Part 2 (2/2)

One day the queen sent for Aben Hassen the Wise ”Tell me,” said she, ”is it true that men say of you that you have discovered a hidden treasure such as the world never saw before?” And she looked at Aben Hassen so that his wisdom all crumbled away like sand, and he became just as foolish as other men

”Yes,” said he, ”it is true”

Aben Hassen the Wise spent all that day with the queen, and when he left the palace he was like a man drunk and dizzy with love Moreover, he had promised to show the queen the hidden treasure the next day

As Aben Hassen, like a man in a drea at the corner of the street The oldfrom a chain, and which he offered for sale

When Aben Hassen saw the talisman he knew very hat it was--that it was the fa Solomon the Wise If he who possessed the talisman asked it to speak, it would tell that man both what to do and what not to do

The Wise Man bought the talisman for three pieces of silver (and wisdom has been sold for less than that many a time), and as soon as he had the talisman in his hands he hurried home with it and locked himself in a room

”Tell me,” said the Wise Man to the Talisman, ”shall I marry the beautiful queen of the Black Isles?”

”Fly, while there is yet tio not near the queen again, for she seeks to destroy thy life”

”But tell me, O Talisman!” said the Wise Man, ”what then shall I do with all that vast treasure of the kings of Egypt?”

”Fly from it while there is yet chance to escape!” said the Talisain, for in the farther door, where thou hast not yet looked, is that which will destroy him who possesses the treasure”

”But Zadok,” said Aben Hassen; ”what of Zadok?”

”Fly from the monster while there is yet time to escape,” said the Talisman, ”and have noa net of death and destruction about thy feet”

The Wise Man sat all that night pondering and thinking upon what the Talis came he washed and dressed himself, and called the Demon Zadok to him ”Zadok,” said he, ”carryof an eye the Demon transported him to the steps of the palace

”Zadok,” said the Wise Man, ”give ht from under his clothes a wand, one-half of which was of silver and one-half of which was of gold The Wise Man touched the steps of the palace with the silver end of the staff Instantly all the sound and hum of life was hushed The thread of life was cut by the knife of silence, and in a moment all was as still as death

”Zadok,” said the Wise Man, ”transport ypt” And instantly the Demon had transported him thither The Wise Man drew a circle upon the earth ”No one,” said he, ”shall have power to enter here but theof the Demons of the Earth”

”And now, Zadok,” said he, ”I command thee to transport me to India, and as far from here as thou canst” Instantly the Demon did as he was commanded; and of all the treasure that he had, the Wise Man took nothing with hiolden money and a jar of silver round of India, he drew frolass

”Zadok,” said he, ”I command thee to enter this jar”

Then the Deht and implored the Wise Man to have mercy upon him; but it was all in vain Then the Derew dark overhead But all was of no avail; into the jar he o, and into the jar he went Then the Wise Man stoppered the jar and sealed it He wrote an inscription of warning upon it, and then he buried it in the ground

”Now,” said Aben Hassen the Wise to the Talis that I should?”

”No,” said the Talisolden money and the jar of silver reatest is evil in the least Thou fool! The treasure is cursed! Cast it all from thee while there is yet time”

”Yes, I will do that, too,” said the Wise Man So he buried in the earth the jar of gold and the jar of silver that he had brought with him, and then he staan his life all over again He bought, and he sold, and he traded, and by-and-by he becareat house, and in the foundation he laid the jar in which the De and handsome wife By-and-by the wife bore him a son, and then she died