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IT SHOULD HAPPEN TO US STORIES NO. 2

It came to pass that one of his informers told Sultan Das Daaro of the indiscretions of his favorite wife Delicia with the captian of his private guard, so he summoned De- licia before him.

She noticed his stern countenance and her mind was swift when he told her of his problem. "If a beloved and trusted subject of mine behaved in a manner that I might interpret as a betrayal of me, how should that subject be punished"? he asked her.

him.

"Embarrass the culprit with kindness," she counseled "Have the court maidens dress the guilty one in the most luxurious and ravishing of garments, in flowing silk- en gowns and costly gems. Fragrant perfumes should anoint the guilty person and the offender should be given a lux- urious private quarter in the harem and the girls should shower this poor unfortunate with all the treatments that delight a woman's heart."

"Your wish shall be carried out," said the Sultan. "Send the court maidens to me." Delicia smiled to herself. Soon twenty of the lovliest maidens of the court ap- proached the Sultan. "You girls will arm yourselves with silken scarves," he instructed them, "any you will sieze and bind the captain of my private guard. You will trans- port him to the harem and dress him in the most luxurious and ravishing of feminine garments, adorn him with costly gems and anoint him with your most alluring and provoca- tive femimine perfumes. He will then be locked in your quarters in a private room and you will pluck out his beard and tame his brows. Make his face to appear as that of a woman and so tend him that he appears as a woman at all times. You will shower upon him all the treatments that delight a woman's heart and, should he endeavor to escape this treatment, you may bind him, imprison him and tease him in any manner you choose. He must become one of you for three years. Only Delicia is to be denied access to his presence."

And the women did as their Sultan had commanded.....

A.B.-L.A