coming out of the house covered with blood, and in
his hand a bloody dagger. The Jew was arrested and tried, but with
covered head he swore by his forefathers and children that he was
innocent. Omar would not condemn him as none of the witnesses had seen
the Jew do the deed, and until further evidence had been given to
prove his guilt the case was adjourned. Spies and detectives, unknown
to anybody, were put to track the murderers. After a time they were
discovered, condemned, put to death, and the Jew liberated.

KALAIDJI AVRAM OF BALATA

Balata, situated on the Golden Horn, is mostly inhabited by Jews of
the poorer classes, who make their livelihood as tinsmiths, tinkers,
and hawkers.

Here, in the early days when the Janissaries flourished, there lived a
certain tinsmith called Kalaidji Avram. Having rather an extensive
business, his neighbors, especially those who lived nearest, were
always complaining of the annoying smoke and disagreeable odor of
ammonia which he used in tinning his pots and pans.

Opposite Avram's place the village guard-house was situated, and the
chief, a Janissary, often had disputes with Avram about the smoke.
Avram would invariably reply: "I have my children to feed and I must
work; and without smoke I cannot earn their daily bread."

The Janissary, much annoyed, cultivated a dislike for Avram and a
thirst for revenge.

It happened that a Jew one day came to the Janissary and said to him:
"Do you want to make a fortune? if so, you have the means of doing
this, provided you will agree to halve with me whatever is made."

The Janissary, on being assured that he had but to say a word or two
to a person he would designate and the money would be forthcoming,
accepted the conditions. The Jew then said: "All you have to do is to
go up to a Jewish funeral procession that will pass by here to-morrow
on its way to the necropolis outside the city, and order it to stop.
It is against the religion of the Jews for such a thing to happen, and
the Chacham (rabbi) will offer you first ten, then twenty, and finally
one hundred and ten thousand piasters to allow the funeral to proceed.
The half will be for you to compensate you for your trouble and the
other fifty-five thousand piasters for me."

This, as the Jew had told him, seemed very simple to the Janissary.
The next day, true enough, he beheld a funeral, and immediately went
out and ordered it to stop. The Chacham protested, offering fi