The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-05-16
Anew Story About
the Great Caliph
BY RUTH GRAHAM


to see how his subjects were getting
on. that he might supply their deticien'
cies. right their wrongs aud be OF gen.
eral service to them. he one evening
passed by the shop Of a money changer
who was looking very lugpbriOus.
What troubles you?" asked the ca
liph, who was dressed In the garb Of a
vender OF dates and had Oh his arm
basket containing the fruit.
What need to tell you. Il poor date
,seller?" replied the other. "You have
an honest and sympathetic counte
nance, but you cannot help me-"
"Not with money surely" replied the
caliph. but with advice"
"Ah." said the money changer. there
Is great deal more advice In the
world than of money! Any one can
give advice. am overrun with 1t. es.
pecially about my children. There's
not one of my neighbors who cannot
tell me just how to train them. though
In their instructions have never had
any children of their own"
The calph was much impressed with
this information, which was new to
him. for no one would dare give him
advice as TO the training Of his chill
dren. Tell me yonr trouble he said
to the money changer. land If do not
help you will give you all the dates
have in my basket" So he told the
caliph what grieved him.
IL change money. / lend money" hr
said. land | receive money to keep for
others which ! loan again at interest
This morning three men came In. each
with hundred pieces of gold they
wished me to keep for them. took
the money and signed receipt for II
which they had drawn up. and by its
terms | was obliged to pay the gold
to them all together and not to any
one OF them separately.
Soon after they had gone away one
Of them returned saying that he wished
to count the money, for he feared there
were not the 800 pieces had receipted
for. because, after leaving. one Of his
party had said: That man is fool
! gave him for my share only eighty
pieces Of gold. and he will have to pay
me hundred pieces
II took the gold from my strong
box aud laid 1t on the table before this
honest man. and while we were count
ing il there came a knock M the door
There stood the two other depositors.
who said to me: 'lf our third man
comes to you and asks you to let him
count the money we left You do no;
permit him. He is a rogue told
them | would be very careful and tried
to get away from them to 20 back to
the man with the gold, but they IN
sisted on telling me why they suspect
ed their colleague: And by the time
they had finished and | got back to the
gone with the money. having stepped
out through window into the street
"He had not been gone long before
the other two men came back and said
they had an opportunity to use their
funds and demanded that ! should re-
turn them their deposit. have not so
much on hand: besides I must evpntu
ally lose 300 pieces of gold. They have
cited me to appear before the judge
tomorrow. and since ! cannot return
their deposit shall be sent to Jail"
When the caliph had heard this stor,
he frowned that there should be such
rascals IN Bagdad. But the matter
was one of law. and the good man new.
er interfered with legal processes ex
cept In wise judgments like Solomon oI
old. Il will not give you any advice.
he said to the money changer. 'and
since ] must keep my contract Will
leave my dates with you. But yon
will see Inc at the court tomorrow. and
I think | know a way to help you"
The money changer did not wish to
keep the dates. but the caliph would
not take them away with him.
The next day. when the money chang
or went to court. whom should he set.
ON the judges bench but the date vend.
err to whom he had confided his story
The two men who had demanded their
money entered, and the judge told
them to make known to him their com
plant against the money changer
They told the same story as the latter.
the Judge called for the re
ceipt which had been given for the
gold. Having read 1t, he asked Of the
Where Is the third man to whom
the money is to be paid"
I'VE do not know. He has made of
with II. but that Is not our fault II Is
the fault Of the money changer. Of
whom we demand the return 0f our
dues"
This receipt" said the Judge. ''com
pels the money changer to return the
funds left with him to all the deposit
prs and not to any one or two Of them
Bring the other map and
heNwill repay you.I
The two men hung their heads and
made no reply.
II believe" continued the caliph
that you are AS dishonest as he. but |
cannot prove II or would send you to
prison" Then. turning to the none,
hanger. he said. IF these men trouble
rou again appeal the case to the caliph.
Haroun-al- Glaschid."
The Judge stepped down from the
nonch ond 40 ha xvanf o,,f IN fha uf rax.t