arrived"
he said, the manager spoke 10 him for
a minute. from which / concluded that
he also was one of the staff Of the Grand
Transasiatic"
| had not noticed Faruskiar during my
walk Had he alighted at one of the
small stations between Tchertchen and
Icharkalyk. where we ought 70 have
been about l o'clock in the afternoon?
No he and Changer were on the gang
way in front Of our car. They seemed
70 be in IN animated couversa ton. aud
only stopped to take a good look toward
the northeastern horizon Had the Mon
gol brought some news which had made
them throw of their usual reserve and
gravity? And l abandoned myself to my
imagination, fOreseeing adventures, at
taeks Of bandits and SO on, according to
my dream.
was recalled to reality by the Rev
Nathaniel Morse. who said TO me; 1T
Is hxed for to-day; do not forget"
mat meant the marriage Of Fulk Eph-
rineu and HOratia Bluett. Really, I was
not thinking Of it. Il is time for me 20
60 and dress for the occasion. All | can
DO will be to change my shirt IL is
enough that one of the husbands Wit
nesses should be presenta BILE: the other.
Caterna, will be sure to be magnificent
II was at 9 O'Clock that this marriage
was to take place. announced by the bell
OF the tender. which was to sound full
ciang as If it were a chapel bell. With
a little imagination we could believe we
were in a village. But whittier did this
bell invite the witnesses and guests? Into
the dining car, which had been conven.
ientiy arranged for the ceremony. as
had taken good care.
II was no longer dining car: II was
nau car, If the expression is admissible.
Inc Dig table had been taken away and
replaced oy small table which served
as a desk. A few flowers bought AT
sIrhRFTPhan hnI a
corners Of the car. which was large
enough TO hold nearly all who wished 10
De present-and those who could not got
Inside could look on from the Eangways.
A quarter 10 nine No one has YET
seen the happy couple. Miss Bluett is
In one Of the toilet cabinets in the FIRST
van, where she is probably preparin.
herself. Fulk Ephrinell is perhaps
struggling with his cravat and giving a
last polish to his portable jewelry. I am
not anxious. We shall see them as soon
as the bell rings
have but one regret. and that f. that
Faruskiar and Changer should be too
busy to join Us. Why do they contfnns
10 look over the immense desert? Re |
Tore their eyes there stretches not the
cultivated steppe Of the Lob Nor region
but the Cobb, which is barren. desolate
and gloomy. II may be asked why tbesa
people are keeping such an obstinate
lookout.
IF my presentiments do not dacafva /
me, said Major NOltitz, there IS some |
reason for it,"
What does he mean7 But the bell Of |
the tender, the tender bell, begins ia |
joyous appeal Nine O'Clock; it is time to |
60 into the dining car.
The passengers move In procession /
the four witnesses first. then the guests /
from the end Of the village mean Of /
the train; Chinese. Turkomans, Tartaru /
men and women, all curious to assist a
the ceremony. The four MongoIs remain |
on the last gangway near the treasure
which the Chinese soldiers do not leave /
for an instant.
We reach the dining car. The clergy. 1
man Is seated NJ the little table, on which 1
the certificate Of marriage he has
prepared according to the customary
form. He looks "a though he was ar
customed 70 TINS sort Of thing, which is /
as much commercial "a rHatrfuonfaI
Here Is Mr.. Fulk Ephrineu drssso,I
this morning just as he was dressed vss.
terday, with pencil behind the Iobe -
his left ear, for he has just been rpoking
out an account for his New York bo,g.
Here is Miss Horatia Bluett. "A thin
as dry, as plain ms ever her dugt-cIosL
over her travelling gown, and in uIacs
Of jewelry noisy bunch Of keys. which l
hangs from her belt
The company politely rise "a the bride
and bridegroom enter. They mari
time" as Caterna says. Then they AL
vance toward the clergyman, who Il
standing with his hand resting an =.
Bible, open probably Mt the place whore
Isaac. the son gf Abraham. espouses Re-
becca, the daughter If Rachel.
We might fancy we were in chanel
II we only had a harmonium And the
music is here! II It Is not n harrnonlun
IT Is the next thing to It. An accordion
makes itself heard in Caternn's hands
As an ancient mariner he knows how
TO manipulate this instrument u torture.
and here he Is swinging out the andanfa