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

Chinese suDsiSt. Dut ne managed 10
get rice enough 20 keep his strength
without The other luxuries.
On the third day after he had set
out he was stopped by band Of rob
bers. the leader OF whom said to him.
"A runner has brought rs word that
you are the bearer Of valuable dia-
mond. Deliver 1t to Inc or de-
What nbsurdity is thlsy cried
Ching Fang. My family are starv.
Ing / could not bear to see them die.
so / left them and am going through
the country. begging my way"
But the robbers paid no attention TO
his words. They took him into
wood and. beginning at his hair. ex
nmined 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
wns found Not satisfied with their
search. they told him that II he would
not reveal the place where he had hid
den II they would kill 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 90.
Though the poor man was left with
II 10 nd L. q
destroyed. he went on with light
heart. for he felt that no worse test
than this could be put npon him. He
had feared most to be followed 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 blind TO 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 be could
go no farther without rest.
Ching Fang Travelled as n 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
mn is n very large country. and to reach
Picking he must traverse nearly the
whole breadth OF It. At last he ar
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 at 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 a place thas 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 IL from its hiding place They
called on an American surgeon who
treated the family OF the American
minister and other foreign residents nj
the capital and impaired to him tEeir
secret They were conducted 10 an op-
Grating room. where Ching Fang
stretched himself on a table. and the
surgeon proceeded 10 make an incislon
I'm his right arm. Then from between
the muscles he took ont the gem Be
fore Ching Fang left karakash sur
geon had made an incisiOn. placed the
diamond in II 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 1t been
between two muscles that no lump
was made.
When the surgeon handed the treas
ure TO WI Tung the latter put II In
his pocket. paid a good fee. and the
two Cinnamon went 10 their inn. the
merchant TO write a letter 10 the man
ager Of the emperor's household. in
forming him that diamond was TO be
had that would be one OF the finest Of
his majesty's jewels The letter
brought representative from the pal.
ace. who after examining the article
made an offer for II that was accepted
by its owner
Meanwhile Wee Sing and her chill
dren had been maintained at WI
lungs expense. But she knew that
this support would end II her husband
was not successful In his quest. and.
knowing the dangers lie must pass. she
had but little hope OF ever seeing him