The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-12-06
BEN BRAH1M,s sMARrN Ess,

BEN BRAHMS SHARPNESS.
Mohammed Ben Brahim was a private
of the Sd regiment of Turcos, Arab in
fantry, in the French service. He was
tall and %raw-boned. fearing NOTHING.
believing but little in Mohammcd the
Prophet, and not at all in Allah. lie
drank wine and ate pork, two things
held in abomination by the Mohamme-
dams; he sworc in bad Arab and worse
French; in fact, he was the most perfect
blackguard in the whole body ofTurcos,
which were 10000 strong, and that is
saying a great deal. Ben Brahim lived
happy and contentcd, until one dav,
whilc passing before tho bric-a-brac
pawn-oi1icc and dry-goods shop of Yus-
suff, the richest man of Oran, he saw
hanging in the window some gold
watches. Thea his happiness was gone.
for one thought invaded his mind SO
completely that twenty times a day he
exclaimed loudly: by the prophets
beard, | must have oncH!' And by the
prophets beard he got one, too, and this
is how it came about.
Mohammcd Ben Brahim had a cousin.
a lieutenant in the same regiment, and
he went to him and told him Il story
about his mother being sick and needy,
and the lieutenant, who loved lis aunt,
gave him II francs. with Tho rccom-
%mcndation to use them well, q thing
that the Turco did, much to the SORROW
of Yussu!f, in whose shop he appeared
five minutes later. Yussur was alone.
and seeing the Turco enter his stol" he
arose TO meet him, not through defer
enc for the caller, but from IL know
ledge that the Turcos are the greatest
providers of Africa.
II salute you, Rabbi Iussuf," said
Mohammcd, touching his fcz.
81 salute you, Turco," replied Yus-
stuff politely, what do You want?n
81 came to pay you ~ francs for the Z
you loaned ne a fortnight ago answer
ed the Turco.
odd loan you money? do not
recollcct to have seen you BEFORE
you don't? Well, then You were
more drunk than was when borrow
cd the money from you. But no matter.
| owc you ~ francs, and there they
are"
Then the Turco put - francs in the
others hand. Yussunf took it just as an
Arab priest entered the shop.
Iussutf salutcd the new-comc with
the greatest respect. rs he was one of
his best customers, and said:
"Will you allow me to present this
Turco TO you as one of the few honest
men we have inthis town?n
The Arab looked with establishment
on the pair.
well, wcllH!' thought he, what are
we coming to, if Il Turco turns 10 be so
honest as to be praised by Yussur?"
Then he asked: MAY | inquire what
this Turco has done to deserve our COM
mcndations, Yussuffp:"
81 loaned him - francs and forgot all
about it. Many would have taken ad.
vantage of my lack of. memory. but he
did not, for he has paid me like an hon
est man that he is
my friend" said the Arab 10 the
Turco, "will you favor me- with your
company to my house?'
Mohammcd Ben Brahim answered
that as soon as Rabbi Yussulf had re-
turned his pledge he would follow him.
"a PLEDGE cried Yussutf. turning
pale, you have given me none
"Whatr.' replied the Turco indignant-
ly, chat gold watch there is mine"
And Mohammcd pointed TO Il watch
worth $50.
THAT watch wa bought by nc from
a chief now dead yelled Yussulf.
"Yussun," %intcrposcd the Turco, 'it
seems to me that this chief died very
conveniently for you. Will you give me
my watch?'
mo" answered Yussuff.
"All right, sir. | will have You ar
rested IN the spot" and. opening the
door. Mohummcd went in The street call
ing for the police.
In n minute two of these worthless
made their appearance and inquired the
cause of the nproar.
"Arrcst that man." said the Turco.
pointing to Yuss,ii,, che has robbed me-
The police took Yussuff by the throat,
and the whole party left the store TO 90
to the judge. In Africa the Judges
courthouse consists of a piece of carpet.
two yards square, thrown down on tho
pavement in the market-placc, where
the Judge sits. surrounded b. the police.
who make arrests and bastinado the cul-
prit at the judges command. 1t is JUS
tice in its primitive state, administered
on tic rnl;;d-!ransit plan
,What is tn. matt.r.!n incurred tho
Arab magistrate.
"Your wisdom, tits man has robbed
that Turco," replied the officer.
''Turco, how did the thing happcn?"
inquired the judge.
Your wisdom, this mar loaned me Z
francs on my gold watch. | returned
him his money, together with 5 francs
rs interest, and now he refuses 10 give
me my watch"
"IIow did you get Il gold watch?"
"Yom wisdom, it is a present from
my dying father
"Did any one sec you paying the
money!
Your wisdom, this holy Arab was
present"
arab, is it true what the Turco is
sayingP
"Your wisdom, he has spoken the
truth" replied the Arab. .'YussuG in
troduced the complainant to me with
the remark that he was one of the few
honest men we have in this town"
"Yussuf, do you deny the accusation
made against you?"
Your wisdom. l do deny it."
did you take 12 francs from the COM
plainant?"
"Your wisdom, l did"
"For whatp"
because l loaned it TO him.
without any pledgc?"
Eyes, your wisdom, without any
pledge"
Officers, go to Yussuf's house and
bring here all the gold watches he has,
said the judge.
The officers went and soon returned,
bringing about thirty gold watches,
which they spread before the Judge.
Look and see if your timepicce is
there said the magistrate 10 the
Turco.
The cunning Turco advanced, and
without any hesitation took. not the
best, but the third from the best.
The judge, who had eyed sharply the
action of the Turco. seeing him discard.
ing the costliest watch to take another
inferior in value, felt convinced OF the
Justice Of his elsim To the object Of his