the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第14部分
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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
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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？〃
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At such ignorance Stimson could not repress a smile。
〃The first class；〃 he explained patiently； 〃is the Great Grand Cross； and
is given only to reigning sovereigns。 The second is called the Grand Cross；
and is bestowed only on crowned princes； prime ministers； and men of
world…wide fame 。 。 。 。 〃
〃What's the matter with Doctor Gilman's being of world…wide fame？〃
said Peter。 〃He will be some day； when Stetson starts boosting。〃
〃Some day；〃 retorted Stimson stiffly； 〃 I may be an ambassador。 When
I am I hope to get the Grand Cross of the Crescent； but not now。 I'm sorry
you're not satisfied；〃 he added aggrievedly。 〃No one can get you anything
higher than the third class； and I may lose my official head asking for
that。〃
〃Nothing is too good for old man Gilman；〃 said Peter； 〃nor for you。
You get the third class for him； and I'll have father make you an
ambassador。〃
That night at poker at the club Peter sat next to Prince Abdul； who had
come from a reception at the Grand vizier 's and still wore his decorations。
Decorations now fascinated Peter； and those on the coat of the young
prince he regarded with wide…eyed awe。 He also regarded Abdul with
wide…eyed awe； because he was the favorite nephew of the Sultan； and
because he enjoyed the reputation of having the worst reputation in Turkey。
Peter wondered why。 He always had found Abdul charming； distinguished；
courteous to the verge of humility； most cleverly cynical； most brilliantly
amusing。 At poker he almost invariably won； and while doing so was so
politely bored； so indifferent to his cards and the cards held by others； that
Peter declared he had never met his equal。
In a pause in the game； while some one tore the cover off a fresh pack；
Peter pointed at the star of diamonds that nestled behind the lapel of
Abdul's coat。
〃May I ask what that is？〃 said Peter。
The prince frowned at his diamond sunburst as though it annoyed him；
and then smiled delightedly。
〃It is an order；〃 he said in a quick aside； 〃bestowed only upon men of
world…wide fame。 I dined to…night；〃 he explained； 〃with your charming
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THE RED CROSS GIRL
compatriot； Mr。 Joseph Stimson。〃
〃And Joe told？〃 said Peter。
The prince nodded。 〃Joe told；〃 he repeated； 〃but it is all arranged。 Your
distinguished friend； the Sage of Stillwater； will receive the Crescent of
the third class。〃 Peter's eyes were still fastened hungrily upon the
diamond sunburst。
〃Why；〃 he demanded； 〃can't some one get him one like that？〃
As though about to take offense the prince raised his eyebrows； and
then thought better of it and smiled。
〃There are only two men in all Turkey；〃 he said； 〃who could do that。〃
〃And is the Sultan the other one？〃 asked Peter。 The prince gasped as
though he had suddenly stepped beneath a cold shower； and then laughed
long and silently。
〃You flatter me；〃 he murmured。
〃You know you could if you liked！〃 whispered Peter stoutly。
Apparently Abdul did not hear him。 〃I will take one card；〃 he said。
Toward two in the morning there was seventy…five thousand francs in
the pot； and all save Prince Abdul and Peter had dropped out。 〃Will you
divide？〃 asked the prince。
〃Why should I？〃 said Peter。 〃I've got you beat now。 Do you raise me or
call？〃 The prince called and laid down a full house。 Peter showed four
tens。
〃I will deal you one hand； double or quits；〃 said the prince。
Over the end of his cigar Peter squinted at the great heap of mother…of…
pearl counters and gold…pieces and bank…notes。
〃You will pay me double what is on the table；〃 he said； 〃or you quit
owing me nothing。〃
The prince nodded。 〃Go ahead；〃 said Peter。
The prince dealt them each a hand and discarded two cards。 Peter held
a seven； a pair of kings； and a pair of fours。 Hoping to draw another king；
which might give him a three higher than the three held by Abdul； he
threw away the seven and the lower pair。 He caught another king。 The
prince showed three queens and shrugged his shoulders。
Peter； leaning toward him； spoke out of the corner of his mouth。
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〃I'll make you a sporting proposition；〃 he murmured。 〃You owe me a
hundred and fifty thousand francs。 〃I'll stake that against what only two
men in the empire can give me。〃
The prince allowed his eyes to travel slowly round the circle of the
table。 But the puzzled glances of the other players showed that to them
Peter's proposal conveyed no meaning。
The prince smiled cynically。
〃For yourself？〃 he demanded。
〃For Doctor Gilman；〃 said Peter。
〃We will cut for deal and one hand will decide；〃 said the prince。 His
voice dropped to a whisper。 〃And no one must ever know；〃 he warned。
Peter also could be cynical。
〃Not even the Sultan；〃 he said。
Abdul won the deal and gave himself a very good hand。 But the hand
he dealt Peter was the better one。
The prince was a good loser。 The next afternoon the GAZETTE
OFFICIALLY announced that upon Doctor Henry Gilman； professor
emeritus of the University of Stillwater； U。 S。 A。； the Sultan had been
graciously pleased to confer the Grand Cross of the Order of the Crescent。
Peter flashed the great news to Stetson。 The cable caught him at
Quarantine。 It read： 〃Captured Crescent； Grand Cross。 Get busy。〃
But before Stetson could get busy the campaign of publicity had been
brilliantly opened from Constantinople。 Prince Abdul； although
pitchforked into the Gilman Defense Committe
