Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-08-01

TN trunK wnicn me- wouTu purchase
ne4i morning. Anv ord'ns-s ---'-S
would certainly be spacious enough,
but It's phenomenal weight would un-
qnestionably evoke more comment than
strong men to lift 1t.
This portion Of his plan needed to be
entirely rcmodelcd, and he was now
more than ever thankful that the $50
save one expended, rcposed in his
pocket With money, all things, or
nearly all things, were possible.
Owing to the cramped space in which
the meteor lay, 1t was no small task to
bring it to the surface in sections, but
he perseyercd. BY strenuous endeavor
he accumulated an astonishing pile Of
iron ore studded with diamonds, look
ing not unlike almonds in brown
cake, and the guttering candle held low
down failed TO reveal anything else In
the hole. There was n good deal Of
debris at tho bottom, and the depth was
now over four feet. To reach to its
full extent he was compelled to Jam
his head and shoulders into the excava-
ton and feel bindly with one hand. so
he rightly concluded that final ex-
animation might be left until daylight
BY this time he was hot and covered
with dirt. lie stripped, washed himself
in front of the fire and changed into
his new clothes.
lie did not possess looking glass,
but he felt sure that he presented a re-
markably different appearance when
attired in neat serge suit, a clean
shirt and reputable boots. His first i'm
pulse was to thrust his discarded gar
ments into the fire. but sentiment pre-.
vailed, and he folded them into par.
eel
Then he extinguished his candle and
went out To his exceeding surprise he
discovered that it was nearly . O'Clock,
Time had indeed flown.
The shops in the Mile End road open
early and close late. lie entered a
restaurant where he was unknown,
passing. as n matter of policy, the cof-
fee stall Of his kindly helper OF those
former days now SO remote In his
crowded memories. After eating n
hearty meal, for which he was thor
oughly prepared, he rendered a sover-
eign in payment.
The proprietor barely glanced at him.
Philip was now well dressed, according
to local ideas. and his strong, erect
figure, his resolute face, added two or
three years to his age when contrasted
with the puny standard of fifteen as
set by the poverty stricken East End.
lie had forgotten to buy n necktie
and new pair of stockings. These
omissions he now rectfied, and he also
purchased warm, dark gray travelling
rug. several yards Of drugget n ball Of
Irvine and a pair of scissors. A couple
of stout but worn leather portmanteaus
caught his eye.
Those are cheap" said the salesman
quickly, "only 10 shillngs each"
I'm not sure l can afford so much "
said Philip hesitatingly, for the rug
alone cost Fl IS.
"They're a real bargain-real lea Their
They were never made under IS each.
"Oh, very we'll! l will take them"
lie pTouuceu Ii, Eot HIS cudnsc anu
walked away with his goods without
causing any wonderment. The shop
man was only too glad to have such a
customer Mt that late hour.
Philip now knew that he was fairly
safe, but he decided that a billycock
hat gave him more mature appear
ance than cap. This alteration being
effected, he hurried off to Johnson's
News and re-entered his domicile with
out incident worthy of note.
Very quickly, with the help Of drug
get. scissors and Irvine, the two small