The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-22
(san Francisco Chronicle

One day in summer when h heat
was intense the great caliph OF Bag
dad sent Il messenger to summon the
Grand Nizier to h royal palace to
play pinochle. The secretary of state
came reluctantly in response to the
Highness. He had just received It'd
ings that h horse which had won
the Babylonian handicap at odds of so
to /, and upon which he had wager
ed a bag of sequins. had been disquali-
fed by the Judges. thereby causing
him to lose not only his fifty bags of
scquins but the bag which he had
h royal presence in anything but a
pleasant frame of mind.
However. as became a loyal subject
and well-paid prime minister, he sat
down III an apparent state of cheerful
mindedness to see if he might not re-
coup his losses. in part at least, at the
expense of his imperial master.
To his intense disgust the cards
were against him and he lost game
after game until he was a full months
salary to the bad. Finally his royal
opponent suggested that they would
play one game double Or quits"
This pleased the worthy minister who
felt that it was time for his luck to
turn. To his surprise and chagrin
nv Sdilph ~ OSCSuSu w MlIIc Low
trumps. 100 aces. double pinochle. so
kings. 60 queens. 40 jacks and every
thing else that was of any use. The
grand vizier threw down his cards in
disgust. eAclaiming: Its no use. I
can't win. Luck is against me-"
Whats that?" said his majesty.
There is no such thing as luck.
Whereupon the loser grew Wrothy in
deed. NO such thing as luck? Why,
it's like taking candy from Il baby
to play pinochle with YOU if the cards
break even," was the fiery reply.
Thereupon His Oriental Highncss
himself grew angry, and. fixing his
royal eyc upon the cnraged minister.
he exclaimed: Know you. sirrah.
merit oft loses its just and proper re-
ward. Unwilling to acknowledge my
superior skill at this ancient pastime,
which Moses often played with Aaron
in the dawn of history. and not being
possessed of enough greatness Of
mind to enable you to come out. man
fashion, and say candidly what you
know to be true, that my skill sur
passes your own, o fall back upon
the time-worn excuse Of being out of
luck. Look you, sirrah"-and at this
stage Of the proceedings the eyes Of
His Oriental Majesty flashed fire
ttoo long l have brooked II up
pish Ways and have allowed you liber-
ties not enjoyed by any other subject,
but, sirrah, by the beard. of the prop
het. this is the end"
The frightened Vizier attempted to
explain. but h enraged caliph would
listen to no excuses or apologies.
Look you." he said. unless you prove
to me before the setting Of the sun
that such a force exists in the world
as luck ! shall cause you head to be
stricken from your body by the public
executioner as a solemn warning to
all foolish sports VINO al see no force
in the world but luck and who. like
YOU. are unwilling to believe that 9TH
ers possess skill superior to their own.
Go. sir. and remember that the sun
sets at n quarter after the seventh
hour" The vizier turned to go. and
as he did SO the Caliph. who was real
~ q. just man, called him back. 1T is
only just to you.'' he said. l shall dou-
BILE your salary and shall invest you
with the insignia of the ancient and
honored Order Of the William Goat"
Whereupon his Oriental Majesty
drew the silken robes of state about
his sacred person and strobe haught-
lily from the room. not forgetting to
pocket the money he had won from
his detected Minister Of State.
The latter stood for a few moments
in deep reverie when. noting. al he
that the sun was fast sinking. he
made haste to leave. His first thought
was fight, but he knew that such q
course was useless. Then he thought
of begging off and asking forgiveness.
but pride and a good understanding of
the character of the captain forbade
such procedure.