The Washington bee., 1891-10-24
HE WAS A CLEVER THIEF.
an Exhibition OF Skill Given TO o F..
nous Bedouim 6ht.f.


an Exhibition Of Skill Given to o F..
nous Bsdoutn Sntef.
The present age is not unique in its ex.
hibit of skillful thieves and thieviup
Professors of this taking trait of charac.
ter have been rampant always. The
principles are eternally the same: only
the form changes.
1t Is long distance from PHILADELPHIA
TO Arabia. but in the latter country. as
an old story relates, lived a famous Bed
ouln chief, Sal Ammonyac. He was a
patron of art in all its higher shapes.
once they brought to him handsome
young prisoner of war.
Il will give you your liberty, said the
shiek, If you deserveit. What can YOU
do? Are you an artist"
No poet, painter, musician am I"
was the youths reply Il have but one
talent. can steal the sheet from the
bed you lie on"
An, ha! good!" exclaimed the chief.
tain. "Bim-bam, he continued. turning
20 his vlzier, get up some Job to try this
youths attainments. We must reward
merit where we see it, no matter what
its kind"
blb-bam reflected few moments and
then propounded his plan.
You have just presented, oh. sheik, a
priceless diamond to your beautiful favor.
lite, Fatima. Borrow it from her and
take two of your most faithful followers,
GlVe 1t into their hands. Promise them
that II for three nights they successfully
watch and preserve it from the skill of
this youth, you will make them captains
OF your force. 1t will rouse their am
bltion, and ambition is one of the most
powerful of the passions.
Good, was the chiefs reply. "Solet
it be-"
That night the soldiers guarded the
precious stone. The next morning the
youth brought stolen-to the presence
of the sheik.
how do you explain it, wisest BIN.
bam!" the latter inquired of the vizier
That functionsry had no answer
ready. 1T may be, " he ventured at last,
the guards know not how costly was the
jewel they watched. You do, oh, sheik.
Tonight, then, guard it yourself, for av.
arice is stronger than ambition.
Just so, returned his master: and
that night he watched beside the diamond
himself. But it was as before. In the
morning the youth brought it, filched
again, into his presence.
Astonishment was no name for the
feeling that reigned in the royal estab-
Iishment. Bim-bam was to again Tighten
the situation with the sun of his intellect.
The vizier, after getting off the Arabic
equivalent for I'm stuck several times,
at last hit upon another suggestion
After all, oh, Possessor of Countless
Camels, you were not the best guard.
Remember the stone was not yours. but
the beautiful Fatima's. Let her watch
tonight. She is bound to guard it with
her life, for both ambition and avarice
are weaker than vanity"
Excellent, by the Prophet" cried the
chieftain; well fool this cunning youth
at last. Z"
Fatima, who really was worrieaf! ,,S nc.
the possible loss of her ring, M'nN,
than willing to undertake tie Iii
Accordingly she start,Virgia and0DIN
Early the next mol.41ittlA d
rushed into the tent.
"Well?"
"The diamond is stolen and the youth
"Stolen-gone? almost shrieked the
old chief. What will my darling Fatima
say?"
Il don't think you need bother, oh,
Shiek, what she thinks, remarked Bim-
BAN dryly, las she has gone with the
youth, probably to keep the diamond
"-Philadelphia Times.