Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-11-13

lose half our boarders that way. peo-
pie come here. see the eXcellences of
the training we give and offer situa-
tons to boys who are old enough"
The man appeared to be surprised by
the commissionnaires affability. He
did not know that cvility and kind
ness were essential there if any en-
ployee would retain an excellent post.
He passed on, measuring the tessel.
lated court with a backward sweep of
the eye. In the sunlt street beyond
the arch stood the policeman. The WIS.,
itor grinned again, an unamiable and
sulky grin, and vanished.
The policeman crossed over.
what is that chap after?" he in
Quired.
Nothing special" was the answer.
Last time he was here the place was
a news, lie said"
UNLESS / am greatly mistaken, he
has ticket in his pocket"
You don't say! Do you know him?"
NO. I'll look him up in the album
in the station when so Off duty"
well, he can't do any harm here.
O'Brien takes visitors over a regular
round, and. in any case. the man SEEM
ed to be honest enough in his curl
osity."
You never can tell. They're up to
all sorts Of lodges"
"Thanks very much. I'll ring for
O'Briens relief and tell him to keep an
eye ON them. as the old man is blind 40
a bat
Meanwhile the stranger was being
conducted up wide staircase by n
somewhat lettering guide, who Wore
on the breast of his uniform the Cri-
mean and Indian mutiny medals.
I AS lie hobbled in front he told, with
a strong Irish broguc, the familiar sto-
~ of the Mary Arson Hometown ii
fed. lodged and clothed 600 boys Of
British parentage born in the White
chapel district; how it taught them
trades and followed their careers with
! fostering care; how it never refused a
meal or Il warm sleeping place to any
boy, no matter where lie came from or
what his nationality, provided he satis-
fed the superintendent that he was
capital for trading purposes next day.
The great central hall where the GOO
regular inmates ate their meals, the
dormitorics, the Fairgrounds, the drill
shed and gymnasium, the workshops,
the library, the theater, We're all point
ed out, but the big man with the star
ing eyes was not interested one jot IN
any of these things.
WHO was Mary Anson:" he asked.
when the well Worn tale was ended.
'and how did she come to build such q
fne place here:'
"Ah, We may we'll AK that" said old
O'Brien. Sure she didn't build it at
:ll nj all. She was poor wildly livin'
alonc-st wild one son, Mr.. Philip that is
row. She was Il born lady, but she
EN- down in the worruld and died, for
Iorn an forgotten, in Il little shanty i'll
Jolmson's News, as it was called III
those days"
II remember it Well"
I'VE do, ell: Mebbe We know my ould
shop, the marine store near the co.
trance to the court?"
Yes"
".Arrah, We don't tell me SO. Me eyes
are gettin' wake, an l can't make out
yer face. What's yer name"
ooh, I'm afraid we didn't know one
another can't recall your name,
though recollect the shop weX enough.
But, if Mrs. Arson died so poor, how
was her son able 10 set this great house
on its legs? IT must have cost a mint
Of money
.Faiy, yc'rc right. Quarter of mil
lion whit aforc there was boy under
its roaf And they say it costs 100000
q year to keep ii goin'. But Mr.. Philip
would find that and more to delight the
soul Of the mother that's dead. Sure
it's aisy for him, in Il way. Isn't he
the Diamond King.'
THE Diamond King! Why is he call
ed that:"
Dye name to say you nivver- Man
alive. what part of creation did We live
in that We didn't hear tell of Mr.. Philip
Arson. the boy who discovered an ex-
ira spisllul diamond mine Of his own,
no one knows where? Sure, now,
what's wrong wild veg"
For the visitor was softly using
words which to O'Brien's dull ears
sounded very like Il string of curses
I'm sorry" srowlcd the other with
an effort. I've been to Africa, an !
get such spasm now an then in my
liver that can hardly stand"
That's no way TO cure yourself
profaliin' the name OF the Almighty"
cried O'Bricn.
No I'm sorry. tell you. But
about Ibis boy
''Iherc'S no more to see now. IL We
Place. That; the way OUT
o'Bricn w;ts deeply offended by the
language used beneath roof hallowel
by the name of Mary Arson. The
sislltscer had to 60. and quickly. An
other con issionnaire who was OBJ
serving them from Il distance, came up
and asked O'Brcn what the stranger.
WAS talking about.
"Ye nivvcr heard sich blaggard,"
said the old man Indignantly. II was
in the middle of tclln' him about Mr..
Philip. when he began to curse like
Onld Nick himself"
In the Mile End road the rawboned
person who betrayed such excitement
found the policeman awaiting him.
He sprang on to Il bus and purposcly
glarcd at the officer in way to attract
his attention. When at a safe dis.
lance he put his fingers to his nose.
The constable smiled.
81 knew | was right" he said. ~
don't need to look twice at that sort
of customer"
And he entered the Mary Arson
home again TO ask the porter what had
taken place.
II was an easy matter for Jocky
Mason. released from Portland prlso,
on ticket of leave. after serving the
major portion of Il sentence of four
teen years penal servitude-the man
he assaulted had died, and the ex.
convict narrowly escaped being hanged
to ascertain the salient facts of Phil
IN AnSOn'S later career