Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1912-01-18

bers. the leader Of whom said TO him:
"a runner has brought us word that
YOU are the bearer OF a valuable dia-
mond. Deliver 1t to me or die"'
What absurdity is thisY' cried
Ching Fang. MY family are stary-
Ing, | could not bear to see them die,
80 | left them and am going through
the country. begging my way"
But the robbers paid no attention to
his words They took him into a
wood and. beginning at his hair. ex-
amined every part OF his body and
clothing. Stripping him. they held up
his clothes. feeling every part and rip
ping open any seams that might con-
tain the gem. The thick soles of his
shoes they cut into bits. No diamond
was found Not satisfied with their
search. they told him that If he would
not reveal the place where he had hid
den 1t they would kin him. They even
forced him to kneei with his hands
tied behind his back. and one Of them
raised sword over him. But he sub
mitted to all this without a word, and
the robbers. convinced that he did not
have the diamond. desisted and let
him go
Though the poor man was left with
his clothes badly torn and his shoes
destroyed. he went on with a light
heart. fol he felt that no worse test
than this could be put upon him. He
a tn no from
Karakash and next to be stopped by
those to whom information of his
movements had been forwarded. He
now hoped that both these dangers
had been passed Indeed, he was way
layed by only one more party, who
had received information concerning
him. and these. after careful search,
made up their minds that he had been
sent as bGnd 20 attract attention
from the real bearer of the treasure,
who was taking another route. So the
traveller set out again. much encour-
aged But fearing that II those who
were watching for the diamond failed
to find another person on the same
quest they would stop him again, he
travelled night and day for three days,
Then his feet were so sore he could
go no farther without n rest.
Ching Fang travelled as a beggar
till he reached Suehau, where he found
funds that had been forwarded by
his principal. and, being so far from
his base that he believed no one would
suspect his mission from this point, he
hired conveyances. Nevertheless Chi
ma is a very large country, and to reach
Picking be must traverse nearly the
whole breadth OF it. At last he aar-
rived at the capital and, going to an
inn. settled himself TO await the com
ing of the merchant.
WI Tung was already on the way,
for the payment Of the funds Ching
Fang had received ut Suchau was re
ported to him. and he started in his
real character of merchant by fire.
quented routes, for he feared that he
might be stopped by persons suspect
ing that he bore the diamond. When
he reached Picking he met Ching Fang
at place that had been agreed upon
before the latter started. and they pro
ceeded to the disposition of the dia,
mond
The first thing necessary was to re
move it from its hiding place They
called on an American surgeon who
treated the family Of the American
minister and other foreign residents at
the capital and impaired to him their
secret. They were conducted to an op
Grating room. where Ching Fang
stretched himself on a table and the
surgeon proceeded to make an incision
in his right arm Then from between
the muscles he took out the gem Be
fore Ching Fang left Karakash a sur.
geon had made an incision. placed the
diamond in it and treated the heal
ing so carefully that no scar was left
Though the messengers body had been
carefully examined by those seeking
the gem, so well hidden had It been
between two muscles that no lumT
was made
When the surgeon handed the treas
ure to WI Tung the latter put IL In
his pocket, paid good fee. and the
two Cinnamon went to their inn, the
merchant to write a letter to the man.
ager of the emperor's household, in
forming him that a diamond was to he
had that would be one of the finest OF
his majesty's jewels. The letter
brought a representative from the pal.
ace who after examining the article
made an offer for 1t that was accepted
by its owner
Meanwhile Wee Sing and her chill
dren had been maintained at WI
lungs expense. But she knew thai
this support would end II her husband
was not successful in his quest. and
knowing the dangers he must pass, she
had but little hope Of ever seeing hin
again.
One day a man stood at her door
who, though he wore the rich dress OF
a mandarin, had the face of Ching
Fang And this singular creature was
smiling upon her, Then he took her ia
his arms and the children one afte,
another kissing them all
II do not need. he said. ito sell my
life as a substitute, for am very rich
WI Tung has dealt honorably with me