Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-08-15

than when we first met"
Philip did not reply Immediately. He
Did not want to risk n refusal, and he
was not yet quite sure that the magis-
trate fully cumprehended the extent Of
the fortune which had been showercd
On him from natures own mint.
when Mr.. Isoocstein returns from
Amsterdam. he will pay me something
like 100000" he said
"Yes. 1t would seem SO from the re.
ceipt you have shown me-"
"That will be determined on wednes
day next at the latest"
Yes"
"If the money Is forthcoming. It will
be proof positive that my diamonds
IRE Of good quality. and az picked up
| these dirty stones quite prcmiscuously
1t follows that the others are OF the
same standard"
Undoubtedly"
"Well. Mr.. Abingdon, can form no
estimate of their collective value, but
they must he worth many millions Ac-
cordng to Mr.. Isaacsteln's views,
will be able to command a revenue OF
between a quarter and a half million
sterling per annum"
| at is marvellous! Perfectly appalling
In some senses cried the perturbeJ
lawyer. throwing up his hands In the
extremity OF his amazement
You are right. sir I am only boy
and the thing Is beyond my powers.
can see quite clearly that while 1 ough'
to be at college obtaining proper edu
care of great sums OF money. dc
not know anything about investments
How should l? Isu1cstein will proba
bly, endeavor very soon TO get the bet
ter Of me In the necessary business
transactions. How can stop him?
have no older relatives, no friends
whom / can trust For some reason
DO feel that l can have faith in you
Will you take charge OF my affairs, ad-
wise me during the next few years tell
me how to act as my mother would
have told me-n word, become my
GUARDIAN"
For a little while Mr.. Abingdon wa.
silent When words came he could
only gasp:
You certainly are the most extraor-
binary boy have ever encountered"
Then Philip laughed merrily.
Il don't think, sir. that 1 am so much
an extraordinary boy as n boy who has
been pitchfork ed into an extraordinary
position. 1 hope most sincerely that
you will do what l ask. IL | may say
so without presumption, it will be &
good thing for you. 1 suppose man
who looks after millions Of money IS
entitled to a vastly bigger income than
one who sits hours IN police court
dealing with offenses against the law"
such has certainly been my expert.
ence," said the magistrate, who appre-
ciated the nice manner in which Philip
limited at good fat salary for con-
trolling the estate of the King Of Din
monds.
Then you agree" cried Philip joy,
ously.
Not so fast. my youthful friend.
Even a police magistrate must bow to
his wife. Mrs. Abingdon would never
forgive me If | took such an important
step without consulting her VIII you
remain to dinner"
Then Philip knew that be had gained
his point. Nothing was said before the
servants, but when they were cozily
ensconcel In the library before pleas
ant fire he was asked 10 relate again
bis enhancing history for Mrs. Abing-
don's benefit
That good lady was overwhelmed.
,, She, Ike everybody else, had read the
! newspapers and, of course, had the adj
ditional benefit of her husbands views
. on the subject Of the unkempt boy
with his small parcel of valuable gems.
But the presence of Philip under
their roof the glamour Of the tale as
it fell from MS lips cast Il spell over
. her. She was a kindly soul too. and
tears gathered in her eyes at some por-
b tons of the recital.
What G pity it is that your mother
= died" she murmured when he had
. ended
Il The words endeared her TO Philip in
- stantly. \ worldly. grasping woman
would have thought OF nothing save
the vista Of wealth opened up for her
), husband and herself. Not so Mrs.
: Abingdon. If anything. she was some
W l0l GIiuiA "a tLN responsiveness Wv
posed to be undertaken By her spouse.
to whom she was devoted.
The magistrate did not promise
e definitely that night to accept the posi-
ton offered to him. He would think
) over The matter. He could retire on
u pension at any time. This he would
II now do without delay. and Philip could
u certainly count on his friendship and
l. advice. while his house would always
be open to him.
Meanwhile he would give one word
y Of advice-intrust no human being
!, with the power TO sign any binding
" document without his Philip'sl CON
20 sent Then It would he difficult for any
80 one to deal unscrupuously with him.
The boy went away AT late hour.
" He left behind him an exceedingly per-
= picked couple, but he felt that when
- Mr.. Abingdon mad time to assimilate
1t The facts and realize the great scope OF
> the work before him there was little
u doubt no would gladly associate HIM
self with IT,
II At the hotel telocra n awaited him:
'" Have realized for htty-two thousand.
~ Returning Monday. ISAACSTEIN.
= Here was the final proof IL proof
:, were wanting, Philip was millionaire