Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1915-06-25

meanwhile L was engaged IN Sc |
cretly collecting through various
sources a body OF fresh slaves, who |
could have no communication with the |
old ones, and on whom, therefore, ]
felt might rely. AS soon as had OBJ
tanned the number thought sufficient, |
/ armed them, and introduced them Sc
cretly into the garden at night. There |
l posted them behind some shrubs,
with instructions to watch for the en-
trance Of any stranger, and If any such
appeared, to instantly seize him and de-
tain him till arrived.
These arrangements completed, |
gave out to my regular household that
/ was going to sup with q friend and
should not return for some hours !
took my departure, spent an hour away.
and then returned by way of the gar
den.
AS / approached the postern
heard loud cries. and group of men
came rushing away down the road. ]
noticed shat they were supporting one
in the center, who was closely wrapped
up, and who appeared to be unable to
walk by himself. / also observed that
the gate from which they we're hasten
ing was standing an inch or two aJar.
The next moment 1t was flung wide
open, and my men streamed out in
pursuit of the fugitives.
secret intuition warned me to
restrain them. and to let that yelled
| figure go in safety. Filled with vague
forebodings, led the way inside, and
as soon as the door was closed and
locked, made them tell me what had
taken place.
1t appears that Immediately after
my own departure the head eunuch, on
whom had sd blindly relied, had gone
out by the postern gate alone. At the
end OF an hour he returned, letting
himself in with the key with which he
was intrusted. Behind him entered a
muffled-up stranger, who paused to
give some directions to a body of men
outside.
Hardly was he we'll within the
door when the slaves whom had post
ed, carried away by their zeal, rushed
forward to take him. He turned to
fee, and would have escaped entirely
had not some one In the confusion
pushed the door to in time to catch
him by the left foot
His friends outside began fran
tically attacking the door to release
him, and then it was that one of the
slaves, fearing that the intruder would
get clear away, gave a sudden blow
with his sword and cut clean through
the ankle with one stroke. Thereupon
the wounded man had been dragged of
in the manner l had witnessed.
In proof of their story the men
held up the still bleeding foot. I'M
PEELED by the dread which had taken
possession of me, / drew off the slip
per. You, who have seen that horrid
sight, know what it was that made me
shudder as looked!
Years ago had heard of dark
tradition in the palace that the foot
of the sultan was not like a natural
foot, that there was some revolving
blemish hereditary in the house of Os-
man, which had to be concealed from
all eyes. The moment l had looked
upon this foot / realized my dreadful
situation. That Abdul-Aziz had been
mutilated by my household was little;
but had stumbled upon the knowledge
of one of those palace secrets which
even the mothers of sultans hardly
dare to whisper to each other; at the
bare hint of which eunuchs stop their
ears and turn pale; to be suspected OF
knowing, which means death.
There was only one alternative.
1t was the sultan's life or mine. l de-
parted instantly to the palace and
, sought a secret audience of the mother
of Prince Murad.
: 1--WE arranged the matter swiftly
Every moment was heavy with peril
Fortunately, everything was ripe for
this revolution, which / had too long
delayed, and you are no doubt already
acquainted with the steps by which Il
was carried out AS soon as Prince Mu
}, rad had been proclaimed, and the
a oaths of allegiance had been taken,
: summoned the officer of the guard anC
t a dozen picked soldiers, and undel
L their escort, accompanied by the sui
+ tana. forced a way through the terri
= fed eunuchs into the presence Of Alb
d dul-Aziz. He had just set his seal tt
= q paper as we entered. snatched 4
o up, and read. 1t was my death-waE
Q rant
THE vizier trembled as he came Il
: thisf points, It. was an sxpaxasERee u
. unnerve even a brave man.
Then ! informed Abdul-Aziz tina
\ he had ceased to reign. He receives
u the news In perfect stupor. pointet
q to the soldiers and invited him to es
q cape the degradation of death at thei
l. hands He understood the situation
4, and covered down ON his couch
u shrinking from us in a peculiar AM
o dreadful way Then the sultana spok
II to him.
= "'She had long intrigued for hi
downfall, and knew that her So
. would not be safe while Abdul-Azi
u lived. She urged him to preserve hi
honor
: Still he hesitated, and finally nut
tered something about not having
% weapon. Instantly the sultan
10 snatched a sharp pair of scissors fror
her waist, and thrust them into hi
s. unwilling hands. Still he hung bacl