The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1911-09-01
Britt of :
HI headquarters

4 nave made diamonds, yes, ne
said In response to a query from the
detective. swift and searching as
napier thrust, beautiful enough to
hang about the neck of a princess;
brilliant enough 10 glorify the hut of
toiler in the fields: but there was
one-ah!" His recollection reveled in
widening circles until its force was
spent. For a long time. his hands
motionless again. he sat gazing into
the past. Britt, feeling that he was
on the edge Of an important disclos
ure. waited patiently. Fitch scarcely
breathed.
81 mind me-" the one-time curio
dealer resumed. "of the one great dia-
mond that came as the grand reward
OF all my labor. All, that was a dia-
mond! But though 1t was wonderful
achievement, dishonored myself in
the making Of 1t for" and a faint
flush deepened on his parchment
face. II fashioned 1t for gain!"
Without an instant's warning he
pushed away the bench. dropped his
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 vivisectlon of the soul. Few
things are more terrible than to see
an old man weep. 1t is dual sur
render, for tears are the prerogative
of youth and womanhood. 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.
81 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
err truth and beauty. succumbed to
the temptation the stranger held out
to me. | made the great diamond as
he desired-and 1 gave It to him for
his gold"
The doctor glanced swiftly at the
detective and started to speak Britt
raised a warning hand. and Fitch
checked his exclamation. Seating
himself for the first time the Central
Office mantle prober of mysteries
laid his hand gingly on the
,diamondmaker's shoulder. and said:
There now; don't let 1t distress
you so much. Other men have done
things far worse than that"
Nothing could be worse" screamed
Martin. springing from the low stoo
on which he sat and facing his visi
tors In an agony of abasement. 81
sold the delight Of my eyes, the light
of my life. the star of my soul-tht
queen of all jewels. the purest. truest
most beautiful diamond the world has
ever known!"
Yes" said the detective, but dom
forget 1t was yours to sell. You had 6
right to do as you pleased with it."
81 had no such right" cried the al
chemist THAT diamond was the
product of my laboring hours.
brought it forth from the air, the sun
shine. the silver water, the milk o
the moon, as an Aphrodite is fashion
ed of dew and mist. 1t was not a mere
stone; 1t had thought and sense ant
soul; 1t was a miscrocosm OF tn.
marvellous"
Fitch could not hide his astonish
ment at the learning and poetry thu
fearfully agitated old man displayed
Britt himself. had not his thought
been focused vigorously on his pur
pose. would have stopped to wonde
at them. AS 1t was he struck the irol
OF the alchemist's remOrse at whit,
heat
What did the stranger want witt
IT." demanded the detective.
~ don't know" said Martin. Hi
voice still trembled. his features
worked. his hands huttered and knot
ted themselves In the intensity Of hi
emotion. HE came to me stranger
he went away the same. and with hin
went my queen of Jewels. my beauti