Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-02-08

which is a center of critical diplo-
matte and poZiticaZ-military manip-
uzation at present, wos ruled once by
a Turkish pasha rhose true history
is as avonderfuI as anything IN .ro-
nance. This man, Al Tepelenti,
knoavn as the Lion of Janin0, IS the
subject Of the novel from aUhich to-
days story IS written-"T'he Last
Days Of Janissaries," by MauruS Jo-
kai, the great Hungarian Vriter.
Ali Tepelenti, pasha of Albania, was
hard beset All the violence that had
Redeemed his seventy-nine years of life
was rising against him, north, south,
east and west, reiEcarnated into rebel
lion and revenge. His own wife had
joined his foes. In COnstantinOple his
enemies had whispered successfully to
the sultan.
Undismayed, the old lion awaited
the onset in Janina, that fairy city of
minarets and palaces which dominated
white loneliness in glass-gree deep
Lake AcheruZ.
There was ample reason for his con-
fidence. His citadel, standing on an
river that flows from it, was such a
thing as might well defy siege and as
sault. It's secrets were known to none
but himself, for he had removed the
builders from the earth. Deep bitches,
steep bastions, iron-plated draw
bridges and portals. fringes of sharp
stakes, a hundred cannon, and horde
Of devoted soldiers made the castle of
Janina impregnable so long as it was
guarded well.
But was it guarded we'll? The task
lay on his three sons, Mukhtar Bey,
Sulaiman Bey, and Vely Bey; and Ali
doubted. He had hidden them prepare
for war, each in his own field, and each
had made excuses that the old man ac-
copied with an indulgent smile on his
mouth and fury in his heart. 1t was
the time of the Feast of Bairam, and
Ali knew we'll that they had planned to
bring their three harems together and
celebrate it in wild revels.
That night he stole out and inspect
ed his fortress It was as he had
feared. The gates were all but I'M
guarded. Slaves and officers sat in
hidden corners, drinking. Musi, and
laughter sounded from the harem. An
army might have rushed in with flying
banners.
With a temper cold as steel Ali
turned to the inner portion of the eta
del and entered the rOSe-embOWered
house Of Mukhtar Bey through Il secret
entrance known to him alone. 1t led
him to a wall whence he could peer
through a hidden orifice at his sons
! banquet chamber.
The three brothers were surrounded
by beauties far surprising any that the
angels Monkar and Nakir could prom
Use men in the next world. There were
dancers and players. There was for
hidden wine. Airs heart almost stood
still when Makhtar Bey raised his
glass and called aloud on the prophet
to join them and taste of wine and
kisses, challenging him to say that
paradise held damsels lOvelier than
theirs.
In the late afternoon of the next day
Ali commanded the three sons to join
him at food in the inner keep of the
al
as the red tower which looked down
on Lake AcheruZ.
AS they were slipping their coffee,
the sound Of oars was heard on the
/ lake. The sons looked out of the sin
gle semicircular window and saw
three enormous fat-bOttOmed barges
being rowed into the middle of the lake
by muscular slaves.
The faces of the three Beys ex-
pressed delight, for all the damsels Of
their harems were in the boats. They
thought that it was a surprise designed
by their father 70 please them, and
! Mukhtar Bey said gaily that they
should invite the old man to the next
feast.
Ali smiled. 'Truly your damsels
are most beauteous," he said, and
stroked his h'te beard from end to
end. II am not surprised that you
like to stay at home here and abstain
from the toll of war. Now, last night
dreamed dream. The prophet stood
before me and told me that you had
invited him as your guest" The sons
looked at each other startled, but Ali,
smiling graciously, continued: 'The
prophet told me that it was not meet
he should come to your damsels; they
should rather go to him.
"What meanest thou?' asked the
three, almost with one voice.
For answer Ali whistled shrilly. The
oarsmen dropped their oars, flung
themselves to the bottom of the barges
and wrested out great wooden plugs.
Then they jumped overheard and swan
ashore.
The water burst in shouting in little