American fiction -- 19th century; Dime novels; Popular literature
He has not forgotten the remarkable story which Wycherley poured into
his ears as they climbed higher and higher in the great Ferris wheel,
and it adds to the piquancy of the occasion to remember how Samson
Cereal, the grim old wheat operator, the millionaire, won his bride
over in the land of the Golden Horn, and that Dorothy is the daughter
of the lovely Georgian who had captivated the pasha.
This brings matters to a certain focus. He is led to believe that the
presence of Scutari has something to do with Dorothy’s mission. Does
she haunt the Midway in order to learn from this dark-brown Turkish
dealer in precious stones, the seeming merchant of the gay bazaar, the
secret of her mother? At the thought Aleck feels a shudder pass through
him, an involuntary shudder, such as would rack one’s frame upon
suddenly discovering an innocent child fondling a deadly rattlesnake.
To himself he is muttering:
“Thank God, I have been allowed to enter this singular game--that
Heaven may mean me to be the one who will tear down this infernal
spider web in the Midway; the web in which this keen old Turk sits and
watches for his fair prey; the web that has been spun with the sole
purpose of snaring the daughter of the lovely girl old Samson once
snatched from his grasp.”
While thus pondering upon the singular train of events that have
already taken place, and speculating as to what the near future may
hold in store for him, Aleck feels his companion’s hand on his arm.
“Come, you must arouse yourself, my boy; there I’ve been chattering
away like a monkey for five minutes, and you walk along like a man
in a dream. You need a jolly laugh, and here’s the doctor to bring it
about.”
Looking up Aleck sees the legend:
A STREET IN CAIRO.
He has been there before, several times in fact, and even the
recollection of its boisterous associations causes a smile to cross his
face.
“Oh, I’m with you, Wycherley, on condition--ahem--that you allow me to
pay the fee.”
“Pay nothing. I tell you, my dear fellow, I’ve made it the rule of my
life to deadhead everywhere. There’s nothing I haven’t seen in this
street of nations, the great Midway, and all it cost me was a quarter
I paid to watch a Hindoo juggler do some very clever tricks, and
I’m laying my plans to turn the tables on him. Watch me hoodoo this
door-keeper now.”
With which he steps up. The dark-skinned boy holds out his hand. Then
the vagabond actor proceeds to make a variety of gestures, such as
a deaf and dumb wretch, unacquainted with the mute alphabet of his
fellows, might undertake. Aleck is utterly in the dark as to their
meaning, or whether they have any, but is amazed to see their influence
on the boy. At first he looks disgusted, then grins, and finally throws
up his hands in token of surrender.
“Come,” says Wycherley, and they enter.
“I say, what in the deuce does all that mean?” demands the mystified
Canadian.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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