Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-18
THE PRINCE AND THE ROBRERs.
A story that suggests the Arabian
Nights.


From the St. Jsmes Casxe,,a
oh tne side OF the high road 20 shiraz, thirty
miles oerore the city is reached going north stands
pare pole. This marks the place where the
murder.
sergean' collins was an inspector OF the teie-
graph hne, man Of great personal bravery. Ac-
compahied oy his wife two servants and two
inueeeers ne started on his inspection DUTY Col
uI.s vas iaiuo COW sesoent from n fever attack
when ne started, and he had no choace An travel.
ing but TO lie on a mattress flung ON a ,oat,e, mu,a
At early dawn one day a mule,eer suddenly
cried, 'Sahib, they have blocked the r,ad. and
f,ont s a,S sxr cue segrsns saw some men IN
the same moment these men ordered him 10 a..
mount Now the sergeant was the o.sst shot An
twice. The robbers rushed In, hiring rs thew
came, and Collins WAS hit In two plaees deafk
body With their ironheaded sticks tSs rs.ss
blinded and carried OF the wife and tie two
servants OBTAINING them in q DELL TAN after mid.
night.
Al the persistent instigation or the English min.
lister at Tehersn the Persian authorities arrested
The three principal robbers Another OF them CON-
Collins But the Persian aatSorties. though though they
bring them 70 justce But at length Mira H Ss ~
All Khan, {. & l., our agent at Shiraz, succeeded
y, H goading The prince governor, H. K H. zn-es-
The proceedings were very curious There was
no witness OF the murder. The sergeant was dead.
his wife and his two servants had been frightened
out OF their wits, and the muleteer declared that
he could remember nothing. The Zil-es-Sultan,
nndng that the English minister would not remain
SATISFIED ordered the robbers 10 be brought before
him. The prfnce-governor himself embodied the
law. Half a dozen courtiers lolled against the
wall, thelr arms respectfully crossed upon their
the room, his back supported by gold-embroid-
cred cushion, the young prince twiddled his mus
tache or played with the jeweled hilt his saber
or toyed with the buckle OF priceless brilliant
which formed the central ornament OF his PLAIN
The three men were dressed as Villagers usually
are, In tall felt caps and long felt coats When
they were hustled into the hall OF audience they
were still heavily ironed, for these men sre oftea
desperate criminals aud would not he~frars Cor A
moment TO murder their Jailer IL tiles rsssxht
they would thereby secure a chance OF escape. on
entering The royal presence they bow almost 10 the
ground. "Salaam." they shout In kind or chorus:
your villager or trtbesman never speaks he alw
prince nodding to them With smile sIS y r 5ss
the bandits assert their innocence. calling at
every sentence upon Heaven and the Prophet.
live I'm your royal highness' shadow. May
we be your sacrifice" The prince san
smiles blandly. "Ah, my friends" saws he, Il,
here; and-and, In fact-an unbelierer more or
less doesn't much matter I'll have truly done
You. That YOU Ild the Ee PSh p pher reward
course no doubt; and 50 must punish you nomi.
naliy. What propose 70 do is 10 cut OF joint OF
one finger OF each OF you. But what Is thaff
Nothing. Your dresses OF honor are ready. You
Will put them on and will be instantly liberated.
And now, my children" says the smiling prince
"tell me all about IT. How did you manage IL eh?s
The astonished prisoners received this speech
with burst or joy. All shouting at once they
FASTENED TO give the prince full particulars ssThe
European fired twice from one pistol-may we be
your sacr1nce!-and then we all fired together,
rushing In on him. He was but European-may
your shadow never be less! We trust In the Glenn
ency OF your royal highneSSi MAY We be your sac.
r1f1ce."
The smile faded from the face OF the young
pr1nce-governor, his likeness 10 the shah his
father, becoming very apparent as his counte-
nance darkened into ferocity. He had got at the
truth, and without more ado nodded with appro-
pirate significance TO his chief OF police, the
Farrash- bashi, burly, black bearded man, who
stood behind the criminals The prisoners were
removed; they were hurried into the public square
In which the palace stands and there their Threats
were cut. The bodies lay exposed I'LL sunset .
terror to ey1l-doers