rsepeti.' As the
knots were loosened, the louder did the beadle in despair call out the
charmed words in the hopes of arresting them. No sooner was the beadle
freed than he asked God to bring down calamity on the destroyers of
the charm that was to remove his hunch. On hearing the beadle's tale,
the guards understood how their prisoner had secured his liberty, and
sent word to the Chief Detective. This gentleman told the Grand Vizier
of the unheard-of cunning of the escaped prisoner. The Grand Vizier
was amused and also very anxious to see this Chapkin Halid, so he sent
criers all over the city, giving full pardon to Halid on condition
that he would come to the Sublime Porte and confess in person to the
Grand Vizier. Halid obeyed the summons, and came to kiss the hem of
the Grand Vizier's garment, who was so favorably impressed by him that
he then and there appointed him to be his Chief Detective.

HOW COBBLER AHMET BECAME THE CHIEF ASTROLOGER

Every day cobbler Ahmet, year in and year out, measured the breadth of
his tiny cabin with his arms as he stitched old shoes. To do this was
his Kismet, his decreed fate, and he was content--and why not? his
business brought him quite sufficient to provide the necessaries of
life for both himself and his wife. And had it not been for a
coincidence that occurred, in all probability he would have mended old
boots and shoes to the end of his days.

One day cobbler Ahmet's wife went to the Hamam (bath), and while there
she was much annoyed at being obliged to give up her compartment,
owing to the arrival of the Harem and retinue of the Chief Astrologer
to the Sultan. Much hurt, she returned home and vented her pique upon
her innocent husband.

"Why are you not the Chief Astrologer to the Sultan?" she said. "I
will never call or think of you as my husband until you have been
appointed Chief Astrologer to his Majesty."

Ahmet thought that this was another phase in the eccentricity of woman
which in all probability would disappear before morning, so he took
small notice of what his wife said. But Ahmet was wrong. His wife
persisted so much in his giving up his present means of earning a
livelihood and becoming an astrologer, that finally, for the sake of
peace, he complied with her desire. He sold his tools and collection
of sundry old boots and shoes, and, with the proceeds purchased an
inkwell and reeds. But this, alas! did not constitute him an
astrologer, and he explai