他曾是一名刚从师傅手中学成的鞋匠，梦想在首都闯出一番事业。但是城里每家铺子都不愿意收留他，最终，只有最穷的师傅愿意给予他机会。这里的生活艰苦，挣钱不多，但空闲时间却很多，因为常常没有活计。不过，那个新来的鞋匠依然留了下来，因为他很受人欢迎，师傅也不愿放手。

有一天，小鞋匠路过税务局，他眉头一皱，心生奇思妙想。他想，这税务局地方大，他和师傅需要多少钱，就能拿多少。第二天夜里，他悄无声息地凿开了税务局的一道墙壁，从洞口钻进去。他小心翼翼地从每个箱子里拿取一些金币，这样人们就难以发现他的行踪。当离开时，又把洞口堵上。他与师傅平分所得，每次成功后，他们相互扶持，一起积累财富，以至于他们迅速成为城内最富有、体面的两个人。随着他们的地位提高，他们原本瞧不起自己的店铺现在也变得繁忙起来。

然而，不久之后，税务局工作人员开始注意到金币数量减少，他们怀疑有人来过。在仔细搜索后，他们发现了那道墙上的秘密洞口，便知道贼是从那里逃脱的。这时，在洞口附近安排了一些看守人员进行监督。

有一晚，小鞋匠对他的师傅说：“今晚我们再去税务局弄几千克朗，再也不用去了，因为我听说，他们正在追查这次盗窃事件。”他们换好衣服便出发了。“我出来次数太多了，”新来的鞋匠说，“这次您亲自出来一次。”

师傅表示同意，让新来的 shoe cobbler 将石头搬过去，然后自己钻入洞中。不幸的是，当守卫看到贼逃离时，其中一个冲上前，将他的脑袋砍下。小 shoe cobbler 一看情况紧急，便赶快将脑袋抱回家，而不得不留下身躯。

消息震惊全城，因为没有脑袋的人谁也认不出来。国王请来一个会占卜老太婆帮忙解开这个谜团。她答应竭尽所能，并指示如何找到罪犯并确认其居住的地方。一番折腾后，她指引士兵们将尸体挂在街上，并让其妻子一见即知。如果她尖叫，那么门上的十字标记就是她的住宅位置。

国王命令照办，全城人都为此感到吃惊，最终士兵们带着尸体游街至贫穷鞋匠家的门前。贫穷的妻子正好打开窗户，一看到无头尸体，她双手抱拳大叫：“我的丈夫！我的丈夫！”

小 shoe cobbler immediately realized he had been tricked and told her not to cry out, but the soldiers who followed the cart were already alerted by the shouting. The shoe cobbler then quickly cut his own hand with a knife, causing blood to flow profusely, as if he had accidentally injured himself. He showed his wounded hand to the soldiers and claimed that his wife was frightened.

The soldiers continued following behind the cart until they reached the house with a cross marked on it. They saw that all doors in town had crosses drawn on them, so they reluctantly returned without finding anything incriminating.

The king threatened to punish the old witch severely if she couldn't provide more information about the thief. She suggested hanging the body outside of town for dead man's bones' owner to come claim it, thus leading authorities back to their doorstep whenever someone approached.

Feeling sorry for his master being treated like a monster hung from a gallows, small shoe cobbler decided to find a way to rescue him. He obtained three priestly outfits, an elegant carriage and two horses at night-time rode towards where they hanged master's corpse.

He stopped near hangman's tree and jumped down from carriage while pretending he was traveling merchant lost in town due to some city affair gone wrong; looked around confusedly when guards shouted at him; asked them what they were doing there; offered them drinks before realizing how absurd this situation was – these guards would never leave their post unattended! But after drinking many cups of wine until falling asleep themselves!

They woke up next morning as priests wearing clerical robes; noticed missing corpse yet again felt utterly perplexed - till one guard proposed going straight before King seeking forgiveness for confessing everything hoping leniency might be granted instead punishment waiting ahead...

King laughed heartily upon hearing tale unfold...