Evening journal., 1912-09-28

By LAWRENCE E. DENTON

and woman's estate our companionship
assumed n different phase. But could
not remain in the place where I was
born and raised. for there was no ca
reer for me there. ] must 20 forth {,
seek my fortune. And what troubled
both Helen and me was that the only
opening that presented itself was "
South Africa. A man who was intend
ing TO take a stock OF goods out 70 the
cape and open store there offered to
take me along with him as assistant.
My parting with Helen was harrow
ing-so narrowing that l was tempted
to back out before sailing. But Heller
had the stun in her to prevent my do
ing So and in due time / found myself
IN my new home. But the attempt OF
my employer was a failure. and found
myself stranded in a foreign country
without means TO get home.
l was obliged TO 60 TO work with pick
and shovel I'm the diamond mines.
gave up all hope OF possessing Helen
for 70 marry n man must have some
means, or az least decent employment
and l had neither. besides having an
ocean between us. The only thing
learned that was Of any value was to
tell diamond in the rough when
saw IT, But almost any knowledge Is
useful II one has luck TO 60 with n
One evening when going from work 10
the house where boarded. being tired
and seeing a shady spot beside the
road. went there and lay down and
fell asleep.
When / awoke lay on my side and
was looking straight before me at tn,
ground. | was very near a stone
about ms big as n hickory nut. and IN.
vision at opening my eyes after the
had been for some time closed was
very keen. The stone was 80 near like
diamond uncut that reached FOR IL
and examined It more closely. The
the realization that IL was a gem cam,
over me, and knew that / was rich
What you got there2r
thrust my find in my pocket as one
Of my fellow workmen named saun
ders came and stood looking dow
upon me. l said nothing. and he knew
that i had something TO conceal. Th,
look that same over his face frightened
me. l saw in his eye that he suspected
/ had stolen a diamond from the mines
and had succeeded in getting it pas
the examiners He would either accus
me or try to dispossess me.
Presently we walked on together anu
parted at my abiding place. Thai
evening he left his own boarding house
and took a room at mine. The sam,
night l slept with my diamond in M
mouth and before morning heard som,
one in the room rifiug my pockets.
knew that It was Saunders looking &c
the diamond
My problem was TO cross the Atlanti,
ocean with my treasure had n
money to pay my passage and mus
md an opportunity to work my way.
ship was leaving for New York, and
asked for berth as cabin boy. bu
was told that the ships company II
every department was full Not DARN /
to remain behind, l went aboard 1us
a. the ship was casting or and hid be
low In the cargo. l remained there iii
The vessel was well at sea. where. be
ing hungry, / went on deck. confessed
myself to be a stowsway and offered {,
10 any work which I might be assigned
The meanest Job we have" said thu
officer 10 whom l made the confession
is scullion. Go down 70 the galley
and tell the cook 10 make use OF you"
AS was proceeding on my way tc
the galley whom should I SEQ but
Saunders. I caught at a rail for sup
port. He did not speak to me. but
the look he gave me told me that he
was resolved to possess himself OF
my diamond before We left the ship
The cook. when entered the galley
was kneading dough for bread and
turned the work over to me. When
had finished I put the dough into this
baking pans, and before thus deposit
ing the last batch / worked my dia
mond into It and made an indeutatlol
by which should know the loaf aftei
II was baked
was then put 10 securing knives
and while doing 80 who should com,
10 the galley but the captain, accom-
panied by Saunders I was told tina
Saunders had represented himself
A detective OF the diamond mininl
company and had been sent abroad e
secure a diamond had purloined and
was trying 70 got away with. They
took me TO Saunders stateroom ana
ne thoroughly. even giving
me Gn emeic in order 10 force II out
of my stomach In case had swallow
ed IT,
Since I had no baggage and the cap
Rin did not believe that l could have
got rid OF the stone in 80 short a time
he declined to turn me over to saun.
ders went back TO my work In the
galley In time TO take the leaves from
the oven. and when the cook went out
Tor moment l thrust the marked loaf
INTO pantry drawer. where il was
not noticed. There left II safel,
I'LL Just before we reached port I'll:
knew Saunders would try to get IN,
treasure when went ashore, 40 the
night We sailed up New York bay OF
passing near the land ! Jumped into
the water with the diamond and
swan ashore.
never saw Saunders sgnin. N,
stone ! sold for 100000 and, havin.
dressed myself like a gentleman tool
a train for Helen's home.
shall never get over the delight Of
hat meeting when I told her that
fortune she fairly bubble,
over with Joy We were soon marie
NJ Anw Ilr~. -.