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


know how long have to live"
The thieves had been unable to leave
the city for fear Of detection, so they
kept sharp lookout for ali the means
taken to discover them. One OF them
happened TO be in the crowd before the
palace when Ahmed declared that there
were forty, and he ran in CONSERVATION
to the chief
"yye are discovered by this newly
risen astrologer, who declares that We
are forty in number"
This Ahmed is a shrewd fellow" I"
answered the chief. Perhaps he only
guessed II because there were forty
chests. But we will watch him, for he
has made some strange discoveries"
So when evening fell, one was dis
patched to the terrace Of Ahmed to
listen to what he might say to his
daughter. When he took his place,
the cobbler had just finished his even
ing worship and received from the girl
date, which he placed in a covered
bowl.
"Tbere is one, Sittara,n be said, 'but
there are still thirty-nine.p
In terror the man fled, and reported
what he had heard. His comrades did
not believe him, so the next evening
two went at the same hour. Ahmed
was again receiving the date and said !:
Tonight there are two, Siitara-"
So this went on, night after night,
each evening another ofthe gang going
till all forty went on the last night.
Tonight all forty are here, Sittara, /"
the cobbler said.
Only then would the chief give In,
and he said to his men, when they had
departed;
1--WE must take this man into our
confidence, and secure his silence by
dividing the treasure with him.
Accordingly, early in the morning,
they all went to Ahmed's house and
knocked, saying:
"Come out Come out -
The trembling man thought the
guard had come, and cried:
"Wait / know for what you have
come. 1t is wrong and infamous ~
When he appeared, the terrified
thieves fell at his feet and cried:
"we will give you gold if you prom
Use to say nothing more about it! ~
"Say nothingp' the still ignorant
Ahmed cried, "I'll tell the world it IS
Infamous ~
Then the leader said:
Well restore the treasure, only save
us, and, besides, we will reward you
well ~
Then Ahmed understood. He gave
them commands, and they replied,
while he dressed and awaited the
guards, who soon came. The eobbler
said not word to Sittara of his dis
covery, bu; went to the palace as if to
his death.
AS soon as he was gone, the heartless
girl left the house, and of her fate Moth
ing was ever heard. But Ahmed went
before the king.
We'll, astrologer, what news ~
"Sire,p said Ahmed, bending low,
''the stars tell me but one of two things
to reveal. Do you wish the treasure
restored, or to capture the thieves?'
"Well," the king answered, II do
not like to let such eulprits go unpun-
ished; but if but one thing can be
done, give me the treasure"
"And will you give your kingly word
that the culprits have free pardon ~
al give my word ~
"Then follow me-"
The king and the court followed the
cobbler across the garden TO the south
wall. There, by an old well, Ahmed
Stopped. Raising hiseyes to heaven he
said a low prayer Of Thanksgiving, but
the people thought that he was saying
magic words. When he finished he
turned TO the men and said:
"Dig around the we'll"
And when they had turned the earth
they found the forty chests, with the
seals of the treasury still unbrOken-
"Great astrologer, you shall be first
in my empire after me-" the king de-
clared, ''for whom the great Power
raises up from the people, shall not man
exalt, also?
And so Ahmed dwelt in splendnr all
the rest of his life. Bat the false Sit
tara he never saw again.