Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-09-11

obvious purpose. Philip must be dis
covered by hook or by crook and batg-
cred necessarily until lie divulged Tho
secret of the meteor.
AT last the cabman becalnelucid.
I'm done! he groaned. "My brains
are fuZzball Ere. some one drink
my beer! I'm go!n' in fer cowcow.
nd this young spark in my keb toby
an didn't know it. e offered me two
bob, e did, an stood i'm drive as Il
treat. 'e looked sich a scarecrow."
"Who's neNt:" cried a raucous voice
at the door.
81 amir roared the disappointed one.
"NEell. look sharp. There's hold
gent a-wavin' is humbrcller like mad''--
keep i'm. Don't let i'm so. I'll be
there III 'arf tick. Who knows?
P'raps It's Rothschild."
Meanwhile Philip did not hesitate an
instant once he reached Isaacstein's
Office. "A new note III his character
was revealing itself. Always, resolute,
fearless and outspoken, now lie was
confident. He pushed open the swing
door with the-n,anner Of one who cX-
poets his fellows to bow before him.
Was lie not rich, able to command the
services OF men? Why should be fall
ter: He forgot his rags, forgot the
difficulties and dangers that might yet
beset his path, for in very truth lie
had achieved but little actual progress
since he first entered that Office five
days earlier.
But he had suffered much since
then, and suffering had strengthened
him. Moreover. he had taken the
measure of lsaacstein. There was n
score to be wiped Off before that
worthy ana he entered into amicable
business relations.
The instant the youth behind the
grille set eyes on Philip he bounded
back from the window and gazed at
/! him with frightened look. Had this
| young desperate broken out of prison
! and come to murder them all!
Help! Help" he shouted. ''Mur-
der"
Clerks came running from the inner
Office, among them the elderly man
who interfered in Philips behalf OIL
the last occasion.
Make that idiot shut up" said Phil
ip calmly. land tell Mr.. Isaacstein !
am here"
The Office boy was silenced, and tia
excitement Gained down. Yes, the dia.
mond merchant was in. If Philip
would walk upstairs to the waiting
room, his presence would be an
nounced.
THANK you," he said, 'but kindl,
see that this urchin does not let Others
know / am here. l don't want 1
crowd to be gathered in the stree
when come out"
Such cool impudence from raga
muffin was intolerable, OF nearly so
But Isaacstein ruled his minions will
a rod of iron, and they would fain wal
the little mans pleasure ere they ven
tured their wrath on the boy. Besides
they We're afraid of Philip. Like mos
| people In London. they had read TIT
Newspaper reports of the police court
| proceedings. and they were awed by
his strangely ineomprehensible sur
/ scaAASAA9s'.
| So heswas silently ushered upstairs
and soon he caught the thick voiced or
der of Isaacstein: l
"Show him in
Isaacstein, however, dived into hii
private sanctum before Philip entered
the general office. The boy found hin
there seated at his table.
The duel began with questions:
II How did you get out SO soon? YOU
were remanded for week.
Are you going to send for police
man:"
Don't be rude, boy, but answer me-
Il am not here to satisfy your curi0s
ity, Mr.. Isaacstein. l have called sim
ply on Il matter of business. 1t is suf
ficient for you to know that Mr.. Aiding
don has set me at liberty and restore,
my property to me. DO you wish t,
deal with me or not?"
The diamond merchant tingled witt
anger. He was not accustomed to be
ing browbeaten even by the represent
atives of the De Beers company. We
here was callow youngster address
Ing him in this outrageous fashion, be
traying, too. an insufferable air of con
tempt in voice and manner. He glare,
at Philip in silent wrath for an instant
The boy smiled. He took from hi
pocket the paper of diamonds and lie
gan to count them. The action sal,
plainly:
You know you cannot send III
away. If l go to your trade rivals
you will Lore magnificent opportunl
ty. You are in my hands. No matte
how rude l am to you, you must pu
up with it."
Nevertheless he made an effort I,
preserve his tottering dignity.
''Do you Think" he said, ..that 70,
are behaving properly in treating
man of my position in such a way ii
his own Officer
In his own office-that was the stln
of it!
The head of the firm of Isaacstein 1
Co. of London, Amsterdam and Kim
berley to be bearded in such fashion
in his own particular shrine! Why, TIL
thing was monstrous!
Philip looked him squarely in til
eyes.
"Mr. Isaacstein," he said calmly
have you forgotten that YOU cause,
me to be arrested as Il thief and drag
ged handcuffed through the opel
streets by policeman? have spcll
five days in jail because of you. A
the moment when was praising you
honesty You were conveying secre
signals to your clerks III the belief tia
was something worse than u picl;
pocket, Was your treatment of me s
free from blame at our first meetin
as to serve as n model at the second?
The chair was creaking now contir
uOusly. The man swung from side
side during this lecture. He strov
hard to restrain himself but the fever
ish excitement of Saturday returne
| with yrpatar Intensity thuu avpr II