The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-05

fully from beginning to end. neither
exaggerating or suppressing any sa-
lient detail save the actual locality
where his astounding adventures found
their center and genesis
Mr.. Abingdon did not doubt for one
moment that the boy was telling the
truth. The romance OF his narrative
was far beyond fiction.
Philip himself grew enthusiastic as
he went on. His brown eyes blazed
again with the memory Of his wrath
and shame at the arrest. He told the
magistrate exactly how the proceed
ings in court had affected him and
gave a vivid picture Of his bargaining
with Isaacstein. the packing of the
diamonds, the fight between the police
man and a burglar, his interviews with
all sorts and conditions OF men and the
ruses he had adopted to preserve his
secret
At last he came to the transaction
which secured for him the ownership
Of the news itself. He read copies OF
his letters to the solicitors and their
replies, and then of course the magis-
trate knew where the meteor had
fallen.
THAT ia very clever move on your
part" he said, smiling. 'It invests you
with all the rights and usages of that
particular piece Of earth and effectual-
~ stops any one from disputing your
possession Of the meteor. How did
you come to think Of itT'
you put the idea into my mind SIR"
said Philip modestly.
az? In what manner"
| you limited at our last meeting that
some one might lay claim to my dia-
monds on the ground that they had
/ fallen on their property. do not IN
| tend that any one living except your
! self shall ever know the history Of my
meteor but l thought 1t best to buy
the place outright in the first instance
and then devote it to a charity which
/ I intend to found In memory Of my
| mother"
! Mr.. Abingdon smiled again.
! Your confidence is very nattering."
he said II suppose you took up your
to impress people with your impor-
with your wishes"
! l. nat was my iuOtiNe, blT.
"Tben, my young millionaire. In what
way do you wish me to serve your or
course you have not sought this inter-
view and told me your story so unre-
servedly without an Interior object in
view. You see, I am beginning to I'M
derstand you already a little better
than when we first met"
Philip did not reply Immediately. He
did not want to risk refusal, and he
was not yet quite sure that the magis-
trate fully comprehended the extent of
the fortune which had been showered
on him from natures own mint.
when Mr.. Isaacstein returns from
Amsterdam, he will pay me something
like 10000" he said.
Yes. 1t would seem so from the re-
! ceipt you have shown me-"
''That will be determined on wednes-
day next at the latest"
/ YES"
''If the money is forthcoming, It will
be proof positive that my diamonds
are of good quality. and as picked up
these dirty stones quite promiscuously
1t follows that the others are of the
same standard"
Undoubtedly"
"Well, Mr.. Abingdon. I can form no
estimate of their collective value, but
they must be worth many millions. Ac-
cording to Mr.. Isaacstein's views,
will be able to command q revenue OF
between a quarter and q half million
sterling per annum."
"It Is marvellous! Perfectly appalling
in some sensesr cried the perturbed
lawyer, throwing up his hands Ia the
extremity of his amazement.
You are right, sir. I am only boy,
and the thing is beyond my powers. /
can see quite clearly that while 1 ought
to be at college obtaining proper edu-
cation l will be worrying about the
care of great sums Of money. I do
not know anything about investments.
How should 1? Isaacstein will proba-
bly, endeavor very soon to get the bet
ter Of me in the necessary business
transactions. How can l stop him?
have no older relatives, no friends
whom I can trust. For some reason I
do feel that l can have faith in you.
viii you take charge Of my affairs, adj
me how to act as my mother would
have told me-in q word, become my
GUARDIAN"
For little while Mr. Abingdon was
silent When words came he could
only gasp:
You certainly are the most extraor-
binary boy have ever encountered"
Then Philip laughed merrily.
II don't think, sir, that am so much
an extraordinary boy as boy who has
been pitchforked into an extraordinary
position. I hope most sincerely that
you will do what ask. II may say
so without presumption, it will be a
good thing for you. 1 suppose a man
who looks after millions of money Is
entitled to vastly bigger income than
one who sits hours in a police court
dealing with offenses against the law"
Such has certainly been my expert
ence," said the magistrate, who appre-
ciated the nice manner In which Philip
limited at good fat salary for con-
trolling the estate of the King of Dia-
monds.
Then you agree" cried Philip Joy.
ously.
1 aNof fou% mn