Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-07-22

A CUNNING TURC0.

MOhammed ben BTahim was pr1Fate
OF the Third regiment Of TUrcos, Arab in
fantry In the French service. He was tall
and raw boned, fearing nothing, believing
but little in Mohnmmed, the prophet, and
not at all in Allah.
He drank wine and ate pork, two things
held In abomination by the Mohanmedans,
he swore In bad Arabic and worse French
in fact, he was the most perfect black
guard in the whole body of Turcos, which
were 10, 100 strong, and that is saying
great deal
Ben Brahim lived happy and oontented
until one day, while passing before the
brio a -brac pawn Office and dry goods shop
Of Yussuff he saw, hanging in the win
dow, some gold watches. Then his happi-
ness was gone, for one thought invaded his
mind so completely that 90 times day no
exclaimed loudly, by the prophets beard,
must have oneP'
Mohanmed Ben Brahin bad Il cousin,
lieutenant in the same regiment, and he
went to him and told him story about
his mother being sick and needy, ard the
lieutenant, who loved his aunt, gave him
le francs, with the recommendation 70
use 60 well, u thing that tho Turco did,
much TO 6All SCrlLNT q : GSSLH5 III ~-lez"
shop h1 appeared five minutes later.
YuszUE WIS alone, and. seeing the Turco
entering his store, he arose 70 meet him,
not through Difference to the caller, but
from a knowledge that the Turcos are the
greatest providers Of Africa.
II salute you, Rabbi Yussuf," said
Mohamned, touching his fez,
Il salute you, Turco, said Yussuf
r,oI{falv What do ven yCnDry'
IT came 20 pay you u francs for the :
you Ioaned me fortnight ago, answered
the Turco
"Did loan you money 90 not recol-
lsct - have seen you before.
you don'tl Well, then, you We're more
drunk than l was wllen l borrowed the
money from you But 10 matter. I owe
you IL francs, and there it is. -
Then the TuTco put l2 francs in the 9th
er's hand. Yussuf took it just as IN Arab
priest entered the shop.
Yussuff saluted the newcomer with the
greatest respect, as he was one OF his best
customers, and said;
"will you allow me to present this Turoo
to you as one Of the few honest men we
have in this town.
The Arab looked with astonishment on
the pair.
well, ~ell!' InOuElb nc. W Edt tTb
we coming to If Turco turns TO be so
honest as to be praised by Yussuffy'' Then
be asked, MAY 1 inquire what this Turco
has done to deserve your commendations
YussuiYf'
'I loaned him 12 francs ard forgot all
about it, Many would have taken advan-
tage of my lack Of memory, but he did
not, for he has paid me like an honest
man that he is.
My friend said the Arab TO the Tur
co, will you favor me with your company
to my housef'
Mohammed Ben Brahim answered that
as soon as Rabbi Yussutf had returned his
pledge he would follow him.
IA pledge, " cried Yussuf, turning pale
"You have given me none.
WHAT replied the Turco indignantly.
"That gold watch there Is mine" And
Mohammed pointed TO q watch worth
about $50.
"That watch was bought by mo from u
chief now dead, yelled Yussuff.
"Yussuff," interposed the Turco, ait
seems to me that this chief died very con-
veniently for you. Win you give mo my
watch?"
"No," answered Yussuff.
"All right, sir. 1 will have you arrest
cd on the spot" And opening the door Mo-
manned went into the street calling for
the police.
The police took Yussuf7 by the throat,
and the whole party left the store 10 go TO
the Judge. ...,, ,,, -,
Arab magistrate.
"Your wisdom, this man hes robbed
that purco, replied the officer.
tsuN,.u., LI,,, = ,l,a fbi,,,, yBb In
Quired the judge.
"Your wisdom, this man loaned me 7
francs Oh NY gold watch. I returned him
his money, together with francs as in
teIest, end now he refuses to give me my
watch"
How did you get @ gold watchY''
Your wisdom it IL u present from my
dying father. :"
"DiGan one you paying the money!
"Your wisdom, this holy Arab was pres
ent.
Arab, Is 1t true what the Turco Is say
"Your wisdom, he has spoken the truth, 4"
replied the Arab "Yussuff introduced the
complainant to me, with the remark that
he was one OF tho few honest men we have
In this town"
"Yussuff, do you. deny the accusation
made against yous"
Your wisdom, do deny it.
Did you take 10 francs from the com
pleinantf"
Your wisdom, l did. -
For whatf"
Because I loaned ID to him."
Without any pledges"
Eyes, your wisdom, without any
pledge"
"Oficcrs, go to Yussuff's hOueo and
bring here all the gold watches he has, "
said she judge.
The officers went and soon returned,
bringing about 80 gold watches, which
they spread before the judge.
Look and see If your timepiece is there, "
said the magistrate to the Turoo.
The cunning Turco advanced and, with
out any hesitation, took, not the best, but
the third from the best.
The Judge who had eyed sharply tho ao-
ton of the Turco, seeing him discard the
costliest watch to take another inferior in
value, folt convinced Of the justice Of his
claim to the object of his selection He
said to him;
Take it and CO. Remember that the
present from "a dying father is sacred
thing, not to be polluted by the hand of
the money lender, who Is a thief, Insurer
and liar Coz
Then the Judge turned TO Yussuff.
For lying to me, for exacting usurious
rates of interest, for trying to rob IA poor
soldier of "a sacred memento from IA beloved
father, you shall get 80 strokes on the
soles of your feet, and If in two hours you
have not paid $500. fine you shall got 100