Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-29
The Daily Story
The Crooked Street-By C1arissa Maclie
Copyrighted 1914. by Associated Literary Bureau

poised for an instant on the steps o
the Hotel Constantia. The terracet
gardens of the hotel ran down to {
lime shaded avenue beyond which sh'
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 ruf1ed
the date palms and the acaciH. 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 1
am at liberty"
VERY well, father. Come as soon as
you can. 1t is such a glorious morn
| Il
| 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
! ~ the thought of the glittering bazaars
| lured her away from the garden.
..
by" she thought guilty, 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 Goldbeaters ere
ated unpleasant notice.
Cynthia found dark faces thrust to-
ward her with insolent 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 a big. broad shouldered
young man who glanced at her in
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. II
ever I can find my way back I will
A deep voice was speaking at her ell
bow.
Pardon me, but I am afraid that
you do 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 well meaning |
Thank you," she returned haugh- |
tiIy, "but this-this incident is the first |
1 have experienced"
He Redeemed to his smoothly brushed
fair hair and bowed stiffiy.
81 am sorry, but 1 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,
unmindful that she had unwittingly
turned into a small street that ran at
du5iCS " thC SliCCt VI tdC 0Oio-
beaters.
Her heart beat faster as she paused
before a rug shop to gather her wits
about her.
Before her were displayed perfumes
IF the orient in queer bottles and many
odd bits of Byzantine jewelry.
The shopkeeper, snowy bearded
Turk. with a large turban surrounding
lis dark face. was sitting cross legged
IN a pile Of rugs.
He leaned forward and lifted a sill
7er filigree bracelet from the heap of
rinkets.
"Buy?" he coaxed in the only Eng
ish word at his command.
Cynthia shook her head.
"Buy?" wheedled the old man.
NO said Cynthia decidedly.
Buy Now it was a command that
ssued Srom his skinny throat.
Cynthia glanced around quickly. The
treet appeared to be deserted. From
he gloomy interiors of the little shops
here was the glitter OF inquisitive
lark eyes.
The street turned sharply here. so
hat she could not see either end of it.
To all purposes she was alone with {
he villainous looking Turk on the pile [
{ rugs.
Buy" he threatend again. I
Nor cried Cynthia. Il will come !
ack later with my father S
This subterfuge was not understood
Y the Turk He muttered some I
TRANCE words. and. 10. apparently out 8
the rugs hanging about the dim c
oorway there apDeare several yelled q
-omen. One of them clapped a brown y
and over Cynthia's mouth, and two
theirs took her arms and hustled her I
ito the darkness of the inner shop. n
Without giving the American girl an 1,
pportunity to cry out the first woman
ed silken scarf over Cynthia'e v
iopth. knotting it behind her head. d
Then they stood back. laughing. and p
atched her while she beat her hands
sainst the door OF the room m a yam I
"A.