Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-05-07
THE STORY Of AN l. D. B.

'ose<s oS WIS WAVING W. eAas -
Liverpool street. you're not day older.
Going home 10 tea In the same old.
steady fashion? What, don't you know
meY ! should have known you any
where!"
With puzzled eyes turned and stared
At Dlg. bronzed bearded man whom |
han no recollection of having seen be-
fore. de laughed loudly at my per-
plexity-so loudly that several people
stared at US. which us stad city man,
hating TO be conspicuous, very much
disliked. Consequently It was in no
friendly fashion that eyed the stranger
who thus noisily claimed acquaintance.
Don't yon remember Harry Down
ham," he said, at last, "who worked
under you in that dug-hole Of an office
long ago-where | suppose you're still
grinding on in the same old way?
Shake!" he added. peremptorily. thrust
ing out huge sunburnt hand with
which he grasped nine till my fingers
were crushed. "Now you must come
and dine with me. Your wife? Oh! she
won't mind your playing tl'uant for
once;" and in short time my MASTER
full acquaintance and | were seated OPP
posite each other in well.known
restaurant.
Yes. did now remember him. But
he was changed indeed from the slim
young fellow who had been the fightiest
clerk in the Office, and whose short
comings had, after innumernble grumb-
lings on the part of the firm, led to his
dismissal. Occasional surmises had
since been INDUCED in by his former
comrades as to his career, none Of them
Of complimentary kind, as candid
ly remarked.
"rhey weren't so far wrong" he an
swered, carelessly. II was never fit for
humdrum life and bricks and mortar
The wild freedom of uncivilized regions |
was my ideal. Would you like to hear
my adventures? though your rigid re-
spectability may be somewhat rudely |
shocked"
Of course | assented. One always has |
certain curiosity about an acquaintr
ance who disappears in impecunious
guise, and turns up years afterwards
with all the external signs Of wealth |
which Downham showed in rather too
pronounced fashion for good taste.
"Wher haze you come from?" Isaid,
looking at his bronzed face curiously. |
From South Africa. Landed at
Southampton two days ago. Am 60
ing back? No. sir, not much. 1t
wouldn't be healthy. The country's
too hot-in all senses. I've made my
pile, and am going to settle down in the
south of France, where my sisters been
living as governess for years Poor
girl, she'll know what leisure and lux
ury are now; and there's q charming
place I've bought there. Climate and
surroundings justsuit me, for my chest,
big as look. sometimes gets wrong.
what have done in South Africa? |
All sorts Of things. But my last and |
most, or rather sole. successful part was
that of an I. u. B."
looked at him In some perplcxity, |
for what he meant could not guess.
He watched me with an amused smile.
"You seem puzzled, old man." he said.
ats nothing to do with dynamite Il |
started-being nervous man). Not
but what explosions Of a sort are some
times Its consequence. | thought you
knew what those mysterious initials
meant They're as plain in South
Africa as A B c in your foggy island.
|. D. B. means an illicit diamond buyer.
An Illicit diamond Is one which has
been conveyed-good word that
Shakespearean, isn't it?-from the
mine in other than legal fashion. And
there's deal of legality, let me tell
you. in diamond digging There's big
staff of officials to look after it. Illicit
diamonds are usually found and dis
posed of by the Kaflirs employed in
the mines-though by no means only by
them--and sold much below their value
neutrality-suspicious. like myself, who
take their chance in view Of the big
profit"
"What?" gasped. Then you have
actually bought-stolen property"
WELL" he said, cooIly refilling our
glasses, that's perhaps your way of
putting it here It's not ours in South
Africa Besides, think I've heard even
in this respectable city Of money lend
ers buying reversions for mere song,
and spectators purchasing stocks and
shares from Respondent holders, know
ing secretly that those stocks and
shares were going up in day or two
with bound. Also OF houses and land
bought. from private knowledge Of a
speedy demand for them. for trine. the
sellers being quite ignorant Of it.
Haven't you heard of such things?"
did not reply. was toomuch upset.
Here was |. a head clerk of many years
standing. dining and drinking cham
payne at the cost Of an Illicit diamond
buyer
However" he resumed. somewhat
tartly. II don't ask for your approval;
| SIMPLY wanted to amuse you with the
story of my adventures; so you may
Imagine I'm soliloquizing
why shonld the mining companies
have the monopoly Of all the diamond
yielding districts?" he continued. in a
fierce tone land thought it best to
drink my champagne since the bottle
was opened, and say nothing-these
adventures sometimes carry revolvers,