Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-01-20
BY ELMER cRANTBY


In the town OF karakash in western
China dwelt a cobbler called WI Tung
He cobbled shoes all day and In the
evening went to his insignificant home.
and the first thing be did after reach
ing II was 10 touch concealed spring
10 the wall. tiny door Jew open. and
IN a space not two inches square was a
diamond the size OF hickory nut The
cobblcr took the stone In his hand, ex.
amined II carefully. put Il back In its
place and closed the door. The next
morning before going TO his shop he
repeated this process. his examinations
being made for the purpose OF making
sure that the stone had not been stolen.
Now. WI Tung was not cobber at
all, but diamond merchant. He had
purchased the diamond from a rajah
In India for third of Its real value.
the rajah being in aeed OF ready cash.
and had crossed the border into China
intending to take II TO Peking with
view TO selling II to the emperor. But
he well knew that the transportation
OF such valuable article across the
whole Of that vast territory would be
well nigh impossible. Both the Indians
and the Chinese are very cunning. and
II II were known that he was travelling
with so great treasure he was sure
to lose II By the way.
WI Tung was as subtle as his enc
niles. He sent man out bearing n
chrystal instead Of the diamond with
the stone so carefully concealed that
he thought no one would find II. II 1t
was not discovered he would then send
the real stone by another messenger
hidden In the same way. But the day
after the bearer started he returned
without the chrystal. He dispatched
another with different device. but he.
too. was sent back with the same expe-
rience. After sending several different
persons To make these tests he deemed
his own ingenuity inadequate and look
ed about him for some one shrewder
than himself.
Next door TO the cobbler lived a
man. Ching Fang. so poor that he and
his family were starving. one day
this poor fellow told Wu Tung that his
children were dying one by one. and
he considered II better that he should
die that they might live. He had been
offered sum OF money by man con-
demned to he executed TO take his
place. and he was about TO accept the
offer. WI Tung. thinking that man
so desperate would. II any one could.
carry his diamond through to Picking.
made n coniidnnt OF him. telling him
that II he succeeded In doing so he
would give him quarter of his profit.
which would enable him to live like
nabob for the rest of his life. Tung
would support his family during his
absence
Ching Fang said he would try TO
think of some method OF outwitting
the thugs and. going TO his house. laid
the matter before his wife. Wee Sing
Ching Fang was not bright man at
all. but Wee Sing was very ingenious
little woman. Besides, here was n
chance TO save her husband from the
necessity Of being beheaded Never
thcless IL took her week TO hit upon
n plan that promised success
As soon MS she had proposed II Ching
Fang went 10 the cobbler and told him
be would undertake to deliver the dia
mond In Picking. but that he would
not be ready TO start for several
months and that meanwhile WI Tung
must keep his family from starving
WI Tung agreed. provided Ching Fang
would commit his plan 10 him. where
upon the latter placed his lips against
the formers ear and whispered the
secret
Done" said VII Ting and handed
him hundred taels 20 bind the bar
gain
Three months from that day Ching
Fang. after executing papers that
would put his family al WI Tung's
mercy in case he proved dishonest
with nothing but the clothes he wore.
set out upon his journey. He had been
very secret rs 10 his interviews with
his principal. but knew full well that
he had been observed He was walk.
ing on n road not far from his starting
point when a man caught up with him
and entered into conversation. Ching
Fang felt assured that he was after
the diamond. but chattcd with him
freely. The man said he had means
with which 70 sleep at an inn and IN
vited his fellow traveller TO share his
bed with him. Ching Fang assented
with evident thankfulness since he
carried no money for his Journey and
would otherwise have been obliged 10
sleep In the open air So the TWO stop
ped at an Inn. and the stranger order
ed some supper. OF which they both
partook. then went to bed
Ching Fang slept soundy. and when
he nwoke the next morning the stran
ger had disappeared. Ching Fang's
clothes were scattered about. giving
arfaanaa thar tho man had coma