Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-21
The KING OF DIAMONDS
The Thrilling Story of a Modern Monte Cr1sto

Better than that, he has good
tunate RMS. Wrigley-to have encoun-
tered Philip in that hour, which she
deemed the blacklist of her life.
:, He FASTENED through the familiar bus
heightened expectancy. it is true, but
devoid of the least fear that his meteor
had been discovered. His mother would
take good care of 1t. Why, the mere
chance remark OF the woman he\ had
befriended showed that her gentle spirit
watched over him wherever he went.
Here was stranger, sad toiler among
the millions, who went out of her way
never seen. He laughed joyously Mrs.
Wrigley should have further cause to
bless his mothers memory.
He passed O'Briens shop. He saw
the old man seated behind the counter.
Should he go in? No. Better keep
wholly to himself at present Yet he
hesitated. Which was the more judi
cious course-to remain hidden, un-
known, or to drop quietly into the
groove where he was recognized? With
rare perspicacity for one so young, he
reflected that only five days had elapsed
since he last saw the old pensioner.
The period bulked largely in Philips
life; in O'Briens it would be as naught.
entered the shop.
GLORY be to God, Phil but it's miesilf
is glad to see ye,' cried his old friend.
Where have We bin to, at all, at all
War Office, is afther dom to me? /
haven't had a sowl to sphake to about
the tbrouhle they've put on me in me
ovid age "
This was not strictly accurate
O'Brien had pestered the whole neigh
borhood with the story of his withheld
pension and the preposterous claim
made on him by some red tape enthu-
siast in Pail Mall. But his plant eff
fectually stopped all further reference
to Philips disappearance. AS to the
''bit o shtone,' that was "naythur alum
nor lime" he hadn't a word to say.
Philip borrowed a spade, small
sweeping brush and a strong sack with
out evoking the slightest comment from
the pensoner. who discoursed inces-
sanity on the iniquity of the Govern
mint" and whose farewell remark dealt
with the attempt to rob him of "a hun
dred gOWldon sov'rins.'
Decidedly the boy was in lucks way.
He had secured some necessary imple-
ments without attracting any attention
Watching favorable opportunity, he
slipped unseen into the gloom of John
sons News. He tried the door Of No B
1t was locked He inserted the key and
entered. The darkness within was that
of utter blindness, but he dumped his
implements on the floor and locked the
door behind him.
"HEN he CROPPED his doubtful path
to the mantelpiece, where he had
left a candle and a box OF
matches. His boots crunched, as he
went, on what he knew to be mostly
diamonds, and he stumbled over the
mattress in front Of the fireplace. Yes,
the candle was there Soon he had a
light. The tiny CLEAN lifted the black
curtain, and he surveyed his domain.
A single glance showed that all things
remained exactly as he left them on
Saturday morning. The packet Of let
ters rested on the broken chair, the
old sack was stuffed into the window,
and the rope-that never to be forgotten
he had fastened 1T.
The sight brought lump into his
throat He sank to his knees, pressed
down, he felt, by some superior power,
me, and ask, God to forgive me, for
what would have done were you not
watching over me"
In the spiritual exaltation Of the mo-
sweet face peering. at him benignantly
from out the dim background. But he
could not see her, and he rose, re-
vivifed by this spa ken communion
with her. He had no shadow Of doubt
the universe, and his mother the 1un-
questionable means of communication
with the Providence that governed his
life. He would die rather than aban-
don that belief Were 1t dispelled from
his mind he was quite certain that his
wealth would vanish with 1t. 1t was
no haphazard accident which had sent
the diamond-laden meteor headlong
from the sky. He was despairing, dy,-
ing: his mother appealed for him; and,
behold the very elements that CON
troll the world obeyed mighty behest.
He began to work methodically. In
the first place, he lit fire, for the
evening was chilly. Then he shook
his mattress and swept the floor, gath
ering into a heap all the tiny particles
with which it was Uttered. These he
collected in a piece of newspaper and
folded them into a parcel, which again
he inclosed in a stouter sheet OF brown
paper, finally tying the whole with
ward Of string he carried in his pocket.
There were hundreds of tiny dia-
monds In that insignificant package,
and not a few the size of small peas
AS matter of fact, he discovered
subsequently that the net result OF his
sweeping brought him in over thou
sand pounds.
Having examined every nook and
crevice OF the apartment by the aid OF
the candle he satisfied himself that
naught remained which would Indicate
to the most curious eye any event OUT
of the common having occurred in that
# was typical OF Philips implicit
faith that he did not unlock the back
door until his interior task was ended.
He knew that his meteor was un'
There was no wind without The