Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-03-29
finding the ruby, and the necklace and

finding the ruby, and the necklace and
earrings. At all events. am determined
thou shalt not escape and shouldst thou
attempt TO run away, will inform the
kings officers, and have thee taken up
ana put 10 death, even before the forty
days are expired. Thou knowest me too
well, Ahmed, to doubt my keeping my
word. SO take courage, and endeavor to
make thy fortune, and to place me in the
rank OF life to which my beauty entities
me-"
The poor cobbler was dismayed at this
speech; but knowing there was no hope
of changing his wife's resolution. he
resigned himself to his fate. "Well."
said he, "your will shall be obeyed. All
| desire Is to pass the few remaining DAYS
of my life as comfortably as can. You
know | am no scholar, and have little
skill in reckoning; so there are forty
dates give me one of them every night
after | have SAID NY prayers, that may
put them in jar, and, by counting them
may always see how many of the few
days have to live are gone"
The lady, pleased at carrying her point,
took the dates, and promised to be pune
tual in doing what her husband desired
Meanwhile the thieves who had stolen
the kings treasure, having been kept
from leaving the city by fear of detec-
ton and pursuit, had received accurate
information of every measure taken to
discover them. One of them was among
the crowd before the palace on the day
the king sent for Ahmed; and hearing
that the cobbler had Immediately de-
clared their exact number, he ran in a
fright to his comrades, and exclaimed,
ave are all found out. Ahmed, the new
astrologer, has told the king that there
are forty of u.s.
There nee ded no astrOloger to tell
that" said the captain of the gang.
This Ahmed, with all his simple good.
nature, is a shrewd fellow. Forty chests
have been stolen, he naturally guessed
that there must be forty thieves, and he
has made good hit, that is all still it is
prudent to watch him, for he certainly
has made some strange discoveries. One
of us must go tonight, after dark, to the
terrace of this cobbler's house, and lister
to his conversation with his handsome
wife; for he is said to be very fond Of
her, and will, no doubt, tell her wha
success he has had in his endeavors tC
detect u.s.
Everybody approved of this scheme
and soon after nightfall one of the thieves
repaired to the terrace. He arrived Their,
just as the cObbler had finished his even
ing prayers, and his wife was giving hin
the first date. "Ah.' said Ahmed, as h,
took it, there is one of the forty"
The thief, hearing these words, has
tened in CONSERVATION to the gang, ant
told them that the moment he took hi
post he had been perceived by the super
natural knowledge of Ahmed, who i'm
medlately told his wife that one of then
was there. The spy's tale was not be
leved by his hardened companions
something was imputed to his fears h.
might have been mistaken in short, i
was determined to send two men tn
next night at the same hour. The,
reached the house Just as Ahmed, havin.
finished his prayers, had received tn
second date, and heard him exclaim
My dear wife, tonight there are two o
them"
The astonished thieves fled. and toll
their still incredulous comrades wha
they had heard. Three men were cOnst
Quently sent the third night, four tn
fourth. and so on. Being afraid of ven
as evening closed in, and just as Ahme
was receiving his date, hence they all /
turn heard him say that which convince
them he was aware of their presence
, On the last night they all went, an
Ahmed exclaimed aloud, "The number
complete Tonight the whole forty ar
here :"
All doubts were now removed. 1t wa
impossible that Ahmed should have di.
covered them by any natural means
How could he ascertain their exact nun
Der: and night after night, without eve
once being mistaken: He must hav
learnt it by his skill in astrology. Eve
the captain now yielded, in spite of hi
incredulity, and declared his opinion tina
it was hopeless to elude man thu
gifted he therefore advised that the
confessing every thing TO him. and brit
ing him to secrecy by share of tn
booty
His advice was approved of, and a
hour before dawn they knocked a
Ahmed's door. The poor man jumpe,
out of bed, and supposing the soldier
were come to lead him to execution
cried out, "Have patience, know wha
you are come for. 1t is a very unius
and wicked deed"
"Most wonderful man." said the cap
tain, as the door was opened, 1--WE ar
fully convinced that thou knowest VIII,
we are come, nor do we mean to iustif
the action of which thou speakest. Her
are two thousand pieces of gold whic
we will give thee, provided thou viii
. swear to say nothing more about tn
matter"
"Say nothing about it. :" said Ahmed