Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-12-01
MisfkIlane1ns.
MAGIC In THE EAST.

have intended to tell the story Of
little Akli before. don't know why
haven't done so, unless it has been be-
cause-4 But wiIltell the story Ahis
time.
had been journeying through Egypt
in company with my friend, Harry KEEL
lar, the magician. We we're stopping at
the quaint old town of Boolak, which is
situated on the right bank of the Nile,
at the divergence Of its Pelusiac branch i,
one mile northwest of the historic city
Of Cairo, of which it forms suburb
Our host was an Egyptian grandee.
whose fine country place overlooked the
shipping from just outside the more
-densely populated part Of the town. y
One day we wore strolling down near
the landings when an old Egyptian mar-
ket woman besought US to purchase some
of her tamarinds, naming an oxorbitant
price. To- asf .Yhu eaUI
"Why, my good mother. do you sell
these tamarinds at that low figure p ex-
claimed Kellar in mild surprise, ad-
dressing her in her own tongue. "They
are worth much more than that, | am
sure
She looked surprised, so did our host.
Eyes, | was sure Of it," Kellar con-
tinued, aud he broke one Of those that
be had taken up and drew a small cop
per coin Of the country from its center :.
For a moment the woman was too
startled to do more than regard the coin
with wonder. Then. however, her nat
ural avarice asserted itself, aud she
snatched the bit away from KelIar's IN
resisting hand.
"Ah F.! | see you are a fakir," our host
said smilingly as We moved on. at was
well done. Now | know that you aud
my other esteemed friend here will more
than ordinarily enjoy the slight diver
sion have to offer for your entertain
ment after coffee to day. Perhaps. too,
you may have the keenness though il
is not 10 me TO explain the performance
to divine how little Akli can survive
the marvellous act Abahni forces him
10 do, and to discover how Abalani can
perform his part of the strange enter.
tainment. e,sug ttun1ora
Bot about the old market woman: A
servant told our host later that she had
hurried directly to her rude cot on our
departure, where she had carefully open
ed every tamarind ia her basket to find
the copper bit in its center. The dis
appointment she suffered on not finding
a single bit Of money and the loss of the
spoiled fruit served her right for at
tempting to impose upon the supposed
Ignorance Of strangers. But Kellar was
too large hearted 10 allow the lesson 10
be one that should make her the poorer,
and the servant was dispatched directly
to tho old psddlsr's home With more
than twice the worth OF the fruit 10 cop
pers.
That evening Abalani, the fakir, ar
rived at our hosts house.
lie was a small, wiry little man, whose
age was about As, il you were to Judge
il from the dark, clear eyes with which
be quickly summed you up. They seem
cd to pierce me through and through a'
he made deprecatory bow before me,
his thin arms and palms extended TO.
ward me in the attitude Of bcnediction
His only garments we're light breech-
cloth Of dark red shade and flowing
silk mantle, dark yellow 10 color The
only ornament be wore was dark cop
per ring hanging from his neck by q
greasy looking piece Of leather or cord
| looked for Akli, the little boy with
whose assistance be performed the tricks
We expected TO witness.
But Abalani was alone. ...
then looked for the coil Of rope which
! had heard played part 10 the straag'
spectacle.
The fakir had brought none.
| said TO myself that we we're 10 b.
disappointed, aud that the little woazen
limbed fakir bad come 10 make excuse
for his inability 10 am use as this time
and could sec Kellar thought the same
But our host retained his wontcd GOO
nature as though nothing was wrong
and il was not the place Of either Kei
lar or myself to show disappointment
Meanwhile the little fakir led the wa
TO a smooth bit Of ground not far frod
the house.
, Here we almost unconsciousl y 'formcC
an expectant circle about bin.
lie spoke few words. and We main
tanned perfect silence under the spe
tho little fellow seemed 10 throw aroun
i. him Bot this was not the sensation {
gazing upon serpent that one exper