Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-09-03
CHAPTER XIII.

Il see even u little of the northern
coast OF Africa. 1t was decided, there
fore. that after Athens the Filter
should go south. The yscht had me
them at Naples after the AUTOMOBILE,
procession-a kind of triumphal prog
ress-was disbanded IN Florence, anQ
they had taken Il 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 1t, and
there was something rather terroriz-
ing in the fear that 1.-The million might
die hard" And SO these last days and
nights We're glorious ones, II one could
have looked ut 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-
tertainl.ents that he gave succeeded
once again In fairly outdoing Aladdin.
A slaeik from the interior was u
guest at one Of Monty's entertain
ments. He was burly, hot blooded
fellow, with densely populated
harem, and he had been invited more
as q 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 no much Of him that 1t 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 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
minute or two, but he was quick to see
the wisdom Of treating the proposition
automatically. Hs tried to make 1t
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 lac asked for, especially anything
feminine. He complacently announced
that he would come aboard that after
noon and talk 1t 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 AZ 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 a edge Of
affection, but the American declined
the offering and also refused to carry
bag Of jewels to Peggy.
"I'll let the old boy come aboard just
to see Peggy look hole through him."
he resolved. mo matter how obno1-
ious it may be, it isn't every girl who
/. can say an oriental potentate has ask
ed her to marry him. II this camel
herder gets disagreeable we may tum-
BILE him into the sea for change"
With the best grace possible he in
- .h>1I % al ri and
consult Miss Gray in person. NOLAN
med was good bit puzzled over the
intimaticn that it would be necessary
for him to plead for anything he had
expressed desire to possess. Brew
ster confided the news to Rip Van
Wrinkle and Subway Smith. who had
gone ashore with him, and the trio
agreed that it 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
commotion on deck.
Mohammed had not tarried long aft
er their departure. He gathered his
train together, selected few costly
presents that had been returned from
the hare1n and advanced on the boat
without delay. The captain of the Fit
ter stared long ana hard at the gayly
bedecked launches and then called to
his first officer. Together they watched
the ceremonious approach. A couple OF
brown facet 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 size 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
tive 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 Manner" demanded the
now irate Captain Perry, showing a
couple Of retainers out Of bis path and
facing the beaming sutton. An inter.
prefer took hand at this juncture, and
the doughty captain finally was made
to understand the object Of the visit.
He laughed in the sheik's face and told
the mate to call up few jackies to
drive the "dagoes" off. Rip Van Win
kle qterfered, and peace was restored.