The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-17

~ ~ SeSRANASoc doCSkVoAA
Of a ~shopwalker;
"Now, boy, what do you want here?"
The unconscious stress in the mans
words was certainly borne out by the
contrast between Philip, a social pariah
in attire, and the wealth of gold and
precious stones cut off from him by
panes of thick glass and iron bars.
What, indeed, did this outcast want
there?
Confused by the sudden demand and
nc less by it's complete obviousness.
Philip flushed and stanmered:
"I-er-only wished to obtain some
information, sir" he answered.
Like all others, the shopman was
amazed by the difference between the
boys manner and his appearance.
"InformationT" he repeated In his
surprise. What information can we
give you:"
The wealth Of the firm oppressed
this man He could only speak in ac-
cents of adulation where the shop was
concerned.
Philip produced his white pebble.
what is this?' he said.
The directness of the query again
took his nearer aback. Without a
word, he ben and examined the stone.
Professional instinct mastered all 9th
er considerations.
you must apply to that depart
ment." He majestically waved his
hand toward a sid counter. Philip
obeyed silently and approached Il
small, elderly parsonage. Il man with
clever. kindly eyes, who was submit
ting to microscopical examination Il
lumber of tiny stones spread out on Il
channels leather folding case. He
quietly removed the case when his
glance rested on the boy.
"Well:" he said blankly, wondering
why on earth the skilled shopWalber
had sent such a disreputable urchin to
him. Philip was now quite collected
in his wits. He held out the pebble,
with a more detailed statement.
Il found this" he said. Il thought
that it might be valuable, and a friend
advised me to bring it here. VIII you
kindly tell me what it is"
The man behind the counter stared
at him for a moment, but he reached
over for the stoAe. Without a word he
placed 1t beneath the microscope and
gave it a very brief examination. Then
he pressed it against his cheek.
"Where did you get it" he asked.
II found it where it had fallen on the
pavement"
Are you sure"
"Quite sure"
STRANGE" was the muttered COM
ment, and Philip began to understand
that his meteor possessed attributes
hitherto unsupported.
but what is it?' HI inquired after a
pause. .
"a meteoric diamond"
"a meteoric diamond?"
Eyes"
as it worth much?"
"a great deal. Probably some hun
dreds of pounds"
Philip felt his face growing pale.
That dirty-white, small stone worth
hundreds of pounds! Yet in his pocket
he had Twenty-Five other specimens,
many Of them much larger than the
one chosen haphazard for inspection.
and in the back yard of his tenement
lay heaps of them, scattered about the
pavement like hailstones after a show
er, while the meteor itself was a COM
pact mass of them. He became some
what faint and leaned against the glass
case that surmounted the counter.
'Is that really true?" was all that he
/ could say.
The expert valuer of diamonds smil-
ed. His first impulse was to send for
! tho np1iCo hrff hn Ennyv that ppa{onrio
diamonds did fall to earth occasionally,
and he believed the boys story. More
over. the thing was such a rarity and
Of such value that the holder must be
fully able to account for its possession
before he could dispose of it. So his
tone was not unkindly as he replied:
1T is quite true, but If you want to
ascertain its exact value you should
go to a Hatton Garden merchant, and
he. most probably, would make you a
fair offer. 1t has to be cut and polish
ed, you know, before it becomes sal
able. and I must warn you hat most
rigid inquiry will be made as to how
it came into your hands"
at fell from heaven.' was the Who'll
" unexpected answer. for Philip was
shaken and hardly master of his fac
ulties.
Eyes, yes. I know. Personally, I be-
lieve you or you would be in custody
at his moment Take 1t to Messrs.
Isaacstein & Co, Hatton Garden. Say
I sent you-Mr. Wilson is my name
and make your best terms with Mr..
Isaacstein. He will treat you quite
fairly. But. again. be sure and tell the
truth, as he will investigate your story
fully before he is satisfied as to its
accuracy"
Philip. walking through dreamland,
quilted the shop. He mingled with the
jostling crowd and drifted into Far
rington road.
"a diamond-worth hundreds of
pounds he repeated mechanically.
'Then what is the whole meteor worth,
and what am I WORTH"
CHAPTER ".
1" HE keen. strong March wind
soon blew the clouds from his
brain. He did not hurry toward
4 Hatton Garden. He sauntered,