Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-06-03


 letter or a railway ticket for a jour ney, but governed and controlled utter ly by the greater parsonage who could unlock the door of the treasure house. 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 a trade which lends itself to acute roguery of every description. The look of uncon- scious anxiety, of mental weariness on Philips face seemed to clear away his doubts. He chuckled thickly.
 How many, now" he murmured. 'Ten. twenty-of assorted sizes, eh?"
 "Far more! Far more! Be content with what tell you today, Mir. Isaac stein. I said my business was impor- tant. When you are better acquainted with me I think you will find it suffi- ciently valuable to occupy the whole of your time"
 Philip was ever on the verge of bursting out into condolences. His se- cret was too vast, too overpowering, for a boy of fifteen. He wanted the knowledge and the trust of an older man. He did not realize that the mer- chant, beginning by regarding him as a thief, was now veering round to the opinion that he was lunatic, for 1t is known to most men that the values of diamonds increase out of all propor- ton to their weight. While one car at stone is worth, roughly speaking. FLO, twenty carat gem of the same purity is worth any sum beyond f2,COO, and the diamond Philip had submitted for inspection would prob ably cut into ten or twelve carats of fine luster. To speak therefore of an abundance of larger and finer stones was 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 a 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 commer. 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 over the stone. He was scrutinizing 1t closely when a heavy tread crossed the. outer show room and the door was flung open.
 q have sent for you, constable, to take this boy into custody" he cried excitedly. "He came here ten minutes ago and offered for sale very valu- able diamond so rare and worth so much that he must have stolen it."
 Philip, too, sprang up.
 Tt is liev' he shouted. How dare you say such thing when l have told you that 1t is minew
 The policeman collared him by the shoulder.
 Steady, my young spark" he said. "Mr. Isaacstein knows what he is about, and I don't suppose he is very far wrong this time. Do you know the boy, sir?" he went on.
 Isaacstetn gave voluble and accu- rate summary of Philips statements. Each moment the policeman's grip be came flrmer. 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 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 filled his soul. So the man had been playing with him, merely foollng him until some secret signal by an electric bell had sent messenger flying for the police. Ills dream of wealth would end in the jail. his fairy oasis would be a felon's cell. Very well, be 1t SO. If he could help 1t. not all the policemen In London should rend his secret from him. With a 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 a prisoner? Would others find his meteor and rob him of bis mothers gift7 Tn 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 defy them all, careless of consequence.
 The policeman was saying:
 "Its a queer affair, sir. Did he real ly say he had lots more of 'emT
 "Yes, yes! Do you thInk l am TO- mancing? Perhaps they are in his pos session now"
 Have you any more of these stones. boyT'
 Philip. with lips tensely set, was des- perstely cool again. He moved his arm. and the constabie's grasp tight ened.
 sYou are hurting me" said the boy. sT merely wish to put my hand In my
 -. ,n., afratd of me fhat vou