A TREASURY OF STORIES, JINGLES AND RHVMES.

wall by their long hair. The key dropped from her hand
and was stained with blood. She and Anne tried to rub it
off, but they could not cleanse it.

Then they heard a voice in the hall. Blue Beard had

come home! He at once asked for his keys. He saw the
stain, and said to Fatima, “In half an hour I will cut off
your head to hang with the others.”
' The two sisters looked in vain for help. Anne leaned
out the window thinking each cloud of dust was
some one coming to their rescue.* Blue Beard broke
open the door, and dragged Fatima out to cut off her
head ; when, just as he raised his sword, there was a shout,
and Fatima’s brothers rushed into the hall, and Blue
Beard’s head went off ina flash. Fatima’s life was saved,
but ever after she was careful about opening doors that
were locked.

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