The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-08-09

D
and mentally. He was keenly anxious
/ TO justify his mothers trust in him.
The clustering wind, annoying to most
wayfarers, only aroused in him spirit
or resistance, OF fortitude. He breast
ed it SO mapfully that when at last be
paused at the door of great jewelry
establishment il Ludgate ILL his face
was flushed and his manner eager and
animated.
| He opened the door, but was rude!y
brought back TO sense Of his sur
roundings Ey the suspicious question
" shopwa.keT:
| Now. boy, what do you want here?"
The unconscious stress in the mans
words was certainly borne cut by the
contrast between Bhilp. social p3rill
Ia attire, ana the wealth OF gold aaJ
| precious stones cut of from him by
pancs Of Thick glass ald ircl bars
What, Indeed. did this outcast want
| there?
Ccnfrsed by tie sul-en demand anil
no less by its complete obviousness
Philip flushed ami staIamered:
:'I-eT-only wished to obtain some
information, Sir" lie answered
Like al others. the shopman WAS
amazed ~ the difference between the
boys manners and his appearance
Information" he repeated in his
| surprise. what information can WE
| give yop?''
The wealth Of the firm oppressed
this man. he could only SPEAK in ac-
cents Of adulation where the shop was
concerned.
Philip produced his white pebble.
What is this?" he said.
The directness of the query again
took his nearer aback. Without a
| Professional instinct mastered all 9th
er considerations.
you must apply to that depart
ment." He majestically waved his
hand toward side counter. Philip
obeyed silently and approached q
small, elderly parsonage, man with
clever, kindly eyes, who was submit
ting to microscopical examination a
lumber of tiny stones spread out on a
chamois leather folding case. He
quietly removed the case when his
glance rested on the boy.
"Well?' he said blankly, wondering
why on earth the skilled shopwalker
had sent such disreputable urchin to
him. Philip was now quite collected
In his wits. He held out the pebble,
with a more detailed statement.
IL found this" he said. II thought
that it might be valuable, and u friend
advised me to bring it here. Will you
kindly tell me what it is?"
The man behind the counter stared
at him for moment, but he reached
over for the stone. Without word he
placed it beneath the microscope and
gave 1t very brief examination. Then
he pressed it against his cheek.
where did you get itT' he asked.
II found it where 1t had fallen on the
pavement"
"Are you sureY'
"Quite sure"
stranger was the muttered COM
ment, and Philip began to understand
that his meteor possessed attributes
hitherto unsupported.
but what is it?' he inquired after q
pause.
"a meteoric diamond"
"a meteoric diamondT
"Yes."
"Is it worth muchT
"a great deal. Probably some hun
dreds Of pounds"
Philip felt his face growing pale
That dirty-white small stone worth
hundreds of pounds! Yet in his pocket
he had twenty-nine other specimens,
many Of them much larger than the
one chosen haphazard for inspection.
and in the back yard Of his tenement
lay heaps of them, scattered about the
pavement like hailstones after q show
er, while the meteor itself was COM
pact mass Of them. He became some
what faint and leaned against the glass
case that surmounted the counter.
"Is that really true?" was all that he
could say.
The expert valuer Of diamonds smil-
ed His first impulse was to send for
the police but he knew that meteoric
diamonds did fall to earth occasionally,
and he believed the boys story. More
over, the thing was such rarity and
Of such value that the holder must be
fully able to account for its possession
before he could dispose Of it. So his
tone was not unkindly as he replied:
ut Is quite true, but IL you want TO
ascertain its exact value you should
go to Hatton Garden merchant, and
he, most probably, would make you a
fair offer. 1t has to be cut and polish
ed, you know, before 1t becomes sal.
able, and l must warn you that most
rigid inquiry will be made as to how
It came into your hands"
ut fell from heavenr' was the Who'll
ly unexpected answer, for Philip was
shaken and hardly master Of his fac
ulties.
"Yes. yes, know. Personally, l be-
lieve you or you would be in custody
at this moment. Take it to Messrs.
Isaacstein & Co., Hatton Garden. Say
I sent you-Mr. Wilson is my name
and make your best terms with Mr..
Isaacsten. He will treat you quite
fairly. But, again, be sure and tell the
truth, as he will investigate your story
fully before he Is satisfied as to its