The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-02
. PERSIAN TALES.

began shouting Tor Murphy, his Royal
Treasurer. When the r. T. had come
into his presence with scared look on
his face the great man said:
Dog and son of a dog, bring me one
thousand seudi and don't Iinger on the
way, I'm going to the circus this after
noon, and the girl that walks the tight
rope will be expecting a nice present
from me. I expect we are rather hard
UP, but king can't be devil of a fell
low without spending a dollar or two
now and then.
Hard up!" exclaimed Murphy as he
raised his hands in despair. Say now,
we couldn't raise 50 scudi without
pawning your prayer rug"
Base born, do you dare to tell me
that! What no without! Let the exc
cutioner enteri"
Your executioner can enter, o, King,
and he can make me a head shorter and
muss up your palace, but that won't
bring you the rhlno. There's got to be
some financiering done or you can't pay
your laundry bill next week"
Murphy, 1 was too hasty and admit
it," said the King. LAS you say, we
must fnancfer little, and man with
out head can't do much figuring. You
don't happen to have the dough, do
your"
Il haven't got a dollar"
but you'll get to work and think out
a plan. That little tight-rope walker is
a daisy, and I want to throw her sun
burst concealed in bouquet We can't
disappoint the daisies, eh, Murphy? And
then you know I imported you all the
way from Cork to be my Royal Treas
urer, when I could have got Yankee
for half the salary?''
II will do my best, o, King" replied
Murphy. "Give me an hour and the
thousand scudi shall be yours. If you
hno inc ~
Royal Peacocks away say not word"
The King returned to his Finance and
time passed on, and the hour was hard
ly up when the Royal Treasurer entered
the room and laid the thousand golden
scudi before him.
Dear old Murphy, but you've got
emil exclaimed His Highness, with a
glad smile on his face.
LAS you see"
And the little daisy will not be dis
appointed. How on earth did you do
you are aware, o. Highness, that
the Royal Peacock is a sacred bird ?''
Truly, I am"
"And that the law says that any one
outside your place having one of the
birds in his possession shall lose his
head?"
Thus saith the law.
well, L went down to see old Skin
EN-, the money-lender. He wouldn't
lend US a blamed cent without Sc
curity. 1 offered him. two of the pea
cocks and he lent me five hundred
scudi and had his servant fetch them.
AS soon as they were in his possession
I quoted the law to him, and he gave
me the other five hundred to save his
head. Haven't 1 done fairly we'll, for
a red-headed man who never even
bought a sheep before he came to
Persia ?"
Murphy" replied the King as he
| rose up and embraced him, you are
a jewel. Tom Lawson thinks he
| knows all about finance, but he'll have
to begin where you leave off,
"a The King had received many COM
plants in regard to Ell Hassan the
robber, who had gathered a band
around him and was robbing right
and left and defying all authority
When Murphy was ecalled into. con-
| sultation he announced that the Roya-
Treasury was so depleted that no ex-
petition could be sent out, and when
| asked for a plan he confessed himself
| helpless. SUES
| But stop must be put to this fell
low Hassan's career" protested the
| King. '1
| AYE, o. Ruler" Y .
| "It looked as if I feared him.
Yes. it has that look
"And the more he robs the people
the less tax money we get"
Thou art wisdom itself"
| And now, as We can't send out ar
| expedition against him we must re-
sort to diplomacy. Did they have any
! diplomacy in Cork, Murphy?''
IF they did they kept 1t in a bach
room somewhere. T know it wasn't solo
over the BAR
well, you worked the peacock bust
ness all right. and Til take hold of this
Send Royal Messenger to this robbel
to say that 1 want to see him. and tina
will guarantee him safe conduct"
| 1t was done, and a week later E
| 1Iassau presented himself at the palace
The King gave him greeting and ther
said:
IT hear that thou hast despoiled man,
| of my subjects?"
| well, I'm robbing most of the time.
was the reply.
| land doest find it a lucrative trade?'
| at pays better than brick laying
The people complain and I must pro
| tect Them but yet wish for no trouble
with thee. Cease to rob and enter my
lcabinet as my Royal Secretary of the
Navy. Both riches and honor avail
thee there: / will buy thy plumber at it!
value Sit thee down under the yew
| yew tree in our Royal gardens ant
| think the offer over
| Ell Hassan did as he was bid and be
| ing he had become somewhat tired O
| the robbery business he made up hi
mind to close with the Kings offer. H
| so gave notice and was duly appointed
| to the cabinet. When his plumber wa
valued the King gave him an order OIL
the Royal Treasury for the amount
When he had walked in on Murphy an'
presented it and been told that Their
| wasn't money enough IN the shebang t,
buy tall glass of mint julip he return
ed to the King in great anger.
What. have we subject here VIII,
doubts the honor of his Sovereign ex
claimed His Highness as he drew him
SELF UP.
But your treasury is empty"
Then that is test of your loyalty.
| but 1 surrendered good cash plunde
to you"
1.-The subject who will not aid hi
King will not aid his country
"Of what use to hold my office If