The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-11
= The KING of :
DIAMONDS.
By Louis Tracy,

Author Of wings of the rornins." 1.-The Pillar
Light" Etc.

~ >AAA~~ -
"An, wen, II Is good occasionally to
revisit the old scenes. No, Elf, Will
sit here. I will not be en- face to that
row of tables. Half a dozen people
would certainly recognize me, and do
not wish it,
Elf! The name drove Philips
thoughts backward with a bound
back to torrential night in a London
square and the tearing open Of a car
riage door in time to save a sweet lit
tie girl all robed in white who but for
him would have fallen with an over
turned vehicle.
Elf! 1t was an unusual pet name.
The child of ten years ago would be
about the age Of the lively and spiritu-
ellie girl by his side. The child had
faced her enraged uncle on that memo
rable night. The woman had refused
to leave him when she thought danger
threatened in the park.
Could it be possible? He was star
tied. bewildered, utterly dumfounded
by even the remote possibility that
another figure from the past should
come before him in such wise.
"Mr. Arson! What have you found
IN the menu to perplex you SO terribly?
Does danger Turk in the agneau du
printemps? Is there a secret horror in
the salmi?'
Evelyn's raillery restored his scat
tered wits.
"May l say something personal?" he
inquired.
about the Iamb?"
about you? Mrs. Atherley called
you ELF just now"
Yes. l regret that earned the title
In ages past. The habits have ceased,
but the name remains"
II once met a little girl named Elf
1t was ten years ago on a March even
ing in West End square. There had
been a carriage accident. A pair Of
horses were frightened by a terrific
thunderstorm. The girl was accom-
panied by a somewhat selfish gentle
man. He jumped out and left her to
her own devices; indeed. slammed the
door in her face. A ragged boy
"a boy with newspapers-a boy who
spoke quite nicely-saved her by rum
ming into the road. The carriage over
tuIucQ III lIOuI VI lOEu NduStOuc >
house. I was the girl!'
Both ladies were amazed at the ex-
preston on Philips face. He betray-
ed such eagerness, such intense long
ing, such keen anxiety to establish her
| identity with the child who figured in
an accident Of no very remarkable ma
ture, that they could not help being
| vastly surprised.
Their establishment was not lessened
when Philip exclaimed:
"And was the boy!'
But said a boy with newspa-
pers'"
"Yes, a very urchin, a waif Of the
| streets"
'My uncle struck you"
"And you defended me, saved me
from being locked up, in fact"
"Oh, this is too marvellous. Mother,
/ you must remember
| "My dear one. I remember the event
as IL 1t had taken place yesterday.
| Your uncle would not have cared were
you killed that night. All he wanted
! was your money. Now he has that
and mine. He was. indeed, 4 wicked
/ man."
! Mother, dear, he Is unhappy. Are
We? But, Mr.. Arson, what wonderful
change in your fortunes has taken
place since our first meeting? Is the
newspaper trade so thriving that a car
rage and pair. a supper at the Savoy,
! stalls at the Regents hall and bou-
quet from Rosalind's are mere TRIM
i mings. SO to speak, to busy day."
Evelyn" protested Mrs. Atherley.
But the girl was too buoyant. too ut
; terly oblivious Of all that this meeting
meant to Philip, to cease from hating
him.
please, Mr.. Arson, do tell us the Sc
cret. will sell any paper you name.
get 5 guineas for singing two songs,
admit, but may only sing them once
a month. l have loads Of time to run
about crying: 'Extrey speshuli 'Orrible
disawster. Or does the magic spring
from writing those thrilling stories
one sees placarded on the boardings
I believe / could do II. I once won O
prize in lady's magazine for a set of
verses. the genuine and unaided pro,
duction Of a girl aged under fourteen
Philip compelled himself to respond
to her mood. He promised to reveal
his specific for money making at some
future period when she was sufficient.
~ dazzled to accept his words as those
of a prophet.
With the tact Of woman of the
world, Mrs. Atherley led the converse.
ton back to less personal channels
The great restaurant was rapidly fill.
ing now. The occupants of peighbor.
ing tables cast occasional glances a.
| the merry trio which discussed the
foibles Of the musical world, the ways
| of agents, the little meannesses and
petty spites of the greatest artists and
incidentally did ample justice to an
| excellent meal.
Philip thought he had never before
= met such a delightful girl. Evelyn
was quite certain that some unknown
good fairy had given her this pleasant
acquaintance, and Mrs. AtherIey, after
a silent spasm Of regret that hel
daughter should be denied the position
!. in the greater world for which she was
+, so admirably fitted. abandoned herself
TO the infectious gayety of the younger
| people.
i Both she and Evelyn confessed to &
| Failing Of ropowod curprfao xrt,nvx Dhn