The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-08-23
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lOontinueo from page SIX
by your side? Who could have given
fairer evidence in your behalf than l
did? Who proved that you could not
have stolen the stones? Whom have
you to thank for being at liberty now
but the expert who swore that no such
diamonds had been seen before In this
world?"
Philip waited until the mans passion
had exhausted itself. Then he went
on coolly:
"That is your point of view, I sup
pose. Mine is that you could have sat
isfied yourself concerning all these
points without sending me to prison.
However, this discussion Is beside the
present question. Will you buy my
diamondsw
Isaacstein recovered his seat. He
wiped his face vigorously, but the
trading instinct conquered his fury.
"Yes," he snapped. "How much do
you want for them?"
81 notice that their value steadily
increases. The first time you saw this
diamond"-and he held up the stone
originally exhibited-"you said it was
worth f600 or f700. Today you name
thousand. However will take your
own valuation for this unimportant
collection and accept 100000"
ooh, you will, will you? And how
will you have 1t, In notes or goldT'
He could not help this display of
Cd Tor
ing its annoyance. The humor Of 1t
was beginning to dawn on him. When
his glance rested more critically on
Philip, the boys age, the poverty Of
his circumstances, the whole fantastic
incongruity of the affair forced his
recognition.
Not unprepared for such retort,
Philip gathered the stones together
and twisted the ends lof the paper.
Evidently the parcel was going back
into his pocket. He glanced at clock,
too, which licked solemnly over the
office door.
Here, what are you doing?" cried
Isaacstein.
"Going to some one who will deal
with me in reasonable manner. It is
not very late yet. suppose there are
plenty Of firms like yours In Hatton
Garden, or 1 can go back to Mr.. Will
SOM
"Sit down. sit down." growled the
man, vainly striving to cloak his ner-
vousness by a show of grim jocosity.
"I never saw such boy In my life.
You are touchy as gunpowder. was
only joking"
II am not joking, Mr.. Isaacstein.
Your price is my price-f50, 0O0."
"Do you think carry that amount of
money in my purse?' demanded Isaac
stein, striving desperately to think out
some means whereby he could get Phil
Up into a more amiable mood, when,
perchance, the true story Of the gems
might be revealed.
"NO," was the answer. Even IL you
gave it to me l should not take it
away. want you to advance, say, ESQ
today. 1 require clothes and other
things. Then tomorrow you can bring
me to bank and pay portion Of the
purchase price to my credit, giving me
at the same time a written promise to
pay the remainder within week or q
month, any reasonable period, in fact"
The diamond-merchant was quickly
becoming serious, methodical, as he lis
tened. This businesslike proposal was
the one thing needed to restore his be-
wildered faculties.
'Tell me, boy" he said, "who has
been advising you"
"No one."
"Do you mean to say you came here
today to trade with me without con-
sulting any other personT'
81 certainly told Mr.. Abingdon was
coming, and 1 feel that 1 can always
return to him for any advice IL am in
difficulty, but the offer have just
made is my own"
Watching Isaacstein's face was an
interesting operation to Philip. Under
ordinary conditions he might as well
expect to find emotion depicted In
pound of butter as In that oily counte-
nance, with its set expression nodded
by years Of sharp dealings. But today
the man was startled out Of all the &C.
customed grooves Of business. He was
confronted with problem so novel
that his experience was not wide
enough to embrace II.
So Philip caught a CLEAN Of resent
ment at the introduction Of the magis-
trate's name. and he instantly resolved
to see Mr.. Abingdon again Mt the
earliest opportunity.
"Oh, he treated you kindly today,
did her snaried Isaacstein.
"Yes. most kindly"
you don't drink, supposeY broke
In the other abruptly.
mo; am only a boy Of fifteen and
do not need stimulants."
He was favored with sharp glance
at this remark, but he bent over his
m \V7N