Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-09-18
By Louis Tracy,
COPYRIGHT, 1905. BY EDWARD j. GLOBE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES <>>>>>>>%D>>>>>>>>>>1
Author of Wings of the Mornins," 1.-THE ;Pi
LAsht." Etc.


fIiilp Git- nol llns, OF ihe sort,
"Why?" he inquired blandly you
know all about them. You can hardly
want 10 examine them so frequently"
"Confound it, cried Isaacstein,
growing red with renewed impatience.
What more can l do than agree to
your terms:'
81 asked you for an advance of ECO.
l said nothing about leaving the dia-
monds in your charge. Please listen
to me. make no unreasonable de-
mands. II you wish to keep the stones
now you must first write me letter
Stain. the agreement between us. IL
IL is right | will give you the dia-
monds. LII it is not according to my
ideas you must alter it"
"Do you think mean to swindle
you!
u have 10 views on that point.
am only telling you what my condi-
tons arc"
Isaacstein sat back in his chair and
regarded Philip tiXedly and with as
much calmness as he could summon
to his aid. A ray of sunshine illumin.
ed bald patch on the top of his head,
and the boy found himself idly specu-
lating on developments in the mans
future life. The man, on his part, was
seeking to read the boys inscrutable
character, but the fiXity of Philips
gaze at his denuded crown disconcert-
ed him again.
"What are you looking at?' he de-
manded suddenly.
Il was wondering how you will look
when you go to heaven. Mr.. Isaac
STEM was the astounding reply.
you imagine, then. that may deal
fairly with you:' lie said at last.
"Oh. yes. Why should you rob me?
You can earn more money than you can
ever need in this world by looking aft
err my interests properly. If only you
will believe this statement it will save
you much future worry, assure you"
"Were you in earnest when you said
that you have an abundance of stones
like those in your hands?"
$50 many, Mr.. Isaacstein, that you
will have some trouble in disposing of
them. have diamonds as big, as big
let me see--as big as an egg"
The wonder is that the man did not
faint.
"Aly Godr' he gurgled. do. you
know what you are saying? Where
are they, boy? You will be robbed
murdered for their sake. Where are
they? Let me put them in some safe
place. l will deal honestly by you.
swear it by all that hold sacred. But
you must have them taken care Of"
''They are quite safe, be certain of
that. Reveal my secret will not.
have borne insult and Imprisonment to
preserve it, so 1t is not likely l will
yield now to your appeals
Philips face lit up with a strange
light as this protest left his lips. The
meteor was his mothers bequest. She
gave 1t to him, and she would SAFE
guard 1t. Had she failed hithertoi
Was not all London ringing with the
news of his fortune. yet what man OF
woman had discovered the whereabouts
of his treasure? In his pocket he felt
the great iron key of No. 3 Johnson's
News, and he was as certain now that
his hiding place was unknown as that
Ills mothers spirit was looking down
on him from heaven and directing his
every movement.
The man, in spite Of his own great
lack of composure, saw the fleeing
glimpse of spirituality in the boys eyes.
Puzzled and disturbed though he was
he made another violent effort to pull
his shattered nerves into order.
'.There is no need to talk all day." he
said doggedly. Now am going to tell
you something you don't know. If your
boast is justitied-if you really own as
many diamonds and as good ones as
you say you Own-there must be q
great deal of discretion exercised in
putting them on the market. Diamonds
are valuable only because they are
rare. There Is Il limit to their possible
purchasers. If the diamond mines OF
the world We're to pour all their re.
sources forthwith into the lap of the
public there would be such slump
that prices would drop 30, GO, even 80
per cent Do you follow me?"
\ Yes" nodded Philip.
A week earlier lie would have said,
Eyes, SIR" but his soul was bitter yet
| against Isaacstein.
"Very well. 1t may take me months,
| years, to realize your collection. To do
| it properly ! must have some idea OF
its magnitude. If there are exception
ally large stones among 1t, they will be
dealt with separately. They may rival
or eclipse the few historical diamonds
Of the world, but their worth can only
he measured by the readiness of some
fool to pay hundreds of thousands for
them. .:ce:"
| Yes" nodded Philip again. His
sententiousness brought the man to
the point.
Therefore you must take me into
your confidence. What quantity of
stones do YOU possess and what are
their sizes? mist know"
1saacstein, cooler now, pursed his
lips and pressed his thumbs together
until they appeared to be in danger of
dislncation. 1t was his favorite atti.
tllde when engaged in n deal. 1t signi.
fed that he had cornered his victim
Philip. appealed to in this strictly
commercial way, could not fail to sec
1t was to his own interest to tell his
chosen expert the exact facts and moth
| mo Inf tla facts