Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-06-03

"Only," replied Hassan, s.that all 1
have stated, is not only within the range
Of possibility, but positively true"
Here shout of eXecratiOn was hurled
at him from all sides, which the eadi
had great difficulty in quelling. When
silence had been obtained, the cadi said
to Hassan,- -.-.,. .-.- .----...--,,
There is but one verdict can give.
You have been guilty Of imposition, and
that to an extent which has never before
come under my knowledge. and it is
now TOR me to determine what punish
ment shall be meted out. to you. For
tunately for you, the crime you have
been guilty of cannot be punished BY
death, otherwise it would iindisputably
have been your fate. The utmost penalty
the law allows me to give you, you shall
have, land that is two hundred bastinadoes
on the soles OF your feet" 5,,.rsr9rl.s. ,
Pardon me, U cadi!" said Hassan.
in an imploring voice, ''but are you sure
you We made no mistake P"
81 have made no mistake. prisoner"
said the cadi. Judge for yourself"
Then turning to an officer of the court !!
he continued: "Take him the book, and
point out the place in which his punish
ment is ordered" 81. untz
The order was Immediately obeyed,
and Hassan read the passage ahentively
and then, after rejecting moment.
said, - f- .- ~ - '@,3t'I' % - u
Your statement, o cadi! is perfectly
true. AT the same time allow me to call
your attention to one point! in the law
1t says,-'The prisoner shall receive two
hundred blows on the soles of his feet
the word being in the plural. Now
have but one loot, and I submit am
exempt from the punishment. QD
All seemed surprised al this profound
legal objection on the part the prisoner.
Even the cadi himself hardly knew what
reply to make. The'law stated imperative
| ly the nature of the punishn4en the, prison
er was to receive and he (thAl oadO had
no power to alter it. ,r.i
| Achmet suggested that the legal diff
Guilty might be obviated by giving Has
san four hundred blows on his one feot;
but this, as the cadi very justly remark
ed, the proper Interpretation Of the law
would hardly admit Of Another officer
in court then suggested that one hun
dred blows should be given ON the one
fsot. To this Hassan objected, as the
law said "feet'' not '.foot,' . and he MAIN
tanned that he had a right to the benefit
Of the doubt.
| The cadi, who at heart was an up
right man. could not deny the validity Of
his reasoning. AT the same time it must
not be supposed he could release him
without punishment After conversing
with the two Ulemas for some moments.
the cadi said -. -s..-s o..5.,
II have now decided on my verdict.
You shall be banished the citv of Bag
dad forever, and if you return to Il
again, you shall be bow-strung. A
placard shall be fixed on your back, on
which shall be painted these Words
This is Hassan, the greatest liar in the
world With this on your back you
shall be conducted through the CITY, and
then liberated at the eastern gate, and
you know the penalty if ever you set
foot within these walls again. Giss bsiil
Hassan made no remark, but was led
back to prison, where he remained an
hour or two while the placard was being
prepared. When it was finished, and
fixed on his back, he was led through
the city, followed BY band Of ruftsns.
wnom the police with difficulty pr4vent-
ed from assaulting him,
1t was lateii in the afternoon when Has
san 8 punishment was over, and he now
trudged wearily onward for some miles.
He then began to feel very fatigued. and
almost inclined to throw himself on the
sand and trust to chance what might be-
fall him. On going little further he
thought he saw some object before him,
which, on approaching nearer, he found
to be man holding donkey, and, to
his great Joy. discovered the man to be
no other than his old friend, Mustapha.
"Hassan, my dear friend, you can
hardly conceive how much sorrow your
fate has caused me, for caudidly have
great affection tor you. However, ev-
cry man must submit to his fate,s and
there can be no exception in your
case. You are banished the city and
may not return to 1T. 1t is. only duty
owe you. from the benefits which haye
accrued to me by your performances, to
make your punishment as light as pos
slble. l. therefore. beg you will accept
this donkey as q present. and the purse
OF money as token Of my regard. On
the back of the donkey are two bags
titled with meal to serve for food during
the way. And now the blessing of the
Prophet be on you. Don't speak OF, l
may burst into tears, and that would be
unmanly." ~
Mustapha, without another word. left
Hassan in solitude, and the latter. mount
ing his donkey, continued his road east
ward, richer if not a wiser man than
on the day of his first arrival in Bagdad.
| -a. Aaa,l 1.-THE End. . 1eslSia sl