South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-11-18

monotony of existence at the British mission
There was. moreover an element of uncer-
tainty surrounding il that lent to the occasion
the pOignancy of a recurrent gamble. The
stained and battered mailbag had known more
than one perilOus adventure. Brigands in the
old, wild time had seized and held it to ransom
Billiards had delayed it in the mountain
passes; once even a false step on the treacher-
Gus cat ice of Kop Dagh had hurled bag, mule
and courier into a Ihousand-fOot-deep raVine
and only when Spring had melted the SHOWS
had il been recovered. So lately a year
back a mischance to the mailbag had cast the
whole lawless province into seething
fusion and had wrought havoc and disruption
among the chosen followers of Moussa Beg
the Kurde brigand who farmed these high
lands too eager lieutenant of the Beg-new
to the district-had captured the rOst carrier,
perhaps inadvertently and the resultant trou-
BILE raised by the combined iDsistence Of the
shapkai (wearers of hats) agents of the mys-
terOus Great Powers" had well nigh wrecked
the best traditions of the countryside.
Since then the Embassy mailbag had been
rigidly respected by the local haiduts, but even
so it's arrival intact and in time was ever mat
ter for something more than mild rejoicing.
To Hilda, indeed, it had seemed almost to
represent the only good that life held, and it
had at once delighted and saddened her hus-
band Off the paradox may be admitted) to note
that there at least thing that had
power to rouse her from her constant apathy.
Invariably she made a point of opening the
mailbag herself and sorting out it's contents;
and this done would hurry off to her own quar-
tiers hugging her budget of personal CORE
spondence and parcels and with her arms full
of magazines and weeklies.
And Godfrey. seeking her, hours later, with
some item of home news, would find her sitting
idle. dreaming. with picture papers strewn all
around her; and would. laughingly, compare
her 10 the old gentlemen in clubs who collect
all the special editions merely to sit on them
and go to sleep.
He looked up from the opened bag to find
that the tall Kavass still waited.
Well Tayar Agha?" he questioned.
"Excellency." said the man. "it is Moussa
Beg. He is out again"
Moussa Beg was the local Kutde bandit, an
evildOer of distinction and much notoriety,
very active and subtle in crime For some
months past he had given no trouble.
All" said Hearn. so our Moussa is back
amongst us. thought his new wife was keep
ing him to his hills"
Tayar grinned
"Moussa's daughter is to be married" he
said. And the tchapkin has sworn she shall
be ftly lowered. He has raided Elmas-Keui
There were several killed. and he took all the
hocks. Tonight they say he will attack Ar
moot"
That's but an hour distant" unused Hearn.
"Will he come here?"
The Kavass shook his head
"Moussa Beg is too WISE" he said, with
whimsical smile, ito pit himself against the
wearers of hats. He does not seek big trouble.
Yet. as the madame is i'll. and mus, not have
anxiety the Kehaya is sending TO your excel
lency a further guard of twenty men. They
have already left the town and will be here by
shutdown"
"Aferim!" approved HeSrn. THAT is good!
Have a couple of tents pitched. Tayar Agha.
and get a sheep killed for them. Look to their
comfort You know what TO do.
And Tayar Agha saluted and went his way.
The head of the mission was but little con-
cerned by the news of the Kurde Haidut's re-
newed activity. Tayar was quite right; expert
ence had taught these mountain brigands that
interference with the hat-wearers Europeans
representing foreign gOvernments) was un-
profitable and brought grievous inconvenience
to the meddler The courteous action of the
Kehaya was as muck friendly warning TO
Moussa Beg as a compliment TO the British
agent The Kurde and his raiders would as
suredly eonfne their operations TO villages re-
mote from the camp-villages whose sole
means Of protection permitted by the law was
the one hintlock gun alocated to the author
lied Waterman.
He returned 10 the mailbag and rummaged
eagerly in It's depths.
He drew out three long. fat parchment en-
veiopes-sealed with the lion and unicorn.
Those were the official screeds, and could wait
awhile. So also could that addressed in the
neat fist of his old friend the military attache,
and the White Paper that embodied his report
IN the past years work. All these, with let
tors from service friends, business communica-
tons from his agent and from tradesmen, he
threw aside. He was looking for one particular
ictter that should be addressed iE a writing
witS which be was very familiar. but had not
seen now for over three years; the writing OF