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


He sighed, for he was very tired. but
the vigil was imperative
He dropped the drugget and scissors
and bent again over the pcrtmanteau.
The packing operations might as wei! oe
finished now. and. indeed, when the light
was extinguished, it would be better to
keep away from the window. through
which sudden thrust with an impie-
! ment might do him an injury
He took his discarded clothes and
arranged them on top Of the last par
cells OF ore and diamonds. Then he
reached out for a small bundle OF doc
uments resting on the chair behind
him, intending to place them in lit
tie pocket in the flap which already
covered one-half Of the bag
at that instant he again heard foot
steps OF course, very few seconds
had elapsed since he first caught sight
recorded at such length whiried
through his active brain with lightning
speed, just as the knowledge now
came that the footsteps proceeded
firm regularity betokened the advent
Of some person who had no special rea-
son to conceal his movements:
The boy listened breathlessly. The
oncomer reached his door. passed it.
stopped opposite the window, and then
another face peered over the curtain.
This time it was policeman.
For an instant their eyes met in mu-
tuai establishment Then the police
man came so close that his helmet
rested against a pane of glass. He
grinned affably, and cried:
Here! l want to speak to you.
Intuitively grasping the essential fact
that his best policy was one of ready
acquiescence. Philip sprang toward the
door and unlocked it. He stood on the
step. The constable approached.
Il hope | didn't startle you," he be-
gan, but / just looked in on the off
chance"
Il am very glad indeed to see YOU"
interrupted the boy Il am leaving
here tomorrow. Just now. while | was
packing some of my belongings, very
nasty looking man came and peeped in
at me in the same way as you did"
He backed into the house. The po-
Iiceman half followed him, his quick
glance noting the open portmanteau and
its array of old clothes.
Just now" he questioned. DO you
mean some time since?"
mo. no. Not half minute few
seconds ago"
But where can he be? He hasn't
left the news, or must have seen him.
crossed the road. and no one came
cut in SO short time"
We'll, he is somewhere in the place
he had horrid APPEARANCE man with
broken nose. He made me jump, can
assure you"
Philip followed, but in sea of per-
pexity He heard Masons frantic ex-
postulation to the policeman-what was
an extra stripe to the loss of untold
wealth-that youngster was richer than
Rethschi'd, the papers said-the small
lot he showed in the police court were
worth SO .600-and he had tons more.
1t was all of no avail. Certainly the
constable had never heard such queer
reasons advanced for stopping an arrest,
but Mason was obviously dazed for the
time-Inaunds ring about the story which
everybody talked of. He would change
his tune when he learned to whom he
was indebted for his capture.
The boy walked behind them mechani-
caily. shading the candle with his hand
He was so absorbed with his tumuitu
Gus thoughts that the first indication he
received Of anything bizarre in his ap
pearance was the giggiing of girl who
saw him standing in the arch of the
news carefully shielding the Pickering
wick.
lie blew it out A clock in the small
jewelers. shops opposite showed the
time-ten minutes past eleven. In that
women of the working class, he had no
chance of removing his belongings be-
fore the policeman returned.
What would happen if the friendly
constable believed Jocky Mason's ex-
reason to fear the law. But with ex-
posture might come other troubles.
Would any one advance claim to his
meteor? Mr.. Abingdon limited at such
a thing. He paid no rent for his house;
he might be turned out instantly-re-
fused permission to remove anything
except his few unstable household
goods.
Assuredly he was in an awkward pre-
dicament OF course. there was chance
that the policeman would continue to
laugh at the convict's folly. t he did
not, there would certainly be complica-
lions. Could he avoid them by any
WhaFa Saf n limo
place for his diamonds until next day?
Would mother inspire him again as she
had not failed to do during so many
strange events? Would her spirit guide
his footsteps across this new quicksand
on whose verge he hesitated?
A few doors to the left was O'Brien's
shop. The old man crept into sight,
staggering under the weight VI shut
ter. Good gracious! Why had he not
thought Of this ally sooner? Some pre-
cious minutes were wasted already.
Arrah, Phil. phwat in the wor-
wait just the least bit. Mr. O'Brien
to store for the night. Do let me put
them at the back of your shop. MY
place is not very safe, you know"
sure, boy. that's small thing to ak
Bring en- an welcome"
Removing the Jewels.
With the speed Of a deer Philip dived
into the news. He carried the two les
ser bags without extraordinary diff
Guilty, and deposited them behind old
most too much for him, as the weight
was all in one hand But he got if
there. GREATNESS with the exertion.
he had to open the fourth and tear
with the packages taken from the fifth
II was beyond his power to lift IL So