The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-02-14
CHAPTER XXIII

coast of Africa. 1t was decided, there
fore, that after Athens the Filter
should go south. The yacht had met
them at Naples after the automobile
procession-a kind of triumphal prog
ress-was disbanded in 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 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. He was coming to the
death struggle as he termed it, and
there was something rather terroriZ
ing in the fear that the million might
die hard" And SO these last days and
nights were glorious ones, if 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 Englishmen and in the few en-
tertainments that he gave succeeded
once again in fairly outdoing Aladdin
A sheik from the interior was a
guest at one of Montys entertain
ments. He was q burly, hot blooded
fellow, with denseU populated
har no,
as curiosity than as one to be hon
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 his head was turned. He
fell desperately in love with Peggy
Gray on sight, and with all the com
posture of a potentate who has never
been crossed he 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 it
plain to the sheik that Miss Gray
could not accept the honor he wished
to confer upon her, but it was not Mo-
hammed's custom to be denied any
thing he asked for, especially anything
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
his eyes. The mere thought of this
ugly brute so much as touching the
hand of little Peggy Gray filled him
with horror, and yet there was some
thing laughable in the situation. He
could not hide the smile that came with
the mind picture of Peggy listening to
the avowal of the sheik. The Arab
misinterpreted this exhibition of mirth.
To him the grin indicated friendship
and encouragement. He wanted to
give Brewster ring as pledge of
affection, but the American declined
the offering and also refused to carry
bag Of jewels to Peggy.
TIL let the old boy come aboard just
to see Peggy look hole through him."
he resolved. mo matter how obnox-
ious 1t may be. it isn't every girl who
can say an oriental potentate has ask
ed her to marry him. If this camel
herder gets disagreeable we may tum-
Bile him into the sea for a change"
With the best grace possible he In
vited the sheik to come aboard and
consult Miss Gray in person. Moham-
med was a good bit puzzled over the
intimation that 1t would be necessary
for him to plead for anything he had
expressed desire to possess. Brew
ster confded the news to Rip Van
Wrinkle and Subway Smith, who had
gone ashore with him, and the trio
agreed that 1t would be good sport
to let the royal proposal come as sur
prise to Peggy Van Wrinkle returned
to the yacht at once. but his compan-
ions stayed ashore to do some shop
ping. When they approached the Fit
ter later on they observed an unusual
eommotion on deck.
Mohammed had not tarried long aft
q their departure He gathered his
train together, selected a few costly
presents that had been returned from
the harem and advanced on the boat
without delay. The captain Of the Fit
tsr stared long and hard at the gayly
bedecked launches and then called to
his first officer. Together they watched
ths ceremonious approach. A couple Of
brown faced heralds came aboard first
and announced the approach Of the
mighty chief. Captain Perry went for
ward to greet the sheik as he came
over the side Of the ship, but he was
brushed aside by the advance guards.
half hundred swarthy fellows crowd
ed aboard, and then came the sheik, the
personification of pomp and pride.
where Is she?" he asked in his ma
live tongue. The passengers were by
this time aware of the visitation and
began to straggle on deck filed with
curiosity.
what do you mean by coming
aboard In this mannerT demanded the
NV rate Captain Perrx. shovtns q