The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-06-08
CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER V
w after years Philip never forgot
the shame of that march through
the staring streets. The everlast-
= ing idlers of London's busiest thor
oughfares gathered around the police
man and his prisoner with grinning
callousness.
''Wot's e bin a-doin' ofY'
'Nicked lydy's purse. ehY'
'Naw! Bin ticklin' the till, more
like"
''BI-me, don't e look sickr'
They ran and buzzed around him |
like wasps, singing most bitterly with |
coarse words and coarser laughter. An /
omnibus slowed its pace to let them |
cross the road and Philip knew that |
the people on top craned their necks to |
have a good look at him. When near
ing the viaduct steps, the policeman |
growled something at the pursuing |
crowd. Another constable strobe rap
idly to the entrance and cut off the |
loafers, sternly advising them to find |
some other destination But the res
pite was a brief one. The pair reached
Harrington street and had barely at
tracted attention before they passed
the restaurant where Philip had lunch
ed. The hour was yet early for midday
customers, and the baldheaded proprie-
tor saw them coming He rushed out.
The greengrocer, too, turned from his
wares and joined in the ordinations
Of his friend at this speedy denouement
of the trivial incident of twenty min
| utes earlier.
The restaurant keeper was made jul
| bilant by this dramatic vindication of
the accuracy of his judgment.
1.-The thievin' young scamp" he ejac
ulated That's right. Mr. Policeman
Lock i'm up. 'E's a regular wrong 'un."
The constable stopped. 'Hello" he
said. DO you know him?''
II should think 1 did. E KEN ere
just now an obtained a good blowout
on false pretences, an -
"'Old ard" put in the greengrocer.
that's not quite the ticket. e asked
you to trust i'm, but you wouldn't"
The stout man gurgled.
Not me. 1 know Is sort. But e 'ad
you fair treat, Billy"
"Mebbe, an mebDe not. Ennyhow,
two bob won't break me, an I'm sorry
for the kid Wot's e done, Mr. Police
man?" Mr.. Judd was nettled, yet un-
willing to acknowledge he was wholly
wrong.
"Stole heap of diamonds. Do either
of you know him?"
Never saw him afore this mornin'."
''Never bin in my 'ouse before"
'Then come along" and Philip was
tugged onward, but not before he
found courage to say:
THANK you once more, Mr.. Judd.
will keep my word. never fear"
What are you thanking him for?'
said the constable.
''For believing in me-" was the curt
answer
The policeman tried to extract some
meaning from the words, but failed.
He privately admitted that it was an
extraordinary affair. How came q
boy who spoke like a gentleman and
was dressed like a street arab to be
wandering about London with a pock-
etful of diamonds and admitted to
the private Office of the chief diamond
merchant in Hatton Garden? He gave
it up. but silently thanked the stars
which connected him with an impor-
tant case.
At last Philips Via Dolorosa ended
in the Bridewell police station. He
was paraded before the inspector IL
charge, a functionary who would MOI
have exhibited any surprise had the
German emperor been brought before
; him charged with shoplifting.
He opened a huge ledger, tried If hi
pen would make a hair stroke on {
piece of paper and said laconically:
: Manner
No answer from the prisoner, follow
. ed By emphatic demands from inspect
: or and constable. the former volunteer
j ing the information that to refuse you
name and address was in itself an of
/ Tense against the law.
e Philips sangfroid was coming TO hi
e aid. The horror of his passage througl
< the gaping mob had cauterized all 9th
i er sentiments, and he now saw that /
he would preserve his incognito b
r must adopt q ruse.
o Phillip Morland." he said doggedl
e when the inspector asked him hi
name for the last time before record
> | ing q definite refusal.
Ito be Confinued.)