Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-06-19


''Zerah-what lovely namel l can
see her nova languorous eyed beau
ty," cried Emily.
Now we have clew to work upon.
/ have such a splendid plan," said
Madeline, her cheeks pink with ex-
element.
Tell it to u.s."
"Let US each wear our bracelets and
go from one Turkish shop to another.
apparently looking for rugs or trinkets.
and perhaps some woman, some shop
keepers wife, may recognize the fill
gree bracelet. and thus we may find
the owner and tell her that her father
Is waiting for herr
"a wild goose chase" smiled the
professor indulgently. My dears, the
chances are that Zerah is now and has
been in Constantinople. perhaps hidden
from her fathers seeking eyes"
mo, am sure that is not the case"
protested Madeline warmly. It's this
way, father
There, there my dear; l should not
try to discourage you,' he smiled
run along on your pretty romantic err
rand. Only be careful that you do not
go afoot, and beware of unsavory parts
Of the city without a proper escort
Perhaps Alexander will so along. You
know he is Iinguist and
This Is a matter for fathers and
daughters, SO we will ask you to es-
cort u.s. said Madeline, and in the
end Professor Trayle laughingly as
scented. Secretly he was attracted by
the possibilities of the search.
IF you find Zerah-whether she is
yognS aud lovely or has become fat
and lideous, as Is often the unfortu-
nate fate of oriental women, and she
wants to return to her father, remem
Der | will send her home again." he
promised and was rewarded by the
gratitude of the two girls, who had
come to look upon the lost Zerah as
real person who would be found in the
foreign quarter of New York, that
clearing house Of many nationalities.
The next day they started out on
their strange search As the limou-
sine threaded its way among the mar
row streets of the Syrian quarter-for
they had decided to begin their search
there-the two girls chartered about
the bracelet and examined again and
again the one Emily wore on her wrist
outside her black glove.
Their first experience was disap-
pointing A Turkish shop, attended by
two slender young men, who urged
them to buy rugs, did not offer any
hope of finding the lost Zerahs although
Emily displayed her bracelet carelessly
to their view.
1t proved to be disappointing quest.
In and out Of little dark, odorous shops
they went They interviewed Turkish
women and men and children, but all
stared stolidly at the filigree bracelet
and shook their heads.
They were interested in selling goods
to the rich Americans, not in tracing
some mythical person named Zerah.
AS the Limousine drew up at the curb
in front of Emily brakes home and she
stepped to the pavement Madeline
leaned forward and pointed finger at
the fight of stone steps leading to the
front door Of the Drake home.
"Oh, Emily, we've been interviewing
Byzantine women all day, and here is
another one sitting on your doorstep
Emily turned and looked.
There on the bottom step of the
brown stone flights sat lace peddler,
slender, worn looking woman with pa
thetic dark eyes and sad mouth. On
her lap there rested basket filed with
laces and lace trimmed linens.
Professor Trayie and his daughter
leaned from the motor and watched
Emily as she approached the woman
and picked up some laces with the
hand that wore the filigree bracelet.
Instantly the woman's eyes flashed
eagerly, and she laid brown hand on
Emily's wrist and muttered some for
eign words.
Professor Trayle, do come! / be-
lieve I've found her Come and talk
to her." cried Emily in excitement.
And the professor and his daughter
obeyed at once.
The woman was holding Emily's
hand, and tears were running down
her cheeks as her fingers touched the
silver bracelet
"Zerahp' said the professor distinct
ly, and at sound Of the name the wo-
man started to her feet and stared
wildly at him.
Then, speaking in her own language,
he quieted her fears and asked her a
few questions. He took the bracelet
from Emily's wrist and showed it to
her.
The two girls watched with delight
mingled with awe the changing emo
tons on her face as she listened to the
story Professor Trayle had to tell, and
she nodded smilingly at last, and then,
clutching the filigree bracelet to her
bosom, she spoke in the same tongue,
softly, melodiously ending her nara