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

In the patients face was a rapt LOOK
that told them he wal ms far away
from his present environment as II he
had been In the littlo dingy curio shop
where young DR.. Fitcl; first had seen
him. His plant hands had been
plunged many times into a doush.like
lump plastic as a sculptor's clay at
one end OF the bench. A row Of Jars
at the back Of the bench was flank
ed by a phalanx Of walls. An earthern
bowl half full of water stood Mt his
right hand. Directly IN front Of him,
scattered in workmanlike confusion,
were several palette knives and mix
ing brushes. C~easelcssly his fingers
plucked tiny pellets from the plastic
lump, rolled and patted them, dipped
them in the bowl Of water, coated
them with the many-colored contents
Of the walls and Jars, then trundled
them upon the board with industry
purposeful Of performance, but pur-
poseless Of achievement.
At times a spectral smile seemed to
glow upon his ca%daverons features-a
faint CLEAN like the specter Of a
corpse-light. The sunlight. reflected
from the rows OF jars and bottles, play
ed queer tricks with the contour OF
his face and gave his ~tireless hands a
ghost-like appearance. He "a a poor
little shriveled remnant Of a man, the
dried core OF what had been a dab
bier In the occult, and which along
normal channels might have been a
distinguished scientist. No one look
ing at him could ever have pictured
him as possessed OF the greed Of gain.
Britt. though he made no pretense OF
being a psychologist, comprehended
at a glance the outer vision Of the
former curiosity shop proprietor con
veyed little to his %distraught scien-
tific mind. BEYOND doubt. the old
man, as Fitch had said. had run the
shop merely as a means TO an end
Fitch and Britt stood fook!ng at him
for a few moments before he became
aware of their presence. When at
last he glanced up. a shade Of ~pcrplex.
ity fitted across his face, his fingers
halted, but they did not stop in their
studious task, and he looked at them
inquirinsly. With a slight shake of
his head he apparently gave up the
attempt to puzzle out their identity.
and once more bent his eyes on the
bench he firmly regarded as the TIRES
hold to Golconda.
Guess you dom remember me. Mr..
Martin said the doctor. The old man
appeared not to hear. Britt and Fitch
exchanged g|larces. and the detective
took up the attempt 20 awaken n re-
sponse from the aged inmates mental
vacuum.
Pretty busy man. eh?" said Britt.
He had touched the right chord.
Any reference TO the industry that alb
sorbed his fading senses was sure to
arouse the intelligence of the old
curio dealer. lie nodded briskly, and
went on with his work more z~ealously
thai before.
Got to finish a contract on time"
the Headquarters man pursued.
Another vigorous little nod. follow
ed by a swift search Of the detectives
face on the part of the old mans
sunken eyes.
Rather interesting work you're do
ing" pursued the detective.
Thereupon Mr.. Martin rejoined:
1T is the only work that can inter
est me. | have given my life TO It."
Find It %proftable?" inquired the
sleuth.
For In instant those gray fingers
paused in their manipulation OF the
clay pellets.
We'll, it depends on what you cal
profitable, young man" answered the
ward of the State. There are things
more important than monetary gain"
"Oh, yes, | know, I know" ala the
detective hastily. 81 suppose your
york is purely scientifc?"
1T is more than science" answered
Martin. 1T is art, philosophy, philan-
thropy-everything. 1t is the crystal
l~ization Of the beautiful. Love Is beau
ty, and beauty is life. All mankind
needs Is beauty in greater measure
and higher degree to attain perfection
Of happiness"
And you are engaged In forward
Ing that theory"
Yes" said the old man simply. II
nave '"h'H ukoH ilEstil me tiSh Ol
clarifying every home in the world
with the prisoned sunshine of the cen
turtles. Every abode of man, however
humble. should be illuminated by the
light OF diamonds. The diamond Is
the most exquisite expression OF crea-
Uve rove we nav The only trouble
is that we have not enough Of them.
1t has remained for met has re-
manned for the poor old student OF
mysteries to find the key 10 the true
jewel wealth of the universe. For
thousands Of years men have been
seeking diamonds In the ground. l
take them from the air"
In similar vein he ran on, his words
~betraying the strange cropping OF a
clouded mind hat In its time had
been nearer the truth than most mems
There was something extraordinary
about the little old fellows brain. II
had not cracked; rather. It had been
attenuated by overstrain. 1t was after
a process Of patient questioning GOV
ering so long q time that II ended In
the twilight, that Britz led the tireless
worker back to days before his arrival
: In the asylum. The protracted inquiry
taxed all the detectives skill in word
D handling, for each time he lifted the