South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-09-08
A Madison Square arabian Night
BY o. Henry
BY o. Henry

talned photograph or a woman.
The other contained an interminable
letter, over which Chalmers hung,
absorbed for a long time. The letter
was from another woman. and -
contained poisoned Darbs. sweetly
dipped IN honey. and feathered with
tnnuenaoes concerning the photo
graphed woman.
Chalmers tore this letter into a
thousand bits and began 20 wear out
his expensive rug by striding back
= and forth upon Il. Thus an animal
from the jungle acts when 10 Is
Gagged, and thus a Gagged man acts
when he IL housed IN a jungle OF
doubt.
BY and by the restless mood was
overcome. The rug was not an en-
chanted one. For sixteen feet he
could travel along r.. three thousand
miles was beyond its power 70 aid.
Phillips appeared. He never en-
tered. ne invariably appeared. like
a well-o!led genie.
VIII you dine here, sir. or outT'
he asked.
Here" said Chalmers. and in
half an hour" He listened glumly
10 the January blasts making an
AeoIian trombO Of the empty
street.
Wait" he said 20 the disappear
ing genie. "AE I came home across
the end OF the square / saw many
men standing there IN rows. There
was one mounted upon something.
talking WHY do those men stand
In rows. and why are they there?"
They are homeless men, sir" said
Phillips. The man standing on
the box tries 20 get lodging for them
for the night People come around
10 listen and give him money. Then
ne sends as many as the money will
pay for to some lodging-house That
is why they stand in rows; they get
sent 10 bed in order IA they come.
by the time dinner is served,
said Chalmers. have one Of these
men here He will dine with me"
-W-w-which" began Phillips,
stamnerlng for the first time during
his service.
Chalmers You might see that he
is reasonabl sober-and a certain
amount OF cleanliness will not be
held against him. That Is all
IL was an unusual thing for Carson
Chalmers TO play the Caltph. But
on that night he felt the inefficacy
OF conventional antidotes TO melan-
choly Som ething vanton and eyre
-~gious. something high-fiavored and
Arabian, he must have TO tighten
his mood.
on the half hour Phillips had m
ished his duties as slave OF the lamp.
The walters from the restaurant be-
low had Whisked aloft the delectable
dinner. The dining table. laid for
two. glowed cheeriiy In the glow or
the shaded candles.
And now Phillips, as though he
ushered cardinal-or held IN
charge a burglar-wafted in the
shiverinR guest who had been hailed
from the line or mendicant dodgers.
II is a common thing TO call such
men wrecks; ~ the comparison be
used here Il n the specific one OF a
dereiict come 20 grief through FIRE.
Even yet some hickering combustion
illuminated the drifting hulk. His
face and hands had been recently
vvashed-a rite insisted upon by
Phillips as memorial TO the
slaughtered conventions. In the
caudle-liRht he stood. a flaw In the
decorous fittings OF tAe apartment.
His face was a siclSly white. covered
almost TO the eyes with a stuoole
the shade OF red Irish settlers coat.
rPhilnps comb had failed 20 control
tho paIe brown hair. long matted
and conformed 10 the contour OF a
constantly worn hat. His eyer were
fun OF a hopeless, tricky 1ehance
IKE that seen in a ours that is cor
nered by his tormentors. His shah
h.. coat was buttoned high. but
quarter inch OF redeeming collar
showed above II. Hi1 manner was
-sinEularly free from embarrassment
when Chalmers rose from his char
across the round dining table.
III YOU will oblise me-" said the
host. Il viii be glad TO have 70 u
company at dinner"
MY name Is Plumer. said the
highway guest. in harsh and aggres-
sive tones. IF you're like me. you
ike 10 know the name Of the party
you're dining with.
I WAS going 70 say" continued
ChaInaers somewhat hastily. that
mine Is Chalmers. Will you sit op-
Plvnner. Of the rufhed plumes.
bent his knee for Philips 70 slidS the
chair beneath him. he had an
air OF having sat at attended boards
refore. Phillips Get out the ancho-
vies and olives.
"Goodt" barked Plumer; going 20
be in courses, 10 Il? AL right my
iovial ruler OF Bagdad. I'm your
scheherezads all the way 70 the
toothpickE. You're the first Caliph
with a genuine Oriental favor I've
struck since frost. What luck! And
I was forty-third in line. finished
counting Just as your welcome EN-
issary arrived 20 hid me 70 the feast
] had about as much chance OF get
ting a bed tonight as I have OF be
ing the next president. How Will
YOU have the sad story OF my life,
Mr.. Al Raschid-R chapter win
each course or the whole edition
With the cigars and coffse2"
The situation does ont seem
novel one 20 you" said Chalmers
with a smile.
by the chin whiskers OF the pro
phet-no," answered the guest.
New York's as full OF cheap Haroun
a. Raschids as Bagdad IS OF heas.
-,I've been held up for my story with
a loaded meal pointed at my head
twenty times. Catch anybody IN
New York giving YOU anything for
nothing. They spell curiosity and
charity with the slime set OF building
blocks. Lots OF EN- Will stake you
10 A dime and chop suey. and a few
OF 'em will play Caliph 70 the tune
or a top sirloin: but every one OF
EN- viii stand over YOU til they
screw your autobiography out OF YOU
With foot notes. appendix and un-
v,uhtfshed fragments. on. ] know