The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-08-23

action was tantalizing to his compan
ion, and that is why he did It.
Isaacsteln went to sideboard ant
poured out stiff glass of brandy. HI
swallowed it as an ordinary person
takes an oyster.
That's BETTER" he said, returning t,
his desk. "Now we can get to clos,
quarters. Hand over the stones"
Philip did nothing of the sort.
'WhyT he inquired blandly. "Yo,
know all about them. You can hardl,
want to examine them so frequently"
"Confound it," cried Isaacstein
growing red with renewed Impotence
"What more can l do than agree Il
your terms"
81 asked you for an advance Of ESQ
/ said nothing about Leaving the dia
monds In your charge. Please lister
to me. I make no unreasonable de
mands. If you wish to keep the stones
now you must first write me a letter
stating the agreement between us. Il
1t is right l will give you the dia
monds. If 1t Is not according to my
ideas You must alter it."
"Do you think I mean to swindlt
your"
81 have no views on that point.
am only telling you what my condi
tons are"
Isaacstein sat back in his chair and
regarded Philip fixedly and with as
much calmness as he could summon
to his aid. A ray Of sunshine illumin
ed bald patch on the top of his head
and the boy found himself idly specu
lating on developments in the mans
future life. The man, on his part, was
seeking to read the boys inscrutable
character, but the fixity Of Philips
gaze at his denuded crown discomfort
ed him again.
"What are you looking at?" he de-
manded suddenly.
II was wondering how you will look
when you go to heaven. Mr.. Isaac
stein," was the astounding reply.
"You imagine, then, that / may deal
fairly with your he said at last.
"Oh, yes why should you rob me
You can earn more money than you can
ever need in this world by looking aft.
er my interests properly. II only you
will believe this statement Il will save
you much future worry, assure you"
"Were you in earnest when you said
that you have an abundance Of stones
like those In your hands"
$50 many, Mr.. Isaacstein, that you
will have some trouble In disposing of
them. have diamonds as big, as big
let me see-as big as an egg"
The wonder is that the man did not
faint.
"My Godw he gurgled. do you
know what you are saying? Where
are they, boy? You will be robbed,
murdered for their sake. Where are
they? Let me put them in some safe
place. 1 will deal honestly by you. 1
swear it by all that hold sacred. But
you must have them taken care Of"
'They are quite safe, be certain of
that Reveal my secret will not I
have borne insult and Imprisonment to
preserve 1t, so it is not likely 1 will
yield now to your appeals"
Philips face lit up with strange
light as this protest left his lips. The
meteor was his mothers bequest. She
gave 1t to him, and she would safe
guard 1t. Had she failed hitherto?
Was not all London ringing with the
news of his fortune, yet what man or
woman had discovered the whereabouts
of his treasure? In his pocket he felt
the great iron key of No. 3 Johnson's
News, and he was as certain now that
his hiding place was unknown as that
his mothers spirit was looking down
on him from heaven and directing his
every movement.
The man, in spite of his own great
lack Of composure, saw the fleeing
glimpse of spirituality In the boys eyes.
Puzzled and disturbed though he was,
he made another violent effort to pull
his shattered nerves into order.
There Is no need to talk all day." he
said doggedly. Nov am going to tell
you something you don't know. If your
boast is justified-if you really own as
many diamonds and as good ones as
you say you own-there must be a
great deal Of discretion exercised in
putting them on the market. Diamonds
are valuable only because they are
rare. There Is a limit to their possible
II the diamond mines Of
the world were to pour all their re-
sources forthwith into the lap Of the
public there would be such slump
that prices would drop 80, 90. even 80
per cent. Do you follow me?"
YES" nodded Philip.
A week earlier he would have said,
Eyes, SIR" but his soul was bitter yet
against Isaacstein.
"very well. 1t may take me months.
years, to realize your collection. To do
It properly must have some Idea of
its magnitude. II there are exception
ally large stones among It, they will be
dealt with separately. They may rival
or eclipse the few historical diamonds
Of the world, but their worth can only
be measured by the readiness of some
fool to pay hundreds of thousands for