Sand in the kippah

Once, during the times of the  Rebbe Ma'harash (1833-82), a Jew left the fold and took up  with a non-Jewish woman. His family unsuccessfully tried to  get him back. They eventually went to seek advice from the Rebbe, who suggested to somehow try and put a talis on the man. After several attempts they succeeded and suddenly he began crying and jumping, and praying . After he calmed down,  he decided on the spot not return to the woman but knowing she'd be looking for him, he decided to hide out in some remote village.

The question arose now what to do about the woman. The man's family came up with a plan which was to fake a drowning which they did. When the woman, who was wise to the man's ways, found out, she immediately sensed that it wasn't true. She set out to find him and bring him back. When the family found out, they panicked and rushed to the Rebbe for advice. His suggestion was to sow some sand in the man's kippah and have him wear it at all times.

The woman, in the meantime, wasn't unsuccessful in her search so she went to see a clairvoyant.

The clairvoyant meditated for some time and then made the following pronouncement - "Unfortunately, I can see sand around his head which tells me that he drowned."