Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-21

listen he heard one pilgrim relate to an
other how Hades had been sold TO a
stranger and that 1t was no longer neces-
sary to purchase place in Paradise.
HndeS Sold Out
AS the words came to him he could hardly
believe his ears, and realizing that his
business was at an end cold shudders raced
through his fat body. Finally reviving
sufficiently he Joined in the conversation
and acknowledged that Hades had been
sold. yet he argued that one could never
be sure Of going to Paradise II he held no
title to place there. His words were un-
needed, and 1t soon became evident that
with the sale of Hades he no longer had a
monopoly upon Paradise.
All the next day and the day after. and
the day after that. he sat alone in his Of
flee; not a purchaser appeared. A week
passed before he recovered sufficiently to
set his wits actively at work to recover
the industry which had Melted him so
handsome and steady a profit.
He searched throughout the town for the
stranger, but no one knew where he was
Day after day the search was continued
with the same result, and the priest
though he had already reaped a fortune,
was in despair.
Finally one morning a month after the
fatal transaction the stranger entered
Abdullahs office and silently squatted upon
the floor before him.
II have heard that you are inquiring for
me-" said the owner of Hades, after the
salaams were completed and the cigarettes
were passed.
Yes" said Abdullah. ut has grieved
me to feel that one Of the faithful has
purchased Hades and that in the flames,
forever barred from Paradise. you must
spend eternity. l called upon you that
might relieve you OF the horrible fate,
and like the honest priest OF Allah that
am. I will return to you the liras."
AS he finished speaking. he united the
knot at the end OF his girdle and counting
out the money held II toward his guest
The owner of Hades. with his eyes upon
the floor. sat motionless as II he did not
see the proffered gold.
Fight and a Failure.
1t was a fierce battle which Abdulah
and his guest waged that day. The sun
! set and darkness came before Il was
finished. Abdullah the monopoIlst was
not the victor.
To regain the title of Hades ne added one
Ira to the original number then two, then
five, but to no purpose. He groaned and
raved; he hattered and swore; he called
down the blessings OF Allah upon his Oh
stinate guest. alternating them with divine
curses and threats of eternal fire, but the
proprietor of Hades was unmoved.
The price Abdullah offered rose from
fifteen to twenty, then to twenty-five
fifty and 100. not by leaps. but by slow
climbing from one point to another. Nor
did the rise stop there. When the sun
was two hours above the horizon II had
reached the thousand mark: at sunset It
had gone TO 5000, and the guest still sat
calmly waiting for the figures to rise
higher.
II was well into the night when even he
became fatigued, and to end the long hght
he demanded 10000 liras for the paper
which he had purchased a month ago for
ten.
The old priest expostulated. but to no
purpose. He begged, but his pleadings
fell upon deaf ears Security for the
money was given, and the stranger, chuck
ling aloud, disappeared into the darkness
OF the street.
Abdullah soon recovered his composure.
The next morning at daybreak he was
sitting among the pilgrims OF the han,
waving before their astonished eyes the
deed for Hades. He read 1t 10 them and
explained that more than ever a title to a
bit OF celestial real estate alone could as
| sure them OF paradise.
Convinced. they reluctantly renewed their