The news & observer., 1897-07-18

4
so1nd two more queerly associated
knights of industry than the Jew OF
Whitccbapel and the Celestial of Slnga-
pore. who were sitting together over
bottle of brandy in little PACK Iooaii
behind a tin coolie store In Old De beers
road. Kimberly, late one nlght III tne
early so. Yet it was DO very unconl-
mon thing here in this vortex OF cos
mopoIitan yillainy into which the magl-
cal glitter of the diamond, more fatal
in IFS fascination even than the CLINT or
cold. had gathered together men of all
colors and creeds from the remotest
ends of the earth.
Something was evidently exercising
tbe mind of the Jew very considerably,
for his prominent eyes kept wandering
restlessly about the little room, his
feshy, pendant under lip trembling ev-
ery now and then with the movement or
his heavy jaw, his fat, lavishly Jeweled
fingers kept alternately drumming on
the dirty table and wandering aimlessly
through his black and rather greasy
locks.
The Chinaman sat with his long nailed
fingers entwined on the lap of his ample
blouse. and looked at him placidly out
of his bright, Misunderstanding little eyes.
NelC0er udu Sitlu tuihS IVA
tie time Each was pondering a very
important problem in his own way
A shaggy, long-haired, disreputable
looking mongrel which seemed to COM
bine some half dozen varying strains I'D
his nondescript lineage, seemed to DE
doing the same thing as he lay ON
frowzy sheepskin near the table, with
his wickedly clever face between his
paws. and every now and then bhnked
up at his heather master as though
wondering whether he had found any
solution to the problem yet.
''Itsh no good, Loo" half whispered
the Jew, at length breaking the pause,
and bringing his fingers down from his
hair to the table for something like the
Goth time. "the old plants will all be
played out now that this internal new
law ish passed. The gonivahs will be
harder to get than ever, and look at the
rishk-15 year on that blathted break
water. just for being found with a few
little klips on you. The game amt going
to be worth the candle any more, If we
don't find some new way of getting them
out that the tees won't tumble to. 1t
'ud be worth real bran new fake just
now, that it would, and if we can't get
one the industry's going to be ruined,
and IlaC all lHeTe ISL W II.
The Chinaman looked at him stolidly
while he was speaking, and then, with
broad, wooden smile, which crinkled ms
eyes up into two little Sits, he podded
his head after the fashion of one OF his
own idols, and said sententiously and
with the air OF one who knows what ne
is talking about:
"AI light. Missa Lonefelt, no need
u, < afflr
how plenty clever yet, allie same muchee
searchee. no good. Plenty new fake,
too. Dodge tecman easy all same s
before. You hab no got go workee yet,
Missa Lonefelt."
.'If you've thought of a good new fake,
one that'll work, mind, and that the
tees arn't likely to get on to for bit,
I'm the man to go shares with you ON 1t.
and I'll make it pay you well, Loo;
will. s'welp me- You know me. Loo,
and we've done business together before
now. and I've always treated you 1alr
and square, haven't 1? If it's a hkely
Law its worth twenty, no, III make IL
ffty. there fifty down to let me into IL,
and the usual terms afterwards. mat
good enough. amt it? ] can't speak no
fairer than that, can ], Loo, old pal!
THE Jew spoke eagerly, almost caress-
inply. to the yellow heather whom ne
wonld have passed by without wink
in Main street There he was Augustus
Lowenfeldt. licensed diamond broker,
.,tock and share dealer, and all the rest
of il. a man with a reputation to lose,
"a repntations went then in Kimberley,
and with a future before him; but here
in Loo Chats back sitting room ne was
lust what the heather was, neither
better no worse, an i. b. d., renee,
as they would have called him IN his
native Whitechapel, and like him po-
tential felon. and so there was no need
for any Overstrained etiquette between
them. =,
Added to this he knew that his "boys"
must by this time be getting a very
nice little collection of gems together for
him. and he felt a very natural anxiety
about them now that this detestable new
law had about doubled both the legal
mower of search and the penalties for
being found out.
Loo Chai's almond eyes wandered
slowly from the dog to the Jew, and his
head began to wag again, but this tlme
the other way, and after little pause
he said slowly and meditatively:
.'Fifty pound tlen percent not good
enough dis time, Missa Lonefelt, not
by a big heap l hab got thought here
and he tapped his shaven skull gently
with one of his long nails-"which make
velly big chop-tlen, twelve, maybe TWEEN
ty thousand pound ale same time, and
no chance catchee. Him worth pay for,
eh. Missa LOnefelt."
"Ten thousand at a go-maybe twen-
ty," exclaimed the Jew, leaning for
ward with twitching lips, and eyes all
aglitter. whats your price, Loo, give
it name, and if / can meet you l viii,
s'welp me. You know I've always been
fair and honorable with you"
''Me sell you one piece doggie i've hud-
died pounds"
As Loo Chai impaired this apparently
irrelevant piece of information he slow
ly waved one hand toward the mongrel
on the sheepskin, and smiled blandly as
he added, "and vely chop, too, tink."
what! five hundred pounds for a
bloomin' tyke, and a precious ugly one
hn Of INV