The Huttig news., 1912-03-09


that told them he was as far away
from his present environment as IL he
had been In the little dingy eurio shop
where young DIR. Fitch first had seen
him. His plant hands had been
plunged many times into dough-Iike
lump plastic rs a sculptor's clay at
one end of the Jeneb A row OF Jars
at the back of the bench was flank
ed by phalanx OF walls. An esrthern
bowl half full of water stood at his
right hand Directly IN front OF him,
scattered in workmanlike confusion,
We're several palette knives and mix
ing brushes. Ceaselessly 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
i of the Walls and jars, then trundled
them upon the board with industry
purposeful of performance. but pur-
poseless of achievement
At times spectral smile seemed to
glow upon his cadaverous 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 eountour of
his face and gave his tireless hands
ghost-like appearance. He was poor
/ little shriveled remnant of man. the
dried core of what had been 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
t Britt though he made no pretense OF
heing a psychologist, comprehended
at glance the outer vision Of the
former curiosity shop proprietor con
Neved little TO his distraught scien-
tific mind Revoud doubt, the old
man. as Fitch had said, had run the
shop merely as a means to an end.
Fitch and Britt stood rocking at him
for few moments before he became
aware of their presence When at
| last he glanced up. a shade of perplex
ity fitted across his face. his fingers
halted. but they did not stop in their
studiens task, and he looked at them
inquiFingly 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 Goleonda.
Guess you don't remember me. Mr..
Martin" said the doctor The old man
appeared rot to hear. Britt and Fitch
exchanged chances. and the detective
Il
Spouse from the aged inmates mental
vacuum.
Pretty busy man. eho" said Rrita
He had touched the right chord
Any reference TO tho industry that ali
sorbed his fading senses was SIRE to
arouse the intelligence of the old
curio dealer He nodded brislly. and
went on with his work more zealously
than before
Got to finish contract on tfme?"
the Headquarters man pursued.
Another vigorous little nod. follow
Cd by swift search of the detective's
face on the part OF the old minis
unken eyes.
Rather interesting work you're do.
ine." pursued the detective.
Thereupon Mr.. Martin rejoined:
1T Is the only work that can inter
'st me. ! have given my life To It
Find II profitable" inquired the
euth
For an instant those gray fingers
aaused in their manipulation of tho
lay pellets.
We'll, il depends on what you cali
profitable, young man." answered the
ward of the State. "There are things
more important than monetary gain "
oh, yes | know. I know" SAID the
effective hastily. 81 suppose your
work is purely scientific"
at is more than science" answered
Martin. 1T Is art philosophy, phian-
thropy- everything. II Is the crystal
ization of the beautiful Love is beau
y. and beauty Is life All mankind
reeds is beauty in greater measure
and higher d gree to attain perfection
Of happiness "
And you are engaged In forward
ing that theory
Yes" said the old man simply. Il
have taken upon myself the task OF
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-
tive love We have. The ouly trouble
Is that we have not enough OF them.
1t has remained for met has re-
NAMED for the poor old student Of
mysteries to find the key to the true
jewel wealth of the universe. For
thousands Of years men have been
seeking diamonds in the ground. |
take them from the air
In similar vein he ran on, his words
hetraying the strange cropping OF a
clouded mind that In its time had
been nearer the truth than most men s.
There was something extraordinary
about the little old fellows brain. It
had not cracked; rather, 1t had been
attenuated by overstrain. 1t was after
a process of patient questioning COW
ering so long a time that 1t ended In
4 II. II. -.