Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-02-23

CHAH A<N111s
The summer is scarcely good time
to visit Egypt, but Monty and his
guests had a desire to see even little
of the northern coast of Africa. II
was decided, therefore, that after Attn
ems the Filter should go south. The
Yacht had met them at Naples after
the automobile procession-a kind OF
triumphal progress-was disbandeo
in Florence, and they had taken hur-
ried survey of Rome. By the middle
of July the party was leaving the heat
of Egypt and finding 1t not half bad.
New York was not more than a month
away as Brewster reckoned time ana
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 MS
steps. He was coming to the death
struggle" as he termed 1t, and there
was something rather terrorizing IN
the fear that 1.-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
guest at one Of Monty's entertain
ments. He was a burly, hot blooded
fellow, with a densely populated ha-
rem, and he had been invited more as
a curiosity than as one to be honored.
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 desper-
ately in love with Peggy Gray on sight,
and with all the composure Of po-
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 propo-
sition 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 asker 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 a ring as a pledge OF
affection, but the American declined
the offering and also refused to carry
a 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 obnoX-
ious 1t may be, 1t 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
yited the sheik to come aboard and
consult Miss Gray in person. Monam-
med was a good bit puzzled over the
intimation that it would be necessary
for him to plead for anything he had
expressed a 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 af-
ter 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
ter stared long and hard at the gayly
bedecked launches and then called to
his first officer. Together they watch
ed the ceremonious approach. A cou-
pie of brown faced heralds came
aboard first and announced the ap-
proach of the mighty chief. Captain
Perry went forward to greet the sheik
as he came over the side of the ship,
but he was brushed aside by the ad-
vance guards. Half hundred swarthy
fellows crowded aboard, and then came
the sheik, the personification of ponp
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, filled with
curiosity.
What do you mean by coming
aboard in this manner" demanded the
now irate Captain Perry, showing
couple of retainers out of his path and
facing the beaming suitor. An inter-
prefer took a 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 a few
tackles to drive the "dagoes" off. Rip
Van Wrinkle interfered. and peace was
restored The cruise had changed Rip
into a happier and far more radiant
creature, so it was only natural that
he should have shared the secret with