Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-08-21

exhibited by the heavy cheeks and
pursed up mouth, awaited some final
utterance on the part of his questioner.
Surely he had said sufficient to make
this man keenly alive to the CONNER
cial value of the business he offered.
Under the conditions Isaacstein could
not refuse to give him sufficient money
to meet his immediate wants.
The man, seemingly at loss for
words, bent again veer the stone. He
was scrutinizing it closely when q
heavy tread crossed the outer show.
room and the door was flung open.
Il have sent FOR you, constable. to
take this boy into custody" he cried
excitedly. HE came here ten minutes
ago and offered for sale a very valu.
able diamond SO rare and worth so
much that he must have stolen it."
Philip, too, sprang up.
1T is a lie!" lie shouted. How dare
you say such thing when have told
you that 1t Is miner
The policeman collared him by the
shoulder.
STEADY, my young spark" he said.
"Mr. Isaacstein knows what he Il;
about, and don't suppose he is very
far wrong this time. Do you know
the boy, sir:" he went on.
Isaacstein gave voluble and accl.
rate summary Of Philips statements.
Each moment the policemAn's grip be-
came firmer. Evidently the boy was
the mere agent of gang of thieves.
though 1t was beyond comprehension
that any one short Of an idiot should
choose an emissary with broken boots
and ragged clothing in order to effect
deal with the leading house In Hat
ton Garden.
Philip listened to the recital in dumb
agony. His face was deathly pale, and
his eyes glowed with the rage and
shame that filed his soul. So the man
had been playing with him, merely
fooling him until some secret signal by
an electric bell had sent messenger
flying for the police. His dream of
wealth would end III the Jail, his fairy
oasis would be felon's CELL Very
WELL be it So If he could help 1t. not
all the policemen in London should
rend his secret from him. With sud
den glow of fiery satisfaction he re-
membered that his clothing contained
no clew to his address. and he had not
given his name at either Ludgate Hill
or Hatton Garden. How long could
they keep him prisoner? Would
others find his meteor and rob him of
his mothers gift? In lesssthan fort
night men would come to tear down
the buildings in Johnson's News. Well,
1t mattered not. The courage of de-
SPAR which nerved him the previous
night came to his aid again. He would
defy them all, careless Of consequence.
The policeman was saying:
It's queer affair, sir. Did he real
ly say he had lots more of emp
Eyes, yes. Do you think am ro-
mancing? Perhaps they are in his pos
session now"
Have you any more of these stones.
boy?"
Philip, with lips tensely set. was des
perately cool again. He moved his
arm, and the constable's grasp tight
ened.
"You are hurting me-" said the boy.
II merely wish to put my hand in my
pocket. Are you afraid Of me that you
hold me SO fast?"
|. The policeman, like the rest, did not
fail to notice Philips diction. The
scornful superiority of'his words, the
challenge of the final question, took
him aback. He relaxed his grip and
grinned confusedly.
Philip instantly produced his paper
of diamonds and opened it widely 50
that all the stones could be seen. He
handed the parcel to the policeman.
Take good care Of them, constable
he said. Judging from results, they
would not be safe in that mans
hands,"
| But Isaacstein did not hear the in.
suit. When he saw the collection lie
nearly lost his senses. What had he
done? Was he or the boy mad? Veins
I stood out OH his forehead, and he wah
bled SO fearfully that he clutched tho
desk for support. A scarecrow of |:
boy wandering about London Will
thousands Of pounds worth of dia
monds in his pocket wrapped up in q
piece of newspaper like SO many
sweets! There We're not any metcorit
diamonds of such value in all the mu
seums and private collections in the
world. He began to perspire. Even
the policeman was astounded. quite as
much at being called constable" by
Philip as by the mean appearance Of
articles presumably of great value.
"This Is rum go. What do you
make of it, Mr.. Isaacstein?' he said.
The query restored Isaacstein's wits
After ALL here was the law speaking
1t would have been the widest foil.
for man OF his position to dabble ii
this mysterious transaction.
With great effort he forced himself
to speak.
."Lock him up instantly. This matte,
must be fully inquired into. And dc
be careful of that parcel. constable
| Where do you take him? To the Bride
well station? will follow you in !,
cab in five minutes"
So Philip, handcuffed, was marched
down the stairs past the gratiled Office
boy and out into the street
AS for Isaacsteln, he required bran
dy, and not little, before he felt abb,
to follow.
[To BE coNT1SUED.l
A Thorough Sport.
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