Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-19
BE WAS A CLEVER raIEF.
An Exhibition OF Skill Given to rasnous
Bedouiu Chief

From the phi!aleipaia Times.
The present age Is not unique In ia exhibit
OF sAillfai thieves and thievinx. Professors Of
this taking trait Of character have been ram
pant always. The principles are externally tn.
same, only the form changes.
Its u long distance from Philadelphia Y
Arabia. bn. ia the latter country. as an old
story relates. lived q famous Dedonin chief
Saf-Ammonyac. He was patron Of art in al
its higher shapes.
Once they brought to him handsome young
prisoner of war.
IL will give You your liberty" said the shiek
lyon deserve it. What can you 10. Are yor
| an artist
mo poet, painter. musician am t. was TIN
youths reply. II have but one talent car
steal the sheet from the bed you lie on
All Ina! good. exclaimed the chieftain
BIN baIn." he continued. turning to his vizssr
get up some job TO try this you.h's attain
ments. We must reward merit where we sex
| il. no matter what its kind
Bim-bam reflected n few moments and Their
proPoanaed his plan.
You have just presented. oh. sheik. price
less diamond to yonr beautiful fa vorte, Fatima
Borrow it from her and take two OF yopr nopsI
faithful followers Give il iato their hands
Promise them that IL for three nights they sue.
| cessfully watch snd preserve il from the skill
your force 1t will ronse their ambition and
| ambition is One OF the most powerful Of the
passions
',uood,' was the chiefs reply $50 let Il
be-"
That night the sol,liers guarded the precious
stone The next morning the youth brought
1t sto!en-to the presence Of the sheik.
How do you explain il. wisest Bina-bam?
the latter inquired OF the vizier.
That funcsionary had no. answer ready. III
may be. he ventared at last. tho guards know
not how costly Was tho jewel they watched
You DO, oh. sheik. Tonight. then. guard it your.
self. tor avarice is stronger than ambition"
Just So" returned his master: and that
night he watched beside the diamond himself
But II ~Ss ~ before. In the mornins the youth
brought It, hiched again. into his presence.
Astvrith"ent was no name for the feeling
that reISned In the royal establishment BIN.
BAN was to nghin tighten the situation with the
sun of his intellect.
The vizier. after getting of the Arabic equiv.
alent for II m stueN several times. at last hii
upon another suggestion.
After all. oh. Posscssor OF Countless Came,s
you were not the best guard. Remember the
stone was not yours. but tho beautiful Eatima' ..
Let her watc. tonight She is bound to guard
IL with her life. for both ambition and avarice
| are weaker thRa vanity"
Excellent. by the Prophet cried the chief.
tain; well fool this cunning youth at last"
Fatima. who really was worried over the pos
sible loss of her ring. was more than willing to
undertake its protection. Accordingly she
started in on the vigil.
Early the next morning Bim- BAN rushed Into
the tent.
''We,l2'
''The diamond is stolen and tho youth disap-
peared."
.'Stolen-gone?" almost shrieked the old
chief. What will my darling Fatima ssy2''
Il don't think YOU need bother oh Shiek
ne Vol -1a~t, lrflx-
she has gone along with the youth, probably 70
keep the diamond company"