The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-10-12
%. SOMERSET A,

shall use my Influence at court to have
you slain as an impostor."
When Ahmed heard these words he
was filed with dismay, and looking
down upon the ground, as If in deep
meditation, he thought Of his daught-
er. vino had brought this trial upon
him.
"0h, woman - he exclaimed, ''into
what trouble will you bring man even
having death threatened to himF'
Now, it happened that the wife Of
the jeweler had Secreted the ring, but
fearing detection she had sent slave
to follow her husband, and when the
slave heard Ahmed speak, she fed,
full Of terror, to her mistress and
cried
"Dear lady, you are discovered. In
the market-place is an astrologer, who
has said woman is TIE cause of this
trouble, and no doubt he will betray
you"
The guilty wife was as much inn
pressed as her slave was, and hasten
ing TO Ahmed she cried:
"Oh, be merciful to me and will
restore the jewel p
Ahmed heard this confession in
amazement, bat seeing loophOle of
escape, he frowned upon the suppliant
and told her where to place the jewel,
promising that if she complied, sus-
picion should not fall upon her.
The grateful woman placed purse
of gold into the cobbler's hand and
hurrying home, put the stone under
the pillow that her husband used to
sleep upon.
Next day the jeweler came to Ahmed,
and the latter said:
$50 home. Under your pillow lies
the stone"
impossible v' the jeweler cried, as
he hurried off.
But finding it, as the cobbler had
said, he hastened back and gave him
two hundred gold pieces. Then Ahmed
went home and gave the money to
Sittara.
"There is money! he said, "but
now will not risk my life again.
Heaven has been kind to me this time" I"
"Nay ~ cried Sittara, "you must go
again. Luck will befriend you, and if
you do not go, will leave you"
So, the next day, Ahmed again went
forth. But now his fame had spread
through the market, and ne was not
molested. Soon through the pres, a
woman, handsomely clad, and veiled,
pushed her way.
"Good astrologer,r she said, 81 have
jnst come from the baths, and hand
some diamond necklace that wore
has been taken. Find il for me, and I
will give you fifty pieces of gold"
Poor Ahmed was again bewildered.
As he glanced down, he saw that the
woman had torn her veil, and leaning
towards her he said In low tone:
''Look down at the rent, madam :"
To his amazement the woman sud-
denly turned and fled, but soon she
returned with the necklace, saying:
Good man, take your reward;
When l went TO the baths, placed
my jewels in rent in the wall near the
floor for safe-keeping. But / forgot
when LEFT where they were. You are
indeed gifted. Nothing is hidden from
you. am grateful to you, most learn
ed one 90
Ahmed could scarcely believe his
ears; but hurrying home he gave the
gold to Sittara.
''You shall not make me venture
forth again" he said.
"Oh, yes" she cried ''fortune awaits
you now. The people fear you and will
help YOU"
In the meantime it happened that
forty chests of gold and precious gems
had been stolen from the kings treas
ury, and the thief could not be discov-
cred. The court astrologer and all the
ministers and wise men were at their
wits end what to do, when the fame OF
the wonderful Ahmed reached the pal
ace.
Suddenly, in the morning, while
Ahmed refused to go out, and Sittara
was trying to persuade him, band Of
soldiers appeared before the door and
asked Ahmed to accompany them.
The poor man felt that he was going
to his death, and babe Sittara adieu.
She pretended 10 be sorry, but in her
heart she was wicked, and was really
glad to be freed; for she hoped that
now she might go to court, where her
beauty would win the queens favor
ard make her an attendant
What was Abmed's surprise then,
when he reached the palace, to be led
into grand apartment, where the
chief astrolOger came to meet him and
led him 10 the seat of honor.
AHMED p' he said, "great and ex-
alted one, child of the people, the
mighty are put down and the lowly
exalted. The ways of Heaven are in
scrutable. the stars hold their courses,
though man fails to read them"
Then he proceeded TO tell the cobbler
Of the lost treasure; of his own inabil-
ity to discover the thief and his desire
that Ahmed should take the honor of
bringing the culprit TO justice.
When he had finished, and before
Ahmed could answer, the great coun-
selors came into the room and stood
aside while the king himself entered.
Ahmed was led before the monarch,
where he prostrated himself. waiting
to bear his doom.
The king raised him, saying:
awe hear Of thy wonderful powers,
learned Ahmed tell US now who stole
our treasure"
"Oh, most mighty king, not one
man, but forty, have stolen the chests.
But give me forty days to make my
calculations, and then you shall hear
me.n
'sBe it so. But if at the end of that
time you have not found the guilty
one, you shall die"
NJ ool.hIor ,.-o,,f hnrna 10 Giifarn