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

IL WAS the lnSlluCI 10 Suuru treasure
| Of great value that led to this involun-
| tary action. He was preoccupied, dis
| turbed, vaguely striving TO grasp a
vision that seemed TO elude his exact
comprehension.
What did II al mean? Was 1t really
possible that he, Philip Arson, or
phaned, beggared, practically starv-
! ing tramp, should have the riches of
| Golconda showered upon him in this
| mad fashion? IL thes small stone he
had shown to the jeweler were worth
| hundreds, then some OF those in the
paper were worth thousands, while as
fore the stone in the back yard of his
house-well, imagination boggled at
the effort to appraise it. The thought
| begot sense of caution, Of reserve,
| of well reasoned determination not to
reveal his secret to anybody. Perhaps
| 1t would be best not to take Messrs.
! lsaacstein q Co. wholly into his conf
dence. He would simply show then
| the stone he had exhibited to Mr. VIII
sen and take the best price they Of
| fered. Then, with the money i'm his
possession, he could effect a much
| needed change In his appearance, visit
them again, and gradually increase his
supply of diamonds until he had OBJ
tanned more money than he could
| possibly spend during many years.
Above all else was it necessary that
| his meteor should be removed to
safer place than Johnsons News.
Philip had scruples about appropriat-
ing It. Lords or the manor and crown
| rights he had never heard of.
His mother, watching his every
| action from some Elysian height, had
sent the diamond loaded messenger
| as token of her love ard care. 1t
| was his. and no man should rob him OF
| it. 1t eehoOved him to be sparing of
explanations and sturdy in defense of
his property.
A good deal depended on the forth
] coming interview, and he wished he
could convert a small fraction of the
wealth in his pocket into few honest
pennies with the kings head on them.
The excitement and exercise had made
him hungry again. His breakfast was
Tot of ample proportions, and his
meals of yesterday had been of the
scantiest. 1t would he well to face
the diamond merchants with the easy
confidence that springs from a satisfied
| appetite. Yet how to manage 1t? He
! was sorry now he had not borrowed q
sixpence from O'Brien. The old SOL
der would certainly have lent it to
him. He even thought of returning to
the Mile End road to secure the loan,
but he happened to remember that the
day was Saturday, and 1t was probable
that the Hatton Garden Offices would
close early. 1t was then nearly IL
o'clock, and he could not risk the de-
lay of the long, double journey.
At that instant savory smell was
| waited to him. He was passing q
small restaurant where sausages and
| onions siZZled gratefully in large tin
trays and pork chops lay in inviting
prodigality amid rich, brown. gravy.
The proprietor, portly and greasy
| man with bald head and side whiskers,
was standing at the door exchanging
viewsas to business with his next door
| neighbor, a greengrocer. Philip, bold
in the knowledge of his wealth, re-
solved to try what he could achieve on
credit
He walked up to the pair.
Il have not got any money just
now," he said to the restaurant keep
er, "but if you will let me have some
thing to eat l will gladly come back
this afternoon and pay you double"
Neither man spoke at first. Philip
was always unconscious Of the quaint
discrepancy between his style of
speech and his attire. He used to re-
ed by strangers, but today he was far
removed above these considerations,
and he backed his request with pleas
ant smile.
The fat man grew apoplectic and
turned his eyes to the sky.
"Well, I'M he spluttered.
The greengrocer laughed, and Philip
blushed.
do you refuse?" he said, with his
downright manner and direct stare.
"Well, Of all the cool cheek The
stout persons feelings were too much
for him. He could find no other words.
ut is fair Offer" persisted the boy.
"You don't think 1 mean to swindle
you, surely?"
well, there! / never didw
But the greengrocer interviewed.
you're sharp lad" he guffawed.
''D'ye want a job"
mo- was the short reply. II want
something to eat"
Dash my buttons, an you're>a like
ly sort Of kid to get 1t too. In you go.
Ill pay the. bill. Lord lumme, it'll do
me good to see you"
Mr. Judd, are you madT' demanded
his neighbor, whose breath had re-
turned to him.
Not bit of it. The bloomin' Kid
can't get through a bobs worth II he
bursts himself. Ere, I'll bet you two
bob e pays np."
''Done! Walk In. sir. Wot'll you be
pleased to ave, sir?"
Philips indignation at the restaurant
Keepers sarcasm yielded to his wish to
see him annihilated later in the day.
Moreover, the sausages really smelt
excellently, and he was now ravenous.
He entered the shop and gave his or