The Huttig news., 1912-03-09

| ~ eDnIDaleu az IWtHhBt OF GHVfiSHt
seen from the recesses Of q cave, that
the "a man recalled the great triumph
Of his strange craft.
~ have made diamonds. yes" he
said In response to query from the
detective. swift and searching as a
rapier thrust. beautiful enough 20
hang about the neck OF a princess;
brilliant enough TO glorify the hut Of
toiler in the fields: but there was
one-ah!" His recollection reveled in
widening circles until it's 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.
Il mind me-" the one-time curio
dealer resumed, 'of the ore 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 II for" and a faint
flush deepened on his parchment
face, Il fashioned It for gain,"
Without an instant's warning he
pushed away the bench, dropped HI
face into his hands and gave way
grief that moved equally the man 10
hardened to dissection Of the boGy
and the veteran crime hunter accne
toned to vivisection of the soul Few
things are more terrible than to So
an old man weep. 1t Is dual s
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
I and rocked in convulsive sobs.
81 have had my punishment" sad
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, | sueeumbed to
the temptation the stranger held ont
10 me. made the great diamond az
he desired-and ! gave 1t to him for
his gold"
The doctor glanced swiftly at the
detective and started to speak Rritz
raised warning hand. and Fitch
checked his exclamation. Seating
himself FOR the first time the Central
Office mantle proher of mysteries--
laid his hand encoura singly on the
diamond-maker's shoulder. and said:
There now: don't let It distress
YOU so much. Other men have done
things far worse than that"
Nothing could be worse. screamed
| Martin. springiug from the low stool
! on which he sat and facing his visi-
tors In an agony ef shzsemept. It
sold the delight OF my ewes. he light
of my life, the star of my soul-the
queen Of all Jewels, the priest. truest,
most beautiful Diamond the world has
ever known
Yes" said the detective but don't
forget It was yours to SOL you had =
right to do as Won pleased with u =
81 had no such right" cried the al
chemist THAT diamond was the
product of my lahorine hours. '
brought ii forth from the air. The sun
shine, the silver wafer. the milk OF
the moon. as An Aphrodite is fashion,
I'd of dew and mist. 1t was moi mere
stone; ii had thought and sense and
eoul: 1t WAS a miscrocosm of the
| marvellous
Fitch could not hide his astonish-
ment at the learning and poetry the
Fearfully agitated cd man displayed
Britt himself, had not his thoughts
been focused vigorously on his pur-
pose. would have stopped to wonder
Al them AS il was he struck the iron
Of the alchenist'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
red themselves in the intensity of Ii S
emotion. HE came TO me q stranger;
he went away the same, and with him
went my queen OF jewels, my beauti-
rul. beautiful diamond OF diamonds,
But | will find him" be shrieked.
For centuries | have been upon his
path He thought all things ended
between us when he lured ms iuto
parting with my treasure. He said
because he had suggested the outline
and color of the stone he had right
10 make me give 1t TO him for his
money: but it was IL who thrust
into the center of the glorious gem the
fire from heaven. ! penned the sun
bursts In the priceless prism. and it
is mine. 1t is mine by right OF crea-
tioni"
This outburst excited the old man,
hut in a little while there was an
other outburst Of his emotions He
fairly shouted;
Il will have him. though. | viii
come up with him yet, and when do,
| will give him back his money and
make him return the diamond to ne.
| He thought he left nothing To tell me
who he is. He thought | never would
he able to find him in this big town.
He felt sure tbeS old curiosity deaie r
would not venture far enough away
/ from his shop to track such fine