Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-08-01
FALLEN AMONG THIEVES,

Mohammed Ben Ali 10 Ismsfl Musta-
pha, love that dieth not and greetings Of
great Joy.
Behold, the wisdom Of the land Of sand
ana pomegranates hath stood me in great
stead this day; whereof, now SIT me
down to write unto thee the true and
touching story. To-day l was walking
In street called Broadway, because It is
90 narrow and overcrowdod, near the
street called Canal because II hath no
canal near IL when Observation-Disclosures
stranger, with along white beard, accosted
me, saying:
"Ilellof sheik Abdallah, how are
you'll"
~ an not the shek Abdallah, :" said
!, "and marvel that thou dldst ever
hear Of him. / am simply Mohammed
Ben All, merchant Of BagdAd."
II beg your pardon" he said; "hut
you look Just Ike the sheik Abdallah,
who used to travel with Barnum."
1passed on, and had gone but a few
yards when another beGsvolent.lookine
stranger, wearing large black mustache
and great diamond, accosted me, say.
ing:
"Why, am sure this must be Mo.
hammed Ben All, Of Bagdad."
That Is true" said !; "but how didst
thou know it?"
my friend, Boswell Poor, Travelled In
the Esft. and met you in Bsgdad. II
you VIII come around to my Office I'll
send for him."
Now, Son of the Nightingale, my
memory recalled no such man. but /
thought 1t best to 60 He took me
through many streets, and at last to a
small, promulgated room, where we
found another man sitting.
where's Boswell?" asked this man.
II don't know" said my new friend;
"let us send for him."
SO saying, he went TO the door and
called into the hallway:
John, go and tell Mr.. Poor to come
around at once"
saw no boy In the hall as we entered,
and whom he rad called he closed the
door and locked It. / was now suspi
cions, and obtained possession OF the
Key by means which thou knoWest NV
new friend sat down and Whlstl,d. Sud
denly he said 10 the man at the table:
"say, Jim, what's the matter with
having little game while We wait for
Boswell2"
"Ill go you" eaId the other.
Then he produced some cards, and Sc
lectiDg three, one OF which was an ace,
by dexterous movement of the hands
spread them out, face downward, on the
table. My friend bet dollar ho could
pick out the acc, and he promptly did so.
This was repeated several times, and
then, seeing that it WAS what they de-
sired, offered to bet. The man with the
cards distributed them clumsily, SO that
! could easily see which was the ace, and
l won. This was repeated thrice. Then
the man with the cards appeared to lose
his temper, and bet me five dollars that
could not do It the next time. Now, o.
Nephew OF the Pomegranatcl did !, as We
are In the habit of saying IN the mosque,
scent tho rodent; but knowing that pos-
sessed all the magic OF our people,
smiled and took up the bet. This time
the man distributed the cards very skill
iuliy. Truly, he must have studied this
foolish art with long labor. / permitted
him to win. Then bet him that I could
do 1t the next time. And did. lie
seemed triilo Disconnected and he
laughed with difficulty. / was still 81
ahead Of the game. Once moro bet
him, and THE time | permitted him to
win. The next time ! won. This went
on for quakter of an hour, and I was
still "a ahead. Tho man with the cards
began to perspire. We tried It once
more. pointed out the card at the left
as the ace.
Wrong" said the man; .'it's here"
And he turned up the card at the right
But it was king. Then he turned up
the one at the LETT, and It was the ace, /
see ttce smile IA thou readeet OF my doing
this old, old trick. But the man did not
smile.
there's some rick here" he sail,
"Surely,,' said l, with great innocence,
mo one could suspect trickery In this
place."
was now 50 ahead, but my manner
treasured my friend, and we went at It
again.
This time-I see thee smile agaln-no
ace could be found at all.
"YOu duilor," said the man who took
me there, "y o I've dropped it."
They searched on the for, but could |
not lind II. When they If ed their heads |
again they heheld the ace staudlng on |
end on the table and dancing. Brother |
Of the Pyramids, blush to tell thee that |
practiced this aged trick on these un- |
strangers, but ! was anxious
% mea: urc their ignorance. They sprang |
10 their feet and turned pale.
What alarms you, frieuds % I said: |
there is a draught from the window
which blows the cards about. Let us
lose It," That treasured them, and
hey closed the window. Then we began
again. Once more the ace was missing
While they searched on the floor again |
determined now 10 bring to my aid our
rue art. The room began TO grow dark
On the wall n luminous spot appeared.
babe them look at II, and as they did
20 caused large image Of the ace to
appear. The two men turned deadly
pale. Then / caused aces to appear all
'yer the room, dancing and glowing.
"Holy herringl" exclaimed one OF the
men; we've buncoed old Nickp'
With that they made rush for the
ioor. But had the key. Tho room
1egan to fill with sulphurous smoke.
The two men could not breathe. With
Sild yell they hurled themselves through
he window into the street, and, bleed
ng from many cuts, fled for their lives.
As Tor me, put out the sulphur fire
which had kindled behind chair, re-
moved the wet handkerchief from my
mouth, gathered up my cards and my
mirrors aud departed in peace, Sl4 ahead
II the game.
Verify, descendant of the Prophet,
when thou goest abroad always carry the
apparatus Of our Eastern art with thee. -
From Puck.
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