The San Francisco call., 1913-11-07
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understood that If he would see the
great man of the firm he must adopt
more emphatic tone.
Il had better warn you that Mr..
Wilson of Messrs. Grant & Sons, Lud-
gate Hill. sent me here to see Mr..
lsaacstein. Am l to go back to Mr.
Wilson and say that the office boy
refuses to admit me?"
There was a sting in the descrip-
tion, coming from such speaker.
Look ere" was the angry retort.
go away and play. will you? I'm
pizzy."
Philip reached quickly through the
little arch. grabbed q handful of shirt,
tie and waistcoat, and dragged the
big nose and thick lips violently
against the wires of the grille.
VIII you do what / ask or shall /
try to pull you through?' he said,
quietly.
TO THE RESCUE
But the boys ready veil brought
two clerks running. and a door was
thrown open. Phil released his op-
ponent and instantly explained his
action One of the clerks, an elderly
man, looked little deeper than the
boys ragged garments, and the men
tion of Mr.. Wilson's name procured
him hearing. Moreover, he had
previous experience of the youthful
janitor's methods.
With a cuff on the ear, this injured
parsonage was hidden to go upstairs
and say that Mr.. Wilson had sent
boy to see Mr. Isaacstein. The added
insult came when he was compelled
to usher Philip to waiting room
Soon a clerk entered He was Wis
| IDLY astonished by the appearance of
Mr.. Wilson's messenger, and so was
Mr.. Isaacstein, when Philip was pa
raded before him in a spacious apart
ment, filed with glass cases and
tables. al which several assistants
were seated.
What the deuce he began.
but checked himself What does
Mr. Wilson want?" he went on. Evil
IDENTIFY his Ludgate Hill acquaintance
was useful to Philip.
He sent me to you on a matter of
business. 1t is private nature Can
you give me few minutes alone?"
Isaacstein was a big headed, big
shouldered man, tapering to a small
point at his feet. He looked absurdIy
like top. and surprise or emotion of
any sort caused him to sway gently
He swayed now. and every clerk
l tOOhV0 ~, CAPcElluS HlIl1 10 la1l DOQ-
lily on the urchin with the refined ut
terance who had dared to penetrate
into the potentates Office with such
request.
Kimberley, Amsterdam and London
combined to lend effect to Isaacstein's
wit when he said:
rs this a joker"
j All the clerks guffawed in chorus
Fortunately, Isaacstein was in good
/ humor. He had just purchased a pearl
| for $3.50 which he would sell to Lady
Somebody for $500 to match another
in an earring.
/ 1T appears to be- said Philip,
when the merriment had subsidized.
/ The Jew, seemingly at loss for
words, bent again over the stone. He
was scrutinizing it closely when
heavy tread crossed the outer show
room and the door was flung open.
A policeman entered. and Isaacstein
bounced out of his chair
I have sent for you. constable. to
| take this boy into custody" he cried.
excitedly. 'He came here 10 minutes
ago and offered for sale a very valu-
able diamond, so rare and worth so
much that he must have stolen it,"
Philip, too, sprang up.
"It is q liet he shouted. 'sHow
have told you that it is mine?"
The policeman collared him by the
shoulder.
ARRESTED
STEADY. my young spark" he said.
Mr.. Isaacstein knows what he is
about, and I don't suppose he is very
far from wrong this time Do you
know the boy, sir?" he went on.
Isaacstein gave a voluble and accu-
rate summary of Philips statements.
| Each moment the policeman's grip
became firmer. Evidently the boy
was the mere agent of a gang of
thieves. though it was beyond com
1 prehension that any one short of an
idiot should choose an emissary with
broken shoes and ragged clothing in
order to effect a deal with the leading
house in Hatton garden.
Philip listened to the recital In
| dumb agony His face was deathly
pale and his eyes glowed with the
rage and shame that filled his soul.
So the Jew had been playing with him.
merely fooling him until some secret
signal by an electric bell had sent a
messenger flying for the police. His
dream Of wealth would end in the
jail, his fairy oasis would be a felon's
cell. Very well. be it SO. If he could
help IL. not all the policemen in Lon
don should rend his secret from him.
With a sudden glow of fiery salts
faction he remembered that his cloth
ing contained no clew to his address
and he had not given his name either
at Ludgate hill or Hatton garden
How long could they keep him prfs-
oner2 Would others find his meteor
and rob him of his mothers gift? In
less than a fortnight men would come
to tear down the buildings in John
sons News.
. Well, 1t mattered not. The cour-
age of despair which nerved him the
|. previous night came to his aid again
He would defy them all. careless OF
consequence.
The policeman was saying:
; Its a, queer affair, sir. Did he
really say he had lots more of 'em p
Yes, yssi Do you think am ro-