"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 my--I 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