The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-09-23
CHAPTER II.

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our appearance attracting a good dea
OF attention, and creating some aInuse
ment and speculation doubtless. Per
sons on the opposite side Of the road
stopped 10 look across at US, others re
garded Us askant in passing and turned
round 10 watch our progress, a few
children following us, thinking maybe
that we were about TO give some kind
OF street entertainment
We found bank and streamed in, a
small crowd collecting round the door
as it swung 10 behind the Kid. The
clerks suspended their operations and
looked at us in open-mouthed astonish-
ment as we ranged ourselves along the
counter.
as the manager Of this concern inH
asked the Judge. Hands off" lie
added, in roar. as the Kid, slipping
her 1.-the hand under the brass work
protecting the counter began 10 finger
the scales.
The Kid, unmovcd, satisfied her Gu
riosity, then. withdrawing her hand,
rested her elbow on the counter, and,
dropping her chin in the palm, gaZed
at the clerks with stolid Indifference.
"The manager is in, what DO you
wantp asked the clerk.
Let up Israel" said the Judge, fan
ing back a step, and waving his hand
significantly toward Van Hoeck.
I'VE wish TO negotiate loan on the
security OF large diamond that we
have brought home from the Cape"
said Van Hoeck.
Eight hundred and twenty carats,
fust water" added the Judge; "the
grandest stone in this almighty uni
verse;
There was whispered consultation
among the clerks, and one went into a
private room at the back Of the bank,
from which he presently returned with
the manager.
II am the manager. What do you
wantp
Van Hoeck repeated his statement.
"And what security can you give me
that the diamond is genuine" asked
the manager, with pleasant smile,
"or that it is leSitimately yours TO dis
pose Off"
You will allow, sir, II any one he'd
lost a stone of this kind he would have
made il onsafe for us 10 walk about
with it in the day Light replied the
Judge, "and as for its ncin' genuine,
you kin hev the security of your own
eyesight,"
II do not profess to be n judge of
diamonds, ana / can have nothing to
do with it," said the manager, def
nitely.
We streamed out OF that bank as we
had streamed into il, and tried anoth-
cr, but with no better result the man
ager telling us that transactions of
such a kind We're altogether beyond the
range of his business; and we found a
third, but the manager was absent
and by this time, being convinced that
the plan We had proposed was imprac-
ticable, we put our heads together in
counsel at the corner of the street to
determine what course we should take.
We were disgusted with Southamp-
ton and, had we possessed the means,
should have gone at once TO London,
where we might have found some for
mer acquaintance to help us out of our
present difficulty. But we had nothing
nothing in the world but the things
we stood upright In, and the great dia-
mond. For our smaller finds and our
implements we had sold at Natal TO
make up enough to pay our stccrage
home, and our spare clothes, our
knives, every available thing, we had
bartered away on our passage for food
to supplement the miserably INSULT
cicnt steerage fare.
1--WE kin not pawn the Kid" said the
Judge. "end that's about the only per
kisit as we could well do without"
1t was now near upon o'clock, and
we felt the need of food. having eaten
nothing since 6, when our last rations
were served out to us on the Southern
Cross. Our position was desperate
one. With millions in our possession
we might starve in the street, or have
to take refuge in the workhouse.
1t was odd, indeed, and very unpleas.
ant, also. At length, being unable 10
see any way out OF our difficulty, we
made our way TO a police station and
laid our case before the inspector.
well, my good fellows" said he,
having heard US out. II don't see how
I'm 10 help you. The Mayor is the pro
per person TO go 10, but he's away
yachting The only party l can think
Of" he added. after moments reflec'
ton, who might serve you, is Sir Ell
mund Lascellcs. He's got n kind of
museum. and buys up curiosities.
know; and kind old gentleman he is
too. Now, IL he's at home"
We asked him hurriedly where SiI
Edmund lived. and he replied that II
was out Lymington way-Monken Ab
bey-elght or nine miles, and any Oh,
would tell us the way
We'll. there was nothing else 10 b'
done; so we got the inspector 90 xiv,
us more definite direction. and ther
started of in search OF the Abbey. Tn,
Judge swinging along ahead nj goo,
four miles an hour. the lid bad TO tro
to keep up with Us. but gave her M
hand and she did not complain-it wa
not in her nature TO show suffering IL
tho ordinary way.
IL must have been about G o'clocl
when we found the park entrance q
Monken Abbey, and there we wer,
stopped 10y the lodge keeper. who re