The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-05-08
The Crooked
Street
A Story of CONSTANT
nople
By CLARISSA MACKIE


Cynthia Fulham's graceful form was
poised for an instant on the steps OF
the Hotel Constantia. The terraced
gardens of the hotel ran down to q
lime shaded avenue beyond which she
could glimpse the waters of the Gold
en- Horn and the distant haZiness of
Constantinople.
In the foreground the white build
ings and the gracefully planned
mosques of Constantinople glistened
beneath the rays of the midday sun.
Here and there were gay awnings
futtering in the breeze that rufiied
the date palms and the acacias. Above
all were the glitter and color of the
orient and the vague murmur charac-
teristic of far eastern cities.
AS Cynthia stood there waiting for
her father to join her for a stroll
through the baZaars Joseph Fulham
suddenly appeared at her elbow.
Cynthia. I'm sorry, but our stroll
will have to be postponed for an hour
or so. Mr.. Evans has called to see me.
Suppose you sit in the garden until |
am at liberty
VERY well, father. Come as soon as
you can. 1t is such q glorious morn
ing l would not lose moment of it
indoors
I'll cut the business as short as pos
sible, dear" was Mr.. Fulham's reply
as he returned to the hotel.
Cynthia walked down the marble
steps to the little pavilion that over
looked the sparkling sea, but present
ly the thought of the glittering baZaars
lured her away from the garden.
IL can come back after dad by and
by" she thought guiltily, for she was
aware that her father would have for
hidden her wandering through the city
alone.
The appearance of the beautiful
American girl. quite unattended. in the
seething Street of the GOldbcaters Gre
ated unpleasant notice.
Cynthia found dark faces thrust to-
ward her with insoIent curiosity, while
the yelled women looked at her with
contemptuous eyes.
Ahead Of her little party Of tourists
were chatting. and Cynthia wished fer
vently that she was one of them.
There was Il big. broad shouldered
young man who glanced at her in a
startled manner when she hurried past
them.
Her cheeks famed with embarrass.
ment because of his evident surprise
at her solitary appearance.
II wish had not come alone. If
ever l can find my way back l will"-
A deep voice was speaking at her ell
bow.
Pardon me. but l am afraid that
you 90 not know how imprudent it is
for you to wander here all alone"
Cynthia turned and saw the tall
young man Of the tourist party. Know
ing that she had been unwise to the
point of folly, Cynthia was unreason-
ably indignant with her we'll meaning
cOuntryman.
Thank YOU" she returned haugh-
tily. but this-this incident is the first
| have experienced
He Redeemed to his smoothly brushed
fair hair and bowed Stiilly.
81 am sorry, but felt sure that you
could not know that you were inviting
danger" He replaced his hat and
went away.
Angry with herself at her own dis
courtesy. Cynthia went on her way,
that she had unwittingy
turned into small street that ran mt
right angles to the Street of the Gold
beaters.
Her heart beat faster as she paused
before rug shop to gather her wits
about her.
Before her were displayed perfumes
of the orient in queer bottles and many
odd bits of Byzantine jewelry.
The shopkeeper. a snowy bearded
Turk, with a large turban surrounding
his dark face. was sitting cross legged
on pile of rugs.
He leaned forward and lifted sill
yer filigree bracelet from the heap Of
"Buy?" he coaxed in the only Eng
lish,word at his command.
Cynthia shook her head.
"Buy?" wheedled the old man.
NO" said Cynthia decidedly.
BUY" Now it was command that
issued from his skinny throat.
Cynthia glanced around quickly. The
street appeared to be deserted. From
the gloomy interiors Of the little shops
there was the glitter Of inquisitive
dark eyes.
The street turned sharply here. so
that she could not see either end Of it.
To all purposes she was alone with
the villainous looking Turk on the pile
Of rugs.
BUY" he threatend again.
Nor cried Cynthia. II will come
back later with my father"
This subterfuge was not understood
by the Turk. He muttered some
strange words, and. 10. apparently out
of the rugs hanging about the dim
doorway. there appeared several yelled
women. One of them clapped brown
hand over Cynthia's mouth. and two
others took her arms and hustled her
into the darkness Of the inner shop.
Without giving the American girl an
to cry out the first woman