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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。
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 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？〃
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
reputation in Turkey。 Peter wondered why。 He always had found
Abdul charming； distinguished； courteous to the verge of
humility； most cleverly cynical； most brilliantly amusing。 At
poker he almost invariably won； and while doing so was so
politely bored； so indifferent to his cards and the cards
held by others； that Peter declared he had never met his
equal。
In a pause in the game； while some one tore the cover off a
fresh pack； Peter pointed at the star of diamonds that
nestled behind the lapel of Abdul's coat。
〃May I ask what that is？〃 said Peter。
The prince frowned at his diamond sunburst as though it
annoyed him； and then smiled delightedly。
〃It is an order；〃 he said in a quick aside； 〃bestowed only
upon men of world…wide fame。 I dined to…night；〃 he explained；
〃with your charming compatriot； Mr。 Joseph Stimson。〃
〃And Jo