Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-02-03
A SOLDIER OF
COMMERCE
Blu JOHN ROE GORDON
Copyright, F. r. Tcomts
with a wealthy osmanli. He will no,

hdltS Us
Perhaps. IL il not that alone, but
sie loves Muscovite, the hated Ors-
koff that captain Of the Muscovites
who has watched us and prevented
our trade. She loves him. / saw them
together this very day"
us he richf'
al know not. | did not come TO talk
of him. But let us get TO our business.
bid you not sell TO Ignatz Bartelkis q
certain portion Of your cargo"
"Allah. Mohammed. Is il the daugh-
ter of Blartelkis OF whom you speak,
The same The prince of Bokhara
desires her for his wife, and Of my own
knowledge she is promised To be the
wife of Captain Orskotf. But we can
secure the girl for the prince, and a
thousand pieces of gold will fall mys-
teriously into your pocket"
"Oh, thou great and willy dealer In
fair women, tell me how | can obtain
this rich reward"
lis it not possible tL.t somewhere
in this vessel are goods that have been
overlooked and that Biartelkis would
buy"
You mean-that | am to say that
such is the case"
Exactly. You know that his daugh-
ter always accompanies him TO pur'
chase goods"
Il know. Well. what them"
eco to the bazaar. The bands are
still playing. There is still life in the
fair, for it is not yet midnight. Tell
Biartelkis that you have discovered
some Of the finest linen hidden in the
bottom OF the vessel and that you must
start from here before morning. as an
important business demands you at
Astrakhan."
"By the beard. know not what
plan you have, but a thousand pieces
, Of gold are not picked up Ia year.
What will you do In the meantime"
Await you here"
VERY well. / will 60"
Hassan put aside his ordinary gar
ments and replaced them with his best.
which he always wore to the bazaars.
He bade Haiz adieu and walked away.
Ignatz Biartelkis was about TO close
his bazaar when the well known figure
Of Hassan walked In.
MY friend. said Hassan, Il have
come In a great hurry 10 see you. 1t
could have been nothing but the great
admiration l have for you and your
lovely daughter that would bring me
here at this hour. But as l was about
to sail for the Caspian l discovered In
the bottom OF my vessel bales OF the
finest linen-better even than brought
you last-from the looms Of that far
country In the north that makes the
finest linen. 1t was not, like the last.
assigned TO you, but was placed on
board for me TO sell TO any one who
would purchase. l do not wish to tar
~ till the morning, for l have cargo
awaiting me at Astrakhan. l have al
ready got my vessel In readiness TO
sail, and the men are having their last
good sleep until we reach the Caspian.
| thought OF you, as you have been my
friend. You have made many pur-
chases VIII you not come and look at
the linen, that may at once set sailT'
But 1t is night" said Biartelkis. I'm
the morning will see II"
Nay. l cannot walt. l have Just
| time to reach Astrakhan 10 take this
cargo, which will be rich one"
IL must call my daughter. 1t Is her
delight TO accompany me and examine
goods and make purchases"
He called Koura. Hassan gulped
down an exclamation as Ne saw her
beauty
What is 1t. father
-This good Hassan, who brought us
some OF our best goods, Is about TO
start for the Caspian and has discov-
cred In his vessel some OF the finest
linen he brought to sell. He asks that
we go look at II. IL we do not. some
one else will get II. 1t is late, and the
wharfs are dangerous. What do you
sayY
"As for the lateness Of the hour, ID
must not interfere with n good pur-
chase. Hassan can walk the wharfs,
and With him we should be safe"
well spoken" said Hassan.
They were soon ready to start. The
streets OF the fair were almost desert
cd. The last band had stopped Its
blare, and the lights were being extin-
guished I'm the bazaars. The coffee
houses alone showed signs Of life. The
merchant accompanied Hassan to the
J wharf and Oh board his vessel. He LED
them to the cabin and offered wine.
} Biartelkis sat in the cabin and his
daughter near him. Hassan, looking
: over the merchants shoulder. saw The
figure OF Hafiz Effendi. He obeyed
signal.
Permit me to depart and bring tn
3 linen" said he and walked out.
r 1T is strange. father" koura wa
saying. that see no evidence tina
Hassan has made preparations to start
7 no sail is raised"
( "IIe told me the men were taking
good sleep before starting. believe
A scarf was thrown around koura
y mouth and her eyes were blinded wit
folds Of silk. She heard n groan iron
J. her father as Hafz Erfendi rushed w
on him and buried a dagger In hi
? heart