Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-01-22
Published by special Advancement with The
Chicago Tribune Syndicate.
(Copyright: 1880: BY Achmed Abdullah)
IN THREE PARTS-PART TWO


nor, laughing with full red lips that
revealed his teeth cleaning white
and square against his ruddy skin
he went on:
Once, and only once in all my life,
was l angry-really angry. And on
that memorable occasion-may Allah
not grant me salvation if my tongue
slips on the path of truth!-seven
kings died Of fright, while seventy
even strong captains howled like dogs
and became inSane!"
He paused-then inquired:
And how does that strike you, oh
ignoble and base-born cattle?"
Not that Terek Haylar-for such was
his name. and he was a Turkoman by
race and a bravo. a bully. a swash-
buckler by trade-had improvised this
neat little speech on the spur OF the
moment. On the contrary, these last
few years, roaming his lawless way
through the mountains and plains of
central Asia, he had employed it fire.
quently; and it had always resulted
in a pleasant ight-often in pleasant
loot-and occasionally in wounds to
which various scars on his body bore
witness.
Come onei" he invited jovially.
Who Is for a bit Of a row-with steel
or fist. II you prefer?"
And he rolled up his sleeves; he
f1exed his hairy, muscle-packed arms;
and he was utterly taken aback when,
instead OF yells of defiance and weapons
leaping to eager hands, a clansman
salaamed and their chief said:
welcome, oh sol of Adam! Roast
mutton you shall have-and fruit-and
no lack of milk and, in the
morning, two horses of your own
choosing"
Terek did not believe his ears.
YOU" he stammered-"you mean
it?"
Indeed"
1t IA a new experience, a disagree
able experience@and it reused Terek
worse than insults o. taunts might
have done. For, somehow, it took the
fun out of the adventure, the high,
keen thrill.
rs there not n among you, not a
single one" he asked, with a queer
note of humility in his voice, who
will oblige me with a small fight?"
"Nol" said Hamdi Cur Kahn.
mo, mol" came the tribesmen's
chorus, while the priest asserted sonor-
ously: I'VE believe in peace-and
praise the Lords MANIFOLD bounties!'
A reply which left Terek Haydar
helpless and his sword unoccupied,
since it was not in his simple, crude
code to strike those who did not re-
sist; and so he had to be satisfied
with a final volley of salty abuse, wind
ing up.
"Ah-all the curses of the black
rocks on you-and the curses of the
gray winds, oh cowards!"
"Cowards!" echoed Hirfa, facing the
Kara-Bayrak with blazing eyes. "Wah
your cowardice is a mock throughout
Afghanistan and High Tartary ;"
Throughout the world" chimed in
Terek. Almost it is in my mind to
take my two feet away from hereto
leave you to stew and bubble in the
evil sauce of your own disgrace. But"
he sighed, II have travelled the many
miles. I am weary. Bring 0 and
drink. And, after I have eaten my
fill go away all of you except" and
he walked up to Hirfa-"you, oh heart
Of three roses!"
He smiled at her.
Il like you'll" he declared. Il like
you fine! Such a girl you are-with
hair like red silk and eyes that shine
and skin smooth as a trout's back"
His i'll temper disappeared. For he
saw Hirfa blush, saw her beautiful;
and he continued.
Did you not say that you would fol-
low the fearless lad-the lad who, can
roar-the lad who can fight? BY the
Prophet-me you shall follow! Tomor-
row you and I shall take the road to-
gether-and the sweet road it will be
for me with your hand in mine!"
He took her in his arms. He was
about to kiss her-when, suddenly, she
tore herself free. She struck him across
the face with her small, hard fist.
Il hate you'll" she cried.
He rubbed his cheek.
do you indeed?" he demanded.
He caught her again. He held her
struggling, at arms length.
And yet I have the notion" he wen
on, that some day you will be warn
and friendly to the crook of my elbow
that some day you will be begging MI
for a kiss of my mouth"
He let her go then. She sobbed.
II hate you-hate you'll she re
peated.
And she turned; she ran from thu
hujra, while Terek laughed carelessly
So did the tribesmen laugh. Thil
was their laughter and cruel.
For here was this naughty, willfu
girl, who had refused the best ant
richest of them and had called then
towards, being humbled in her turn
Allah-they th~ought-there was justic
In the world and they mad
the stranger welcome. They brough
him meat and fruit, and milk an
wheaton bread, and a bottle or two o
treasured Persian wine; and, later or
they squatted in q circle and listened
while Terek, reclining at his ease, We.
fed and temporarily at peace with tn
world, told them tales.
Tales about himself and his proves
a. r t. H..