Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1912-01-18
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 he did after reach
ing 1t was to touch a concealed spring
in the wall. tiny door few open, and
in a space not two inches square was a
diamond the size Of hickory nut The
cobbler took the stone in his hand ex
amined ii carefully. put it back In Its
place and closed the door. The next
morning before going to his shop he
repeated this process. nis examinations
being made for the purpose Of making
sure that the stone bad not been stolen.
Now, Wu Tung was not a cobbler at
all. but a diamond merchant. He had
purchased the diamond from a raiah
in India for a third Of its real value,
the cajah being in need of ready cash.
and had crossed the border into China
intending to take 1t to Picking with a
view to selling il to the emperor But
he we'll 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 it were known that he was travelling
with so great treasure he was sure
to lose it by the way.
WI 1'ung was as subtle as his enc
mics. He sent a man out bearing a
chrystal instead of the diamond with
the stone so carefully concealed that
he thought no one would find it. If 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
this poor fellow told WI Tung that his
children were dying one by one. and
he considered il better that he should
die that they might live. He had been
offered IA sum of money by q man con-
demned to be executed to take his
place, and he was about 10 accept the
offer WI Tung, thinking that man
so desperate would, If any one could,
carry his diamond through to Picking,
made confidant of him. telling him
that If be succeeded In doing so he
would give him quarter of his profit,
which would enable him to live like a
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 outwltting
the thugs and, going to his house, laid
the matter before his wife. Wee Sing
Ching Fang was not a bright man at
all, but Wee Sing was very ingenious
little woman. Besides here was u
chance TO save her husband from the
necessity OF being beheaded. Never
theless 1t took her week TO hit upon
a plan that promised success
As soon as she had proposed it Ching
Fang went to the cobbler and told him
he 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.
Wu 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 WI Tung and handed
him a hundred taels to bind the bar
gain
Three months from that day Ching
Fang after executing papers that
would put his family at Wu lungs
mercy In case he proved dishonest.
with nothing but the clothes be wore.
set ont upon his journey. He had been
very secret as to his interviews with
his principal, but knew full well that
he had been observed He was walk.
ing on a road not far from his starting
point when man caught up with him
and entered into conversation. Ching
Fang felt assured that he was after
the diamond. but chatted with him
freely. The man said he hcd means
with which 70 sleep AZ an inn and in
vlted his fellow traveller 20 share his
bed with him Ching Fang assented
with evident thaukfulness since he
carried no money for his journey and
would otherwise have been obliged TO
sleep in the open air. So the two stop
ped al an inn. aud the stranger order
ed some supper. of which they both
partook. then went 20 bed
Ching Fang slept soundly. ana when
be awoke the next morning the stran
ger had disappeared Ching Fang's
clothes we're scattered about giving
evidence that the man had gone
through them.
Though Ching Fang bore q diamond
worth many thousands of dollars be-
had NOT the wherewithsl to buy food.
for money would have been taken
from him. He begged he stole, he
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