The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-05-21
now HE FOUND THEM OUT.

how HE FOUND THEM OUT.
A word spoken at random has often proved OF
more utility than the best concerted plans; hence
il happens that fools often prosper when men OF
talent fail. Here is an illustration.
Door simple peasant, of the name Of Benhas-
sen, being tired Of his daily fare of brown bread
and wafer resolved, whatever might be the CON
sequence, to procure for himself, 10y hook or by
crook. even at the expense of broken head, three
sumptuous meals Having taken the courageous
and noble resolution, the next thing was to devise
plan to put ii into execution; and here his good
fortune befriended him. The wife of a rich ivory
merchant in the neighborhood of his cottage, had
during the absence of her husband, lost valuable
diamond ring. She offered great rewards to any
person who could recover it, or give any tidlngs
Of the iewe but no one likely to do either,
for three eunichs, of whose fidelity she had not
the smallest doubt had stolen it. The loss soon
reached glutton's ears.
nI'l co." cries he; I'll say l am conjuror and
that will discover where the gem is hidden, on
condition of first receiving three splendid meals.
/ shall fail, It's true. What then? l shall be
treated as an imposter; my back and sides may
say How dye do? to the bastinado, but my hun
gry stomach will he filled"
= To concoct his scheme and rut it in practice
was but the work of moments. The merchant
coyery Of the ring, accepted the preferred terms.
A sumptuous dinner was prepared; expensive
plates ofeyery sort we're placed upon the sideboard.
A lah how he ate An attentive footman, one
of the secret thieves. filed him shcIDet; our con-
juror, gorged, exclaimed
"Tis we'll have the first"
The servant trenbled at the ambiguous words,
and to his companions
ale has found out, dear friends he cried -
"He is cunning man. He said he had the first.
What could he mean but me-"
g ut locks like it," replied the second thief
Oil wait on him to night; as yet You may have
mistaken his meaning. Should lie speak in the
same strain, must decamp"
At night supper fit for the caliph set be-
fore the greedy Benhasser, who filed until he
could eat no more. The second footman watch
ed him all the while. When satisfied he rose,
exclaiming
THE seconds in my sack, and cannot escape
me-"
Away flew the at1rghted rohher.
1--WE are lost?' lie cried. Our heels alone can
save u.s."
Not So" answered the third. "If we fly and
are caught, we lose our heads. I'll tend him at
to-morrows meals; and should he then speak as
before III own the theft to him, and offer some
great reward to screen lis from punishment, and
that he may deliver the ewel to the lady without
betrayihg u.s."
They all agreed On the morrow Benhassen's
appetite was still the same. At last quite full he
exclaimed:
"My task is done; the third, thank Allah is
herer'
"Oh," sal the cul pitt, "Lehold the ring; but
hide our shame, and you shall never want good
fare again"
BE silent" exclaimed The asonished Benhas-
sen, who little thought that what he had spoken
Of his meals could have made the plunderers be-
tray themselves. BE silent have it,"
Some geese were feeding before the window he
went out, and having seized the largest forced.
the ring down its gu!let, then declared that the
largest goose bad swallowed the Jewell The
goose was killed, the diamond found In the
meantime, the husband returned, and was incred-
ulous.
'Somc crafty knavc, o WIFE" said he; "eilher
the thief himself, or his abbettor, has, with a
faith. But III soon provide him with meal
likeway."
No sooner said than done; between two dishes
the mysterious fare was hidden. The false con-
juror told to declare what was the concealed
cheer on pain of being well beaten should he fail
"Alas :" lie muttered out, "Benhassen, thou art
pig; thou art Dead referring TO himself, and
calling himself names.
"He's right" the merchant cried Give him
purse of gold; honor talents such as his"
1t was pork in the dish. Thus our c!utton, by
three random speeches, gained three hearty meals
heavy purse, comfort for life and most bril-
liant reputation as a cunning man.