The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-09-13
s The KING Of =
DIAMONDS.
BY Louis Tracy,
COPYRIGHT. 1904. BY EDWARD J. GLOBE.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Author of .Wnss of the Morning" 1.-The Pillar Of
Light" Etc.


save some of them, especially her we'd
ding ring"
Jocky Mason's romance was now dis
sipated into thin air. The contents OF
the portmanteau, the squalid appear
ance Of the house, the date of the So
licitors letter, the bundle of pawn
tickets offered conclusive evidence to
the inspectors matter of fact mind
that the ex-convict's story was the eff
feet of truncheon rapidly applied to
a brain excited by the newspaper COM
ments on a sensational yarn about
some boy who had found parcel of
diamonds.
This youngster had not been favor
ed by any such extraordinary piece Of
luck Simple chance had led him to
put the police on the track of much
wanted scoundrel, and he had very
bravely prevented member Of the
force from being badly worsted in the
ensuing encounter.
A subscription would be made among
the officers and men of the division,
and they would give him silver
watch with a suitable inscription.
The inspector noted the address Civ
en- by Philip. 1t was on the tip of his
tongue to ask his Christian name,
when the constable suggested that they
should examine the stable in which
Mason had hidden.
They went up the news. Philip
locked his door, eXtinguished his can
die and lay down on the mattress,
fully dressed, with his newly bought
rug for covering.
He was so utterly tired, so exhausted
physically and mentally by the sturm
und drang of this eventful day that
he was sound asleep when the two
men returned.
They saw him through the window.
"He's a fine lad" said the inspector
thoughtfully. II wonder what he Is
going to make of himself. We might
have asked him who his friends were,
but they are not badly off, or he
couldn't have got that bag and his new
, clothes. What on earth caused Mason
ia connect him with that diamond
storyT
"Its hard to say" observed the con-
stable.
81 will look round and have a chat
with him in the morning. Poor little
chap! He's sleeping like top now"
The inspector called at No. John
sons News soon after 10 next morn
ing, but the door was locked and the
bird flown. He spoke to Mason after
that worthy was remanded for week,
but a nights painful seclusion had
sealed the burglars lips. He vowed,
with fearful emphasis, to get even"
with the kid who "ahted" him, for the
policeman's evidence had revealed the
truth concerning the arrest. But not
another word would Mason say about
/ the diamonds, and for q little while the
! inspector placed his overnight revela-
tons in the category of myths familiar
to the police in their daily dealings
with criminals.
Philip awoke shortly before Z.
He was cold and stiff. The weather
was chilly, and there was no ardent
meteor in the back yard to keep the
temperature Of the house at grateful
point during the night.
But his active young frame quickly
dissipated the effects Of deep sleep
on q drafty floor. He washed his face
and hands at the sink in the scullery,
and his next thought was for break
fast, a proof, If proof were needed,
that he arose refreshed In mind and
body.
In the Mile End road there are plen-
ty of early morning restaurants. At
one of them he made a substantial
meal, and, on his return to the news,
he lost not moment in carrying out q
systematic search through all parts OF
the house and yard for any traces Of
the meteor which might have escaped
his ken in the darkness.
Amid the earth and broken stones Of
the excavation there were a few frag-
ments Of ore and some atomic speci-
mems of the diamantiferous material
not sufficient, all told, to I'LL the palm
Of his hand, but he gathered them for
obvious reasons and then devoted five
vigorous minutes with O'Brien's spade
70 the task of filing up the deep hole
Itself.
BY lowering the flagstones and
breaking the earth beneath he soon
gave the small yard an appearance of
chaos which might certainly puzzle
people. but which would afford no pos
,ible clew to the nature of the disturb.
ng element.
At best they might imagine that the
dread evidence OF some weird crime
lay In the broken area. If so, they
could dig until they were tired. But
indeed, he was now guarding against Il
most unlikely hypothesis. The prob
ability was that Johnson's News would
soon cease to exist and become nj
most as fabulous as the island of At
lantis.
Moreover, he had a project dimly
outlined In his mind which might be
come definite II all went well with
him that day. Then the ownership OF
No. 3, Johnson's News, would ceas,
t. trouble him. for Philip was onits