他曾是一名刚从师傅手中学成技艺的鞋匠，梦想在首都闯出一片天地。但城里的每个铺子都不愿意给他机会，最终，只有最贫穷的鞋匠收留了他。

在那里，他挣得微薄，但余暇时间却多，因为常常没有活计。不过，那个新来的鞋匠依然留下了，因为他的性格可爱，师傅不愿放手。有一天，小鞋匠路过税务局，他眉头紧锁，心生计较，他想，这里正是他和师傅需要多少钱，就能拿多少。他第二天夜晚，在税务局的墙上凿了一个洞，从那个洞里可以钻出来。他从每个箱子里拿点金币，这样人们就难以发现，而出来的时候，再把洞堵上。他和师傅平分那笔金钱，以后他们相互帮助，金钱越来越多。他们很快成为那个城里最富有最体面的人，现在他们的铺子也活跃起来，不再是当初瞧不起的人们现在却千方百计地向他们谄媚奉承。

然而税务局的工作人员不久就发现，他们开始嫌疑，有贼去过那里。经过仔细搜索，他们发现了墙上的洞，知道贼是从那里出来的。在屋里面洞口附近安排了几个看管进行监督。一天晚上新来的鞋匠对他的师傅说：“今夜我们再到税务局去弄几千克朗。以后就别去了，因为我听说，他们正在侦察贼的下落。”他们换好衣服就出发了。“我出来次数太多啦，”新来的鞋匠说，“这次师傅您亲自出来一次。”

“好的，我赞成。” 他把石头搬过去，然后师傅从洞里钻出了身子。当守卫看到贼出去时，一位看管冲上去，把他的脑袋砍掉。大事不好，小鞋匠赶紧抱着脑袋跑回家去了，但不得不留下师傅的一具尸体。这件事轰动全城，因为脑袋没有了，谁也认不出贼来。

国王请一个会占卜老太婆搞清楚谁是贼和住在什么地方。她答应竭力而为，她把咖啡渣倒在一个杯子里，一边拨弄着杯子，一边占卜。“你要找的人住的地方离这里很近，”她说，“如果你们按照我说的做，你们就会知道他住在哪里。你们必须把他的尸体放在车上游街。如果他的妻子一看到自己丈夫无头尸体，她一定会惊叫。而为了让她认出那座房子的门，您们只需画个十字。”国王命令照老太婆说的那样去做，全城的人都为这一新鲜而吃惊。

最后，他们将尸体放在车上游街，当穷鞋 匠 的妻打开窗户，一看到自己的丈夫无头尸体，她大声哭喊起来：“啊，我丈夫！我的丈夫！”小 shoe maker instantly realized his mistake, and begged her not to shout, but the soldiers who followed the cart had already heard the cries. The shoe maker then quickly cut his own hand with a knife, causing blood to flow profusely, so that when he showed them his wound, they believed him.

The soldiers continued following the cart until they reached the house where all the doors were marked with a cross. After they left without finding anything suspicious, shoe maker understood their intention and immediately painted crosses on all doors in town.

When the soldiers returned to investigate further after being unable to find any trace of thieves due to these crossed doors on every entrance door of houses in town ,they were forced back home empty-handed.

King again sought out an old witch for help as punishment if she could not provide more information about this thief. She suggested hanging up that body outside a gallows nearby with guards watching over it. Dead man's family would certainly come to take away their dead one; anyone approaching would be arrested immediately.

Feeling guilty for having committed such evil deeds while his master was treated like an animal hung there shamefully ,the young apprentice decided at last how best he could save him from this fate .He obtained three priestly robes,a carriage and two horses.Halfway through night time he rode towards gallows direction .He stopped near by ,jumped down from carriage & put on priestly robes .Guards thought he came to remove corpse therefore rushed forward shouting "Come drink wine!" He replied "I'm just a traveler who has been delayed in city & now returning." Guards said "There is no escape for him"

"Sure,"said shoe maker,"you're right. But you'd better drink some wine first before sitting down."

Drinking heavily under pretext of warming up against cold night air ,they soon fell asleep drunk .Shoe maker changed their clothes into those of priests & took away dead body before disappearing into darkness 3 lookouts became priests

Next day when drunken guards woke up shocked by what happened - discovering themselves dressed as priests while missing corpse - ran frantically around searching high&low for someone responsible but found nothing except cryptic message:-

"You are still here because you have nowhere else go! Nowhere else can accommodate your lazy bones!"

So they went straight back home leaving trail of confusion behind them

King ordered announcement stating reward offered whoever exposed truth behind trickery played upon those three watchmen; even himself exempt from penalty if revealed identity himself He came before king revealing whole story King laughed heartily

"You should be punished severely” “But I forgive you this time.” He asked Shoe Maker what reward desired? Only one thing requested: permission become palace court cobbler Shoes made fit royal feet perfectly unknown origins