The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-01-23

+ Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911. r
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
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 II was to touch concealed spring
In the wall. a tiny door few open, and
In q space not two inches square was a
diamond the size of hickory nut. The
cobbler took the stone In his hand, ex-
amined it carefully, put 1t back in its
place and closed the door. The next
morning before going to his shop be
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 cobbler at
all, but diamond merchant He had
purchased the diamond from a rajah
In India for q third of its real value
the rajah being In need of ready cash
8A@4 A4a0 <AOsoC0 t1C DOA0Ch AAtO (n41l
intending to take 1t to Picking with a
view to selling it to the emperor. But
he well knew that the transportation
Of such a valuable article across the
whole Of that vast territory would be
well nigh impossible. Both the India ms
and the Chinese are very cunning, and
II It were known that he was travelling
with 30 great a treasure he was sure
to lose it by the way.
WI Tung was as subtle as bis 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 it
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
Renee. 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 WI Tung that his
children were dying one by one, and
he. considered 1t better that he should
die that they might live. He had been
offered sum of money by man con
demned to be executed to take his
place. and be was about to accept the
offer. WI Tung thinking that man
20 desperate would. If any one could
carry his diamond through to Picking
made a confidant of him, telling him
that II he succeeded in doing so he
would give him a quarter of his profit.
which would enable him to Hive 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 outwitting
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 a
chance to save her husband from the
necessity of being beheaded Never
theless # took her a week to hit upon
. 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
WI Tung agreed, provided Ching Fang
would commit his plan to 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 WI lungs
mercy In case he proved dishonest,
with nothing but the clothes he wore
set out 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 road not far from bis starting
point when a 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 had means
with which to sleep at an inn and In
vited his fellow traveller to share bis,
bed with him. Ching Fang assented
with evident thankfulness 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 at an inn. and the stranger order
cd some supper. of which they both
partook. then went to bed.
Ching Fang slept soundly, and when
he awoke the next morning the stran
ger had disappeared. Ching Fangs
clothes were scattered about. giving
evidence that the man had gone
through them.
Though Ching Fang bore a diamond
worth many thousands Of dollars. ne
had not the wherewithal to buy food.
for money would have been taken
from him. He begged. he stole. he
used every conceivable means to sat
tafy his hunger and keep enough
strength to travel. Now be would get
Q vegetable from a garden. now would
steal a mouse. rat or kitten. for
on these animals the lower grade Of
Chinese subsist, but he managed to
get rice enough to keep his strength
without the other Injuries.
On the third day after be had set
out he was stopped by band of rob-
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 it to me OF dep
what absurdity is thisY cried
Ching Fang. MY family are starv-
sing. could not bear to see them die.
20 l 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 bis
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 kill him. They even
forced him to kneel with bis hands
tied behind his back. and one of them
ratsod q rrz,s,rd npar him Rnf he Sl1h.