Evening journal., 1908-01-13
AN AFT AIR ON
THE BOSPORUS.
.ba.4e4.taesfa4.1t4..tf..t 80

tOriginnI.l
Mahdesian was a kavass in the serv-
ice Of the sultan Of Turkey. He was
assigned to the American legation and
more especially to the secretary, Rob
ert Babcock, appointed by one OF the
frst presidents Of the United States.
At that time the kavass was held ac-
countabie for the safety of the man he
attended, and If any accident happen
ed to his charge the kavass. whether in
fault or not, forfeited his life.
Mahdesiau's position was no sine
eure. Babcoclz had been a captain OF
rangers in the American Revolution
and was only happy when in danger.
The kavass, who found Difficulty in get
ting his masters name, was advised by
the secretary 10 call him Bob. This
the servant did. much to the surprise
and wonder Of those who heard him.
One day Babcock was walking on a
street In Constantinople when a palan-
quin passed him in which was a Turk
ish lady, who. as the American gazed
upon her, removed the covering 10 her
face and gave him very sweet smile.
'Mahdesian," said Babcock to the
kavsss, who was walking behind him.
there's an adventure. A lady does
me an honor. II l do not follow her
up will be a poltroon and a coward"
90 most excellent and exalted Bob"
protested the servant, that lady is
from the harem of the sultan. / recog,
nized her the moment she lifted her
veil"
you don't mean itr' declared the
secretary. considerably staggered.
One evening few days later Bah
cock set out from the legation to take
walk. Mahdesian, who handed him
his hat and cane. proposed to accom-
pany him, but Babcock demurred.
Babcock was disporting his hand
some figure on the street, got up in a
claret colored coat, knee breeches, with
white silk stockings, and glistening
shoe buckles, when he was approached
by a man, who said in broken English,
III you wish to meet a lady, follow
me-"
Babcock at once surmised that this
meant an invitation from the lady he
had met and admired and, with the
recklessness natural TO him, followed
the Turk. He was conducted TO the
bank of the Bosporus. Out in the
stream, across which he remembered
Leander had swum to his Hero. a Unit.
ed States man-of war flying the Amer
lean dag was lying at anchor. Pres
emily the conductor stopped at a wall
inclosing a garden at the rear OF a
dwelling. At a knock the door was
opened from within, and the man
pushed Babcock through. Sitting on a
bench was a lady, who rose, lifting her
veil the while her pretty face was GOV.
cred with bushes and smiles. Babcock
stepped forward, seized her hand and
kissed It. The lady, the same he had
met before, informed him that she was
a wife Of the sultan, one Of hundreds
who had the name OF wife without the
reality. She had arranged this meet
ing at the dwelling Of a friend on
whom she could rely implicitly.
They had spent a happy hour togeth,
er when suddenly half a dozen mer
came over the wall-the door was lock
ed-and made them prisoners. At frs
they thought they had been betrayed
TO the sultnn's bodyguard, but the
leader OF the men told them that they
would be held for ransom. The rob
bers knew well that one was connect
ed with the United States embass!
while the other was Of the imperia
harem, and they demanded an enor
nous sum TO keep the secret and le
them go their way.
. Now, this was a very unpleasant pre-
dicament-unpleasant for Babcock. foi
he was without fortune and unable {,
produce the ransom; unpleasant for thu
Turkish lady, who was in ike fnancis
condition, and unpleasant for the alb
sent Mahdesian, who was responsible
for his charge. Indeed. II there wal
no means Of a settlement Forthcoming
al -EeLe-H -Hure- to lose their lives, Bah