Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 225: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

a Se, SM - A MOOR THERE WAS. what governor do not like, and he do it very nice indeed—nobody know, and gov- ernor not bothered at all. Hamzah can sing mighty fine verses, too—oh, him very clever man! | “But job governor want done now is not kill—it much more difficul’ job, very impor- tance! You see, governor he very big man and he need lots of money. Him need much money right now. He have hear that there is much money in town of Azila just now, and he have suddenly remember tiuat Sheikh of Azila have not pay him taxes for long time; so he send to Hamzah and tell him to go at once and collect taxes of Azila. ‘ Governor is in mighty big hurry, and if Hamzah not go right away, he lose job sure, for governor he damquick kind of man what listen to nothing. I be afraid my friend is in very bad state indeed!”’ Gibilo got up sadly and removed the tea- pot, the empty cups, and the little flat board on which all meals were served in the mid- dle of the floor. Steve lit a cigarette and looked at me thoughtfully. ‘‘ Bill,” he mused, “ the sad tale we have just heard has affected me greatly. I positively feel for this poor man Hamzah—lI have a real yearning to help him—especially as he is such a dear friend of Gibilo’s. I know very little about taxes, having neither collected them or paid them. But just as a mere matter of curiosity I should like just now to see a town that has a lot of money in it. ““] have heard of Azila; ‘about a day and night’s ride from Tan- gier—and the idea of Azila having a lot of money in it is preposterous! not to be tolerated. His nobs the governor is quite right—Azila should be made to give up instantly! In fact, now that I think of it, I am quite angry at Azila—keeping back its lawful taxes and getting a clever man like Hamzah into trouble!” He turned to the Moor. ‘“ Gibilo, stop hitting that pipe for a moment aad listen to me! Doesn’t that shaven head of yours ever think of anything? Why don’t you yourself go to Azila in place of Hamzah and do this little job for him? You can take his papers—or whatever he uses, his 2 »y Google I think we might do something. it is a village It is simply — 507 knives and poisons, perhaps—and the gov- ernor need know nothing about it.’’ “Qh, my dear friend Americano!” Mr. Gibilo cried, embracing Steve according to the Moorish custom. “I have never think of that! It is idea, and I do it! I go right away to Hamzah, and I start for Azila to- night!” “That’s the stuff!” Steve approved. “And, my dear Gibilo, what do you think —we are going, too!” . Mr. Gibilo looked suddenly dubious. “ But, my dear friends,” he said, ‘‘ I do not think it is that you can come. It is not safe for American mens in Azila—Sheikh of Azila is very bad man indeed—”’ “ Gibilo,” Steve interrupted, “ tell all that stuff to yourself and the tourists. We gave you the main idea, and we are in on the deal. Oh, yes, we go to Azila with you, Mr. Gibilo.” As Gibilo was about to reply, a small Moorish boy came tumbling through the hole in the wall and filled our room with shrill Arabic noises. We stood him on his head in an effort to calm him; we gently thumped him and twisted him about; then, in despair, Steve laid him flat on his back on a rug and sat upon him. This had the de- sired effect, and the youth became quiet enough for Gibilo to ask questions. The answers called for much more noise. “The very small boy say,” Gibilo ex- plained, “‘ that he have been sent to Mr. Steve by custom-house. The Gibraltar boat have come in and it have brought something for him, and custom-house peo- ple want him to come at once for they have no idea.” Steve stood up, thus enabling the squirm-. ing messenger to do likewise. “ All right, Gibilo,” he said; “‘ you go and fix that Azila business with Hamzah, while we go and re- lieve the tension at the custom-house. ieee us in the Spanish café.” Preceeded by the small boy, Steve and I at once set out for that most remarkable of institutions, the Moorish Custom-house, which does business in a shed at the shore end of the pier. Its methods are strange and wonderful, and in itself it consists most- ly of one long counter, behind which recline five fat and aged Moors who pass the time Ori gin THE OHIO STATE U UN ERE DOO S CO