The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-06-08


doubts. He chuckled thickly.
How many, now" he murmured.
Ten, twenty-of assorted sizes, eh?"
Ear more. Far morei Be content
with what 1 tell you today, Mr.. Isaac.
stein. l said my business was impor.
tant. When you are better acquainted
with me l think you will find it sufii.
GENTLY valuable TO occupy the whole of
your time"
Philip was ever on the verge OF
bursting out into condolences. His Sc
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 a lunatic, for it is
knowR to most men that the values
of diamonds increase out of all proper
ton to their weight. While a one car
at stone is worth roughly speaking,
f10, a twenty carat gem of the same
purity is worth any sum beyond
$4,000, 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 a figure
of speech, and even then only at isolat-
ed dates in its history.
The boy, with his eyes steadfastly
I0 g
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
to meet his immediate wants.
The man, seemingly at q loss for
words, bent again over the stone. He
was scrutinizing it closely when a
heavy tread crossed the outer show
room and the door was flung open.
81 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.
1T is d lier' he shouted. How dare
you say such a thing when have told
you that it is miner
The policeman collared him by the
shoulder.
STEADY, my young spark" he said.
''Mr Isaacstein knows what he is
about, and 1 don't suppose he is very
far wrong this time. Do you know
the boy, sir?'' he went on.
Isaacstein gave q voluble and accu-
rate summary Of Philips statements.
Each moment the policeman's grip be
came firmer. Evidently the boy was
the mere agent of q gang of thieves
though it 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 dumt
agony. His face was deathly pale, and
his eyes glowed with the rage anG
shame that filed his soul. So the mar
had been playing with him, merely
fooling him until some secret signal by
an electric bell had sent a messenger
flying for the police. His dream OF
wealth would end in the Jail, his fairy
oasis would be a felon's cell. Very
we'll. be it so. IF he could help it, no
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 no
given his name at either Ludgate Hill
or Hatton Garden How long coult
they keep him a prisoner? Woul'
others find his meteor and rob him o
his mothers gift? In Tess than q fort
night men would come to tear dow
the buildings in Johnson's News. We'll
it mattered not The courage of de
spair which nerved him the previou
night came to his aid again. He woul
defy them all. careless of consequence
The policeman was saying:
Its queer affair, sir. Did he rea
" say he had lots more of 'em?"
Eyes. yes. Do you think 1 am rC
mancing? Perhaps they are in his pos
session now"
Have you any more of these stones
boyf"
Philip. with lips tensely set, was de-
perately cool again. He moved hi
arm, and the constable's grasp tigh
ened
"You are hurting me-" said the DO.
; Il merely wish to put my hand in N
pocket. Are you afraid of me that 20
hold me so fastf'
The policeman, like the rest did M
fail 10 notice Philips diction. II
!, scornful superiority of his words. tt
challenge Of the final question, toe
him aback. He relaxed his grip ar
orinupd cOnflSedly