Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-11-06
THE MOON OF THE MOUNTAINS.
BY EMERSON BENNETT.

J BY EMERSON BENNETT.
isa8s e8t arsl ----- 1afsr5s8s ss5isa1
| Three brothers, named Shafras, were
one day walking along one of the princi-
pal streets of Bagdad, in Asatic Turkey,
when the eldest suddenly stopped, and
/, said. poiating to a stranger on the oppo-
site side of the street: asefo q. ssai1si
behold the Affgan' whom we have so
long sought in vain!''
"Then let hin. not escap us againi" re-
piled the other two; and all three ran over
/ to the stranger, who looked around tn sur
! prise and alarm. ...5 fl-ev
"God is God-fear not'' saluted the ell
; dest brother. "It is Shafras of Bassora,
whom thou didst once seek. to dispose of a
great diamond. called, "Moon of the Noun
tains." and other precious stones. These
are my brothers. who rejoice with me to
have found thee, because we now wish 10
purchase"
"Alack for you good masters, am no
longer the owner of those glittering treas
ures!" .Ess3n 81 u ra.s. l.f
"What hast thea saone with them?"
"Allah be praisedi Ihaye at last Just
sold them to the Jew Mordecai of this
city
"At what price," $780,
"Sixty-fve thousand piasters and fine
span of horses"
! "Thou vast fool and Mordecai a
knavc?" rejoined Shalras. with an angry
sneer. Il would have given thee double''
"God is great-thou didst have them
offered thee for half-and more fool thou
that thou didst not purchase then"
because / thought thee thief, and my
conscience forbade. But let the past co.
Where lives Mordecai the Jew?''
Il will show We good nasters--so shall
there be NJ i'll will between u.s.
The Afgon led the way. and pointed
out the residence of the Jew, on the bank
of the river Tigris The brothers then par
ted from the Alfgan with friendly words,
and the eldest went in to bargain with the
Jew.
"How much?" inquired the Israelite,
with the hard, eager look of one who knew
his own business and the value of what
he held. arr u.,.f. !, :. .is;. f..-r,
"Thou didst give sixty-five thousand
riasters and span of horses-I will give
thee seventy five thousand and take the
risk"
81 will not endanger thee by selling"
returned the other with coveted sneer.
Il will double thy. purchase money, !"
said Shafras.
The jew laughed cold, hard know
ing iaugh. - ---li-1
Mot for o million will / sell to thee, -
he rejoined. "Go thy way thou knowest
notthe value of what thou wouldst buy"
The Armenian departed, cursing the
jew in his heart 4s
"He knows too much for us-he will
not sell-the Jewish dog!' said Shafras.
with bitter anger, onsrejoining his broth
ers. ... .-.f, q =.
Then we must fake!'' returned the
youngest, with significant look. which
hesaw mirrored in the eyes of his elder
knsmen. s' T1s lsed 1870
They went away and laid their wicked
plans together The night following.
Mordecai the jew vas awakened from his
sleep. to find the knives of three murder
ers and robbers at his breast. They speed
lily dispatched him. and threw his dead
body from window of his own dwelling
into the river Tigris. They then seized
oil his jewels and money, and got safely
away. without creating an alarm. Who
cared about the murder of single, lonely
jew. in the city Of Bagdad?
The next day betimes. the three murder
ous brothers met by chance the Afgan
stranger. As ia-t9
"What luck. my masters?" he inquired.
"God is God! and Mahonet is his proph-
etl''' replied the eldest "The jewels arc
ours; and in honor of the event, thou shalt
dine with us, in our tent, to day. Just with
out the limits of the city '.- '--
The unsuspecting stranger went with
them to their tent. in secluded spot. on
the bank Of the Tigris, above the city, aud
there ate his last meal. They carried dead
ly poison with them. and mingled it with
his food. They then robbed and cast his
dead body into the river. saying. s' -
$50. fool. and jnin the dog of jew
thus do we destroy all dangerous knowl-
edge of the precious stones
They then gathered mp their tent. mount
cd their camels. and fastened away to a
desert place, where they haulted to exam
inc their treasures and make division of
their spoils. The money was soon equal
ly divided, and without words. Not so
the jewels. which were Of unequal value
the great diamond, the size of a mans little
finger, being worth far moro than all the
rest. Each wanted this for his share. and
neither was willing for either Of the others
to have it.. at first they argued. and then
disputed. and then quarreled. using loud
and bitter words. Atlast the eldest broth.
er said. in conciliatory tonc;sr aw n
"By right the diamond should be mine.
because was the first to see the Affgan
and tell you of it, and without me you
would never have known him in Bagdad;
but that there may be peace between my
mothers sons, we will dispute no further
but all go to sleep this night, and let the
Prophet decide the matter by our dreams.
On the morrow each shall narrate the Wis
ions of his sleep. and he who shall present
the clearest proofs Of the Prop het's favor,
shall have the Moon of the Mountains.'-l
this swear We all. by the beard ofour faith
er!''
All acquiescel in this-thc younger
brothers each thinking he could outwit
the other in his own cunning construction
Of the dream porportiny to come from the
pronhaf and The ellest satisfied that his