Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-09-24
= 1he KING Of i
DIAMONDS.
COPYRIGHT. 1904. By j.. GLOBE.
Ao>>>>< >>>>><
By Louis Tracy.
Author of "Winss Of the Mornins." 1.-The Pillar Of
Light" Etc. s

o<\<<<&\><<<>% >%>>>~~>~~>~~~>
rerstand you ALREADY little DETER
than when we first met"
Philip did not reply Immediately. He
did not want to risk refusal, and he
was not yet quite sure that the magis-
trate fully comprehended the extent of
the fortune which had been sh0wered
on him from natures own mint.
"When Mr. Isaacstein returns from
Amsterdam, he will pay me something
like 100000" he said.
eyes. 1t would seem so from the re-
| ceipt you have shown ne"
"That will be determined on Wednes-
day next at the latest"
YES"
"If the money is Forthcoming, 1t will
be proof positive that my diamonds
are of good quality, and as picked up
these dirty .s+snes quite promiscuously
It follows that the others are Of the
! same standard"
Undoubtedly"
"Well, Mr.. Abingdon, / can form no
estimate of their collective value, but
they must be worth many millions. Ac-
cording to Mr.. Isaacstein's views. ]
will be able to command revenue Of
between quarter and half million
sterling per annum."
1T is marvellous! Perfectly appalling
In some senses!' cried the pcrturbej
lawyer, throwing up his hands in the
extremity of his amazement.
You are right, sir. I am only boy.
and the thing Is beyond my powers. ]
can see quite clearly that while ought
to be ut college obtaining proper edu-
cation I will be worrying about the
care of great sums Of money. do
not know anything about investments.
How should l? Isaacstein will proba.
bly, endeavor very soon to get the bet
ter of me in the necessary business
transactions. How can 1 stop him?
have no older relatives, no friends
whom l can trust. For some reason
do feel that can have faith in you.
Will you take charge Of my affairs, al
wise me during the next few years, tell
me how to act as my mother would
have told me-in a word, become my
guardian"
For little while Mr.. Abingdon was
silent. When words came lie could
only gasp:
You certainly are the most eXtraor-
dinary boy l have ever encountered"
Then Philip laughed merrily.
~ don't think, sir, that am so much
an extraordinary hoy as a boy who has
been pitchforked into an extraordinary
position. l hope most sincerely that
you will do what l ask. If may say
so without presumption, it will be d
good thing for you. | suppose man
who looks after millions Of money Is
entitled to vastly bigger income than
one who sits hours in police court
dealing with offenses against the law"
"Such has certainly been my c.. eli.
ence," said the magistrate, vino appre-
ciated the nice manner in which Philip
limited ut a.good fat salary for con-
trolling the estate of the King Of Dia-
monds.
"Then you agreew cried Philip jo:'-
ously.
Not so fast, my youthful friend.
Even Il police magistrate must DO" To
his wife, Mrs. Abingdon would never
forgive me II took such an important
step without consulting her. Will yon
remain to dinncr?'
Then Philip knew that lie hal gained
his point. Nothing was said before the
servants, but when they were coiily
ensconced in the library before pleas
ant fire lie was asked to relate Il ain
his enhancing history for Mrs. Abing.
don's benefit.
That good lady was overwhelmed.
She, Ike everybody else, had read the
newspapers ana, Of course, had the ad'
ditional benefit Of her husbands views
on the subject Of the unkcmpt boy
with his small parcel of valuable gems.
But the presence Of Philip under
their roof, the glamour Of the tale as
1t fell from his lips, cast Il spell over
her. She was'a kindly soul, too, and
tears gathered in her eyes at some por-
tions Of the recital.
what pity it is that your mother
died" she murmured when he had
ended.
The words endeared her QPhilip In
stantly. a worldly, grasling woman
would have thought OF nothing save
the vista of wealth opened up for her
husband and herself. Not SO Mrs.
Abingdon. If anything, she was some
what afraid of the responsibilities pro-
posed to be undertaken by her spouse.
to whom she was devoted.
The magistrate did not promise
definitely that night to accept the posi-
tion offered to him. He would think
over the matter. lie could retire on n
pension ut any time. This he would
now do without delay, and Philip could
certainly count on his friendship and
advice, while his house would always
be open to him.
Meanwhile he would give one word
Of advice-intrust no human being
with the power to sign any binding
document without his Phi.ip's) con-
sent Then 1t would be difficult for any
one to deal unscrupulously with him.
The boy went away at late hour
He left behind him an exceedingly per-
picked couple, but he felt that when
Mr.. Abingdon had time to assimilate
the facts and realize the great scope of
the work before him there was little
doubt he would gladly associate him
self with 1t.
At the hotel telegram awaited him:
Have realized for fifty-two thousand.
Returning Monday. ISAACSTElN.
Here was the final proof. If proof
were wanting, Philip was millionaire
manv times over
CHAPTER XIII.
TALL, strongly built man. aged
| Ia about forty-five, Int looking
| I older by reason Of his grizzled
4 4 hair and face seamel with
hardship. man whose prominent eyes
impaired an air Of alert intelligence to
| Bad Blood
L