The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-18

owner went confidently on toward the palace, and Shom kept repeating over and over, under his breath, the thing that Quirn had said concerning kings.
 Having come to the palace he shrewdly varied his tactics, remembering having once heard that King Zoto owed his being to that very god of vagrant impulse who had given the purse, so that the image of Quirn was we'll seen in the royal halls. So to the question of the doorkeepers he made answer: "I am Shom of Dumeen, and come from Quirn to prophecy before the King" This astounding news was passed from mouth to mouth along the corridors of the palace until it reached the ear of Zoto himslf.
 "What's that you are all mumbling?' he dmanded peevishly, for the money lenders had become uncommonly insistent and had refused further advances, thus putting him in a wonderfully bad humor.
 "Sir, Shom of Dumeen, has come direct from Quirn to prophecy unparalleled good fortunes for your royal and illustrious housev' squeaked one timorous courtier hopefully, for Zoto had but just broken a
 
 greedily upon any straw that might save him from further disfavor.
 "Shom? Shom? Who the devil i. Shom?" spluttered the King, adding hur riediy as he rather grudgingly remembered his indebtedness-"But no matter! If in deed he comes from Quirn we will heal what he has to say!'
 Accordingly, Shom was brought into tht Kings presence with great respect, for tn, entire court had come to wits end, ant were hoping that he might, in some way relieve the tensity of the situation. Out o1 the corner of his eye Shom say the beau tiful Zeni sitting by her father, industriousl, engaged in teasing young peacock. Sht looked up in languid interest, but he wisely refused to meet her eyes, desiring to remain in full possession of his senses just then but secretely promising himself the pleasure of taking leave of them at a more auspici ous time. So he looked catlike at the King and awaited his command.
 "Well! We'll! Start to prophesyv growled Zoto ungraciously, and Shom, gulp ing once or twice at the thunderous echoes of his unfamiliar voice in the dad silence 
 plere was shattered at unexpe fed nom ert. by piercing shrieks from the unhappy bird toward wtcm the Princess fa. again di rected her earnest endeavors. At these times Shom was obliged to shout so tha, the King could hear, but as he never knew just when the peacock would leave of screaming he often heard himself shouting into the suddenly returned silence, where at the King would scrowl and Shom would blush Lightly. However, it was no use to fail after having come so far, so he went bravely ahead, and this is the sro stance of his speech:
 70 King" he began, q come not witt prophecy alone, for prophecy is ofter a muchness in the mouth but nothingnes: in the stomach! I come with ,rophecy an; fulfillment in the same hand. 1 bear that of which god, even Quirn, has said Many a king would gladly give much to posses. it. It is small in size bat mere potert than the contents of all your treasure chests, and in return for it I ask only te have certain title bestowed upon me-
 Now all this time the King had beer looking intently at Shom's closed hand, fol ke was even a thought more curious thar .hc asl.l run of kings, ard, besides. :: title is the very simplest thing in all .hs world for king to give. So he com manded that the point be come to at once but Shom slyly intimated that the matte, was one fit for royal ears alone, and ven tured to suggest that the court be dismissed that he might reveal the secret in greater privacy. The King by this time was fairl, fidgeting with impatience, and at his wore