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

was just like Ould times IN the hills
in Injia, where the divil himself holds
coort some nights. But what's the
matter? Didn't you set that jobT'
Philip laughed again. Il am not
sure yet" he replied. Il really came
in to ask you what this is"
With his hand in his pocket. he had
UNFINISHED the paper aud taken out a
white pebble, which he now handed .
to O'Brien.
The old man took it, smelt it and ad- /
justed his glasses for a critical exam
nation
1T amt alum" he announced.
mo, think not
AN it amt glass"
Probably not"
"Where did yer get it?'
81 found It lying on the pavement"
O'Brien scratched his head. "'Tis |
a quare looking objec, anyhow What !
good is it?"
Il cannot tell you. 1 thought that
possibly it might have some value"
what! A scrap Of white shtone like
that Arrah, what's come over yer
There is no harm IN asking, is there?
Some one should be able to tell me
what 1t is made. Of"
! Philip from his small store of physi-
cal geography knew that meteors were
articles OF sufficient rarity to attract
attention, and he was tenacious withal.
Il suppose that jeweler would be
the best man to Judge He must IN
derstand about stones" he went on.
Maybe But 1 don't see what's the
use. IT'S q sheer waste of time. But
| If y're set on f1ndin' out go to a big
man. These German Jews round about
here are omadhauns. They don't know
watch from clock, an If they did
they'd chate ye"
Il never thought of that, yet ought
to know by this time. Thank you. l
will go into the city"
He took the pebble, which he placed
in his waistcoat pocket. Walking
briskly, he traversed some part Of the
sorrowful journey of barely twelve
hours earlier. What had happened to
change his mood he did not know and
scarcely troubled to inquire. Last
night he hurried through these streets
in a frenzied quest for death. Now he
strobe along full of hope, joyous in the
confidence of life and youth. His one
dominant thought was that his mother
had protected him, had snatched him
from the dark gate of eternity. Oddly
enough, he laid far more stress on his
escape from the meteor than on the
accident that prevented his contem-
plated suicide. This latter idea had
vanished with the madness that Undue
ed it. Philip was sane again, morally
and mentally. He was keenly anxious
to justify his mothers trust In him.
The clustering wind, annoying to most
wayfarers, only aroused in him q spirit
} of resistance, of fortitude. He breast
, ed it so manfully that when at last he
paused at the door of great jewelry
establishment in Ludgate Hill his face
was flushed and his manner eager and
animated.
He opened the door, but was rudely
. brought back to a sense of his sur
roundings by the suspicious question
of Shopwalker:
"Now, boy, what do you want here?"
The unconscious stress In the mans
2 words was certainly borne out by the
: contrast between Philip, a social pariah
l In attire, and the wealth of gold and
2 precious stones cut off from him by
i panes of thick glass and iron bars.
' What, indeed, did this outcast want
2 there?
/ Confused by the sudden demand and
s no less by its complete obviousness
j Philip flushed and stammered:
l. 'I-er-only wished to obtain some
5 information, sir" he answered.
) Like al others. the shopman was
r amazed by the difference between the
J. boys manners and his appearance.
information" he repeated In hi:
S surprise. What information can We
Il gave your"
J. The wealth Of the firm oppressed
q this man. He could only speak in az
cents of adulation where the shop wa
. concerned
st Philip produced his white pebble.
e. What is thisY' he said.
I The directness Of the query agail
took his nearer aback. Without
le word, he bent and examined the stone
le Professional instinct mastered all oth
n er considerations.
h "You must apply to that depart
II ment" He majestically waved hi
+ hand toward a side counter. Phii
e obeyed silently and approached
a. small. elderly parsonage, a man wit
D. clever, kindly eyes, who was submit
III ting to microscopical examination
Ut number OF tiny stones spread out on
II channels leather folding case 81
nj quietly removed the case when b
In glance rested on the boy.