Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-10-16
+ The KING Of =
DIAMONDS.
BY Louis Tracy,
coprRIcHr. 1904. By EDWARD j. GLOBE
Author of ..Winss of the Morning. 1.-THE Pillsriof
Lk.tlt." Etc.

The inspector noted the address CIV
en- by Philip. 1t was on the tip of his
tongue to ask his Christian name,
when the constable suggested that they
should examine the stable in which
Mason had hidden.
They went up the news. Philip
locked his door, extinguished his can
ole and lay down on the mattress,
fully dressed, with his newly. bought
rug for covering.
He was so utterly tired, SO exhausted |
and mentally by the sturm
und drang OF this eventful day that |
he was sound asleep when the two
men returned.
They saw him through the window.
Hes Il fine lad,'' said the inspector
thoughtfully. 81 wonder what he is
going to make of himself. We might
have asked him who his friends We're.
but they are not badly Off, or he
couldn't have got that bag and his new
clothes. What on earth caused Mason
to connect him with that diamond
story:"
"Its hard to say" observed the con-
stable.
81 will look round and have chat
with him in the morning. Poor little
chap! He's sleeping like top now"
The inspector called at No. 3 John
sons News soon after 10 next morn
ing, but the door was locked and the
bird flown. He spoke to Mason after
that worthy was remanded for week,
but nights painful seclusion had
sealed the burglars lips. He vowed,
with fearful emphasis, to get even"
with the kid who ''ahted" him, for the
policeman's evidence had revealed the
truth concerning the arrest. But not
another word would Mason say about
the diamonds, and for u little while the
inspector placed his overnight revela-
tons in the category Of myths familiar
to the police in their daily dealings
| with criminals.
Philip awoke shortly before &.
I He was cold and stiff. The weather
was chilly, and there was no ardent
meteor in the back yard to keep the
temperature of the house at u grateful
point during the night.
But his active young frame quickly
dissipated the effects of deep sleep
OH drafty floor. He washed his face
and hands ut the sink in the scullery,
and his next thought was for break
fast, n proof, IL proof were needed,
| that he arose refreshed In mind and
| body.
In the Mile End road there are plen-
ty of early morning restaurants. At
one of them lie made a substantial
meal, and, on his return to the news,
he lost not moment in carrying out q
systematic search through all parts OF
the house and yard for any traces Of
the meteor which might have escaped
his ken in the darkness.
Amid the earth and broken stones of
the excavation there were few frag-
ments of ore and some atomic speci-
mems of the diamantiferous material
not sufficient all told, to I'LL the palm
of his hand, but he gathered them for
obvious reasons and then devoted five
vigorous minutes with OBrien's spade
to the task of filling up the deep hole
itself
BY lowering the fagstones and
breaking the earth beneath he soon
gave the small yard an appearance of
chaos which might certainly puzzle
people, but which would afford no pos
sib!e clew to the nature of the disturb.
Ing element.
At best they might imagine that the
dread evidence of some weird crime
lay in the broken area If so, they
could dig until they We're tired. But,
indeed, he was now guarding against a
most unlikely hypothesis. The prob
ability was that Johnsons News would
soon cease to exist and become al
most as fabulous rs the island OF At
lantis.
Moreover, he had Il project dimly
outlined in his mind Which might be-
come definite If all went well with
him that day. Then the ownership Of
No. 3. Johnsoil's News, would cease
to trouble him, for Philip was quite
sure the whole power Of the law would
be invoked 10 prevent him from deal
ing with his meteor if once the exact
| pluIe where II Iell ueciIHe DuDlhcly
known.
O'Brien's shop WAS scarcely open be
fore Philip was there with his remain
ing portmanteau.
".Arrah, Phil, me lEoy! Where IN the
name Of goodness are We gatherln' the
beautiful leather Trunks from:" ask
ed the pensioner.
."rhis is the last one" laughed the
boy. Il am off now TO find cab, and
you won't see me again until Monday
"laiX, he's wonderful lad entirely!!'
commented the old man. what sOr
of plundller has he in the bags. ut al
at all:"
In idle curiosity he lifted the las
addition TO the pile. II was normal
even light In weight Then lie nodded
knowingly.
"A lot of ould buds belongin' to Mrs
Arson, I'll he boun'. All. well, thu
Lord rest her sowl. it's she was thu
fine woman. wish had some one a!
j oliver as her to write for me to tina
thafe of the worruld who thried"-
: AS there are no signs In the art o
literature similar to those which serv,