Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-08-27

Gu q Dulu' putCu ou Tie top VI LIS ucou,
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 fxlty Of Philips
gaze at his denuded crown disconcert-
ed him again.
what are you looking atY' he de-
manded suddenly.
II was wondering how you will look
when you go to heaven, Mr.. Isaac.
stein," was the astounding reply.
"You imagine, then. that may deal
fairly with you?" he said at last.
"Oh. yes. Why should you rob me?
You can earn mere money than you can
ever need In this world by looking aft
er my interests properly. II only you
will believe this statement 1t 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 disposlng Of
them. / have diamonds as big, rs big
let me seas big as an egg."
The wonder is that the man did not
faint.
."My Godw' 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. will deal honestly by you. l
swear II by all that hold sacred. But
you must have them taken care Of"
"They are quite safe. be certain Of
that. Reveal my secret I will not. 1
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 it to him, and she would safe
guard 1t. Had she failed hitherto2
Was not all London ringing with the
news of his fortune, yet what man or
| woman had discovered the whereabouts
Of his treasurer 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
his mothers spirit WAS looking down
on him from heaven and directing bis
every movement.
The man, in spite Of his own great
lack Of cornpoxure, saw the feeting
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. II your
boast is justifed-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 a limit to their possible
purchasers. II the diamond mines OF
the world were to pour all their re-
sources forthwith into the lap Of the
public. there would be such slump
that prices would drop so, GO, even 10
per cent Do you follow me"
"Yes," nodded Philip.
A week earlier he would have said,
"Yes, sir" but his soul was bitter yet
against Isaacstein.
every well. 1t may take me months,
years, to realize your collection. To DO
it properly must have some idea OF
| its magnitude. II 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
be measured by the readiness Of some
fool to pay hundreds Of thousands for
them. See?'
"Yes," nodded Philip again. His
sententiousness brought the man to
the point.
Therefore you must take me into
your confidence. What quantity OF
STONES uO YOU pOSscss ANU "h"N ~
their sizes! l must know"
Isaacstein, cooler now, pursed his
| lips and pressed his thumbs together
until they appeared to be in danger of
dislocation. 1t was his favorite attl-
tude when engaged in deal. 1t signi-
fed that he had cOrnered his victim.
Philip, appealed to In this strictly
| commercial way, could not fall to see
| It was to his own interest to tell his
chosen expert the exact facts and moth
ing but the facts.
The boy, singularly unHurried In tone
and manner, hazarded IN inquiry.
"What amount of ordinary diamonds
| in their money value, / mean-can
you dispose OF readily In the course OF
| year. Mr.. Isaacstein"
"Oh. 100000 or 100000 worth. 1t
is n matter largely dependent on the
| condition Of trade generally. But that
| may be regarded as minimum"
"And the bigger stones. worth many
| thousands each?"
at is impossible to say. Taking
| them in the lump at values varying
from thousand each to fancy figures,
perhaps $4,000 worth"
ut would he safe to reckon on a
quarter Of a million year. all told?'
"Qulte safe"
"Then, Mr.. Isaacstein, will supply
you with diamonds Of that value every
| year for many years"
The man relaxed the pressure on his
| thumbs. Indeed, he passed tremu'
lous hand across his forehead. He was
beaten again, and he knew it-worsted
by a gutter snipe in war Of wits.
The contest had one excellent effect
1t stopped all further efforts Oh Isaac
stein's part to wrest Philips secret
| from him. Thenceforth he asked for
andhobtained such diamonds as he need,
| ed and resolutely forbade himself the
luxury of questioning or probing the
extent OF his Juvenile patrons re-
sources.
But there was long pause before he
| found his tongue again. His voice had
lost It's aggressiveness when he said:
| "In the police court valued the dia'
monds you produced at 10000. 1t does
not necessarily follow that l am pre-
pared to give such sum for them at
this moment. might do so as specu'
lation, but take it you do not want
me to figure in that capacity. 1t will
be better for you, safer for me, II be-
come your agent I will take your stones
| to Amsterdam. have them cut sufficient
" to enable dealers to assess their true
worth and sell them to the best ad