Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-01-19

| but none dared to disturb the governors
scrutiny. Presently he gave signal, and
without a word the guards pushed me
closer to him. For moment he scrutinized
me again, and his eyes had In them the
leaping lights of hawks when it bends
| over its prey.
Thou hast the face Of Christian, an
! inf1del, and the garb of an Arab, a believer"
he said sharply at length. How cometh
| itF'
| MY lord" replied, with profound
| bow, "a generous and charitable man Of
this town bestowed these clothes upon me-"
| His charity was i'll at ease, me thinks.
| What is his namef"
| I hesitated, not wishing to compromise
| Said Achmet.
| Thou wilt find it best to be quick with
thy answers" said Abou Kuram sternly.
His NAME" replied, sis Said Achmet."
Thou meanest to tell me he sheltered
and clothed thee?"
He succored thy servant when he was
in need, ;" answered humbly.
go bring Said Achmet," he called out.
1--WE will see into this matter"
| Three men instantly bent themselves to
the earth and hurried of to arrest my ben
efactor.
whence contest thou and what is thy
business?" he asked, turning to me again
and looking rather through me than at me.
AS briefly and succinctly as possible I
told him my tale.
| His lip curled and his eyes danced as he
| listened.
1T is a likely story" he remarked, with
sneer, when I had finished. How contest
thou, an utter stranger, and, as thou sayest,
with no desire to come hither, to speak our
| tongue2"
I told hm of the tuition of Abram ben
Adam.
Thou seest yonder tower?" he said sig
nificantly. 1T is not many days since 1t
was adorned with the head of a spy who
added lying to his other virtues"
LAS my lord liveth, 1 speak the truth,
returned earnestly, for it was a hardship
that my proficiency as a linguist should
stand against me.
Never liar yet but was as true as the
prophet. Thine own ears shall hear the
confederation of thy words"
Whereupon he called the witnesses. They
appeared in appalling numbers, with ap-
palling testimony, delivered with the glib
ness and assurance of actors who had well
conned their parts. had anticipated much.
The reality was beyond my widest concep-
ton; beyond anything indeed that the slug
gish western imagination could conceive.
SPECIFICS with amazement and horror,
heard the damning evidence heaped up that
would have convicted with q jury sworn to
acQuit. At times was almost moved to
indignation at my own villainy, for l had
difficulty in remembering that 1 was the
scoundrel depicted, so atrocious above all
belief were the crimes / had committed.
Never did odious rogue swing from gibbet
or yardarm or dangle from castle wall with
half the felonies on his head that bore.
1 was the emissary of a hostile power
scheming to conquer and enslave. l had
been caught spying by honorable and re-
spectacle men, whose word was as far above
suspicion as CAESARS wife. l had sought
entrance to the castle in order to assassi-
nate the prince, my judge, and so clear the
way to the throne for foreign usurper.
Failing in that, 1 had tried to bride others
to do the foul deed, and the actual money 1
had given was exhibited by the recipients.
These and other enormities far above any
ordinary capacity for crime were trium-
phantly brought home to me. There could
not be the shadow of a doubt that was a
rare monster of wickedness, disgrace to
the species.
The clown appeared against me with
enough Of incrimatory evidence to hang 10
honest men, and the impertinent youth on
whom had drawn backed him up with
readiness and resource that must have
admired had be not CHANGED to be swearing
away my life. After them trooped the ma
jor part of the population, each with
darker tale and clearer proof of guilt and
depravity than the other 1t was wonder
full how one man could have sinned so
much; how one head could have devised so
much wickedness. Long before my &C
cusers were finished was loaded with a
mass of iniquity and infsmy sufficient to
drag a score of saints to the uttermost
deeps of perdition.
Ny judge had an easy task. He had to
determine no question Of guilt or innocence;
no delicate balancing of points was de-
manded of him; he had simply to decide
what should be done to an Infamous wretch
who should be defrauded of his deserts by
hanging, beheading, drawing and quarter
ing.
Abou Kuram did not move muscle dur
ing the fearful recital. Sitting with clinch-
ed lips and dropping lids. hescarcely seemed
to hear. But when the pitch was exhaust
ed and l could not possibly be made blacker
he turned on me the face of victory.
Art thou satisfied with the testimony"
he asked grimly. Thou seemest man of
much integrity. Of very truth, thou art
a pretty fellow"
My lord" blurted, with gulp, for in
spite of my early bravado the sweat of ter
ror was new breaking upon me, my lord,
they are liars every one"
"And thou alone speakest truth. Yea,
that is likely. Thou hast been at the
pains to learn our tongue and hast faced
perils in coming hither and put on our
clothes and spied and plotted out of pure
friendliness of heart. Thy secret plannings
and bribings are all for our welfare. Thou
yearnest to do good by stealth"
For the first time he laughed, and it was
a laugh to curdle the blood. When the
judge cackles in irony and derision, the
prisoner may we'll quake.
Quickly recovering his austerity of man.
ner, he looked me over with eyes that pen
etrated to the core of my being.
Doubtless some one is present to testify
tothat goodness thou displayest so strange
ly." he said.
In my bewiIderment had forgotten Said
Achmet, but now 1 turned anxiously to
seek his friendly face. A chill went to my
heart as searched the crowd in vain. He
had not come; he would be too late. But
just as 1 was about to break out into an in
coherent protestation of innocence in de-
spair Of favorable word there was q move
ment among the people. and Said Achmet
entered between his guards. Advancing
with respectful bearing to the front. he
made a low obeisance and stood with bent
head and body to hear the governors pleas
ure.
II thought" remarked Abou Kuram
very slowly, that Said Achmet was of
those we could call friends"
There hveth not man this day who
could wish my lord better" returned Said
Achmet in low but fervent voice
"Iet thou givest refuge to spies and enc
mics of the state
Heaven forbid thy servant should do
such thing"
uRut tbou hast dome IT
Said Achmet's eyes nearly leaped from
his head.
MY lord but jesteth, )" he said after
pause during which he scarcely breathed.
"Nay, there is no jest in it," answered
Abou Kuram. Look on this fellow and
tell me what thou knowest Of him."
Said Achmet briefly related the circum-
stances Of our meeting, and his reasons for