“It’s not a crime in this country to be the proprietor of a harem.” “But——” “We’re in Egypt, and the law of the land——” “Look here, Dick Merriwell,” blazed Brad, in sudden indignation. “I’ve generally backed you up in anything you’ve said or done; but, by the everlasting Rockies, if you’ve become so depraved and degenerate that you can regard an affair like this as anything but a crime, I want you to understand that I think you’ve lost your senses!” Dick dropped on a chair and laughed heartily. “I mean it!” roared the Texan. “It’s shameful! You hear me chirp! That doddering old chump has a wife in America! Now he wants to buy a harem in Egypt! And you’re willing to aid him in his polygamous design! Waugh! Laugh! laugh! But you’re not the sort of pard I took you for! This is my first disappointment in you! I’ll block the old roué’s game, I will! I’ll spoil his scheme, or I’m not the Unbranded Maverick of the Rio Pecos!” The Texan was greatly wrought up. He stamped up and down the room in a tempest, while Merriwell continued to laugh. “I don’t see where the joke comes in!” snarled Buckhart. “Ha, ha! Isn’t it funny? I suppose you’ll be in for buying a harem next? That’s a fine idea! Perhaps you’ll take a half interest in old Gunn’s bunch of beauties? Wow! I sure am a heap disgusted!” “Cool down a little, Brad,” said Dick, still smiling. “I hardly think I’ll invest in a harem. Why, you excitable longhorn, don’t you know harems are not sold that way here?” “Hey?” “A man may purchase wives for his harem, but he can’t sell the whole outfit when he gets tired of it.” “Can’t?” “Of course not.” “Then what—what——” “The whole thing is some kind of a game.” “But you—you said you were going to help the business along.” “So I am. I want to teach the professor a lesson.” “I don’t think I catch on, Dick.” “Let me tell you something.” “Fire away.” “To begin with, I don’t believe Colonel Stringer ever was in the Egyptian service.” “Don’t you?” “No. He’s a great bluffer. He likes to make people believe he has done wonderful things and been a gay old rascal in his day. I am satisfied that his story about having a harem once was pure fabrication.” “Mebbe you’re right.” “I’m confident of it.” “What’s his graft?” “Perhaps it’s graft, perhaps it’s joking. It may be that he simply enjoys leading the professor on. But I have a scheme. If we can carry it out, we’ll teach Zenas Gunn a lesson and have some fun on our own hook. He’ll never contemplate buying another harem.” The Texan was keenly interested now. “What’s the scheme, pard?” “If we can rig up a job with Colonel Stringer, we’ll furnish a harem for the professor to purchase, and we’ll give him the shock of his life.” Brad’s face began to glow and his eyes to gleam. His mouth expanded in a smile. “Mebbe that’s a good idea,” he nodded. “Just tell me how it can be done.”