The herald., 1894-07-08
THE PRINCE AND THE PROPHET.
[BY ]. B. GIBSON ]

[BY ]. B. GIBSON
CHAPTER 1.-THE PROPHECY.
Saladin Selim lived in an humble par
OF the town and did business under tn
sign. Saladin Selim. Prophet and Di
viner. Terms Strictly Cash.
By his talents and his application Il
business he had raised himself to stat,
OF prosperity. He owned house and
lot and had laid by snug little sum.
As bis business increased. he Judi
ciouely raised the price of his services
He was no longer known as q fortune
teller. He became able to charge the
highest price in town, wss consulted by
all the fashionable people and finally BY
Prince Omar Eli.
''Saladin," spoke the prince, ''you
are the chief among the prophets. 1t ia
even said that all the fortune tellers in
town consult yen when they have e
knotty case and want q prophecy which
cannot fail to CONS true. l want you to
tell my future. l expect know as much
about the past as yeu do. / shall have
. prophecy which,positively has but one
meaning. II yonr prophecies come true
you shall know the gratitude OF prince /;
II not, you shall know his anger"
The prophet took out pips and filed
It with tobacco. "Haya a cigar? ?" he
asked the prince. The prince refused:
he did not smoke. Both silently watched
the smoke a. it fosted towards the cell
ing and filed the room-the prince un-
easily. He became pale. The prophets
eyes cleaned triumphsntly. The prince
became paler and paler. Finally the
tobacco was finished and Salsdin slowly
spoke.
mighty prince Allah does not fail
to punish those who doubt his prophets.
1t is now the beginning OF the year; be-
fore the end, another ruler shall be on
your throne"
The prince rushed towards the door.
"You may CO." he cried In agony.
"Send in your bill; will send in mine
later" There was no concealing it,
the tobacco smoke had made him sick.
Omar Eli was mad. In the first place,
he was sick; in the second place,
princes don't like unpleasant things
amp more than common people. Dark
thoughts OF revenge filed his mind. I
have lived 80 years." he thought, ''and
NO one has yet roueel my anger and
failed to feel my revenge; but how shall
l accomplish my desire? If l put him
to death, my own head will pay for 1T
if take all his property, will lose
mine. Curse the king and his con-
founded western laws and notions. Ten
years ago Saladir's head. within "a
hours, would have adorned my gate
post" Suddenly he laughed glsefully.
Il have found it," he exclaimed aloud.
In the palace Of the prince was an old
and rare painting. Omar sent it to
Salsdin with the writing: ITO the
genius of Saladin Selim, the prophet"
Saladin was suspicious and awaited
further developments, but as nothing
occurred, he began to feel extremely
gratified and pleased.
The question arose, what to do with
it. His house was too small and the
surroundings were hardly fit to do
honor to the painting. He rented
large house in the most fashionable part
of the city, had the walls frescoed, the
floors covered with carpets and the
rooms filled with the most expensive
furniture. He spent all his ready
money and mortgaged his property. In
less than month peace left his mind.
He was harsssed by debts, was afraid to
meet his creditors, he was reviled and
Omar Eli had his revenge.