The Lakeland evening telegram., 1913-12-20
BOOK III
Aboard the Kohinur.
CHAPTER !.

CHAPTER !.
Tom Finds Employment. Il
It was in an exceedingly ae!ec'eu
frame Of mind that Tom Pnlnney'
alone in Van Vechten's huge six-cylln-
der car, made his way to Maiden LAM
in search Of Mr.. Brownlow. the low
state of his feelings was IN large
measure owing to condition that nao
grown really imminent and personal
only during the last few minutes; one
that meant renunciation Of all his past |
mode of living and realization OF
necessary readjustment to an uncef'
tain future; he had turned over a new
leaf, foresworn idleness and frlvohty'
and was going to work!
Gloomy meditations darkened MS
handsome face, and in his preoccupa'
ton he wasted a good quarter OF an
hour searching for Brownlow's num-
ben. In harmony with fancied por'
trait of the latter's establishment, ne
directed his attention to the smarter
more modern structures; and it was
quite by accident that his eye allghted
upon the right place-an indescribably
shabby building, age-worn and de-
crepit, pinched between two SKY
scrapers. He stopped the motor and
viewed the entrance with doubt and
disfavor. But there was no mistaklng
it; from the curb, Brownlow's name
could be seen on the directory board
just inside the entrance.
There was not even an elevator, SO
Tom was oblioed to climb two flights
of stairs, dark and dirty, to suite OF
dingy offices, in the outer of which two
old, white-haired clerks bent over pom
derous ledgers without SO much as
deigning him a glance, and trim
young lady, affording sharp note OF
contrast to her surroundings, pounded
upon typewriter. 1t was she who
recognized his presence with a bright,
smiling regard, who took his card
and disappeared into another room,
and who returned presently to say
that Mr.. Brownlow would see him at
once in his private office.
The farther Tom went, the more in
credible it became that this could be
the business habitat of the Kohinur's
owner-for Tom was familiar with
every private craft that acknowledged
New York as it's home portland far
from being dazzled by bewildering
display of precious stones, the sparkle
of a diamond here would have been SO
conspicuous as to be startling.
To his unobservant eye there was
nothing to indicate what manner of
business might be carried on here.
Brownlow's private room was even
dingier and more uninviting than the
outer office-for all the world like the
husk of frost bitten nut of which
Brownlow was the wrinkled kernel.
But could Tom have been present
while the importer was entertaining a
prospective customer, he would have
obtained an insight into Brownlows
methods. In front of the only window
, that was scrupulously clean stood a
wide table. Across the polished tor
two comfortable leathern chairs faced
, each other. Two or three dark pur
, Pile velvet pads and couple Of jewel
er's lenses lay here and there upon
, the top itself. At these two places the
importer and the customer would have
been sitting tete-a-tete, the latter bark
> ening while the former discoursed a
!. length upon any subject save the ont
!. that had brought them together, unit
: one of the bent figures in the outer of
flee returned from Brownlow's safe-de
posit box in a nearby bank, bearing
? beneath his arm small leather case
After this had been deposited a
= Brownlow's elbow and the bent figur
:, had retired to re-attach himself to hi
own particular ponderous ledger, tn
case would have been opened and it
:. glittering contents poured out upo
!, the velvet pads. Then the little man
garrulity would have ceased, and h
= would have uncovered a minute know
edge of gems and values against whic
the sharpest bargainer knew that
was useless to contend Unnumbere
millions of dollars worth of preciou
stones had passed through his clav
like fingers, each adding its quota t
his wealth; and thus it was that
could indulge in luxury like ii
Kohinur.
The importer was alone, howeve
when Tom entered. He rose nimb
from his desk and greeted his call,
with an effusiveness that left the Ia
ter tongue.tied.
Ito Be Continued.)