The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-12-07
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THE METEOR DIhAOND
How 1t Wa Recovered by a
D.tC Give.

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1t was the night OF Nov. 4, 1899, as
Mr.. David Allen sat blue pcnciling
some proof sheets, when there came Il
ponderous thud that to him seemed
just under the window. 1t shook the
whole house. and when he looked out
of the window he saw that something
had made n deep hole in the garden.
The next Gay he dug up small me
teor 1t was Il most formidable look
ing piece of metal 1t contained at the
surface Il small crystal.
The stone in size and shape resem-
bled the egg of rock pigeon, but in
color 1t was watery, with just tinge
Of yellow. Mr.. Allen wrapped 1t up in
tissue paper, placed it in box and call
ed on the scientist to ask his opinion.
DIR. Reford said it was leopardite-
a mineral, he said found always in q
crystallized condition-and talkedabout
lateral planes, oblique prisms, trans
lucent edges and wound up by giving
the component parts of this wonderful
stone and its specific gravity.
"Is the stone Of any value, DR.. Re
ford?' Allen asked.
well, scientifically, yes; intrinsical-
ly, no. Dut before returning it l
would like to make a further and more
exhaustive inquiry into the chemical
parts of it
Certainly, DR.. Eeford. Keep it As
long as you wish" Then Allen went
home.
He thought no more about it until
his friend Jones asked:
What have you done with the peb-
BILE, Allen:"
"Oh, l took it to local doctor who
dabbIes Il bit in science"
Did he tell you what it was? I'll
tell you why | ask. Do you remember
Clayton of Yale? Well, 10 matter.
He's a wonderfully smart chap. l SAW
him absolutely make n diamond few
weeks back. He explained that the
pinhead he produced was of the first
water and that when electricity was
better known diamonds would be as
cheap as they are now dear. He placed
q few metals and other ingredients In
to a crucible and then boiled the lot up
by the aid of powerful electric cur
rent, with the result I've told you.
Now, Clayton says if he could only get
an odd hundred or thousand degrees,
L,,, hn
make diamond as big as hens egg.
Despite all efforts of Allen to dispel
the thoughts conjured up by Jones re-
marks the matter would recur. He
tried to laugh it away, but to no avail,
so he walked over to DR.. Refords to
ask for the pebbles return.
The doctor was in and disengagcd.
"Well, Mr.. Allen, have dissolved
that stone. 1t was nothing more than
glass" DR.. Reford showed Allen q
wide necked vial with some whitish
LIQUID in it and beneath which was Il
small ridge of green sediment.
"There," said he, lis all that is left
of your treasure, Mr.. Allen"
Allen was disappointed in not having;
the pebble to keep as a memento. He,
however, said it couldn't be helped.
"Tll tell you what l will do, Mr.. Al
len. I'll solidify that sediment so thai
YOU may have something to remind you
of your midnight visitor"
Allen jumped at the offer and left
contented.
About a week after this DR.. Reford
accompanied by a .youngish looking
man, called upon Allen. The doctor
introduced the youngish looking man
as DR.. Smith. He said DR.. Smith was
going to take charge of his practice
willie he voyaged to Europe.
The next day Il gcntlemanly individ,
uai called to see Mr.. Allen on urgent
business.
"Aiy name is John WcstiocA." said
he, and I'm detective sent to you
under instructions from Mr.. Albert
Jones, friend CT yours"
Good heavens. man, what's up:'
"Acc0r.:ing to Mr.. Jones, sly, Il few
weeks Lack you had meteor !ali ii
your garden"
| y had what thcn?'
You sent pebble it contained to 9
local doctor named Reford for exam
n:.tion?"
"Certainly."
| well. sir. the day before yesterday
| this doctor called upon Mr.. Clayton
| The eminent scientist, and explained
that the meteor fell in his garden ara
| that he found the pebble. Mr.. Clayton
| examined il and fouiid il to be Il nloSt
valuable diamond. y few minutes aft
er the doctor left Mr.. Clayton's house
| your friend. Nil Jones. called and was
told the story about the meteor. He
| was satisfied that somehow this doctor
had got the pebble from you and haC
! deceived you. OF course it's your af
fair, but if my advice is worth any
thing I'd go and get what he says i!
all that remains of your pebble"
To this Mi. Alien agreed.
| Together they iourncyed to DR.. Re
ford's and were somewhat surprised
| when not the doctor, but the house
keeper. came to the door.
"Oh, Mr.. Allen, is it you, sir? I'm 81
glad to see you! Things is in an aw
full mess. Afore any of us were up thi
morning that Mr.. Smith-or DR.. Smitl
(contemptuously) - leaves the house
Soon after the master was up Their
was an awful row. He swore he''
been robbed, and when he heard n
this Smith man had gone thought b
was going mad, sir; indeed l did. IL
raved round the place like n regula
luny and then ran to the railroad sta
ton"
Mr. Allen had no difficulty in obtain
ing the vial, but Westlock learned moth