The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-08-23
ODE King of Diamonds
A TALE OF MYSTERY
AND ADVENTURE

eral and the white pebbles Through
one deep assure he could still see the
fiery heart of the thing, and he imag-
ined that when the internal heat had
quite exhausted itself the great ball
would easily break into pieces, for 1t
was rent in all directions.
His first exclamation was one of
| thankfulness
Il am jolly glad that thing didn't
fall on my head he said aloud, for
getting that had its advent been de-
| layed a second or two. the precise To-
cality selected for its impact would
not have mattered much TO him.
Il wonder what IL s?' he went on
rs it worth anything? Perhaps if
| dig IL out. | may be able to sell il as
a curiosity
moments reflection told him. how
| ever. that he would not be able TO dis
inter IL that day. even If he possessed
| the requisite implements. On its lower
side il was probably still red hot.
Through the. soles of his boots. broken
as they were, he could easily feel the
heat of the ground so the experiment
must be deferred for twenty-four
hours. perhaps longer. At any rate, he
was sure that his mysterious visitor
represented a realiZable asset, and the
knowledge gave him a sudden distaste
He resolved to spend his remaining
three halfpence on a breakfast, and at
the same time make some guarded in
quiries as TO the nature and possible
cash value of the meteor itself. Evil
IDENTIFY. its fall had attracted no public
attention. The fury of the elements
and the subsequent heavy rain were
effectual safeguards in this respect,
and Johnson's News, marked out for
demolition a fortnight later. were
practically deserted now day and
night. Philip did not then know that
London had already much to talk
about in the recorded incidents of the
! two storms. The morning newspapers
were hySterical with headlines an
nouncing fires, collapse of buildings.
street accidents and lamentable loss OF
| life in all parts of the metropolis. AS
| the day wore. and full details came to
hand the list Of mishaps would be
doubled. while scientific observers
would begin a nine days wrangle in
the effort to determine the precise rea-
| son why the electrical disturbance
should have been wholly confined to
the metropolitan area. Philip Arson,
ragged boy of Is. residing i'll a desc
| late nook of the most disheveled dis
trict in the East End, possessed the
very genesis of the mystery, yet the
web of fate was destined to weave a
spell that would deftly close his lips.
Meanwhile he wanted his breakfast.
He gathered thirty fair-sized pebbles
and a few Jagged Jumps of the IRON
like material. These he wrapped in Il
piece of newspaper. screwed up the
small package tightly, and placed 1t in
| his trousers pocket. Thinking deeply
about the awesome incidents of the
previous night. he donned his coat and
did not notice the packet of letters
lying in the chair. Never before had
these documents left his possession.
The door was locked and the key in
his pocket before he missed them. II
was i'm his mind to turn back. In an
other second he would have obeyed the
impulse. had not a mighty gust or
wind swept through the yard and car
ried his tattered cap into the passage
That settled it, Philip ran after his
headgear. and so was blown INTO
strange sea of events.
They are quite safe there, he
thought In any case, it will be best
not to carry them about in future.
They get so frayed, and some day
may want them
Emerging from the haven of the
news he found the untidy life of the
Mile End road eddying in restless con-
fusion through a gale. The gaunt, high
walls surrounding his secluded dwell
ing had sheltered him from the blus-
tering March wind that was now dry
ing the streets and creating much i'll
temper i'm the hearts of carriers. stall
owners and girls with large hats and
full skirts In word. everything that
could be tapped or shaken. or rudely
swept anywhere out of its rightful
place. was dealt with accordingly. In
one instance a heavy tarpaulin was
lifted clean off wagon and neatly
lodged over the heads of the driver and
horses of a passing omnibus. They
were not extricated from its close en-
brace without some difficulty and a
great quantity of severe yet cOgent re-
marks by the wagner and the driver.
assisted by the bus conductor and
various passengers.
Philip laughed heartily. for the first
time since his mothers death. He
waited until the driver and the wagon
err had exchanged their farewell COM
pliments. Then he MADE on orisKly
toward an establishment where three
haIfpence would purchase a cup or
coffee and q bun.
In ten minutes he felt much re-
freshed, and his busy mind reverted
to the mysterious package he car
ried. Thinking it best to seek
the counsel of an older head.
he went 10 - Brler SHOP Inc oiu
man was taking down the shutters,
and found the task none too easy.
Without a word, Philip helped him, and
soon the pensioner was wiping his
spectacles in the shelter of the shop.
ct dunno what the weather is comm
to at all at ALL he grumbled. Last
night was Ike the takin' Nv the Redan.
an this mornin' reminds me Nv crossin'
the Bay o. Biscay."
at certainly was a fearful thunder
storm" said Philip.
"Faix. boy, that's a thrue word. 1t
was Just like ould times in the hills in
Injia, where the divil himself holds
coort some nights. But what's the
matter? Didn't you get that job?''
Philip laughed again. II am not sure
yet" he replied. "I really came in to
ask you what this is"
With his hand in his pocket. he had
UNFINISHED the paper and taken out the
white pebbles. which he now handed TO
OrSrien.
The old man took II. smelt IL and adj
justed his glasses for a critical exam
ination.
ut amt alum" ne announced.
mo. I think not
"An' II amt glass"
.sPrOba bly not"