Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-27

tne past. BrltZ, teeI1ng that he was
on the edge Of ar important disclos-
ure, waited patiently. Fitch scarcely
breathed.
~ mind me-" the one@time curio
dealer resumed, cot the one great dia-
mond that came as the grand reward
Of all my labor. All, that was a dia-
mond! But though II was a wonderful
achievement. I dfsbonored myself IN
the making Of It for" and a faint
flush deepened on his parchment
face, IT fashioned II for gain"
without an ~instant's warning no
pushed away the bench, dropped hts
face into his hands and gave way TO
grief that moved equally the man long
hardened to dissection Of the body
and the veteran crime hunter accus-
toned to vivisection Of the soul. Few
things are more terrible than TO see
an old man weep. II Is dual sur
render, for tears are the prerOgatfve
Of youth and w~omanhood. Britt and
Fitch with difficulty controlled their
own emotions Just for a moment. for
tears streamed over the ashen coun-
tenance Of the broken amateur al
chemist, and his wasted form writhed
and rocked in convulsive sobs.
~ have had my punishment" said
Martin when at last the tempest had
spent itself; but, oh. the long years
the long years Of remorse. Urged
by poverty, that enemy Of seekers aft
er truth and beauty. I succumbed TO
the temptation the stranger held out
to me. made the great diamond as
he desired-and 7 gave It TO him for
his gold"
The doctor glanced swiftly at the
detective and started to speak. Britz
raised a warning hand. and Fitch
checked his exclamation. Seating
himself for the fret time the Central
Office mantle prober of mysteries
laid his hand oncouragingly on the
diamond-maker's shoulder, and said:
There row; don't let It distress
you SO much. Other men have done
things far worse than that"
Nothing could be worse" screamed
Martin, springing from the low stool
on which he sat and facing his visi-
tors in an o OF abasement. II
sold the delight of my eyes. the light
of my life, the star of my goul-the
queen of all Jewels, the prreet. truest,
most beautiful diamond the world has
ever known"
Yes said the detective. but don't
forget II was yours to sell. You had a
right to do as You pleased with IT,"
81 had no such right" cried the al
chemist. That diamond was tho
product OF my laboring hours. I
brought II forth from the air. the sun
shine, the silver water, the milk Of
the moon, as an Aphrodite is fashion
ed Of dew and mist. 1t was not a mere
stone; it had thought and sense and
soul; it was a miscrocOsm Of the
m~arvelous!"
Fitch could not hide his astonish-
ment at the learning and poetry the
,fearfully agitated Old man displayed.
Britz himself, had not his thoughts
been focused vigorously on his pur-
pose, would have stopped to wonder
at them. AS it was he struck the iron
OF the alchemist's remorse at white
heat.
What did the stranger want with
it," demanded the detective.
81 don't know" said Martin. His
voice still trembled, his features
worked. his hands futtered and knot.
ted themselves in the intensity Of his
emotion. He came to me a stranger;
he went away the same. and with him
went my queen Of jewels, my beauti-
full. beautiful diamond of diamonds!
But ! will find him." he shrieked.
For centuries | have been upon his
path. He thought all things ended
between us when he lured me into
parting with my treasure. He said
because he had suggested the outline
and color OF the stone ne had a right
to make me give It to him for his
money; but 1T was Ii who thrust
into the center OF the glorious gem the
fire from heaven. ! penned the sun
bursts in the priceless prism, and IL
is mine. 1t Is mine by right of crea,
ton"
This outburst excited the old man,
but in a little while there was an
other outburst of his emotions. He
fairly shouted:
81 will have him, though. I will
come up with him yet, ard when / do
| will give hin back his money and
make him return tho diamond TO me
He thought he left nothing to tell me
who he is. He thought | never would
be able to find him In this big town
He felt sure the old curiosity dealer
would not venture far enough away
from his shop to track such a fine
gentleman. But he forgot one thing
have kept 1t all these years, and
through it I will find him yeti"
Abstractedly he thrust his hand into
an inner pocket and 1shed out a BIT
OF cardboard. Excitedly he waved Il
in front Of the detectives eyes. Brit,
resisted for a moment the impulse &c
snatch 1t from his grasp. but h,
gripped himself sharply. Awaiting de-
velopments was one Of the detective's
strong points. Az he expected. the
old alchemist was In a state OF MIND
to share his knowledge with any
- azn HYMHyE1%EA