The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-06-22

Judd and the restaurant keeper were
the only men in the locality who could
claim actual acquaintance with the boy
whose strange proceedings as reported
by the newspapers made London cape
Indeed, both men Had been interview
ed by police and reporters many times.
They were living links with the mar
velous, a pedestal of common stone for
an aerial phantasy.
And now here he was back again,
dressed like q young gentleman and
hailing Judd as a valued friend. No
wonder the greengrocer lost his breath
and his power of speech.
But Philip was smiling at him and
talking.
You were the one man out of many,
Mr. Judd, who believed in me and even
stuck up for me when you saw me led
through the street by a policeman to
be imprisoned on a false charge. l
did not know until al AJGI a.o that
l was indebted TO you for an album
dance of excellent food while / was
remanded in prison. l will not offer
to refund you the money you spent
nv SIAItIuut VIII luke duOlucI IOGIu,
which you will learn in a few days
But l do want to pay you the nine
pence l borrowed Would you mind
asking the proprietor of the restaurant
to step in here for moment? Don't
say l am present 1 wisl to avoid a
crowd, you know"
Judd had time to collect his scattered
Ideas during this long speech.
"Blow the ninepence" he cried
''VUt's ninepence for the treat I've
'ad? People l never set eyes on in
my life afore KEN ere an bought cab
biges or taters or mebbe a few plums.
an then they'd stawt, Mr.. Judd,
wasn't it you as stood a dinner to the
boy king Of diamondsY That's wot
they christened yer. sir. Or it's: Mr..
Judd, cahnt yer tell US Were that
young Morland lives? Surely yer know
summat abaht i'm or yer wouldn't hev
paid is bill Oh, it as bin a beano!
Hasn't it, Eliza?'
"But we never let on word" put
IN Mrs. Judd. I'VE was close as wax.
We told none of 'em as how Mr. Judd
went to 'Olloway that night, did we.
Willyum"
mot us. Ye see, 1 took a fancy to
We If abr little Johnnie 'ad lived. ed
ha' bin just your ige. Fifteen. aren't
YEP
At last Philip got him persuaded to
summon his neighbor Judd did so
with an air of mystery that caused the
10 4n hnI
that a burglar was bottled up In the
greengrocers cellar.
Once inside the shop. however, Mr..
Judd's manner changed.
"Wot did I tell yer, TomkinsY" he
cried elatedly ''Wot. price me as a
Judge of karakter! 'Ere's Mr.. Morland
come back TO ply me that ninepence.
Eth. Tomkins. zoos right now, old
cock"
Philip solemnly counted out the mon
ey. which he handed to his delighted
hacker.
There was bet, too" he said.
Rather roared Judd. 1.-TWO bob
witch I've pide Out wi four bob
TOmkins. Lord lumme. I'll stand treat
at the George for thisr'
There's something funny IN the
kise" growled Tomkins as he unwill-
/ ingly produced a couple of forms.
I was sure you would see the joke
at once" said Philip. "Goodby, Mr.
Judd Goodby. ma'am. You will hear
from me without fail within q fort
night"
He was gone before they realized his
/ intention. They saw him skip rapidly
up the steps leading into Holborn, and
London had swallowed him forever sc
4 far as they were concerned.
Ten days later q firm Of solicitors
wrote to the greengrocer to inform
him that q client of theirs had acquired
the freehold of his house and shop
which property during the life of Ell
Their himself or his wife would be ten
antable free of rent. rates or taxes.
So DIr. Judd's investment Of nine
pence plus the amount expended OF
eatables at the Royal Star hotel Sc
cured to him and his wife an annua
revenue of f175
And Tomkins never heard the las
of it.