The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-06-24
CONTINUED from yesterdny1

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 proceed
ings in court had affected him and
gave a vivid picture of his bargaining
with Isaacstein, the packing of the
diamonds, the fight between the police
man and a burglar, his interviews with
all sorts and conditions of men and the
ruses he had adopted to preserve 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 the solicitors and their
replies, and then of course the magis-
trate knew where the meteor had
fallen.
THAT is q very clever move on your
part" he said. smiling. "It invests you
with all the rights and usages of that
particular piece Of earth and effectual-
~ stops any one from disputing your
possession of the meteor. How did
you come to think of it?'
you put the idea into my mind, SIR"
said Philip modestly.
az? In what mannerT
'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 l do not in
tend that any one living except your
self shall ever know the history Of my
meteor, but I thought it best to buy
the place outright in the first instance
and then devote it to a charity which
I intend to found in memory of my
mother"
Mr. Abingdon smiled again.
Your confidence is very flattering,"
he said. II suppose you took up your
quarters at the Pail Mall hotel in order
to impress people with your impor-
lance 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? OR
course you have not sought this inter
view and told me your story so unre-
servedly without an Interior object In
view. You see, 1 am beginning to IN
aerstand you already a little better
than when we first met"
Philip did not reply Immediately. He
did not want to risk a 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
Amsterdam, lie will pay me something
like 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 follows that the others are of the
same standard"
Undoubtedly"
'Well, Mr.. Abingdon, can form nc
/ estimate Of their collective value, but
/ they must be worth many millions Ac
cording to Mr.. Isaacstein's views,
/ Will be able to command O revenue OF
! between a quarter and half million
sterling per annum."
1T is marvellous! Perfectly appalling
IN some sensesr' cried the perturbel
lawyer, throwing up his hands in the
extremity of his amazement.
You are right, sir l am only d boy
and the thing is beyond my powers.
can see quite clearly that while l ough
to be at college obtaining a proper edu
cation | will be worrying about thu
care of great sums of money. I q
not know anything about investments
How should l? Isaacstein will proba
bly, endeavor very soon to get the bet
ter of me in the necessary business
transactions. How can I stop him?
have no older relatives, no friend
whom l can trust. For some reason
do feel that | can have faith in you
Will you take charge of my affairs, ad
wise me during the next few years, tel
me how to act as my mother woul,
have told me-in a word. become m
guardian?'
For i little while Mr.. Abingdon wa
silent. When words came he coul
only gasp:
"You certainly are the most extraoI
binary boy I have ever encountered"
Then Philip laughed merrily.
Il don't think. sir, that 1 am so niue
. an extraordinary boy as boy who Ia
been pitchforked into an eXtraordinar
position. l hope most sincerely tina
you will do what l ask. If may 81
so without presumption, it Will be
good thing for you. suppose 4 ma
who looks after millions of money
entitled to a vastly bigger income tina
one who sits hours in police coul
dealing with offenses against the law
such has certainly been my eXper
ence," said the magistrate, who appr'
ciated the nice manner in which Phil
limited at 4 good fat salary for COZ