The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-05-02


A lew desultory uetona,ions had
enilvened the situation. without, ap-
parentiy, affecting the result. '"rho
Nanishiny bridegroom." the story
teiiers caIleu MN. Inc bride had
varisned yet more mysteriousIy. She
had Simply become as not and NJ
ono knew why. Inc narrative made
al, eAceiient one Tor the listeners Ia
me narrow Damascan streets, the
hction u.ncrs infusIng into 1t 4 spice
of the supernatural. Else how could
they expia.n the climAx!
How could the lady have been
whisKed away, unless the substitute
bridegroom WAS III reaiity genie
or an aIrit? These mischievous and
uncanny ones IKE to assume human
shape. 10 1901 people, OF work havoc
III TIE homes Oh husbands, notably Old
gentlemen married to young brides.
lhis genie had the gift or appearing
anyhow. anywhere. First, he WAS =,
ragged dervish, then u wonderfully
nanusome young man. lie had mace
love TO the far young bride right
under the former husbands nose. tie
nad set them all ut cross purposes.
lac had played u merry mad game Of
hiuc -and seek.
Amau heard this version Of the
tale and his rage was frightful to be-
hold. His domestic affairs made =
theme for street corner entertain
ment, ~ the accompaniment OF a
kanoon. Tho story ut ms intelicities
listened 10 by the gaping multitude!
lntolerable! lie told Light OF Life
what he thought Of her. what y nne
guardian she mad been.
And Light of Life told him what
she Thought Of him. Fool! ever to
have divorced the young mink. And
then ever to have allowed himself to
be tied and gagged by the fellow.
she had the better Of the argument.
She always did have. Amad was
foolish to indulge IN recriminations.
lie retired frovi the field Of battle
with strange rumblings in his chest.
When he had recovered a little he
tried to induce authority to step In
and stop the story teller on the street
corner. but the zabit Of police
shrugged in lukewarm manner at
his request. Story-tellers had In
alienable rights. For six hundred
years they had been accorded privi-
leges. Besides, the hero Of this tale
was supposed to be a genie. one OF
those evil spirits of the air. and 1t
10 not wise to interfere In such cases.
1t might be displeasing to the genie.
He might, In revenge. haunt the "a
bits home. One has to be very polite
to these supernatural beings.
Amad scoffed at the official and ex-
planned when q genie was not q
genie, and why. but the head OF po-
lice only listened incredulously. The
rich diamond merchant could not eX-
plain the lady's disappearance. IL that
wasn't magic. the zabit was no judge
Of magic. and there was no such thing
as magic. And every true follower Of
the faith knew magic did exist. and.
like lightning. was apt to strike any
where. The visitor had better SO
home and make the best of 1t. Moth
cross a spirit OF the air. Perhaps some
day the aforesaid spirit would conde-
scend to return the young lady.
Return" He almost choked. The
husband was an American.
he protested, a dog OF a foreigner,
who had been to Mecca. The zabit
looked queer. No doubt this caller
was q little touched in the head by
his loss The diamond merchant went
on that he would prove his assertions
by Sadi, but no couldn't Just now.
The saddler was at present indis-
posed, unconscious. Some ono had
damaged his head. 1t
was a mystery how 1t had happened.
Perhaps. suggested the official. 1t
was more magic. The genie was
angry. Arc not the tales full OF in
stances or their wrath? And there
upon tho magistrate called before him
the guard at the gate and questioned
them. They, seeming which way the
wind blew, affirmed that from the
horses nostrils had come flames.
When he snorted. sparks flew. This
was the easiest way out Of predica-
nent for them. Perhaps. too. by this
time. they had almost persuaded
themselves there had been fiery indi-
cations. Ergo, the horse was en-
chanted, and, ergo again. you couldn't
he expected to stop an enchanted
horse. Thus they crawled out of a
hole.
Amad left, but not to go home. He
had already sent horsemen down the
way which Is the shortest way TO the
sea. He. himself, now followed these
horsemen and with others Of his
friends and satellites. They might
yet catch the fellow. or at least find
some trace OF him. They did. Amad.
after long, long ride. came up with
those ne nau ueSpatched earlier. They
had paused at the boundary line be-
yond which lies a nom Moslem zone.
In that independent liwa. over which
presides a Christian governor. ap-
pointed with the consent OF the
powers. any Christian Is safe. No
may harm him. Amad
night have proceeded further, but to
" hat purpose? Just to shake his fist
1t his enemy? II he did more than
hat the five powers, or one OF them,
would settle with him. He could not
'scape: he would be sought for. wher-
ever he was. and dragged forth. He
,ritted his teeth. Then there was a
Ditterer pill TO swallow.
Tied to bush at the very border
II the accurscd zone. the diamond
merchant saw the Star OF the Desert.
The noble animal looked pretty we'll
uckered out. though the young man
had selected an excellent grazing spot
or his equine friend. removed the
,addle and made him as comfortable
~ possible. Al Amad swung on the
'cene the Star was engaged In nib
sling languidly succulent blades on
he mountain OF holy associations.
A shot or two had graz him, but.
10 doubt, he would be right enough
oon. Fastened to the saddle nuttered
| bit Of white: II was n message has
lily scrawled on rather disreputable
'it Of paper. The diamond merchant