American fiction -- 19th century; Dime novels; Popular literature
This bundle of deceit now turns upon her unsuspicious companion. The
plot has been carefully arranged, and art is called upon to render
assistance.
Craig and his companion see the woman lay a hand upon the shoulder of
Dorothy; the latter appears to shake her head negatively. Then the
other draws closer. Why should she embrace the girl thus? Aleck stares
in wonder, his whole frame thrilled with the strange character of the
scene. As yet he has not grasped its full meaning.
“Good Heaven! I believe she is fainting!” he says, with evident
excitement.
“It’s worse than that, my dear boy,” comes in the voice of his
companion, but it sounds afar off.
“How worse? Good God, man, you don’t mean that bright, angelic creature
has been stricken with death?” for Dorothy’s struggles appear to grow
weaker, until she lies almost motionless in the arms of her faithless
companion, a dead weight.
“No, no. What I mean is that she has succumbed to chloroform, or some
devilish Turkish drug of a similar character, administered upon the
white kerchief that woman fiend holds over her face--that limbs and
mind are paralyzed, that she may fall into the spider’s web. Here, look
at the monster advancing; note his grim smile, his hands outstretched
to take his prey, his---- Jove! Craig, old boy, you’re gone, are you?
Well, here’s after you.”
CHAPTER XI.
YOUNG CANADA ON DECK.
When the full meaning of what has happened flashes into Craig’s
mind--when he sees Aroun Scutari, lord of the harem and pasha in the
Sultan’s service, about to take Dorothy Cereal in his arms, it seems as
though an electric battery must have suddenly become attached to the
Canadian, so abrupt are his movements.
Leaving the side of the actor, while the other is speaking, he rushes
straight for the scene of the kidnaping. Perhaps love urges his steps.
At least the indignation of an honorable man sends him forward.
There is no palliation, no excuse for such an outrage, and hence the
feeling he entertains for Scutari is that of righteous anger. Such a
scene as this, of course, creates excitement. People gather quickly,
no matter if it be a dog fight on the streets of Constantinople, an
encounter between dragoman and donkey boy at Cairo on the Nile, an
attempted assassination of a Czar at St. Petersburg, or a duel between
two bootblacks in front of the City Hall in New York.
Already a score of people surround the two women. Questions fly back
and forth. The authoritative manner in which Scutari assumes charge
convinces those present that the lady who has fainted belongs to him.
The veil hides her face, and while curious glances are cast in that
quarter, none are so lucky as to see what lies under its screen.
Near by is the exit. Beyond, no doubt, the Turk has a carriage ready.
His years of waiting seem about to be crowned with triumph--though he
lost the mother he wins the daughter. Kismet: it is fate.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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