The Portland daily press., 1898-01-11
GALL RIGHTS REsERvED.)

In consideration of value this day re-
ceived, to deliver to Isaac Laredo, city of
Fec, dominion of His Shereifian Majesty.
ten tons of almonds of the value of ten
dollars per hundred weight
The girl paused and looked I'D. GAL
nonds, father? Is Omar Benani a mer-
chant?"
Conan Benani is an officer of revenue
to the Sultan,'' said Isaac, lifting his
head from the ledger.
"Then why the almonds?' said Rachel.
"luti You are a child and know moth
ing. No Jew in Morocco may recover
But the old mans head WAS back in his
book. ''Ten tons, you say9 AT ten dol
lars ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS thousand dol
lars. That's Omar Benani's |. .. U.
. June lst-did you say JUNIOR"
"And this is Novemb er."
The old man counted on his fingers
over the edge of the ledger. 1.-THE money
is five months overdue. Anything there
about INTEREST,""
Rachel looked at the paper again and
went on reading:
'And falling to deliver the said
almonds on or before the date named. /,
the said Omar Benani, do hold myself
liable to the said Isaac Laredo for n fur.
Their ton of almonds in consideration of
each month or part of n month wherein
l shall from any cause be q defaulter in
respect thereof. -
'FHumphi" said Isaac. give months
five tons-ten dollars hundredweight
-one thousand dollars more. Interest
and capital to date, three thousand dol
lars
He entered this item in the book, and
then closed it with sigh.
fAh! these young rakes-they' IL beg
gar me YETI
A knock came to the door, and Rachel
went to answer it.
Peace said the new conner.
1t WAS Omar Benani himself, tall,
handsome and we'll dressed. His breath
came fast; he had been walking hard,
andswas visibly excited.
Ny errand is urgent" he said. "Will
Rachel pardon me? May speak with
her father alone?'
daughter knows all my businesses. We
have just been looking over your &C
counts together.
A frown crossed over the young mans
face, but he made no answer.
1t is deep indebtedness, Omar
Benani," the old man added. "Let mo
hope you have come to discharge it. :"
"Alas! no, sir, said Omar, but to
borrow again"
can lend no more"
"Ony one thousand dollars the young
man pleaded. ''Only one thousand. and
1 will repay youSin week.
You are five months behind already,
Sidi," said the Jew.
cone week, Isaac, only one week-I
swear to you only one week more"
''And what assurance have r
"My solemn word of honor
''Humph l would rather have better
security
The young man swallowed his anger
and began again. 81 owe it to the Sui
tan
$50 you have been spending the Sui
tan S taxes as we'll as my money! said
the jew.
Thozyoung man bridled up then re-
covered himself, and answered quickly,
quietly, mot so. But | have been idle,
and l have not gathered them needless,
and l have not reckoned them perhaps
lnerciful, and L have not extracted them.
Come now, Isaac come now! The Sultan
is d hard master, you know. just think
of 1.-THE has sent me message tonight
that if [ have so much to spend l must
have something to pay, and that ne must
have thousand dollars before morning
or else"
He glanced uneasiIy at the girl and
paused.
"Or eIsc-wbat?' said Isaac.
The young man dropped his eyes. COR
else I go to the Kasbah until all is
paid.
Isaac took long breath. "Well, it's
your business-I cannot help you.
s'Don't say that. Isaac. Only think-I
should lie in the Same prison with the
worst scoundrels in the land. Ell Hasan
issthere-the man who stabbed his father
last week with pitchfork. l looked in
at the door only yesterday. 1t was hor
rible-horrible! Men in rags chained to
the pillars, men with wild eyes bolted to
the.walls, men with famished faces
crawling on the floor. And then the
gloom, the sitting air, the odor of I'M
clean bodies-ugh ]"
Isaac put out his lip, and said again,
81 cannot help you.'
The young man was not to be gainsaid.
II have been q wild, reckless, headstrong
fellow, spendthrift and a fool. but I've
not deserved fate like that"
81 cannot help you,' said Isaac, de-
"You are rich; you have only to put
your hand in your purse, andsyou can save
me from this shame, this degradation.
Come, now, Isaac, don't be hard on
Young iackass. Say the word, old
friend"
81 tell you I cannot help you"
The young man drew back for
moment, and then, seeing Rachel by his
side, he said, in softening voice,
.. Rachel, you are meroiful, you are COM
your father loves you and will
deny you nothing-speak for me-
Isaac lifted his hand. "sI forbid it,"
he said, ho6ly.
There wasssilence for a moment and
then Omar began to laugh.
s'Isssee how it, is,' he said; 'you have
wanted to degrade me IN the eys of your
daughter. You knew I wanted to stand
wellSwith her, and you have made me
ashamed. Well. good bye, Rachel" He
lifted her hand and put his lips to it.
"Good- bye, and if ever come out of the
Kasbah--"
81 give you fair warming" said Isaac,
"that you shall not do so until my debt
also has been paid.
Omar laughed bitterly. "Just SO, just
so,' he said. That's the way withSthese
Jaws the whole empire over. They're
protected themselves-by France, by
Spain, by Italy-and we cannot touch