the red cross girl-第10章

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you　direct　please　reinstate。〃

To　this　somewhat　peremptory　message　his　father　answered：

〃If　your　position　unpleasant　yourself　to　blame　not　Black
incident　is　closed。〃

〃Is　it？〃　said　the　son　of　his　father。　He　called　Stetson　to　his
aid　and　explained。　Stetson　reminded　him　of　the　famous
cablegram　of　his　distinguished　contemporary：　〃Perdicaris
alive　and　Raisuli　dead！〃

Peter's　paraphrase　of　this　ran：　〃Gilman　returns　to　Stillwater
or　I　will　not　try　for　degree。〃

The　reply　was　equally　emphatic：

〃You　earn　your　degree　or　you　earn　your　own　living。〃

This　alarmed　Stetson；　but　caused　Peter　to　deliver　his
ultimatum：　〃Choose　to　earn　my　own　living　am　leaving
Constantinople。〃

Within　a　few　days　Stetson　was　also　leaving　Constantinople　by
steamer　via　Naples。　Peter；　who　had　come　to　like　him　very
much；　would　have　accompanied　him　had　he　not　preferred　to
return　home　more　leisurely　by　way　of　Paris　and　London。

〃You'll　get　there　long　before　I　do；〃　said　Peter；　〃and　as　soon
as　you　arrive　I　want　you　to　go　to　Stillwater　and　give　Doctor
Gilman　some　souvenir　of　Turkey　from　me。　Just　to　show　him　I've
no　hard　feelings。　He　wouldn't　accept　money；　but　he　can't
refuse　a　present。　I　want　it　to　be　something　characteristic　of
the　country；　Like　a　prayer　rug；　or　a　scimitar；　or　an
illuminated　Koran；　or　〃

Somewhat　doubtfully；　somewhat　sheepishly；　Stetson　drew　from
his　pocket　a　flat　morocco　case　and　opened　it。　〃What's　the
matter　with　one　of　these？〃　he　asked。

In　a　velvet…lined　jewel　case　was　a　star　of　green　enamel　and
silver　gilt。　To　it　was　attached　a　ribbon　of　red　and　green。

〃That's　the　Star　of　the　Crescent；〃　said　Peter。　〃Where　did　you
buy　it？〃

〃Buy　it！〃　exclaimed　Stetson。　〃You　don't　buy　them。　The　Sultan
bestows　them。〃

〃I'll　bet　the　Sultan　didn't　bestow　that　one；〃　said　Peter。

〃I'll　bet；〃　returned　Stetson；　〃I've　got　something　in　my
pocket　that　says　he　did。〃

He　unfolded　an　imposing　document　covered　with　slanting　lines
of　curving　Arabic　letters　in　gold。　Peter　was　impressed　but
still　skeptical。

〃What　does　that　say　when　it　says　it　in　English？〃　he　asked。

〃It　says；〃　translated　Stetson；　〃that　his　Imperial　Majesty；
the　Sultan；　bestows　upon　Henry　Stetson；　educator；　author；
lecturer；　the　Star　of　the　Order　of　the　Crescent；　of　the　fifth
class；　for　services　rendered　to　Turkey。〃

Peter　interrupted　him　indignantly。

〃Never　try　to　fool　the　fakirs；　my　son；〃　he　protested。　〃I'm　a
fakir　myself。　What　services　did　you　ever　。　。　。　。〃

〃Services　rendered；〃　continued　Stetson　undisturbed；　〃in
spreading　throughout　the　United　States　a　greater　knowledge　of
the　customs；　industries；　and　religion　of　the　Ottoman　Empire。
That；〃　he　explained；　〃refers　to　myI　should　say　our
moving…picture　lecture。　I　thought　it　would　look　well　if；　when
I　lectured　on　Turkey；　I　wore　a　Turkish　decoration；　so　I　went
after　this　one。〃

Peter　regarded　his　young　friend　with　incredulous　admiration。

〃But　did　they　believe　you；〃　he　demanded；　〃when　you　told　them
you　were　an　author　and　educator？〃

Stetson　closed　one　eye　and　grinned。　〃They　believed　whatever　I
paid　them　to　believe。〃

〃If　you　can　get　one　of　those；　〃cried　Peter；　Old　man　Gilman
ought　to　get　a　dozen。　I'll　tell　them　he's　the　author　of　the
longest　and　dullest　history　of　their　flea…bitten　empire　that
was　ever　written。　And　he's　a　real　professor　and　a　real
author；　and　I　can　prove　it。　I'll　show　them　the　five　volumes
with　his　name　in　each。　How　much　did　that　thing　cost　you？〃

〃Two　hundred　dollars　in　bribes；〃　said　Stetson　briskly；　〃and
two　months　of　diplomacy。〃

〃I　haven't　got　two　months　for　diplomacy；〃　said　Peter；　〃so
I'll　have　to　increase　the　bribes。　I'll　stay　here　and　get　the
decoration　for　Gilman；　and　you　work　the　papers　at　home。　No
one　ever　heard　of　the　Order　of　the　Crescent；　but　that　only
makes　it　the　easier　for　us。　They'll　only　know　what　we　tell
them；　and　we'll　tell　them　it's　the　highest　honor　ever
bestowed　by　a　reigning　sovereign　upon　an　American　scholar。　If
you　tell　the　people　often　enough　that　anything　is　the　best
they　believe　you。　That's　the　way　father　sells　his　hams。
You've　been　a　press…agent。　From　now　on　you're　going　to　be　my
press…agentI　mean　Doctor　Gilman's　press…agent。　I　pay　your
salary；　but　your　work　is　to　advertise　him　and　the　Order　of
the　Crescent。　I'll　give　you　a　letter　to　Charley　Hines　at
Stillwater。　He　sends　out　college　news　to　a　syndicate　and　he's
the　local　Associated　Press　man。　He's　sore　at　their
discharging　Gilman　and　he's　my　best　friend；　and　he'll　work
the　papers　as　far　as　you　like。　Your　job　is　to　make　Stillwater
College　and　Doctor　Black　and　my　father　believe　that　when　they
lost　Gilman　they　lost　the　man　who　made　Stillwater　famous。　And
before　we　get　through　boosting　Gilman；　we'll　make　my　father's
million…dollar　gift　laboratory　look　like　an　insult。〃

In　the　eyes　of　the　former　press…agent　the　light　of　battle
burned　fiercely；　memories　of　his　triumphs　in　exploitation；　of
his　strategies　and　tactics　in　advertising　soared　before　him。

〃It's　great！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃I've　got　your　idea　and　you've
got　me。　And　you're　darned　lucky　to　get　me。　I've　been　press…
agent　for　politicians；　actors；　society　leaders；　breakfast
foods；　and　horse…showsand　I'm　the　best！　I　was　in　charge　of
the　publicity　bureau　for　Galloway　when　he　ran　for　governor。
He　thinks　the　people　elected　him。　I　know　I　did。　Nora
Nashville　was　getting　fifty　dollars　a　week　in　vaudeville　when
I　took　hold　of　her；　now　she　gets　a　thousand。　I　even　made
people　believe　Mrs。　Hampton…Rhodes　was　a　society　leader　at
Newport；　when　all　she　ever　saw　of　Newport　was　Bergers　and　the
Muschenheim…Kings。　Why；　I　am　the　man　that　made　the　American
People　believe　Russian　dancers　can　dance！〃

〃It's　plain　to　see　you　hate　yourself；〃　said　'Peter。　〃You　must
not　get　so　despondent　or　you　might　commit　suicide。　How　much
money　will　you　want？〃

〃How　much　have　you　got？〃

〃All　kinds；〃　said　Peter。　〃Some　in　a　letter…of…credit　that　my
father　earned　from　the　fretful　pig；　and　much　more　in　cash
that　I　won　at　poker　from　the　pashas。　When　that's　gone　I've
got　to　go　to　work　and　earn　my　living。　Meanwhile　your　salary
is　a　hundred　a　week　and　all　you　need　to　boost　Gilman　and　the
Order　of　the　Crescent。　We　are　now　the　Gilman　Defense；
Publicity；　and　Development　Committee；　and　you　will　begin　by
introducing　me　to　the　man　I　am　to　bribe。〃

〃In　this　country　you　don't　need　any　introduction　to　the　man
you　want　to　bribe；〃　exclaimed　Stetson；　〃you　just　bribe　him！〃


That　same　night　in　the　smoking…room　of　the　hotel；　Peter　and
Stetson　made　their　first　move　in　the　game　of　winning　for
Professor　Gilman　the　Order　of　the　Crescent。　Stetson　presented
Peter　to　a　young　effendi　in　a　frock　coat　and　fez。　Stetson
called　him　Osman。　He　was　a　clerk　in　the　foreign　office　and
appeared　to　be　〃a　friend　of　a　friend　of　a　friend〃　of　the
assistant　third　secretary。

The　five　volumes　of　the　〃Rise　and　Fall〃　were　spread　before
him；　and　Peter　demanded　to　know　why　so　distinguished　a
scholar　as　Doctor　Gilman　had　not　received　some　recognition
from　the　country　he　had　so　sympathetically　described。　Osman
fingered　the　volumes　doubtfully；　and　promised　the　matter
should　be　brought　at　once　to　the　attention　of　the　grand
vizier　。

After　he　had　departed　Stetson　explained　that　Osman　had　just
as　little　chance　of　getting　within　speaking　distance　of　the
grand　vizier　as　of　the　ladies　of　his　harem。

〃It's　like　Tammany；〃　said　Stetson；　〃there　are　sachems；
district　leaders；　and　lieutenants。　Each　of　them　is　entitled
to　trade　or　give　away　a　few　of　these　decorations；　just　as
each　district　leader　gets　his　percentage　of　jobs　in　the
streetcleaning　department。　This　fellow　will　go　to　his　patron；
his　patron　will　go　to　some　undersecretary　in　the　cabinet；　he
will　put　it　up　to　a　palace　favorite；　and　they　will　divide
your　money。

〃In　time　the　minister　of　foreign　affairs　will　sign　your
brevet　and　a　hundred　others；　without　knowing　what　he　is
signing；　then　you　cable　me；　and　the　Star　of　the　Crescent　will
burst　upon　the　United　States　in　a　way　that　will　make　Halley's
comet　look　like　a　wax　match。〃

The　next　day　Stetson　and　the　tutor　sailed　for　home　and　Peter
was　left　alone　to　pursue；　as　he　supposed；　the　Order　of　the
Crescent。　On　the　contrary；　he　found　that　the　Order　of　the
Crescent　was　pursuing　him。　He　had　not　appreciated　that；　from
underlings　and　backstair　politicians；　an　itinerant　showman
like　Stetson　and　the　only　son　of　an　American　Croesus　would
receive　very　different　treatment。

Within　twenty…four　hours　a　fat　man　with　a　blue…black　beard
and　diamond　rings　called　with　Osman　to　apologize　for　the
latter。　Osman；　the　fat　man　explainedhad　been　about　to　make
a　fatal　error。　For　Doctor　Gilman　he　had　asked　the　Order　of
the　Crescent　of　the　fifth　class；　the　same　class　that　had　been
given　Stetson。　The　fifth　class；　the　fat　man　explained；　was
all　very　well　for　tradesmen；　dragomans；　and　eunuchs；　but　as
an　honor　for　a　savant　as　distinguished　as　the　friend　of　his。
Hallowell；　the　fourth　class　would　hardly　be　high　enough。　The
fees；　the　fat　man　added；　would　Also　be　higher；　but；　he
pointed　out；　it　was　worth　the　difference；　because　the　fourth
class　entitled　the　wearer　to　a　salute　from　all　sentries。

〃There　are　few　sentries　at　Stillwater；〃　said　Peter；　〃but　I
want　the　best　and　I　want　it　quick。　Get　me　the　fourth　class。〃

The　next　morning　he　was　surprised　by　an　early　visit　from
Stimson　of　the　embassy。　The　secretary　was　considerably
annoyed。

〃My　dear　Hallowell；〃　he　protested；　〃why　the　devil　didn't　you
tell　me　you　wanted　a　decoration？　Of　course　the　State
department　expressly　forbids　us　to　ask　for　one　for　ourselves；
or　for　any　one　else。　But　what's　the　Constitution　between
friends？　I'll　get　it　for　you　at　oncebut；　on　two　conditions：
that　you　don't　tell　anybody　I　got　it；　and　that　you　tell　me
why　you　want　it；　and　what　you　ever　did　to　deserve　it。〃

Instead；　Peter　explained　fully　and　so　sympathetically　that
the　diplomat　demanded　that　he；　too；　should　be　enrolled　as　one
of　the　Gilman　Defense　Committee。

〃Doctor　Gilman's　history；〃　he　said；　〃must　be　presented　to　the
Sultan。　You　must　have　the　five　volumes　rebound　in　red　and
green；　the　colors　of　Mohammed；　and　with　as　much　gold　tooling
as　they　can　carry。　I　hope；〃　he　added；　they　are　not　soiled。〃

〃Not　by　me；〃　Peter　assured　him。

〃I　will　take　them　myself；〃　continued　Stimson；　〃to　Muley
Pasha；　the　minister　of　foreign　affairs；　and　ask　him　to
present　them　to　his　Imperial　Majesty。　He　will　promise　to　do
so；　but　he　won't；　but　he　knows　I　know　he　won't　so　that　is　all
right。　And　in　return　he　will　present　us　with　the　Order　of　the
Crescent　of　the　third　class。〃

〃Going　up！〃　exclaimed　Peter。　〃The　third　class。　That　will　cost
me　my　entire　letter…of…credit。〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　said　Stimson。　〃I've　saved　you　from　the
grafters。　It　will　cost　you　only　what　you　pay　to　have　the
books　rebound。　And　the　THIRD　class　is　a　real　honor　of　which
any　one　might　be　proud。　You　wear　it　round　your　neck；　and　at
your　funeral　it　entitles　you　to　an　escort　of　a　thousand
soldiers。〃

〃I'd　rather　put　up　with　fewer　soldiers；〃　said　Peter；　〃　and
wear　it　longer　round　my　neck　What's　the　matter　with　our
getting　the　second　class　or　the　first　class？〃

At　such　ignorance　Stimson　could　not　repress　a　smile。

〃The　first　class；〃　he　explained　patiently；　〃is　the　Great
G