The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-03-23

UhfCh IS O cenJeT OF CfgtlC0S n1PtO-
matte and politicaI-militdry manip-
ulation at present, was ruled once By
a Turkish pasbG whose true history
is as wonderful as anything IN ro-
nance. This man, al Tepelenti,
known as the LION of Janina, IS the
subject of the noUel from which toll
days story is writtea-"The Last
Days of Janissaries," By Maurus 10
kai, the great Hungarian Writer.
Ali Tepelenti, pasta of Albania, was
hard beset. AL the violence that had
Redeemed his seventy-nine years of life
was rising against him, north, south,
east and west, reincarnated 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 Hon awaited
the onset in Janina, that fairy city of
minarets and palaces which dominated
Albania and mirrored its gold and
white loneliness In glass-green, deep
Lake Acheruz.
There was ample reason for his con-
idence. His citadel, standing on an
isthmus formed by the lake and the
river that flows from it, was such a
thing as might well defy siege and as
sault. Its 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 a horde
of devoted soldiers made the castle of
Janina ~impregnable so long as it was
guarded well.
But was it guarded well? 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-
, cepted with an indulgent smile on his
mouth and fury in his heart. 1t was
/ the time of the Feast of Bairam, and
/ Ali knew well that they had planned tC
!, bring their three harems together ane
3 celebrate it in wild revels.
: That night he stole out and inspect
ed his fortress. 1t was as he hat
feared. The gates were all but III
guarded. Slaves and officers sat il
t hidden corners, drinking. Music ant
n laughter sounded from the harem.. Al
army might have rushed in with fyini
banners.
. With a temper cold as steel Al
y turned to the inner portion of the cita
del and entered the rose-emboweret
! house of Mukhtar Bey through a secre
o entrance known to him alone. 1t lee
him to a wall whence he could pee
through a hidden orifice at his sons
banquet chamber.
The three brothers were surrounded
: by beauties far SURPRISING any that the
r angels Monkar and Nakfr could prom
! Use men in the next world. There were
. dancers and players. Their was for
l hidden wine. Ais 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 thai
paradise held damsels loyelier thar
theirs.
q In the late afternoon of the next day
Ali commanded the three sons TO 1oir
him at food in the inner keep OF tht
citadel. a grim round building known
as the red tower which looked dow
. on Lake Acheruz.
AS they were slipping their coffee
the sound of oars was heard on tn
q lake. The sons looked out of the sin
az gle semicircular window and say
IS three enormous fiat-bottomed barge
being rowed into the middle of the lax
" by muscular slaves.
e The faces of the three Beys eS
pressed delight. for all the damsels Q
their harems were in the boats. The
thought that it was a surprise designe
OK by their father to please them, an
" Mukhtar Bey said gaily that the
IL should invite the old man to the mex
feast.
Ali smiled. Truly your damseI
are most beauteous," he said, an
in stroked his white beard from end I
end. Al am not surprised that 70
In like to stay at home here and abstai
an from the toll of war. Now, last nigf
/ dreamed a dream. The prophet stoo
- before me and told me that you ha
~ invited him as your guest" The sol
n. looked at each other startled, but A
r. smiling g%raciously, continued: 1T
prophet told me that it was not me-
fe- he should come to your damsels; thu
IT. should rather go to him."
on what meanest thouT" asked Il
'cs three, almost with n voice.
20 For answer Ali whistled shrilly. II
"a, oarsmen dropped their oars. flu
themselves to the bottom Of b barg
re. and wrested out great wooden plus
rler Then they jumped overheard and swa
tly ashore.
ale The water burst in, spouting in lit
fountains. The women shrteked.
Mukhtar ran to the door. 1t W
~ locked. He hurled himself against I
r. maSS;va fhiuu impofpntly raging. =