The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-05-17

'It,cannot be, o. King" was the reply.
| Il will hasten and see that bike is
here In five minutes"
But the G. S. didn't do anything of
the kind. He simply Joined the trio who
had gone before. and the four sat and
trembled and shivered and hoped the
Abound might change his mind and ride
a horse. When the Grand Secretary fail
ed to return His Majesty smashed up the
rest of the furniture and then descended
to the courtyard. The bikest was still
4 cavorting around, and the great man
beckoned to him and said:
You have done WELL but I think can
five you a few pointers. Hold my robe
and watch my smoke.
Has your most high majesty had any
experience with a bilSe?" asked the sub
ject.
Not a bit. never saw one till half an
| hour ago."
Then you'd better go slow. 1t might
be well to call a cabinet meeting before
making any experiments"
But my ministers are in hiding"
..They have hidden away. o King. be-
cause they do not wish to declare the
truth"
And what is the TRUTH"
1.-The truth, 8 wise and beneficent ruler,
is as plain as a bump on a log. II you
mount this bike you'll get the grand
throw-down."
what, a thing like that get the better
of the Abound OF Swat shouted his
majesty in tones of contempt and indig-
nation. STAND back, catifr, and give me
roomi"
He was given room. He needed more
than he thought for. Notwithstanding his
kingly dignity that bike gave him the
grand razzle-dazzle fipfiop in quick time
and good order. and II was ten minutes
by the watch before they knew whether
his neck was broken or only shortened
by four inches He asked what had hap
pened. and after thinking things over for
a while he said to the bikest:
THE four members Of my cabinet who
dared not tell me the truth shall get the
bounce. You alone dared to speak up.
and shall have a farm Of one hundred
slaves. Thus do punish deception and
reward truth"
The bikest had knelt to pour forth his
thanks when the Abound waved him aside
and continued:
That was only chapter one. As my
officers We're actuated by desire not
to see me make an ass of myself
hereby restore them to power. While
you spoke the truth, you also brought
here something greater than a king, and
saw you grin as I got the fiip-fop.
Having lessened my power and insulted
my dignity 1 recall my gifts and order
100 lashes well laid on
But. o, King. suppose I had also de-
clined to speak the TRUTH" protested
the man.
Then I'd have given you ao!'
But where il thy consistency. o, ruler
OF the kingdom of Swat? Should I be
rewarded and punished as well for the
same thing?'
"Well, no, that doesn't seem exactly
right" acknowledged his majesty, after
a little thought For having spoken the
truth will remit thy punishment"
But you would then punish me for
speaking the truth" persisted the bikest.
II see. Then I'll give you the hundred
lashes."
But. o. ruler. why reward your cabi-
net for an offense and punish me for
an attribute?"
Say, are you the only bikest in the
Kingdom Of Swat" asked the Abound
in anxious voice.
Thus far, the only one, Your Majesty"
Then take my purse and hump your
self, and I will see that never another
one crosses the line. When thing like
that can mix up truth, falsehood. Off
Gals, kings, facts and theories, it is no
wonder that my back aches and the
throne OF Swat is out of plumb