Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-10-18
CHAPTER w.


soon blew the clouds from his
brain. He did not hurry toward
n Hatton Garden. He sauntered,
rather, with his right hand clinched
on the tiny parcel in his pocket, the
parcel which had suddenly been en-
00wed with such magic potentialities
It was the instinct to guard treasure
OF great value that led to this involun-
tary action. He was preoccupied, dis
furbed, vaguely striving to grasp a
vision that seemed to elude his exact
comprehension
D What did it all mean? Was it really
possible that he, Philip Arson, or
phaned, beggared, practically a starv-
ing tramp, should have the riches of
Golconda showered upon him in this
mad fashion? II the small stone he
had shown to the jeweler were worth
hundreds, then some Of those IN the
paper were worth thousands, while as
for the stone in the back yard Of his
house well, imagination boggled at
the effort to appraise 1t. The thought
begot a sense of caution, of reserve,
OF well reasoned determination not to
reveal his secret to anybody. Perhaps
Il would be best not to take Messrs
Isaacstein & Co. wholly into his conf
dence He would simply show them
the stone he had exhibited to Mr.. VIII
son and take the best price they Of
fered. Then, with the money in his
possession. he could effect a much
needed change in his appearance, visit
them again. and gradually increase his
supply of diamonds until he had OBJ
tanned more mone~ than he could
possibly spend during many years.
Above all else was it necessary that
his meteor should he removed to
safer place than Johnson's News.
Philip had scruples about appropriate
ang It. Lords of the manor and crown
rights ne had never heard OF.
His mother, watching his every
action from some Elysian height, had
sent the diamond loaded messenger
as a token of her love and care. 1t
was his, and no man should rob him of
It 1t behooved him to be sparing of
explanations and sturdy in defense of
his property.
A good deal depended on the forth
coming interview, and he wished he
could convert q small fraction of the
wealth in his pocket into few honest
pennies with the kings head on them
The excitement and exercise had made
him hungry again. His breakfast was
not of ample proportions, and his
meals of yesterday had been of the
scantiest. 1t would be well to face
the diamond merchants with the easy
confidence that springs from satisfied
appetite Yet how TO manage 1t? He
was sorry now he had not borrowed {
sixpenee from O'Brien. The old sol
der would certainly have lent 1t II
him. He even thought of returning tt
the Mile End road to secure the loan
but he happened to remember that thu
day was Saturday. and it was probable
that the Hatton Garden offices woulC
close early. 1t was then nearly /.
O'Clock, and he could not risk the de
lay of the long, double journey.
At that instant a savory smell wa
waited to him. He was passing
small restaurant where sausages ant
onions sizzled gratefully In large I'll
trays and pork chops lay in inviting
prOdigality amid rich, brown gravy
The proprietor, portly and greas
man with bald head and side whiskerS
was standing at the door exchangin
views as to business with his next doc
neighbor, a greengrocer. Philip, boil
in the knowledge Of his wealth, II
solved to try what he could achieve o
credit.
He walked up to the pair.
II have not got any money jus
now" he said to the restaurant keeI
er, ''but If you will let me have some
thing to eat l viii gladly come bac
this afternoon and pay you double"
Neither man spoke at first. Phil
was always unconscious of the QUAR-
discrepancy between his style c
speech and his attire. He used TO n
sent bitterly the establishment exhibi
ed by strangers, but today he was fa
removed above these consideration
and he backed his request with plea
ant smile.