Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-17
THE KING OF
DIAMONDS
BY LOUIS TRACY.
Copyright, 1904, by Edward ]. Clode,,
TO-DAY'S INSTALLMENT.

|
| "No, father" said John, with a frank
! smile. Neither Of us takes drink.
Come home with us. We have room
ready for you"
| 81 have Lodgings"
"You can go there tomorrow and get
your belongings"
Yes Jump into this cab" urged
wrIe I'VE live in Westminster. 1t ii
not very far
| Mason was fascinated by the boys
pleasant assumption of authority. They
| spoke like young gentlemen. with the
| accent that betokens q good education.
He yielded without a protest.
They sat three abreast in a hanson,
and the vehicle scurried off toward the
| Westminster Bridge road.
Mason was in the center His giant
| form leaned over the closed doors of
the cab, but he turned his head with
| interested eagerness as one or the other
! Of his sons addressed him.
II suppose, father, you are wondering
how we came to meet in such a place."
said John.
at might puzzle me if l found time
to think"
! well, the superintendent arranged
| everything Unfortunately, he was
away on his holidays when-when you
were released-or we would have met
/ you then. and his deputy was not aware
| OF the circumstances. AS soon as the
| superintendent returned he wrote to
Z the Governor, and was very much an
noyed to find that you had slipped away
/ in the meantime"
He wouldn't be so annoyed if he was
there himself" growled Mason, good
! humoredly.
"Oh, John didn't mean that, father"
broke in Willie. THE annoyance was
his and ours. You see, we had not
known very long where you were. We
didn't even know you were alive"
"Of course. of course. Somebody has
been looking after you well. That's
clear enough. They wouldn't be always
telling a pair of boys that their father
was in Portland"
at gave us such a shock when we
heard the truth" said downright John,
But we were so glad to hear that our
father was living. and that we should
soon see him." explained the younger.
When did you hear first?"
about four months ago. Just before
we took our present situations We
are saddlers and ornamental leather
workers. Between us we earn quite
decent living. Don't we. John?"
'In fifteen weeks we have saved
enough to pay for half our furniture,
besides keeping ourselves well. There's
plenty to eat, dad You won't starve,
big as you are
They all laughed The cab was pass
ing St Thomas Hospital Across the
bridge noble prospect met their eyes.
London had a glamor for Mason that
night it never held before.
80 Robinson wrote to Bradley, know
ing that 1 would report myself to-day,
and Bradley arranged
who is Robinson. fatherT' interrupt
ed John
A Shock.
The superintendent, to be sure He
used to be inspector at Whitechapel"
He is not the man we mean We
are talking of Mr.. Giles. superintend-
ent Of the Mary Arson Home"
The two boys felt their fathers start
[.
wondered what had happened to give
him such a shock. Peering at him
sideways from the corners OF the han
som, they could see the quick pallor
of his swarthy face.
You forget, John" put in the adroit
William, that father knows as little
about our lives as we know about his
until very recently. When we reach
our fat we must begin at the beginning
and tell him everything"
There isn't much to TELL" cried
John. when poor mother died, we
were taken care OF by a gentleman
whom Mr.. Philip asked to look after
us Mother was nursed and tended
with the utmost kindness, but her life
could not be saved. After the home
was built we were among the first
batch Of inmates. II ever a young man
has done good in this world, 1t is Mr.,
Philip Arson. See what he did for us,
We were rescued from the workhouSe,
taught well and fed well. and given
such instruction in a flrst-class trade
that even at our age we can earn five
pounds a week between US And what
dreds OF others. God bless Phi'ipx An
son, ! say!'
The voices OF his sons reached Ma
remote but distinct, through a long
tunnel. His great frame seemed to
collapse. In an instant he became an
old man He set his teeth and damned
cab, but, strive as he would, with his
immense physical strength and his
dogged will, he shook with a palsy.