New-York tribune., 1920-03-08
Morgenthnu Passes Lie
TO ';Sheik Ben MOhnn,ed''
Former Ambassador Skaters Fantastic Tale of
'Iurkish Mission's'' Hunt in United States and
$4,000 Reward for Sari. .svirain of Stamboul''

First report sent to newspaper Of
Aces yesterday from the Hotel Majestic
indicated that another Of those foreign
political missions seeking gold OF
credit had arrived. The typewriter
"tip" from o. o. Mcintyre, the hotel
press agent, said the visitors were
Turkish, five in number, and had en-
gagged one Of the largest suites.
mcintyre said not word about the
Shlek Ben Mohamed, nor the four ef-
iendls, his advisers; nor the two tur-
baned, green trousered eunuchs. He
did not even mention beautiful Sari.
the Virgin Of Stamboul. lured here by
her American soldier lover, and he
completely ignored the $4,000 reward
onered Tor news OF the missing maiden.
But once the reporters had been
permitted to approach the almost rovai
presence OF the shiek they persuaded
that simple, kindly Bedouin chieftain
to enlist the power Of the American
press In the search for the lost riri
by telling the entire story. a sort of
thousand and second Arabian night
mare.
Eunuch Guards the Door
The eunuch on guard at the door of
the suite cautiously opened the door
VIXEN his fellow, similarly garbed in
sea-green silks, balanced a trav of
tiny cups of coffee in one hand while
ne raped softly and in peculiar man
ner with the other. The reporters
slipped in behind him, but were re-
spectfuily halted inside by the guard,
VINO held up brown palm, traffic COP
fashion.
At the end Of the hall another door
man, whose sallow complexion was en-
phaslzed by tasseled red fez, worn on
the occipital projection of his head
with gesture of his open hand he
bade the reporters enter. Within the
bubble pipes that were unmistakably
Turkish, were three other frock-
men. Each wore the red fez Of faith
full Moslems. The quartet were as
similar in appearance as four roasted
coffee beans.
The three uttered not one word, but
stood stiffly erect before their chairs.
but the fourth motioned tho interview,
ers into another room of the suite.
There was the Shiek Ben Mohamed of
Hedjaz, which all students of the
league OF nations know to be a newly
formed kingdom Of Arabia, the sub
jects Of which bear no love for the
Turkish Empire, from which it was dis.
membered.
introduced by American
A man, an American, stood beside and
to the rear Of the man Of the desert.
But the colorful costume of the shiek
won all glances even as he bowed from
the hips, sweeping gracious hands
wide apart, his lips forming happily
chosen compliments in French in ac-
acknowledgement of the formal introduc
tons TO that were made by the American.
This was no other than Odd O. Nc
Intyre.
A burnous of maroon, margined with
wide band of yellow silk and piped
with peagreen, partially hid more eor-
geous garments of the Arab nobleman.
His fez lent shape to the white folds
OF linen that draped over it and
swathed about his neck. The linen
was bound closely about his head by
turban Of orange pattern that re-
vealed the shiek as holy man. but
to Occidental eyes it could not tell that
hamed who is Allah's prophet,
When every one was seated the
shlek began his story, speaking in
precise English, yet occasionally laps
ing into French, with the manner of
a swimmer breathing after prolonged
exertion under water.
Seek Virgin Of Stamboul
"Gentlemen, come to this country,
which to my desert-trained eyes is like
the heaven promised in the Koran, to
seek the betrothed Of my younger
brother. She is Sari, 50 beautiful that
in all Turkey there was none like her.
She was known as the Virgin of
Stamboul."
Here tho Shiek held weary hand
before his piercing black eyes, while
his auditors severally racked their
brains to recall the population of Stam-
boul as revealed by the last census.
He continues:
"Hcr father was very rich. Even
in this country he would be rich man.
His wife, too, was of most prominent
family. Sari had an English gov
erness. The American soldiers came to
Stamboul. They saw sari. One of
them she saw. They spoke together.
she proud Of her few words of English.
Then she disappeared. That same day
------------------------ ---------=---