Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-21

hat, an album with photographs. some
toilet accessories from the tiny dress
which she died-these and kindred me-
mentoes made very credible bulk IN
the denuded portmanteau.
He gave one glance at the hole in
the back yard as he went to the coal
house for a fresh supply of coal. That
must remain. 1t probably would not be
seen. In any case it remained mex
plicable.
He was stirring the fire when a tap
sounded on the koor and the policeman
entered, followed by an Inspector.
A Step Higher.
<tT HIS is the boy, sir said the
policeman.
= ooh, is that him. observed
the Inspector, sticking his thumbs in his
belt and gazing at Philip with profes-
sional severity.
Philip met their scrutiny without
fiinching. He leaned against the wall
with his hands In his pockets, one fist
clinched over the pouchful of gold, the
other guarding a diamond bigger than
the Kohinoor.
Il am sorry / have only one chair,
gentlemen" he said, alphabetically.
That's all right, my lad" said the
inspector. The constable here tells me
that you very pluckily helped him to
was hiding in this news, and it seems
you first saw him looking in through
your window. What were you doing at
the timer
Packing my portmanteau"
oh, packing your portmanteau.
Yes. That is it,
He stopped and nonchalantIly threw it
open. His clothes ana boots, and some
of the other contents were exposed to
view. The Inspector laughed
Not many diamonds there, Bradley"
No, sir. | told you Mason was talk
ing rubbish"
Did he say any more about me be-
ing the boy who found the meteor"
at a grin.
Wouldn't talk of anything else," vol
unteered P. c. Bradley.
Judging by the way he dropped when
l nat him, l expect he saw stars" said
Philip.
Are you leaving here?" asked the in
spector.
Yes, 1 must. The company which
owns these premises intends to pull
them down on the first of the month"
What Is your manner"
Anson."
"Ah! l link remember hearing
something about your mothers death
Very nice woman, L was toll. "A lady,
too"
Yes, all that. and more"
vi course, That accounts for your
manners and appearances. Have you
found some friends?"
The inspectors glance royed from The
serviceable portmanteau to Philips tidy
garments, and it was his business to
make rapid deductions
Yes, most fortuna tely."
Anybody connected with Sharpe &
SMITH the constable put in
Sharpe & Smith, Who are they?''
Don't you know Their young man
certainly didn't seem to know much
about your movements. He has been
here twice looking for YOU The first
time was, let me see. last Monday, about
clock. | was on duty in the main
road, and he asked nee for some inform
auon. We came and looked in, but your
door was locked. The man on this beat
clerk was making further inquiries to-
day, SO as soon as came on night duty
stroHed into the news to find out if
you were at home; That is how / hap
pened to see you"
He turned toward the Inspector.
He was packing his bag at the mo-
ment sir. and Mason had evidently been
scared from the window by my foot
steps in the arch.
The inspector pursed out his under
The whole thing is perfectly clear"
he said: Boy, have you got a watch?'
NO, said Philip, surprised by this
Bradley, he hasn't got watch" OBJ
served the Inspector. He again ad-
dressed Philip
Where are you going Tomorrow
- am not quite sure, but my address
lanes Street Laundry, Shepherds
Bush"
''Ah. The constable says you do not
wish to be mixed up in the arrest of
Mason. There is no need for you to
appear in court. but-er-in such cases
as yours. the-er--police like to show
their-er-appreciation of your services
That is SO. Bradley. isn't it?"
Yes. sir. IT it hadn't been for him
shouldn't be here now. Jocky had me
You had no time to summon assist
ance?'
Il barely heard he was here, before
the window was smashed, and knew
ne was trying to get out the other way.
You heard him, Anson?'
Philip looked the policeman squarely
in the eyes.
Philip followed, but in a sea of Der
plexity. He heard Mason's frantic ex-
postulauons to the policeman-what was
an extra stripe to the loss of untold
wealth-that youngster was richer than
Rothschild, the papers said-the small
lot ne showed in the police court were
worth &50,000-and he had tone more.
1t was all Of no avail. Certainly the
constable had never heard such queer
reasons advanced for stopping an ar
rest, but Mason was obviously dazed
for the time-maundering about the
story which everybody talked Of lie
would change his tune when he learned
ture.
The boy walked behind them mechani-
cally, shading the candle with his hand
He was SO absorbed with his tumultu-
GUS thoughts that the first indication
he received of anything bizarre in his
appearance WAS the gipyliDp ne q OWL