the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第15节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
memories of his triumphs in exploitation； of his strategies and tactics in
advertising soared before him。
〃It's great！〃 he exclaimed。 〃I've got your idea and you've got me。 And
you're darned lucky to get me。 I've been press… agent for politicians； actors；
society leaders； breakfast foods； and horse…showsand I'm the best！ I was
in charge of the publicity bureau for Galloway when he ran for governor。
He thinks the people elected him。 I know I did。 Nora Nashville was getting
fifty dollars a week in vaudeville when I took hold of her； now she gets a
thousand。 I even made people believe Mrs。 Hampton…Rhodes was a
society leader at Newport； when all she ever saw of Newport was Bergers
and the Muschenheim…Kings。 Why； I am the man that made the American
People believe Russian dancers can dance！〃
〃It's plain to see you hate yourself；〃 said 'Peter。 〃You must not get so
despondent or you might commit suicide。 How much money will you
want？〃
〃How much have you got？〃
〃All kinds；〃 said Peter。 〃Some in a letter…of…credit that my father
earned from the fretful pig； and much more in cash that I won at poker
from the pashas。 When that's gone I've got to go to work and earn my
living。 Meanwhile your salary is a hundred a week and all you need to
boost Gilman and the Order of the Crescent。 We are now the Gilman
Defense； Publicity； and Development Committee； and you will begin by
introducing me to the man I am to bribe。〃
〃In this country you don't need any introduction to the man you want
to bribe；〃 exclaimed Stetson； 〃you just bribe him！〃
That same night in the smoking…room of the hotel； Peter and Stetson
made their first move in the game of winning for Professor Gilman the
Order of the Crescent。 Stetson presented Peter to a young effendi in a
frock coat and fez。 Stetson called him Osman。 He was a clerk in the
foreign office and appeared to be 〃a friend of a friend of a friend〃 of the
assistant third secretary。
51
… Page 52…
THE RED CROSS GIRL
The five volumes of the 〃Rise and Fall〃 were spread before him； and
Peter demanded to know why so distinguished a scholar as Doctor Gilman
had not received some recognition from the country he had so
sympathetically described。 Osman fingered the volumes doubtfully； and
promised the matter should be brought at once to the attention of the grand
vizier 。
After he had departed Stetson explained that Osman had just as little
chance of getting within speaking distance of the grand vizier as of the
ladies of his harem。
〃It's like Tammany；〃 said Stetson； 〃there are sachems； district leaders；
and lieutenants。 Each of them is entitled to trade or give away a few of
these decorations； just as each district leader gets his percentage of jobs in
the streetcleaning department。 This fellow will go to his patron； his patron
will go to some undersecretary in the cabinet； he will put it up to a palace
favorite； and they will divide your money。
〃In time the minister of foreign affairs will sign your brevet and a
hundred others； without knowing what he is signing； then you cable me；
and the Star of the Crescent will burst upon the United States in a way that
will make Halley's comet look like a wax match。〃
The next day Stetson and the tutor sailed for home and Peter was left
alone to pursue； as he supposed； the Order of the Crescent。 On the contrary；
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
52
… Page 53…
THE RED CROSS GIRL
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？〃
53
… Page 54…
THE RED CROSS GIRL
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
