The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-05-18
DAILY SHORT
STORY
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.

| RNdtIdHSOn, the SLOTekeepeT WHO
bought Illicit diamonds and sold
| Illicit liquor in Kimberley as side
Issues to his BUSINESS, sat n front
lof his wrecked store holding his
head and grooming in bitterness of
| soul.
| 1t was not trade trade had fallen
| off, or that he was in danger of
arrest for his diamond dealings.
| Universally known as the most
audacious of diamond purchasers
| from natives employed in the
| mines, he had never rendered him
self liable to conviction. But his
most profitable enterprise, his
secret grog shop. had been
| wrecked with axes welded by the
! militant members of the Plymouth.
Brethren chapel over the way, and
stocks of liquors aggregating hun
dreds of pounds in value had been
poured into the cutters by the Rev.
Abel Jones and his temperance Or
ganiZation. After which he had
been fined 5000 in the courts. Now
he was planning how to get even.
'If they was honest in their con-
victions | could respec' en- he
muttered But them folks d skin
the hide off dead jackal an sell
the meat for game"
AS he paused there a shadow
darkened his path, and, looking
up, he saw Van Meyer, a Dutch
| man with whom he had had various
dealings.
whats the news, Alf?" asked
| Williamson YEARLY
| Man, I'm ruined" broke out Van
| Meyer excitedly. "The excise has
/ seized all my ostriches because I've
been exporting feathers without
paying the duty, and I'm ruined"
What, all gone, Alf?" asked
Williamson.
"All but old Bill" answered the
Dutchman moodily sinking into a
chair. And he wasn't worth TAX
ing. What am I going to do?"
when in doubt play diamonds"
saidS Williamson slowly. Into his
fertile brain the scheme of his re-
venge was already leaping.
| 81 thought you might loan me
enough to get few young birds
said Van Meyer beseechingly.
| 'What, me?" said Williamson.
/ 10 CT inh In,
singing brethren poured my stock
of brandy into the street and
wrecked the shop. | can't help
you. But | will tell you what I will
do" he added. And he unfolded
his scheme into the Dutchman's
ear.
The Plymouth Brethren were
proud of their new Dutch convert
1t was not many weeks before Van
Meyer and the Rev. Abel Jones
were bosom companions. Van
Meyer saved from the devices Of
Satan, Van Meyer forswearing
drink, Van Meyer cutting Natha-
son, his old crony, in the street os-
tentatiously; Van Meyer in sober
est black, leading the congregation
In the psalms, was an increasing
joy.
But on that wonderful day of
rejoicing when Van Meyer made
public confession of his sins in the
little chapel, every heart went out
IN n To nd IL, hi ut h r
wickedness, his determination to
lead an upright life for the future.
His private confession he reserved
for the Rev. Abel Jones afterward.
Brother he began, Il may as
well out with it. You know I've
seemed kind of affectionate toward
old Bill and wouldn't let him be
| sold, seeing as he's no use for
feathers"
The pastor nodded. Then Van
Meyer bent down and whispered In
the pastors ear, causing that gen
tleman to start violently.
Not word of this, not a
word" said the Dutchman, as he
| hurried away.
But before nightfall each of the
congregation knew, and thought
| himself the sole depository of the
fact that Bill, the ostrich. was
walking diamond mine. In other
words. that he had been trained to
swallow diamonds which Nathan
son bought from native thieves,
and that several thousand pounds
worth resided in the interior of his
crop.
| Also that Van Meyer. moved by
rSmorse, was about to sell the bird
all auction for what it would fetch,
giving the proceeds to the chapel,
leaving the diamonds, which, as
tSinted wealth. could not be do,
mated, to remain undiscovered for
Ieier.
Kimberley had seen extravagant
bids. but never such as were Of
fared for that ostrich in the mar
l3t place the next morning. The
bxdders were not of the Brethren.
though members of the flock might
hive been seen lowering prayer