The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-11-24
CHAPTER XIII.


see even little Of the northern
coast Of Africa. II was decided, there
fore. that after Athens the Filter
should 20 south. The yacht had met
them at Naples after the automobile
procession--a kind of triumphal prog
ress-was disbanded Ia Florence, and
they had taken a hurried survey Of
Rome. BY the middle Of July the
party was leaving the heat of Egypt
and finding it not half bad. New
York was not more than a month
away as Brewster reckoned time and
distance, and there was still too much
money in the treasury AS September
drew nearer he got into the habit
OF frequently forgetting swearengen
Jones until it was too late to retrace
his steps lie was coming to the
death struggle" as he termed it. and
there was something rather terroriz.
ing III the fear that ''the million might
die hard" And so these last days and
nights were glorious ones, IL one could
have looked at them with unbiased,
untroubled eyes. But every member
of his party was praying for the day
when the Filter would be well into
the broad Atlantic and the worst over.
At Alexandria Brewster had letters to
some Engiishmen and IN the few en-
tertainments that he gave succeeded
once again in fairly outdoing Aladdin.
A sheik from the interior was q
guest at one Of Monty's entertain
ments. IJe was a burly, hot blooded
fellow, with a densely populate
harem, and he had been invited MOI
as a curiosity than as one to be hoi
ored. AS he came aboard the Filter
Monty believed the invitation was
more than justified Mohammed was
superb, and the women of the party
made so much of him that it was small
wonder that bis head was turned. He
fell desperately in love with Peggy
Gray on sight, and with all the com
posure of pOtentate who has never
! b,.ea crossed ne sent for Brewster the
next day and told him TO "send her
around" and he would marry her.
Monty's blood boiled furiously for a
minute or two, but he was quick to see
the wisdom Of treating the proposition
automatically. He tried to make II
plain to the sheik that Miss Gray
could not accept the honor he wished
to confer upon her, but it was not Mo
hammeds custom to be denied any
thing he asked for, especially anything
4 feminine He complacently announced
that he would come aboard that after
noon and talk it over with Peggy.
Brewster looked the swarthy gentle
man over with unconcealed disgust in
~. he Of
ugly brute so much as touching the
hand of little Peggy Gray filed him
] with horror. and yet there was some
thing Iaughable In the situation. lie
could not hide the smile that came with
the mind picture of Peggy listening to
the avOwal of the sheik The Arab
mlsinterpreted this exhibition of mirth
To him the grin indicated friendship
and encouragement He wanted &c
give Brewster a ring as a pledge OF
affection but the American declined
the Offering and also refused to carry 0
bag Of jewels to Peggy.
"pli let the old boy come aboard just
to see Peggy look n hole through him.
he resolved mo matter how obnox
ious it may be, 1t isn't every girl whC
can say an oriental potentate has ask
ed her to marry him. II this cane
herder gets disagreeable we may tum
bic him into the sea for a change"
with the best grace possible he in
vited the sheik TO come aboard anC
consult Miss Cray in person. Moham
med was a good bit puzzled over thl
intlmation that 1t would be necessar.
-, D. ina ha hat
expressed a desire to possess, Brew
ster condded the news TO Rip Nal
Wnkie and Subway Smith, who ha'
a gone ashore with him, and the tri
agreed that 1t would be good spor
TO let the royal proposal come as a SUI
prise 10 Peggy Van Wrinkle returne
to the yacht at once. but his compan
ions stayed ashore to do some shor
ping When they approached the Fit
ter later on they observed an unusua
commotion on deck.
Mohammed had not tarried long afi
er their departure. He gathered hi
train together, te,scted few costl
presents that had been returned fror
the harem and advanced on the boa
without delay. The captain Of the Fit
ter stared long and hard at the gayl
~ bedecked launches and then called I
his first officer. Together they watche
the ceremonious approach. A couple O
brown faced heralds came aboard frs
aud announced the approach OF tn
mighty chief Captain Perry went fol
ward to greet the sheik as he cam
over the side Of the ship. but he wa
brushed aside by the advance guard.
Half a hundred swarthy fellows GROVE
ed aboard, aud then came the sheik, tn
personlfcation OF pomp end pride
"Where is shel" he asked In his ns
tive tongue. The passengers were b
this time aware OF the visitation an
began to straggle on deck, oiled wit
curiosity.
"What do you mean by comm
aboard In this mannerY demanded III
now lrate Captain Perry, showing
couple Of retalners out Of bis path an
facing the beamlng suitor. An int
prefer took hand at this luncture. an
H the doughty captain finally was mad
70 understand the object OF the visi
lie laughed in the sheik's face and tol
the mate 20 call up a few jackies
drive the ''dagoes" of Rip Van VII
kle interiersd, aud peace was Restores
The. .erIise had changed Rip into hnl
,.t.r ana far s1,ra rodlnnf fura 1