The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-09-06
ODE King Of Diamonds

tentiousness brought the man to the
point
Therefore you must take me into
your confidence. What quantity OF
stones do you possess. and what are
their sizes? / must know"
Isaacstein, cooler now, pursed his lips
and pressed him thumbs together until
they appeared to be in danger of dis
location. 1t was his favorite attitude
when engaged in a deal. 1t signified
that he had cornered his victim. Phil
ip, appealed to in this strictly CONNER
cial way, could not fail to see it was
to his own interest to tell his chosen
expert the exact facts, and nothing but
the facts.
The boy, singularly unflurried in tone
and manner, hazarded an inquiry.
What amount OF ordinary diamonds,
in their money value ! mean, can you
dispose of readily in the course of a
year. Mr. sIsaacstein?'
''Oh, two or three hundred thousand
pounds worth; 1t is a matter largely
dependent on the condition of trade
generally. But that may be regarded
as a minimum
And the bigger stones. worth many
thousands each?''
1T is impossible 10 say Taking
them in the lump, at values varying
| from a thousand each to fancy figures,
perhaps fifty thousand pounds worth. y
1T would be safe to reckon on a
quarter of a million year, all told2''
Quite safe"
Then, Mr.. Isaacstein, will supply
| you with diamonds of that value every
year for many years.
The Jew relaxed the pressure on his
| thumbs. Indeed, he passed tremulous
hand across his forehead. He was
beaten again, and he knew it-worsted
by a gutter snipe in a war Of wits.
The contest had one excellent effect.
II stopped all further efforts on Isaac
STEMS part to wrest Philips secret
| from him. Thenceforth he asked for,
and obtained. such diamonds as he
needed, and resolutely forbade himself
the luxury OF questioning or probing
the extent OF his Juvenile patrons re-
| sources
But there was a long pause before
he found his tongue again His voice
had lost its aggressiveness when he
said:
I'm the police court 1 valued the dia-
monds you produced at fifty thousand
pounds. 1t does not necessarily follow
that 1 am prepared. to give such a sum
for them at this moment. l might do
yON
do not want me to figure In that ca
pacity. 1t will be better for you. safer
| for me, If 1 become your agent. ] will
| take your stones to Amsterdam, have
them cut sufficiently to enable dealers
| to assess their true worth, and sell
/ them to the best advantage. My charge
will be ten per cent, and L will pay all
expenses. Today l will give you fifty
pounds Tomorrow 1 will take you to a
bank and place five thousand TO your
credit Meanwhile, / will give you a
receipt for thirty stones. Weighing. In
the rough so many carats, and you, or
anyone you may appoint. can see the
sale vouchers subsequently, when I will
hand you the balance after deducting
| $3.50 and my ten per cent. The total
price may exceed fifty thousand, OF II
may be less, but I do not think 1 will
| be far out in my estimate. Are you
agreeable?"
Some inner monitor told Philip that
the Jew was talking on sound business
lines. There was ring of sincerity in
his voice. Apparently he had thrust
temptation aside. and was firmly re-
solved to be content with his ten per
cent.
And this might well be. Twenty-Five
thousand pounds a year earned by a
few journeys to the continents few
haggling interviews in the Hatton Gar
den office, What gold minei More
over, he would be the head man in the
trade. He was that now, in some re-
spects; but under the new conditions
none could gainsay his place at the
top. Even the magnates of Kimberley
would be staggered by this new source
of supply. What did 1t matter II the
boy kept to his rags and amazed the
world, so long as the diamonds were
forthcoming? 1t was no silk-hatted
gentleman who first stumbled across
the diamond-laden earth of South AZ
RIGA Isaacstein had made up his mind.
Fate had thrust this business into his
lap. He would be fool to lose ii out
of mere curiosity.