Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-05-31
How He Found Them Out.

hence it happens that fools often prosper
when men of talent fail Here is an illus
tration
A poor simple peasant Of the name Of
Benhassen, being tired of his daily fare of
brown bread and water, resolved, whatever
might be the consequence, to procure tor
himself, by 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 de-
wise a plan to to put it into execution and
here his good fortune befriended him. The
wife Of rich ivory merchant in the neigh
bordood Of his cottage had during the alb
scnce of her husband lost a valuable dia-
mond ring She offered great rewards to
any person who could recover it, or give any
tidings of the jewel; but no one was likely
to do either, for three eunochs, of whose f.
deity she had not the smallest doubt, had
stolen it. The loss soon reached our glut-
toms ears. ~
'sI'll CO., cries he; 'sI'll say Lam a
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? I shall be treated as an inn
poster; my back and sides may say How
dye do ? to the bastinado,; but my hungry
stomach will be filed"
To concoct his scheme and put it in prac-
tice was but the work of moments. The
merchant still was absent. The lady, anx-
ious for the recovery of her ring, accepted
the offered terms. A sumptuous dinner was
prepared expensive plates Of every sort
were placed upon the sideboard. Allah
how he ate An attentive footman, one of
the secret thieves, filled him .sherbet; our
coniuror, gorged, exclaimed:
'sTis we'll [ have the first =
The servant trembled at the ambiguous
words. and ran to his companions.
seHe has found US out, dear friends" he
cried 'sHe is a cunning man. He said
he had the first. What could he mean but
me p
1T looks like it, p replied the second thief
"Pl) wait on him tonight; as yet you may
have mistaken his meaning. Should he
speak in the same strain, we must decamp.' =
At nighta supper fit. for the caliph was
set before the greedy Benhassen, who filled
until he could eat no more. The second
footman watched him all the while. When
satisfied, he rose exclaiming.: ~.
s'The seconds in my sack, and cannot es-
cape me-"
Away flew the affrighted robbcr.
1--WE are lostr' he cried. "Our heels
alone can save us p
''Not SO" answered the third eff we
fly and are caught, we lose our heads. III
tend him at tomorrows meals and should
he then speak as before, I'll own the theft tc
him, and offer some great reward to scream
us from punishment, and that he may deliv-
er the jewels to the lady without betrayine
u.s."
They all agreed On the morrow Ben
hassen's appetite was still the same. At last
quite full he exclaimed
"My task is done; the third, thank Allah
is herew
Cob" said the culprit, & behold the ring
but hide our shame, and you shall never wan
good fare again
''Be silentp' exclaimed the astonishet
Benhassen, who little thought that what h
had spoken Of his meals could have made th
plunderers betray themselves. BE silent
[ have it,
Some geese were feeding before the win
dow; he went out, and having seized thu
largest, forced the ring down its gullet, theI
declared that the largest goose had swallowed
the jewel The goose was killed, the dia
mond found. In the meantime, the ivor,
merchant returned, and was mcredulous.
Some crafty knave, O wife," said he
'eithor the thief himself, or his abettor, has
with well concerted scheme, wrought Oh
your easy faith. But I'll soon provide hin
with a meal like way"
No sooner said than done; between tw
dishes the mysterious fare was hidden. Th
false conjuror was told to declare what wa
the concealed cheer on pain Of being wei
beaten should he fail
Alasp' he muttercd OUT Benhassen
thou art a pig; thou art dead,' referring t
himself, and calling himself names,
He's right" the merchant cried. Civ
him purse Of gold [ honor talent such a
his" ~
It was pork in the dish. Thus our glut
ton, by three random speeches, gained thre
hearty meals, a heavy purse, comfort for life
and a most brilliant reputation as cunnin
man. ~
r r II