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absence of the ambassador； CHARGE D'AFFAIRES； invited Peter
to become his guest。 Stimson was most anxious to be polite to
Peter； for Hallowell senior was a power in the party then in
office； and a word from him at Washington in favor of a
rising young diplomat would do no harm。 But Peter was afraid
his father would consider Therapia 〃out of bounds。〃
〃He sent me to Constantinople；〃 explained Peter； 〃and if he
thinks I'm not playing the game the Lord only knows where he
might send me next…and he might cut off my allowance。〃
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 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 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。 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 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 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