The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-28

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lnere were nun1reds or tiny oIa-
rnonds in that insignificant package
and not a few the size of small peas.
AS a matter of fact, he discovered sub
sequently that the net result of his
sweeping brought him in over a I'll 900.
Having examined every nook and
crevice of the apartment by the aid
Of the candle, he satisfied himself that
uaught remained which would indi-
cate to the most curious eye any event
out of the common having occurred in
that humble dwelling.
1t was typical of Philips implicit
faith that he did not unlock the back
door until his interior task was ended.
He knew that his meteor was untouch-
ed.
There was no wind without. The
candle, feeble as its rays were, illumi-
mated the small yard sufficiently to re-
veal it's debris of white stones and
darker Jumps of metal Beginning at
the doorway, he swept vigorously, but
with minutest care, until he had form
ed four good sized piles on the flag
stones.
He could not afford to differentiate
between the debris of the damaged
pavement and the fragments of the
meteor. 1t was easy to distinguish the
larger pieces of broken glass from the
window inside the house. In the yard
he had neither the time nor the light
to select the bits of shattered stone.
All must go together. to be sorted with
leisured care subsequently.
He scrutinized the external window
sills, the door posts, the chinks of the
small coal house door at the farther
end of the yard. even the rough sur
faces Of the walls, and removed every
speck Of loose material. More news
paper was requisitioned, but after util-
izing the Irvine on his parcel of cloth
ing he ran short of string.
He coolly went up the stairs, unfas-
tened the rope with which he had in
tended to hang himself and loosened
it's stiff strands. Soon he had an abun-
dance of strong cord, and four bulky
packages were added to the first small
one.
They were heavy, too. weighing sew.
eral pounds each. In placing them
side by side close to the wall beneath
an unforeseen difficulty.
If these shreds of matter-the mere
husk, as 1t were, Of the meteor-were
so ponderous, what would be the
weight of the meteor itself? How
could he hope to lift it from the hole
in which it lay, how convey it from
Johnson's News to a new and safer
habitation? He might as well endeav.
or to move an unwilling elephant.
The thought chilled him. For the
first time since his parting interview
with Mr.. Abingdon, Philip experienced
a dread Of failure With something of
panic in his blood, he snatched the
candle and ran hastily into the yard.
Heknelt and held the light low in the
excavation. Then he cried aloud:
"What! Am l so ready to lose faith
in mother?''
For the huge metallic mass-so big
that it would not enter the bore Of the
largest cannon known to modern gun
nery--was split asunder in all direc-
lions. It's assures gaped widely as if
to mock at him. The rain and steam
had done their work well. 1t was even
possible that he would not need the
spade, but would be able to pick out
each separate chunk with his hand.
Instantly he put the thought into ex-
ecution and succeeded in lifting sew
eral pieces to the yard level. He noted
that they were gorged with the dull
white pebbles, some being the size OF
pigeons eggs. He could not help com.
pairing them in his minds eye with the
collection now lodged in Isaacstein' 8
safe. If those were worth $4,000,
these must be of fabulous value.
Any other person in the wide world
might have been excused if he pinched
himself or. winked furiously or took
out the gold filed tobacco pouch for
careful inspection to assure himself
that he was not dreaming. Not so
Philip. The only dominant feeling in
his brain was one of annoyance that
he should have doubted for one single
instant that means would be given him
to secure absolute and undisputed con.
troll OF his treasure
But there remained the problem Of
weight. His original idea was to wrap
The actual body of the meteor In the
stout sack he obtained from O Brie-
and then inclose all his valuables in ii
tin trunk which he would purchas,
next morning. ANY ordinary trun
would certainly be spacious enous-
but its phenomenal weight would u,
questionabiy evoke more comment tn
he desired, and it would need tw
strong men 30 lift it
This portion of his plan needed to 7
entirely re.ca1elal :;nI Ia ~s- L.