Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1922-07-18
PIRATE AT HEART.
Present. Day Arab a Robber Like
His Fathers.
Nc Longer Employs Force, But Ger.
tainly Ranks High as a Shrewd
confidence Man."

The Arab is still pirate at heart.
Though his methods have changed
since the days when the pirate states
of Barbary dominated the Medtter-
ranean. he still has his eye on the
next mans purse. The willy old Arab
guide that Mr. Willard Price tells
about In Travel was in point of ayaFice
and guile worthy descendant of the
ancient eorsairs.
One evening, says Mr.. Price, while
was In n hotel at Tunis an English
man whom did not know came TO
my table. did you know that your
guide Is notorious characterw he
asked. s. esf
did not know It, Isknew only that
sOkba, my guide had chest like a
bantam's and step like q peaeock's.
You will do well 10 keep him." said
the EngIishlnan. HE has such
kingly manner that no can get you
into places that are closed TO other
guides. But don't let him fool you
with any Stories" .i
Then he told me how Olsba had be-
come notorious. A wealthy English fam
lily had come to Tunis In their private
yacht The blood OF Okba's pirate an
cestors at once began to stir In his
veins. He borrowed some magnificent
clothes and CARRIED his imposing fig
ure In them. Then he went to the
rich Englishman and told him that he
was the son of the bey--for the hey
OF Tunis still exists as q figurehead
under the French ,protectorate.
THE hey has, known of your COM
Ing. said Okba, land regrets exceed
lngly that 1t has been necessary for
him to leave the city. However, he
has requested that l personally con-
duct you through his palace and show
you the wonders of 'Tunis.''
Anyone may go through the less
private parts of the bey's palace, but
the visitors did not know It, They
We're battered at the thought OF being
conducted through tile bey's own man
sion by the bey's own soni
For two. days the proud young their
to the beydom" Toasted his guests in
the best hotels, but never In the pal
ace. He explained that the bey's
brother had just died and that the
palace was In mourning.
When the Englishman was about to
depart he said. Els there not some re-
turn we can make for your very kind
ness to us?"
"Your presence IN our city is more
than sufficient return" Okba replied
grandly.
"But surely you will permit.vus to
cover the bare cost Of our entertain
ment," and the Englishman proffered
three hundred francs.
Okba was terribly shocked and
panied. The sEnglishIhan, perceiving
how deeply he had pierced his hosts
sensitive soul, made profuse apologies
The "bey's son. gradually. softened.
II pardon your error" ne said ut last,
h"and I will let you do as you wish, but
not quite In the wayyou suggest. For
myself or my;father Gun accept Moth
ing. But my father has a chest for
the poor" M
The Englisnman pressed into Okba's
hands five thousand francs .for the
poor"
When, the hey learned that Okba
had posed as his son he sent him to
prison for three years. I remember
that. when 0kba took me through the
public parts of the bey's palace the
guards continually. joked him. Per-
haps they were inqulring after the
welfare OF the "bey's SON. and asking
how much the American swas TO con-
tribute to the poor "chest youths
Companion. u