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

Then only did Ahmed see the cruelty
of the girl, and he said:
81 have but forty days to live, since
you will not let me escape. Let me
live them in peace. Here are forty
dates. Put them in a dish and gave
me one every night after l have said
my prayers, that l may count them and
know how long 1 have to live"
The thieves had been unable to leave
the city for fear of detection, so they
kept a sharp lookout for all 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 consterna-
ton to the chief.
I'VE are discovered by this newly
risen astroloser, who declares that we
are forty in number"
This Ahmed is a shrewd fellow"
answered the chief. perhaps he only
guessed it 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 evening
worship and received from the girl a
date, which he placed in a covered
bowl.
"There is one, Sittara," he said, "but
there are still thirty-nine."
In terror the man fed, 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 ana said:
Tonight there are two, Sittafa."
So this went on, night after night,
each evening another of the gang going
till all forty went on the last night
Tonight all forty are here, Sittara, 4"
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! l know for what you have
come. 1t is wrong and infamous"
When he appeared the terrified
thieves fell at his feet and cried:
1--WE will give you gold if you prom
Use to say nothing about it,"
Say nothing!" the still ignorant
Ahmed cried. III tell the world it
is infamous!"
Then the leader said:
"We1l restore the treasure, only save
US, and, besides, we will reward you
Welt"
Then Ahmed understood. He gave
them commands, and they replied,
while he dressed ana awaited the
guards, who soon came. The cobbler
said not a word to Sittara of his dis
covery, but 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
nothing was ever heard. But Ahmed
went before the king.
"Well. astrologer, what Nrws?"
Sire 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, = do
not like to let such culprits go unpun-
ished; but if but one thing can be done
give me the treasure"
land will you give your kingly
word that the culprits have a free par
DOM"
q 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 we'll. Ahmed
stopped. Raising his eyes to heaven
he said in a low prayer of thanksgiv-
ing, but the people thought that he
was saying magic words. When he
finished he turned to the men and
said:
"Dig around the vel"