Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-12-18

ptOiO SAiO JOhSi.
Ahmed heard the confession in
amazement, but seeing a loophole of
escape, he frowned upon the suppliant
and told her where to place the jewel,
promising that if she complied suspi-
cion should not fall upon her.
The grateful woman placed purse of
gold into the cobbler's hand and hur-
rying 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:
GO home. Under your pillow lies
the stone"
Impossible" the jeweler cried, as he
hurried off.
But finding it, as the cobbler had
said,, he FASTENED back and gave him
two hundred gold pieces. Then Ahmed
went home and gave the money to Sat
tara.
There is money" he said, ''but now
I will not risk my life again. Heaven
has been kind to me this time"
May" 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 he was not
molested Soon through the press, a
woman, handsomely clad, and yelled,
pushed her way.
Good astrologer," she said, 81 have
just come from the baths, and hand
some diamond necklace that l wore
has been taken. Find it for me, and
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
toward her he said in a low tone:
Look down at the rent, madam"
To his amazement the woman sud
denly turned and fed, but soon she
returned with the necklace, saying:
Good man, take your reward.
When I went to the baths, / placed my
jewels in rent in the wall near the
floor for safekeeping. But 1 forgot
when 1 left where they were. You are
indeed gifted. Nothing is hidden
from YOU. an grateful to YOU. most
learned one!"
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 had happened
that forty chests of gold and precious
gems had been stolen from the kings
treasury, and the thief could not be
discovered. 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 palace.
Suddenly, in the morning, while All
med refused to go out and Sittara was
trying to persuade him, band Of SOL
diers 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 to 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
and make her an attendant.
What was Ahmed's surprise then
when he reached the palace, to be led
into a grand apartment, where the
chief astrologer came to meet him and
led him to the seat Of honor.
Ahmed" he said, great and exalted
one, child of the people, the mighty are
put down and the lowly exalted. The
ways of Heaven are inscrutable, 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 counsel
ors came into the room and stood aside
while the king himself entered.
Ahmed was led before the monarch,
where he FRUSTRATED himself. waiting 20
hear his doom.
The king raised him, saying:
1--WE hear of thy wonderful pow
ers, learned Ahmed; tell us now who
stole our treasure"
Thinking of the forty chests, Ahmed
exclaimed:
ooh, most mighty king, not one man
but forty have stolen the chests. But
give me forty days to make my calcu-
lations, and then shall you hear me-"
BE it so. But if at the end of that