Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-07-25
Is a matter of recent occurrcnce?'

Is q matter of recent occurrcnceW
Judging by the appearance of the
accompanying scraps of iron ore, I
should say that they have been quite
recently in state of flux from heat.
The silcates seem to be almost elimi-
mated"
The magistrate was unquestlonably
puzzled. Queer incidents happen in
police courts daily, and the most un
expected scientific and technical points
are elucidated in the effort to secure
an accurate comprehension of matters
In dispute. But never during his long
tenancy OF the court had he been called
on to deal with n case of this nature
He smiled in his perplexity.
I'VE all remember the copybook
maxim. Let justice be done though
the heavens fall he said but here
It is clearly shown that the ideal Is not
easily reached
OF course every one laughed. and the
reporters piled pen and pencil with re-
newed activity. Here was n sensation
with a vengeance worth all the dis
play It demanded in the evening pa
pers. Headlines would whoop through
a quarter of a column, and Philips
meteor again run through space.
The boy himself was apparently the
most disintcrested person prescnt.
While listening to Isaacsteip, he again
experienced the odd sensation Of alOof-
ness, of lofty domination amid a COM
monplace and insignificant environ
ment. The man was clever, of course.
but his clcvcrncss was that of the text
book, dry record Of fact which need
ed genius to illuminate the printed
page. And these lawyers reporters, po-
llcemen. with tie vacuous background
of loungors. the friends and bottle hold
ers Of thieves and drunkards the mag
istrate, even, remote in his dignity and
sense Of power what were they to
him of no greater import than the
paving stones of the stIe2ys to the pull
sating life Of London as il passed
The magistrate glanced nj lsaacstein
and stroked his chin. Isaarstein gazcd
intently Mt the packet of diamonds and
rubbed his sinuous nose. There wA1 i
deep silence in court, broken only by
the occasional shuttle of feet among the
audience Mt the back a shuttle which
stopped instantly when the steeiy
glance Of a policeman darted in that
direction.
At last the magistrate seemed TO
make M his mind 10 definite cpur9e
of action.
There ia only one person present"
he said. who can throw light on this
extraordinary case, and that is the boy
himself
He looked at Philip, ana all eyes
quickly turned toward the thin, ragged
Bgure standing upright against the rail
that shut him off from the well of the
court The professional people present
noted that the magistrate dil rot 81
lude TO the strange LOOKING youth as
"the prisoner"
What Was going TO happen? Was
this destitute urchin going to leave the
court with diamonds in his pocket
worth 10000? Oddly enough, DO one
paid heed To Philips boast that he
owned far more than that amount !,
was not he. but his packet Of diamonds
that evoked wonder. And had not
Isaacstein. the great merchant and eX.
pert. appraised them openly. Was II
possible that those dirty white peb-
bps could he endowed with such poten-
1iality. Fifty thousand pounds. There
were men in the room. and not confn-
ed to the unwRShed whose palates
dried anI tongues swcllod at the no.
ton.