The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-02

Why" she cried, your name Is
familiar to me; surely you're the dla-
mond millionaire every one is talking
about; the man who made the wonder
ful find somewhere in Nyassaland? Do
tell me about It,"
John was not loath to comply with
this request; his shyness had passed,
his longing to escape forgotten. More-
over, the fact Of his riches, the wonder
Of his discovery was stili novel, and he
had no objection to talk OF It.
MY good fortune Is very recent; IT'S
ten years since left England, and now
I'm back It seems like century-old
friends vanished. familiar places
changed out OF recognition. Several
times in my wanderings / just missed
making a pile, and thought fortune
had turned her back on me for good.
Well, little over year ago was in
Durham, and glad enough to get the Job
Of assistant book.keeper to a Durham
merchant, who was opening a branch
at Blantyre. The other man and I took
ship by the German line that monopO-
Lies the East Coast trade past Delagoa
Bay and Belra to ouilimane. We stop
ped there few days before we went up
country. Then I duarrened with the
other man, who ran the store, and went
prospecting for gold along the Shire
river. never thought Of finding dia-
monds; bu. in a dried watercourse OF
what had once been a tributary to the
main stream l Numbered on them.
There they lay among the pebbles. just
as the first diamonds were found at
Kimberley. rose that morning pau
per, and lay down Millionaire. Such
are the viclssltudss OF South Africa.
Miss Armstrong. Perhaps one day
your brother may have similar luck.
That's too good to come to pass"
said the girl. shaking her golden head,
81 should be content. and SO would
mother, to get him back a beggar."
Then she LOOKED with interest on this
brand new millionaire.
"Tt's like q fairy tale. picking up
diamonds. Didn't you sometimes Won
AGA II IL hEAE nut Gll u uIEhNls
NO" said John, practically. II was
thirty-fve; 1 wasn't even much excit-
ed. Then / was nearly robbed OF them,
and life as well, by stray white man
who came to hear OF my luck"
II hope the man was punished"
II shot him." answered John. grimly.
ut was his life or mine. and shot the
straightest."
Dorothy thrilled. as she gazed. She
had never met any one like this before.
Here was q man indeed.
And now curious thing occurred.
The big, masterful-looking man, with
the tanned face. even as she looked at
him, grew strangely white, and look
Of fear-were not such an Idea absurd
seemed to come into the dark eyes
which minute before had flashed with
momentary anger us he recounted the
story OF the attempted robbery. Dor
othy grew alarmed.
Mr.. Davis are you ill?'
1.-THE heat Of the room he stammer-
ed nervouAly. his eyes furtively dwell
ing anywhere but on her face.
Why, its not hot. wish had
some smelling salts"
Never mind I'm feeling better.
There was no air.
The room had been ernptylng while
NhGg NH-AAA@At ehAAA INV u ARhAkANe9AA -"
tired young man. with curled NOUS
tache and a shipper, approached.
MISS Armstrong your mother de-
sires your presence She Is now going.
Goodbye, dear Mrs. PIayfair." said
Dorothy minute later. "Oh. I've had
| such an interesting talk with Air.
Davis; he's been telling me how he
found his diamonds, and ell about AZ
rica."
An inspiration occurred to Mrs. Play
fair.
I'm glad you found him interesting.
By the way. Dorothy, will your moth
I'm getting up a picnic. I know it's no
good asking her. You can come? I'm
so glad. Good-by. dear"
! Presently the hostess encountered her
husband, aud the man who at that mo-
ment filled her thoughts.
Just been giving Davis whisky
aud soda" said the former. Il believe
our rooms nearly AsphyXiatea him; n
man accustomed to sleep In the open
can't breathe in London drawing
room"
Mr.. Davis" said the lady with her
| sweetest smile, Il want you TO come 10
my picnic next Thursdny-a river
| party; oh. now won't take any de-
NAL: Miss Virginia Bond, the New
Yorker every one Is ravlng about. is
| coming, and the two beautiful Miss
Deenes and Winifred Armstrong. the
girl introduced you to"
Somewhat to Mr.. Playfair's surprise.
John accepted without hesitation and
took his leave.
II would never have thought you
would have got him." he observed;
who is the attraction? Your
/ ttTiFTf eFnf1fF In marry him ~, nnP0fhVf
Armstrong" calmly explained his wife.
Mr.. Playfalr raised his eyebrows and
silently sIgnified amusement.
What VIII you bet. Dlck?" his wife
answered warmly.
Nothing" was the prompt reply. II
grant you are clever In that line but"
But whHt?"
why monopollEe the angels work:
besides. will your matrimonial Victims
feel grateful, say five years hence7"
| Smoking d before-dinner cigar In his
study, Mr.. Playfair, in the light OF his
wife's Intention. again went over In his
mind what he knew OF John Davis. He
had made the lntter's acquaintance two
weeks before: little escapes the news.
papers Of to-day, and paragraphs OF a
find Of diamonds In Nyassaland had
already famlllnriZed the name 10 him.
I've got some diamonds to SELL" eX-
plalned the new client, and you have
been recommended 10 me as a safe
agent to employ"
In all Playfalr's long and varied ex-
perIence OF diamonds. the bag Of gems
produced by John Davis had never
been equalled: no private Individual
since the De BeerB mines had been
formed into n company Ind ever
brought such gems from Africa. And
thes were but a portion Of the spoila
found In the river bed How rich John
Davis was no man knew. not even him