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