The Washington herald., 1915-12-12

The oficial smiled. Systems" he said
In French sententiously: were devised
for the convenience of gentlemen as
well as for the Inconvenience of
sWireIessr" he thought. and he made
a new plan on the instant. He would
solve the whole problem by returning
Thanks" he said. but I sha'n't
need this. I shall be leaving Russia
by the first boat can get passage
I'm afraid not. Mr.. Anthony There
| Is a charge against you"
Then you mean that I'm under ar
| Since you elect to use that word"
Dick closed his lips and his chin
assumed an angle that was far NOR.
The ofiiciaI leaned forward conciliat-
ingly ,,, ,-
| Iy-very considerate. We appreciate
your position fully. We know what
news OF your arrest would mean to
will Understand that piracy is not a
charge which can be- lightly overlook
ed: however ridiculous. it must be in-
Thanks" said Dick, TN walt at
the hotel 1 can't afford to travel
The official opened a drawer, drew
out two cards. signed them and pass
Make use Of these. Mr.. Anthony.
Official passes on the main Transcau-
| casian railway. Take a look at the
healthy"
| Dick was prevailed on to accept the
passes. for that did not imply the
/ obligation TO make use OF them. lie
| drove back to his hotel in dreary
| dudgeon. too gloomy to observe that
an Afghan gentleman was waiting for
MY name is Usbeg All Khan" said
! -atl Il hnr
| not be overheard"
Dick hesitated. The man looked like
a gentleman and stood like one: there
was no ruffianly bravado about him.
nor any sign of cringe. But Dick re-
membered him and where he had met
| him last
Il have a servant" said Dick. "One
! is all can AFFORD"
81 have seven servants. sahib. We
are eight"
| IT haven't anything to offer you"
! said Dick. moving forward, and the
Afghan. who was considered a noble
man beyond the HimaIayas. had either
with a courtly salute which Dick re-
turned punctiliously: even Andry sa-
luted him, for the Afghan looked.
Pack the bag. Andry." commanded
Dick. We've got TO get away from
these people or they'll give me no
So he and Andry went to Baku. and
something told Dick Anthony that this
was the pushing -or place into worlds
worth of strong mans while. where
age-old Chivalry was not yet dead and
a man might strike for what seemed
/ good to him As he stood star ing al
the Caspian he forgave Fate. who had
seemed so cruel to him. Suddenly.
and without knowing why, he knew
himself for free man
rhs,. w,s,. n. nine lines com.
gether and the trains of oil cars back
down. screaming. to be flled-while
southeast hurricane played havoc with
the anchored shipping and dyed the
borrowed flame from burning oil
well-the devil came and tempted Dick
Anthony.
He had been In Baku days already.
wandering about and wondering at the
ebb and tide OF West and East. Every
Where WI, AndTy followed; patient as JOB
Dick stood. one evening. between
two lines of oil trains. watching to
a Persian in semi-Persian dress slip
ped underneath the couplings OF two
cars and spoke 10 him.
II am am from Muhammad All Mira
Even Dick. who knew no politics.
knew the name of the exfied shah OF
What about him."
His highness sent for you
The man waited. and Dick looked at
him from head to foot.
Come along. Andry." he said. and
he made a sign to the man to lead
the way.
stood in the dark courtyard of an old
dismantled fortress. Two lanterns
swung from the hands of men who
looked like Cossacks. and threw a ft-
men, some OF them in Persian garb.
who sheltered themselves from the
bowling wind under one OF the ruined
walls.
Il am Muhammed Ali Mira" said
a voice. II am Shah of Persia.
Then Dick answered him in Persian.
speaking iuently and grammaticaily
with me-"
Ny sword is my own said Dick.
drawing it from the canvas cover. The
men in front drew back half a step.
osa Of them f6e s in
while he examined it. Then he looked
nized himNUsbeg All Khan:
Are you in the service of the Prin-
cess Olga Karageorgovich?" demand
ed Dick in Persian.
Afghan. standing straight. And Dick
looked him in the eyes. by the light
of a cheap oil lantern. in the gloom of
"a stormswept Caspian highland
Now a man stepped forward and led
Dick aside.
Princess Olga Kara georgovich was so
filled with regret at her share of re-
sponsibility for his position that she
had used her influence to bring about
this meeting with the shah. who was
now. for the third time. about to make
desperate attempt Persia with
the connivanCe of Russia.
Listen. Mr. Anthony, Lend your
sword to this attempt. and within
three weeks you can have every fan
attic in Persia bowling to follow You.
The shah will he a fCurehead: Won
the power behind the throne: Russia
your firm friend
Dick laughed but said nothing. The
picture not uninviting.
Will you lend your sword to the
shah of Persia?
No" said Dick. and he stepped back
from the wall. He was thinking hard.
The man who had argued with him
went on speaking. There was a crack
in the wall beside where Dick had
stood. and the voice that whispered
through il was woman's.
Are you thinking of going to Per-
sia"" asked Dick. walking straight up
to I-Sbeg Ali Khan.
To AfEhanistan. sahib. through
Persia. First across the Caspian. by
boat"
is the boat ready
"All is ready but the weather No
boat can start in this storm.
Dick laughed again. viii you start
If ] show You how he asked
Then you are for the ex-shah~'
No. 7 am against him.
Then. I, tooi Sahib. 7 will start
now for anywhere you name and fight
your enemies,'