The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-08-16

Philip smiled. He could not tell how
1t happened, but he felt that he was
the intellectual superiore of the man
who sat there glowering at him so in.
tently. Already the boy began to grasp
dimly the reality of the power which
enormous wealth would give him. Such
people as this man and his satellites
would be mere automata in the affairs
Of his life, important enough in a sense,
with the Importance of stamp for a
letter or railway ticket for q jour-
ney, but governed and controlled utter
ly by the greater parsonage who could
For the first time Philip wished he
was older, bigger, more experienced.
He even found himself beginning to
wonder what he should do until he
reached mans estate. He sighed.
Isaacstein was watching him closely,
trying to solve the puzzle by the aid of
each trick and dodge known in trade
every description. The look Of uncon-
scious anxiety, of mental WEAKNESS on
Philips face seemed to clear away his
doubts. He chuckled thickly.
How many, now" he murmured.
'Ten, twenty-of assorted sizes, eh?"
Ear more! Far more Be content
with what tell you today, Mr.. Isaac
stein. ] said my business was impor-
tant. When you are better acquainted
with me think you will find it suffi-
riently valuable to occupy the whole of
your time"
Philip was ever on the verge OF
bursting out into condolences. His Sc
ret was too vast, too overpowering,
.or a boy of fifteen. He wanted the
knowledge and the trust of an older
nan. He did not realize that the mer-
.hant, beginning by regarding him as
/ thief, was now veering round to the
opinion that he was lunatic, for it is
known to most men that the values
Of diamonds increase out of all proper
don to their weight. While a one car
1t stone is worth, roughly speaking,
f10, twenty carat gem of the same
purity is worth any sum beyond
E2,O00, and the diamond Philip had
submitted for inspection would prob
ably cut into ten or twelve carats of
inc luster. To speak therefore Of an
abundance of larger and finer stones
vas simple absurdity. The De Beers
company alone could use such figure
Of speech, and even then only at isolat-
ed dates in its history.
The boy, with his eyes steadfastly
fixed on the mans face and yet with q
distant expression in them that paid
slight heed to the waves of emotion
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
70 meet his immediate wants.
The man, seemingly at a loss for
words, bent again over the stone. He
was scrutinizing 1t closely when a
heavy tread crossed the outer show
room and the door was flung open.
II 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.
ut is lie!' he 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 is
about, and l don't suppose he Is very
far wrong this time. Do you know
the boy, sir?" he went on.
Isaacstein gave a 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 a gang of thieves,
though 1t was beyond comprehension
that any one short Of an idiot should
choose an emlssary with broken boots
and ragged clothing In order TO effect
a 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 n messenger
flying for the police. His dream of
wealth would end In the Jail, his fairy
oasis would be a felon's CELL Very
well, be 1t go. If he could help II, not
all the policemen In London should
rend his secret from him. With q sud-
den glow of fiery satisfaction he re-
membered that his clothing contained
no clew to his address. and he had not
given bis 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 less than fort
night men would come to tear down
the buildings IN Johnson's News. Well
1t mattered not The courage Of de-
spair which nerved him the previous
night came to his aid again. He would
aofx, xkns.. al rolaao rf CONTEMPLATION