The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-06-07

Philip resolved TO adhere to the simple
statement that it was his own proper
i " and that any reasonable inquiry
might he made in all quarters where
meteoric diamonds were obtainable as
4 to whether or not such a stone was
+ missing. Meanwhile he could obtain
/ from Mr.. Isaacstein a receipt acknowl
edging its custody and a small advance
i of money far below its real worth,
/ leaving the completion of the transae-
I ton until a lister date The question
/ Of givin9 or Withholding his address
i If 1t We're asked for was q difficult one
! to settle offhand. Perhaps the course
/ of events would permit him TO keep
+ Johnson's News altogether out Of the
record. and q more reputahl habifa-
/ ton would be provided once he had the
requisite funds.
/ Thinking he had successfully tackled
all the problems that would demand
solution, Philip wasted no more time.
j He entered Hatton Garden and had
not gone past many OF its dingy houses
until he saw a large brass plate bear
i ing the legend, "IsaacStein & Co, Dia-
mond Merchants, Kimberley, Amster-
dam and London"
I He entered the Office and was in
stantly confrontd by a big nosed
youth who surveyed him through a
grille with an arched opening in 1t to
admit letters and small parcels.
rs Mr. Isaacstein in?" said Philip.
''Oah, yess,' grinned the other
"Wlll you kindly tell him 1 wish 10
see him?'
"Oah, yess." There was a joke Turk
ing somewhere in the atmosphere, but
the young man had not caught its drift
yet The gaunt and unkempt visitor
was evidently burlesquing the accent
of such gentle people as came to the
Office on business.
Philip waited a few seconds. The
boy behind the grille filed in the In
terval by copying an address into the
stamp book.
"Why do you not tell Mr.. Isaacstein
l am here?" he said at last.
"Oah, yess. You vii be funny, eh?'
The other smirked over the hidden
humor Of the situation, and Philip
understood that if he would see the
great man of the firm he must adopt a
more emphatic tone.
Il had better warn you that Mr.. Will
son of ATessrs. Grant & Sons, Ludgate
Hill, sent me here to see Mr.. Isaac
stein. Am to so back to Mr.. Wilson
and say that the Office boy refuses to
admit me?"
There was a sting in the description,
coming from such a speaker.
"Look ere" was the angry retort.
go away und blay, vii you? I'm
pizzy."
Then Philip reached quickly through
the little arch, grabbed handful of
shirt, tie and waistcoat and dragged
the big nose and thick lips violently
against the wires of the grille.
''Will you do what / ask or shall
try and pull you through?' he said
quietly
But the boys ready yell brought two
clerks running, and a door was thrown
open. Phil released his opponent and
instantly explained his action. One OF
the clerks, an elderly man, looked q
: little deeper than the boys ragged gar
ments, and the mention Of Mr.. vii
sons name procured him a hearing
Moreover, he had previous experience
Of the youthful janitor's methods.
With cuff on the ear, this injured
parsonage was hidden to go upstairs
and say that Mr. Wilson had sent 6
boy to see Mr.. Isaacstein. The added
insult came when he was compelled
to usher Philip to a waiting room.
. Soon a clerk entered He was visi
:. bly, astonished by the appearance Of
Mr.. wilson's messenger, and so wa:
Mr.. Isaacstein when Philip was parad
ed before him in a spacious apartment
filed with glass cases and tables, a
: which several assistants were seated.
what the deuce he began, bu
I checked himself what does Mr.. VIII
son want?" he went on. Evidently hi
: I.udgate Hill acquaintance was usefu
J. to Philip.
"He wants nothing, SIR said Philip
HE sent me to see you on a matter o
business. 1t is of a private nature
: Can you give me few minutes alone?
Isaacstein was a big headed, hi
q shouldered man, tapering to q sma
e point at his feet He looked absurd
o like a top, and surprise or emotion @
any sort caused him to sway gently
e He swayed now, and every clerk lool
ed up, expecting him to fall bodily o
II to the urchin with the refined uttel
o ance who had dared penetrate int
:. the potentate's Office with such IT
Il quest.
: 6O
r combined to lend effect to Isaacstein
/ wit when he said:
q "Is this joker
Is All the clerks guffawed in choru
N Fortunately Isaacstein was IN a goo
J. humor He had just purchased pea
e, for ESQ which he would sell to Lad
Somebody for $500 to match another
an earring