the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第14节
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In the matter of allowance Peter's father had been most generous。 This
was fortunate； for poker； as the pashas and princes played it at he Cercle；
was no game for cripples or children。 But； owing to his letter…of…credit and
his illspent life； Peter was able to hold his own against men three times his
age and of fortunes nearly equal to that of his father。 Only they disposed of
their wealth differently。 On many hot evening Peter saw as much of their
money scattered over the green table as his father had spent over the
Hallowell athletic field。
In this fashion Peter spent his first month of exilein the morning
trying to fill his brain with names of great men who had been a long time
dead； and in his leisure hours with local color。 To a youth of his active
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spirit it was a full life without joy or recompense。 A Letter from Charley
Hines； a classmate who lived at Stillwater； which arrived after Peter had
endured six weeks of Constantinople； released him from boredom and
gave life a real interest。 It was a letter full of gossip intended to amuse。
One paragraph failed of its purpose。 It read： 〃Old man Gilman has got the
sack。 The chancellor offered him up as a sacrifice to your father； and
because he was unwise enough to flunk you。 He is to move out in
September。 I ran across them last week when I was looking for rooms for a
Freshman cousin。 They were reserving one in the same boarding…house。
It's a shame； and I know you'll agree。 They are a fine old couple； and I
don't like to think of them herding with Freshmen in a shine
boardinghouse。 Black always was a swine。〃
Peter spent fully ten minutes getting to the cable office。
〃Just learned；〃 he cabled his father； 〃Gilman dismissed because
flunked me consider this outrageous please see he is reinstated。〃
The answer； which arrived the next day； did not satisfy Peter。 It read：
〃Informed Gilman acted through spite have no authority as you know to
interfere any act of black。〃
Since Peter had learned of the disaster that through his laziness had
befallen the Gilmans； his indignation at the injustice had been hourly
increasing。 Nor had his banishment to Constantinople strengthened his
filial piety。 On the contrary； it had rendered him independent and but little
inclined to kiss the paternal rod。 In consequence his next cable was not
conciliatory。
〃Dismissing Gilman Looks more Like we acted through spite makes
me appear contemptible Black is a toady will do as you direct please
reinstate。〃
To this somewhat peremptory message his father answered：
〃If your position unpleasant yourself to blame not Black incident is
closed。〃
〃Is it？〃 said the son of his father。 He called Stetson to his aid and
explained。 Stetson reminded him of the famous cablegram of his
distinguished contemporary： 〃Perdicaris alive and Raisuli dead！〃
Peter's paraphrase of this ran： 〃Gilman returns to Stillwater or I will
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not try for degree。〃
The reply was equally emphatic：
〃You earn your degree or you earn your own living。〃
This alarmed Stetson； but caused Peter to deliver his ultimatum：
〃Choose to earn my own living am leaving Constantinople。〃
Within a few days Stetson was also leaving Constantinople by steamer
via Naples。 Peter； who had come to like him very much； would have
accompanied him had he not preferred to return home more leisurely by
way of Paris and London。
〃You'll get there long before I do；〃 said Peter； 〃and as soon as you
arrive I want you to go to Stillwater and give Doctor Gilman some
souvenir of Turkey from me。 Just to show him I've no hard feelings。 He
wouldn't accept money； but he can't refuse a present。 I want it to be
something characteristic of the country； Like a prayer rug； or a scimitar； or
an illuminated Koran； or 〃
Somewhat doubtfully； somewhat sheepishly； Stetson drew from his
pocket a flat morocco case and opened it。 〃What's the matter with one of
these？〃 he asked。
In a velvet…lined jewel case was a star of green enamel and silver gilt。
To it was attached a ribbon of red and green。 〃That's the Star of the
Crescent；〃 said Peter。 〃Where did you buy it？〃
〃Buy it！〃 exclaimed Stetson。 〃You don't buy them。 The Sultan bestows
them。〃
〃I'll bet the Sultan didn't bestow that one；〃 said Peter。
〃I'll bet；〃 returned Stetson； 〃I've got something in my pocket that says
he did。〃
He unfolded an imposing document covered with slanting lines of
curving Arabic letters in gold。 Peter was impressed but still skeptical。
〃What does that say when it says it in English？〃 he asked。
〃It says；〃 translated Stetson； 〃that his Imperial Majesty； the Sultan；
bestows upon Henry Stetson； educator； author； lecturer； the Star of the
Order of the Crescent； of the fifth class； for services rendered to Turkey。〃
Peter interrupted him indignantly。
〃Never try to fool the fakirs； my son；〃 he protested。 〃I'm a fakir myself。
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What services did you ever 。 。 。 。〃
〃Services rendered；〃 continued Stetson undisturbed； 〃in spreading
throughout the United States a greater knowledge of the customs；
industries； and religion of the Ottoman Empire。 That；〃 he explained；
〃refers to myI should say our moving…picture lecture。 I thought it
would look well if； when I lectured on Turkey； I wore a Turkish decoration；
so I went after this one。〃
Peter regarded his young friend with incredulous admiration。
〃But did they believe you；〃 he demanded； 〃when you told them you
were an author and educator？〃
Stetson closed one eye and grinned。 〃They believed whatever I paid
them to believe。〃
〃If you can get one of those； 〃cried Peter； Old man Gilman ought to
get a dozen。 I'll tell them he's the author of the longest and dullest history
of their flea…bitten empire that was ever written。 And he's a real professor
and a real author； and I can prove it。 I'll show them the five volumes with
his name in each。 How much did that thing cost you？〃
〃Two hundred dollars in bribes；〃 said Stetson briskly； 〃and two months
of diplomacy。〃
〃I haven't got two months for diplomacy；〃 said Peter； 〃so I'll have to
increase the bribes。 I'll stay here and get the decoration for Gilman； and
you work the papers at home。 No one ever heard of the Order of the
Crescent； but that only makes it the easier for us。 They'll only know what
we tell them； and we'll tell them it's the highest honor ever bestowed by a
reigning sovereign upon an American scholar。 If you tell the people often
enough that anything is the best they believe you。 That's the way father
sells his hams。 You've been a press…agent。 From now on you're going to be
my press…agentI mean Doctor Gilman's press…agent。 I pay your salary；
but your work is to advertise him and the Order of the Crescent。 I'll give
you a letter to Charley Hines at Stillwater。 He sends out college news to a
syndicate and he's the local Associated Press man。 He's sore at their
discharging Gilman and he's my best friend； and he'll work the papers as
far as you like。 Your job is to make Stillwater College and Doctor Black
and my father believe that when they lost Gilman they lost the man who
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made Stillwater famous。 And before we get through boosting Gilman；
we'll make my father's million…dollar gift laboratory look like an insult。〃
In the eyes of the former press…agent the light of battle burned fiercely；
memories of his triumphs in exploita
