Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-09-24
THE KING OF DIAMONDS.
Continued from hrss psss.)

For the visitor was softly using
words which to O'Brien's dull ears
sounded very like a string Of curses.
"I'm sorry" growled the other with
an effort. ave been to Africa, an ]
get such spasm now-an' then in my
liver that can hardly stand"
THAT'S no way to cure yourself
profanln' the name of the Almighty"
cried O'Brien.
mo. I'm sorry, I tell you. But
about this boy
"There's no more to see now, II ye
PLACE. That's the way out"
O'Brien was deeply offended by the
language used beneath roof hallowed
by the name Of Mary Arson. The
sightseer had to Co. and quickly. An
other commissionnaire, who was OBJ
serving them from distance, came up
and asked O'Brien what the stranger
was talking about.
aye nivver heard SIGH blaggard,"
said the old man Indignantly. II was
in the middle Of tellin' him about Mr..
Philip. when he began to curse like
ould Nick himself"
In the Mile End road the rawboned
person who betrayed such excitement
found the policeman awaiting him.
He sprang on to a bus and purposely
glared Mt the officer in way to attract
his attention. When Mt safe dis
lance he PIT his fingers to his nose.
The constable smiled.
II knew l was right" he said. 81
don't need to look twice Mt that sort
of customer"
And he entered the Mary Arson
home again to ask the porter what had
taken place.
1t was an easy matter for Jocky
Mason, released from Portland prison
on ticket of leave, after serving the
major portion Of sentence Of four
teen years penal servitude-the man
he assaulted had died, and the ex.
convict narrowly escaped being hanged
to ascertain the salient facts Of Phil
ip Anson's later career.
It was known to most men. He was
Biographical briefly in "Who's Who"
and had often supplied material for
column Of gossip in the newspapers.
Every free library held books contain
ing references to him.
1t was quite impossible that the
source of his great wealth should re-
main hidden for all time. In one way
and another 1t leaked out, and he be-
came identified with the ragged youth
who created sensation in the dock of
the Clerkenwell police station.
But this was years later, and the
clever manipulation Of Mr.. Abingdon,
as his estate agent, and Of Mr.. Isaac
stein, as his representative in the dia-
mond trade, completely frustrated oil
attempts to measure the true extent
Of the meteor's value.
For now Philip owned q real dia.
mond mine in South Africa, he had a
fine estate in Sussex, house in Park
lane, a superb seagoing yacht, col.
liery In Yorkshire and vast sums in
vested in land and railways. The
latent value of his gems had been con-
verted into money earning capital.
Mr.. Abingdon proved himself to be
very able business man. When the
administration Of Philips revenue be-
came too heavy task for his unaided
shoulders. he organized capital es-
tate office, with well trained lawyers.
engineers and accountants to conduct
its various departments, while he kept
up an active supervision Of the whole
until Philip quilted his university and
was old enough to begin to bear some
portion of the burden.
They agreed to differ on this impor-
tant question. Philip was fond OF
travel and adventure. With great diff
ficulty his guardian" kept him out of
the army, but compromised the matter
by allowing the young millionaire to
roam about the odd corners >Of the
world in his yacht for eight months OF
the year, provided, he spent four
months of the season in London and
Sussex attending to affairs.
In this month of April he was living
| in his town house. In July he would
20 to Fairfax Hall, in August to Scot
land and month later would joyfully
| fly to the Forth, where the Sea Maiden
awaited him.
This lady, whose waist measured
eighteen feet across and whose length
was seventy feet, with fine spread
CT canvas and auxiliary steam. was the
only siren able to charm him.
lie was tell now and strongly built.
with something CT the naval oGcer In
| his handsome, resolute face AMI well
| set I'd figure. AS hobby lie had TAX
en- oct n master mariners certificate,
and lie could navigate his own ship in
the teeth of an Atlantic gale. He loved
| to surround himself with friends, most
" Oxford mcn OF his year. but he sell
don ente-t. ;acl ladies'. either on board
| the Sea M::.len or In either Of his two
| fine mansions.
He avoided society in its general ac'
ceptance, refused al overtures to mix
| In politics. took 4 keen delight In using
hi5 gro.t wealth to allcvlate distress
nnonyr, ousl.' aud carmel Ge"erved
renutatinn as Il hear" among the few
match making mammas who managed
to make his acquaintance.
In other respects as the boy was so
was the mal-the same downright
character, the same s.aadfa3t devotion
t. his mothers memory, the same re-
lentless adherence TO a course already
decided on ind the same whole hearted
reciprocity Of friendship.
AS he stood in his drawing room be.
fore dinner on the evening Of the day
Jocky Mason revisited the locality. II
not the surroundings, Of his capture
Philips strong face wore an unwOnted
expression Of annoyance. He walked
to and fro from end to end Of the beau
tiful room. pausing each time he reach
| ed the window to gaze out over the
park.
A servant. who entered for the pur-
pose Of turning on the electric lights
and lowering the blinds, was hidden al
most impatlently to wait until Philip
and his guests were at dinner.
A telegram came. Arson opened 1t
and read:
Was dressing to come to your place
| when Granger telegraphed for me TO act
| rs substitute Lincoln quarter sessions.
Must 60 down at once. FOX.