Middletown transcript., 1898-04-30

did not 60 on. Mr.. Horrocks, as became
his Office, was q noted raconteur, and
only Pitcairn continued his remarks on
the silver question as affecting the ex-
port trade in Bradford manufactured
goods. Pitcairn had crossed to New
York nine times in the Laconic already
and had notion that he knew by heart
all the purser's tales. Moreover, being
in his capacity Of drummer q most
widely travelled man himself, he quite
believed that his own remarks were
thoroughly we'll worth listening to.
"He stole the biggest diamond I ever
saw" the purser remarked meditative-
ly during one Of Pitcairn's pauses for
breath. "It was stone that should
have gone down into history on the rim
Of some emperor's crown. But SO far az
know it never came up to the surface
again after that fellow stole it.
Probably broken up" suggested
Vereker, "and sold in pieces. +"
The purser looked down sharply.
elbow did you hear about it, Sir Ran
dal?' he asked.
Vereker laughed. ST was only gener-
alizing," he said. "I haven't notion
Of what you're talking about.
"They christened it the King Dia-
mond out at Kimberley"
"Neyer heard of it" said Sir Ran
daL 81 leave Lady Vereker to specialize
in diamonds for the pair Of Ms"
"Now, there you are again" said
Pitcairn. Diamonds are just like sill
ver-the price varies according TO the
quantity put on the market, and as
things are situated at present the ma
tions are at the mercy Of traders who've
got capital and brains enough to make
corners. Now, If I had the managing OF
it,
"You haven't" the purser cut in
acidly, "and you are never likely to
have. You can handle diamonds in a
tie pin, but in bulk they'd just fun
mox you"
"Oh, trot out your chestnut, old
mani" said Pitcairn. "Some one wake
me il snore. /"
The smokeroom rustled itself into
easy positions for listening, and the
purser, after pretending for minute OF
SO to ignore the silence, suddenly looked
down and said, -'Oh, you want the Ia.
BILE, do your"
'For heavens sake go on, man, and
get 1t overi" said Pitcairn.
"Well," said the purser, "there'i
only one fellow in this smokeroom thil
yarn'll be chestnut to, and he's new
to the Laconic. It isn't yarn usually
trot out for the benefit Of passengers. i
shows mp one man as specially fine
sample Of id fool. and he's mar
I've a particular liking for. and he's sit
ting in my breeches this minute. didn'i
always use to be in this western oceaI
trade. I started life at sea on the Cape
run, and I'd worked up from the very
bottom to being purser on the finest shiI
that went down there. It was jolly
snug berth, can tell you, with lots d
pickings, and as this business with thu
King Diamond bundled me out Of il
and left me to cool my heels about the
streets for a matter Of 30 very lear
months it isn't thing chatter about
through sheer pride at being sacked. "
(which line was that on?" asket
Pitcairn.
"Never you mind" said the purser
SIT was one of the two big ones, ant
you can toss up between them. But j
was the popular line just then becaus'
the other had had some accidents, anl
we were the popular ship. We wer'
ram jam full, and the skipper had le
his room to Hatton Garden Jew fol
100 guineas for the run home and wa
bunking in the charthouse. He'd rec
ord passenger list, and they were al
very flush. Nothing was too expensive
for them. They always bet in case
Of champagne, and I guess the liquo
products alone on that run footed up q
more than 81, ,0o0 tell you felt yer.
cookahoop over it didn't see how th
firm could avoid giving me rise"
Pitcairn began to hum "For He's |
Jolly Good Purser, but the smokeroon
scowled him to silence.
"Among other things we'd about |
gallon and half Of diamonds on board
and that's kind Of freight which pay
in a way which would surprise idiot
who only know about the cost Of send
ing shoddy across the western ocean. !"
tShoddy doesn't come from Brad
ford," said Pitcairn. "Shoddy !
made
"Oh, kill that man, somebody" th
; smokeroom shouted. and once more tn
puraer proceeded.
5 "The diamonds were done up in lit
tie canvas bags, barring the big stone
which had special sealed case to it
self, and as OF course they weren't pol
ished they looked like so many rust,
: pebbles. The bags were put in a safe
and the safe was under my bed place
There was only one key to the safe, anc
that was at the end Of my watch chain
It was anxious work being responsible
for those gems, can tell You, 50 Ion
as we'd any land connection with sout
Africa, but once we were clear fel
pretty easy. There was an electric be-
fitted up to the door Of the safe, and
anybody meddled who didn't know ho'
to unswitch it there'd have been noil
enough spread about to wake the shil
: And, besides, IL nybody did loot the di'
tnonds what were they to do with then
9 Madeira and Southampton were the o.
~ places we touched. and il there WI
\ anything gone you can bet your life
one would have been allowed to Qu
the ship till we knew where it was.
"Now, diamonds are all very well
their place, but too many diamonds
the conversation, especially when nor
Of them happens 20 be yours, rather sos
= On one, and can tall ron the popnli