Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-12-02
By LOUIS TRACY.


ponce magistrate could picture him as
the actual owner of millions of pounds
worth OF portable property Hence, the
Boys appearance now told in his favor.
Cursory impressions soon yielded to posi-
tive bewilderment when Philip began to
relate his story faithfully from beginning
to end, neither exaggerating nor sup
pressing any salient detail save the actual
locality where his astounding adventures
found their center and genesis.
Mr.. Abingdon did not doubt for one
moment that the boy was telling the
truth. The romance of his narrative was
far beyond fiction
Philip himself grew enthusiastic as he
went on. His brown eyes blazed again
with the memory of his wrath and shame
at the arrest. He told the magistrate
exactly how the proceedings in court had
affected him, and gave a vivid picture of
ms bargaining with Isaaestein, the pack
ing of the diamonds, the fight between
the policeman and burglar, his inter
views with all sorts and conditions of
men, and the ruses he had adopted to pre-
serve his secret.
At last he came to the transaction
which secured for him the ownership of
the news itself He read copies of his
letters to his solicitors, and their replies,
and then, of course, the magistrate knew
where the meteor had fallen.
That is a very clever move on vcur
part" he said, smiling. at invests YOU
with all the rights and usages of that
particular piece of earth. and effectually
stops anyone from disputing your pos
session of the meteor. How did you come
to think of it,"
You put the idea into my mind, sir
said Philip modestly.
Il? In what manner"
you limited, at our last meeting. that
some one might lay claim to my dia-
monds on the ground that they had
fallen ON their property. | do not in
tend that anyone living, except yourself,
shall ever know the history of my me-
teor, but | thought it best to buy the
place outright in the first instance, and
then devote it to q charity which | in
tend to found in memory of my mother -
Mr.. Abingdon smiled again.
Your confidence is very flattering." he
said. Il suppose you took up your quar-
tiers at the Pail Mall hotel in order to
impress people with your Importance and
secure instant compliance with your
wishes"
That was my motive, sir"
Then, my young millionaire. in what
way do you wish me to serve you? Of
course, you have not sought this inter
view and told me your story so unre-
servedly without an Interior object in
view? You see, l am beginning to I'M
derstand you already a little better than
when we first met"
Philip did not reply immediately. He
did not want to risk refusal and he
was not yet quite sure that the magis-
trate fully comprehended the extent of
the fortune which had been showered on
him from Natures own mint
when Mr.. Isaacstein returns from
Amsterdam he will pay me something
ike 100000" he said.
Yes. 1t would seem so from the re-
ceipt you have shown me-"
That will be determined on Wednes-
day next at the latest"
Yes"
IF the money Is forthcoming it will
be proof positive that my diamonds are
of good quality, and as | picked up these
dirty stones quite promiscuously, it fol
lows that the Others are of the same
standard p"
Undoubtedly"
well, Mr.. Abingdon, | can form no
estimate of their collective value, but
they must be worth many millions. Ac-
cording to Mr.. lsaacstein's views, | will
be able to command revenue of between
quarter and half a million sterling per
annum."
Il IS marvellous. perfectly appalling in
some senses" cried the perturbed lawyer,
throwing up his hands in t5e extremity
of his amazement.
you are right, sir. / am only a boy,
and the thing is beyond my powers.
can see quite clearly that while | ought
to be at college obtaining a proper edu-
cation, / will be worrying about the care
of great sums of money | do not know
anything about investments. How should
I? Isaacstein Is a jew, and he will prob
ably endeayor very soon TO get the bet
ter of me in the necessary business trans
actions. How can | stop him? | have
no older relatives, no friends whom | can
trust. For some reason, ! do feel that
can have faith in you. VIII you take
charge of my affairs, advise me during
the next few years, tell me how to act as
my mother would have told me-in a
word, become my GUARDIAN
For a little while Mr.. Abingdon was
silent. When words came he could only
gasp:
You certainly are the most extraordi-
nary boy l have ever encountered"
Then Philip laughed merrily.
Il don't think. sir, that / am 80 much
an extraordinary boy as a boy who has
been pitchforked into an extraordinary
position. l hope most sincerely that you
viii do what l ask If l may say so
without presumption. it will be good
thing for you. / suppose a man who
looks after millions of money is entitled
to vastly bigger income than one who
sits hours in a police court dealing with
ofTenses against the law
Such has certainly been my expert |
ence,'' said the magistrate, who appre-