The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-11

in a sound sleep. The Caliph secretly had dropped a powerful sleeping potion into Hassans wine Then Haroun Alraschid called his slave. and together they carried Abou to the palace and laid him in the Caliphs own state bed.
 | Gall Glafar," sad the Caliph to one of the palace slaves, and Glafar the Grand Vizier appeared and salaamed. Then the Sultan gave instructions that when Abou awoke the next morning he was to be treated as if he were the Sultan in all re- spects, even to being taken to the throne room and seated upon the divan in the Hall of Justice. All the officers and slaves of the palace were instructed in their parts Just as the day was breaking the attendants gathered about the great bed of state upon which snored the dream | ing Abou Hassan. One of them put some think to his nose so that he awoke with a sneeze
 | What was his wonder to see the splendor around him. He was in a large room gorgeously furnished, with Il cred with the richest carpets. Vases of gold and silver stod about, giving forth rich perfumes. Before his bed bowed many eunuchs and salaamed many officers of state, richly appareled, His own clothes had vanished, but upon cushion near the bed was a rich robe of cloth of the finest fabric heavy with jewels. He cast his eyes at the hang ings of the bed and saw that they were | embossed with pearls and diamonds "Ha," said he to himself 50 I am Caliph am I? It is a pleasant dream All brought about, I suppose, by what I said to that merchant I entertained last night" Then he turned over in bed and shut his eyes.
 But the Grand vizier. who was pres ent, said "Oh, Commander of the Faith ful, it is time for Your Majesty to arise for morning prayers. The Sul- tans turrets are gilded with the day, the morning wears on apace." Hassan rolled over in bed and looked at the outfit. What does all this mean?" he cried. Am I awake or am I dream ing? Here, slave, bite my finger" The l l fingers in his month and bit it so hard Abou gave a cry of pain. T guess it is all right" he said, T am Commander of the Faithful. This is no dream" | Old Mesororu, the head eunuch, bow ed and said that His Majesty was not wonted to get up so late-that it was time for him to attend the divan and l hold his court; that the principal off cers of state were already assembled waiting for him. "Who are you talking to?" cried Abou. Don't you know that am the Caliph? None of your lip, old man; get my clothes ready. I don't
 know in the least who you are, but that I am the Caliph there is no doubt l They dressed Abou Hassan in gorgeous | and replendent robes and conducted him through one stately hall after another until they finally sat him upon the great divan in the Hall of Justice Haroun Alraschid all the while had been watching unseen behind an open work screen of ivory inlaid with gems the success of his little joke. He fol lowed to a secluded place in the great Hall of Justice to see the rest of it Hassan took his seat upon the divar and the Grand vizier, making a pro- found salaam, said:
 Commander of the Faithful. may Allah shower down blessings upon you may your slave speak?" If I really am the Caliph, as I appear to be- Thought Abou. though I don't in the least know how came to be so-I will make the most of it." And then to tbe Vizier: Let the officials and the great lords and the suitors appear" The doc, was thrown open and in came A troune | of nobles and Cadis and Effendfs and Muftis and all sorts of great peonle who bowed to the carpet before the divan, where sat Abou, looking ex 1 tremely serious and dignified.
 The Grand Vizer now began to read a long and prosy report upon the state l of the nation. Abou stood it until the Vizier had got about half way through Then, noticing -Cadi--a sort of police lma agistrate-sitting in the hall, man whom he knew by sight, he cried out Stop, I have an order to give the Cadi. T The Vizier was silent and the Cadi. go- ing to the foot of the divan, bowed his | face to, the ground. "Cadi," said Abou, you will go immediately to the mosque in the quarter of the merchants and | seize the Imaum and three old men, his cronies and companions, whom you will find with him. Give them each a bastinado of an hundred strokes. Then mount them. all four, clothed in rags,