Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-08-04
BEN BRAHIM'S
SHARPNESS.

S}zsEG3}
gwA OLD MohammedBen
E Brahim was q pri-
] ! u. ] y. / !. i: !. !. 4: : !. !: !.
~ = vate of the Third
GSA " AD Regiment of Turcos,
E&C{ysgSEs2fssA Arab infantry in the
EtfSSf54I E4A French service. He
kF ElsEn RIfm was tall and raw
" SWp NI5 boned, fearing moth
49, 10y 8;s3 ing, believing but
--43 ~ little in Mohammed
the Prophet, and not at all in
Allah. He drank wine and ate
pork, two things held in abomina-
tion by the Mohammedans, be swore
in bad Arab and worse French: in
fact, he was the most perfect black
! guard in the whole body of Turcos,
which were 10000 strong, and that is
saying II great deal Ben Brahim lived
happy and contented until one day,
while passing before the -brac
pawn office and dry goods shop of Yus-
sutf, the richest Hebrew of Oran, he
saw, hanging in the window, some
gold watches. Then his happiness
Eas gone, for one thought invaded his
mind so completely that, twenty times
day, he exclaimed loudly: "By the
Prophets beard, / must have onem
And by the Prophets beard he got
one too, and this is how it came about.
Mohammed Ben Brahaln had n
cousin, lieutenant in the same regi-
ment, and he went to him aud told him
a story about his mother being sick
and needy, and the lieutenant, who
loved his aunt, gave him twelve francs,
with the recommendation to use them
well, thing that the Turco did, much
to the sorrow of Yussutf, in whose
shop he appeared five minutes later
4ussutf was alone, and seeing the
Iurco entering his store, he arose to
meet him, not through Difference for
the caller, but from knowledge that
the Turcos are the greatest prowlers
Of Africa.
81 salute you, Rabbi Yussuff," said
Mohammed, touching his fez.
81 salute you, Turco, replied Yus-
sutf, politely, "what do you want?"
Il came to pay you twelve francs
for seven you loaned me fortnight
ago." answered the Turco.
Did 1 loan you money? I do not
recollect to have seen you before"
"9ou don't? Well, then, you were
more drunk than was when I bor-
roSed the money from you. But, no
matter, owe you twelve francs, and
there they are
Then the Turco put twelve francs
IN the others hand. Yussuff took it
just as an Arab priest entered the
shop.
Yussuff saluted the newcomer
with the greatest respect, as he was
one of his best customers, and said:
"Wlll you allow me to present this
Turco to you as one Of the few hon
est men we have in this town."
The Arab looked with astonish-
ment on the pair.
'Well, well!' thought be, "what
are we coming to, if Turco turns to
be as honest to be praised by Yus-
suff?" Then he asked: "May I in
quire what this Turco has done to
deserve your concentrations, Yus-
suff?"
81 loaned him twelve francs, and I
forgot all about it. Many would have
taken advantage of my lack of mem
ory, but he did not, for he has paid
me like an honest man that he is"
my friend" said the Arab to the
Turco, "will you favor me with your
company to my house?'
Mohammed Ben Brahim answered
that as soon as Rabbi Yussuif had re-
turned his pledge, he would follow
him.
"a pledge!" cried Yussuff, turning
pale. "You have given me none"
"What" replied the Turco indig-
nantly, that gold watch there is
mine" And Mohammed pointed to O
watch worth about sixty dollars.
'That watch was bought by me
from a chief now Dead" yelled
Yussuff.
"Yussuff," interposed the Turco,
''it seems to me that this chief died
very conveniently for you. Will you
give me my watch?"
NO" answered YussuG.
"All right, sir. I will have you ar.
rested on the spot" and opening the
door Mohammed went into the stree
calling for the police.
In minute two of these worthies
made their appearance and inquired
the cause of the uproar. "Arrest thai
man." said the Turco, pointing tc
Yussuff, che has robbed me-"
The police took Yussulf by the
throat, and the whole party left the
store to go to the Judge. In Africa, th.
judges courthouse consists of piece
of carpet, two yards square, throw
on the pavement, in the market place
u,hara tho ;udna sito eurro,pda al l.,