inds of the day,
in company with his wife, at first one, and then more gold and silver
pieces, and now and then a precious stone.

HOW CHAPKIN HALID BECAME CHIEF DETECTIVE

In Balata there lived, some years ago, two scapegraces, called Chapkin
Halid and Pitch Osman. These two young rascals lived by their wits and
at the expense of their neighbors. But they often had to lament the
ever-increasing difficulties they encountered in procuring the few
piasters they needed daily for bread and the tavern. They had tried
several schemes in their own neighborhood, with exceptionally poor
results, and were almost disheartened when Chapkin Halid conceived an
idea that seemed to offer every chance of success. He explained to his
chum Osman that Balata was "played out," at least for a time, and that
they must go elsewhere to satisfy their needs. Halid's plan was to go
to Stamboul, and feign death in the principal street, while Osman was
to collect the funeral expenses of his friend Halid.

Arriving in Stamboul, Halid stretched himself on his back on the
pavement and covered his face with an old sack, while Osman sat
himself down beside the supposed corpse, and every now and then
bewailed the hard fate of the stranger who had met with death on the
first day of his arrival. The corpse prompted Osman whenever the coast
was clear, and the touching tale told by Osman soon brought
contributions for the burial of the stranger. Osman had collected
about thirty piasters, and Halid was seriously thinking of a
resurrection, but was prevented by the passing of the Grand Vizier,
who, upon inquiring why the man lay on the ground in that fashion, was
told that he was a stranger who had died in the street. The Grand
Vizier thereupon gave instructions to an Imam, who happened to be at
hand, to bury the stranger and come for the money to the Sublime
Porte.

Halid was reverently carried off to the Mosque, and Osman thought that
it was time to leave the corpse to take care of itself. The Imam laid
Halid on the marble floor and prepared to wash him prior to interment.
He had taken off his turban and long cloak and got ready the water,
when he remembered that he had no soap, and immediately went out to
purchase some. No sooner had the Imam disappeared than Halid jumped
up, and, donning the Imam's turban and long cloak, repaired to the
Sublime Porte. Here he asked admittance to the Grand Vizier, but this
request was not granted until he told t