The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-08-30
: The KING of s
DIAMONDS.
By Louis Tracy,

Author Of ''Wirss Of the Mornins" 1.-The Pillar Of
Lisht," Etc.

seat in the next bus"
"Oh, wish you would" she said,
with a wan smile, 81 am SO tired.
have walked here from Shepherds
Bush"
That's long way to carry baby"
"What could do? People won't
tnke care Of children without payment.
I heard / could get work in laundry
there, so ! went to look after 1t.
There's nothing to be had down our
way, is there?"
Things turn up suddenly" said
Philip.
mot for the poor, my lad. I fear
you know that without my telling you.
But you are young and will soon be
man."
Her wistful tone went to his heart.
Didn't you succeed at the laundry?"
he inquired.
Yes; ought to be thankful. I can
, earn o shillings a week there. 1 start
on Monday"
isn't your husband at work.
"He is dead. Poor fellow, he caught
cold last Christmas and was buried in
January. God only knows how have
lived since. If 1t wasn't for the kind
ness Of neighbors, baby and 1 would
have starved. l can i'll afford this tup-
pence, but can't walk any further"
swell, look out now" he said cheeri-
ly. Here's our bus"
AS the vehicle drew up he caught the
brass rail with his left hand and ward
ed off assailants with the bundle under
his right arm.
"Quick," he said to the woman as
soon as the people inside had descend
ed. Jump in"
She essayed to do so, but was rudely
thrust aside by young man who had
paused on the roof to light cigarette.
Philip sprang onto the step and butted
the young gentleman in the stomach
with his parcel, causing the other to
sit down heavily on the stairs. The
boy caught the woman's arm with his
disengaged hand and pulled her up.
He dived in after her.
"You young roared the discounted
smoker
"'Ere! Come OFF of it," said the con-
ductor. "Why didn't We git dahn be-
fore? Dye want lift?"
Others hustled the protesting one
out of the way.
"Confound the East End, I say" he
growled as he crossed to the Mansion
House. what the deuce Lady Louise
Morland wants to keep on sending me
to that wretched news for 1 can't
imagine. Anyway I can tell her this
time that the place is empty and will
be pulled down next week"
And thus 1t was that Philip collided
with Messrs. Sharpe & Smiths clerk
detailed by the anxious Lady Morland
to discover his whereabouts. They
met and bumped into each other In the
whirlpool of London just rs two ships
might crash together by night in mid
Atlantic and draw apart with ruffle6
feelings, or scraped paint, which IS the
same thing without the slightest
knowledge of each others identity.
Within the omnibus the woman was
solubfy grateful. She had kindly
heart and timidly essayed questions as
70 Philips relatives, hoping that she
night make their acquaintance.
Ell be bound, now" she said, that
you have q good mother. You can al
ways tell what the parents are like
when you see the children"
"My mother was indeed dear to me-"
he replied sadly, again driven out of
himself by the mournful recollections
thus suddenly induced, "but she is
dead, lost to me forever
Some people In the bus ceased talk
ing. They were attracted by the
strong, clear voice of this unkempt
boy, whose diction and choice of words
were so outrageously opposed to lis
garments. Luckily the silence warned
him or his new friends sympathy
might have brought about an embar-
RAISING position.
poor thing! And is your father
dead too?"
Eyes. He died long ago."
"Where do you live now"
"Oh," he said, IL have been staying
in north London, but will leave there
soon, and l have not settled anything
definitely at present. Where is the
laundry you spoke Of? will call some
day If 1 may and learn how you are
getting on"
81 will be so pleased. 1t is a little
! place in James street, the only one
there. Ask for Mrs. Wrigley."
ut Is lucky you understand laundry
work or things might go hard with
you"
She laughed pitifully.
II don't. They asked me If 1 was a
washer or an ironer. l thought wash
ing required least experience, so said
l was washer. / am quick to learn
and will watch the other women. If
they find me out, may be discharged"
"Oh, cheer up!' he said pleasantly.
II don't suppose you'll find 1t very
hard"
Her voice sank almost to whisper.
ut is not the work I dread, but the
surroundings. l was schoolteacher
before my marriage. Ny husband was