Dick Merriwell's Pranks Part 29

"Don't you understand English?"

"Very well, madam."

"I'm no madam; I'm a miss. I'm looking for a husband. I don't suppose you know where I can find a man with plenty of rocks? I'm out for the coin."

The Arab glanced at her keenly, wondering if she could be in earnest.

She fluttered her fan and smiled over the top of it with a bewitching look.

"You're not much of a talker, are you?" she went on. "Well, never mind.

American girls can speak for themselves, and the men, too."

"Are you from America, miss?"

"Sure thing. I'm from Cleveland, Ohio. Really, I started out to travel round the world, writing newspaper letters for the home papers; but all the papers have cut me off, and I'm stranded. I don't care about going back home, for I made up my mind to catch a rich husband on the trip.

Now, if you could put me next with some old gazabo who has lots of the needful, and I succeeded in raking him in, I'd willingly make it worth your while."

Ras al Had drew a deep breath of wonderment. Although he did not fully understand her, he comprehended that this was one of the free-and-easy young ladies of the Western world of whom he had heard. She was young and bewitching in appearance, but her manner of talk seemed to betray a knowledge of the world one would not suspect her to possess.

The sheik shook his head.

"I can give you no a.s.sistance," he declared.

She laughed and sprang up, crossing the floor toward him.

He rose hastily.

"I don't believe you know me," said the girl. "We have met before, and I am sure, as a special favor, you will aid me in capturing a rich husband."

He retreated before her, but she followed him up, and actually pinned him in a corner.

"Come, now!" she cried, with a dazzling smile that showed her perfect teeth; "you can't get out of it. I'm not particular, and I'll marry almost anybody with the dust. I'd even marry Hafsa Pasha, and you can fix that up for me."

He protested that it was impossible, and his manner caused the girl to laugh still more heartily.

"How do I look?" she asked. "Is this get-up all right?"

"Indeed, you should have no trouble in getting a rich husband," said the sheik.

"Then take me to the house of your friend, where I am to meet Hafsa Pasha."

"You-you--"

"I am the boy you brought here to be changed into a girl."

"Allah have mercy! Impossible!"

The "girl" was in truth d.i.c.k Merriwell, and he laughed heartily over the amazement of the old Arab. Even then Ras al Had seemed to doubt his senses; but the Jew came in, grinning and rubbing his hands together, and stood waiting for his price.

"Wonderful!" murmured the sheik. "Why, you play the part so well that any man might be deceived. It is worth the money, Abraham. Now I believe you will succeed, boy, in your daring scheme. But I shall try to be near you, for you may suddenly need the aid of my arm and my sword."

CHAPTER XV-PURCHASING A HUMAN BEING

In a large room of many mirrors with frescoed ceilings of bright colors, the floors covered with Turkish rugs, and the place lavishly furnished in Oriental style, were gathered seventeen girls of various races and still more varying beauty. The cheeks of some were dusky, while others were wonderfully fair. All were attired in such fine clothes as seemed best to enhance their good looks. They were taking their ease on divans and couches, some of them smoking cigarettes, some conversing, some remaining proudly apart from the others.

These were the girls brought to Damascus by the trader, and all were for sale, like so many cattle.

To this house came various wealthy men, who inspected the girls critically, surveying them and taking note of their charms, much after the manner of men who purchase horses in open market. The old trader was on hand to dilate on the attractions of each girl and to listen to such offers as the gentlemen chose to make.

In Damascus, as in many other parts of the Orient, this was regarded as a legitimate business. To the would-be purchasers and the old trader there was nothing of a shameful nature in connection with it. The girls thus sold would be taken to the various homes of their purchasers, there to become legitimate wives, after the custom of the country.

One girl, dressed in unusual taste, sat apart from the others, seeming too proud to attempt to enter into conversation with them. She was very pretty, and many were the envious glances cast toward her by the others.

She had lately been added to their number, and already they were gossiping that she was an English girl who found herself penniless in the country, and was willing to become the wife of some rich man.

The old trader seemed to know he had secured a prize in this girl, for the price he demanded for her was so high that several visitors who had been attracted by her and were willing to pay unusually well to secure her, were compelled to content themselves with others, although they all relinquished the hope of purchasing her with expressions of regret.

Finally a man of dignified bearing and polished appearance came sauntering into the room and paused, glancing around in a careless manner.

The moment the old trader saw this man he hastened to him, rubbing his hands and bowing very low.

"Welcome, most n.o.ble Pasha!" he exclaimed. "I am sure I shall this night have the pleasure of beholding thy pleasure. Never before has any man brought to Damascus such a collection of feminine loveliness. Verily they are pearls beyond price."

"So I have heard, Bilmah," was the answer. "Already I have met two who have looked on your pearls, and they informed me that you had here one that was almost priceless in your estimation. My curiosity has been greatly aroused. I would look on this English maiden."

"Oh, there are others equally beautiful," the trader hastened to declare-"many others. Look, yonder is a fair Circa.s.sian. I bought her from her father, and paid him--"

"Never mind her. I am not looking for a Circa.s.sian. They weary me. I have traveled in the West, and the women of those lands interest me. I would see the English maiden."

"But first thou shouldst see--"

"Not another one, old man! Show me the one I wish to see."

"But, great Pasha, it was understood between us that I should bring thither for thee the fairest Circa.s.sian I could discover--"

The visitor cut the old man short.

"You are wasting my time, old man. Unless you show me at once the English maiden I will depart."

The trader made a gesture of resignation.

"Come!" he said.

The visitor followed him until they paused before the divan on which sat the girl who had attracted so much attention and admiration.