New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-24
CHAPTER XVII.
The Broken String of Pearls

had been IN the afternoon. when She had
charmed the man she not gong 20 marry.
Her voice was vibrant with the hope that soon
She would bee charming the man whom She was
going 10 marry.
Tsats,r -al,-hIrleru sat stolid at the words
More than one IF the other slaves. however.
sighed. II had been arduous day. FahIck.
rcp'cte with food. groancd Ike an overloaded
wagon. Yet all knew that when Hanum
Rhasnch wished to walk. they must take cx-
crCi-c
" II is a lovely night for walk" Rhasnch
continued II had been lowering the whole
day AS a matter OF fact. " We shall 60 a long
way. and sing as We go. Then We shall sleep
adablv, gaIly And want everyone 70 wear
heavy veil, or the night ar may give YOU a
fever"
Weir. after leaving Xcny at the door Of her
house, hurried to his rooms. He picked up a
tightly rolled bundle. and thrust the Turkish
slippers he had been playing with that after
noon INTO his pocket.
Going out, he nodded TO the clerk " I NAV
not be back tonight"
He did not take the horse car or a cab
Through the unlghted streets he walked that
he might be unobscrvcd, 10 the boat station
at Galata. There he hired two Armenian boat
men with a working knowledge of French
his own Turkish being an Enthusiastically
vehicle for cXChaugiu ticas-and set out on
the long TOW To Their. pa He might have
taken boat from his Yacht except that he
was dealing with a suspicious nation and
would be less noticeable IN a native kIiCk Ii
was SO dark that he had no fear of being
recognized, unless he should pass directly
beneath the rays of some lantern.
He stopped at YEN keui, the landing this
SIDE OF IhcraPla, and not much farther from
RhasnehS palace PAID his bultmcn a weeks
wages and promised them thrice the amount
TO await ms return. Then he took up his
station at the place appointed IN Rhasueh's
letter the fifth cross road south from Takshan
PashaS palace
When the clouds willed it these cross roads
were lighted by moon or stars: tonight Weir
was as well hidden as he could wish. He took
oil his shoes and tossed them over the wall
against which he Crouched Their presence in
the garden the other side might arouse
miStrust and bring misery to the innocent,
next morning; but ne did not stop to consider
others. He put on the Turkish slippers he had
brought with HIM, and rolled his trousers up to
ms knees Other disguise than this he appar-
emily had not; for he did not unroll the
package he had brought with him.
Leadenly the time passed. He knew that
he was ahead of the hour set by RhaSneh-of
that he had assured himself before leaving the
RG'cF-yet as he waited in the intense black
ness, IN which time no more seemed measurable,
he began to torture himself with the fear lest
his watch had been slow. or Rhasnch and her
party had passed by sooner than she had
intended to. Surely he thoupht-,ftcr ~
long wait in the dark had given him a feel
ing almost of light Medicines surely il was
too late Tor a party of Mussuman women to
be abroad
At length afar off. Weir heard sinpinq-and
singing sprang up in his heart as he heard II
1t was the agreed signal; that is, if the refrain
OF each verse was Ben seJeript sana" Not
breathing, his mouth half open. his heart
almost ceaslng TO beat, he listened TO catch the
words. He was not quick at Turkish; but
YES those were the words, and they meant
love you! and as he made them out. the
nlgnt Tor HIM, too, was 4 lovely night for a
walk. -
ne SINGERS came nearer, a twinkling light
leading them. 1t was lantern in the hands of
slave winch threw vague beams upon the
mass OF velled women who followed
sing, sing!" Rhasneh urged feverisblv
Weir heard her voice Could he have under
stood her words, his last doubt as To the
identity OF the singers would have been re-
moved lie felt quite certain who they were
however particularly when in passing he saw
that one of the yelled figures Jagged behind the
others He came out of the cross road noise
lessly' IN his slippers. and overlook her who
was Tagging behind. He touched her arm. and
the slave fell still farther back. till quite ont
OF the power of the lanterns rays: then turned
ana threw over his head a black jereij6 that