The San Francisco call., 1913-11-06

matter? Didn't you get that job?"
Philip laughed again. II am not
sure yet" he replied Il really came
in to ask you what this is"
With his hand in his pocket, he had
untwisted the paper and taken out
the white pebbles. which he now
handed to OBrien.
adjusted his glasses for s critical ex-
animation
TT amt alum," he announced.
NO. 1 think not"
AN it amt glass"
Probably not"
Where did yer get it?''
Il found it lying on the pavement"
OBrien scratched his head. ''Tis
a quare looking objec', anyhow. What
good is it?"
Il can not tell you. 1 thought that
possibly it might have some value"
TO THE JEWELLERS
What! A scrap of white stone like
that. Arrah, what's come over YEP" {
There is no harm in asking. is
there? Some one should be able to
tell me what it is made of"
Philip, from his small store of
physical geography. knew that me-
teors were articles of sufficient rarity
to attract attention. And he was tena-
cious withal.
Il suppose that jeweler would be
the best man to judge. He must un-
derstand about stones" he went on.
Maybe; but I don't see what's the
use 'Tis a sheer waste of time. But
if you're set on iindin' out, go to a
big man. These German Jews round
about here are omadhauns. They don't
know a watch from a clock, an if
they did they'd chate ye."
Il never thought of that, yet I
ought TO know by this time Thank
you; I will go into the city
He took the pebble which he placed
in his waistcoat pocket Walking
briskly he traversed some part of
the sorrowful journey of barely II
hours earlier. What had happened to
change his mood he did not know.
and scarcely troubled to inquire
Last night he hurried through these
streets in frenzied quest for death
Now he strode along. full of hope
joyous in the confidence of life and
youth. His one dominant thought
was that his mother had protected
him. had snatched him from the dark
gate of eternity. Oddly enough, he
laid far more stress on his escape
from the meteor that on the acci-
dent that prevented his contemplated
suicide This latter idea had van
ished with the madness that induced
it. Philip was sane again. morally
and mentally. He was kneely anx-
ious to Justify his mothers trust in
him. The clustering wind, ANNOYING
to most wayfarers. only aroused in
n I'm, f,-ft
tude. He breasted it so manfully
that when at last he paused at the
door of great jewelry establish
ment in Ludgate Hill, his face was
flushed and his manner eager and
animated
He opened the door, but was rudelv
brought back to a sense of his sur-
roundings by the suspicious question
of shop walker:
Now, boy what do you want here?'
The unconscious stress of the mans
words was certainly borne out by
the contrast between Philip, a social
pariah in attire, and the wealth of
gold and precious stones cut off from
him by panes of thick glass and iron
bars. What, indeed, did this outcast
want there?
Confused by the sudden demand,
and no less by its complete obvious
! ness. Philip flushed and stammered:
'I-er-only wished to obtain some
information, sir" he answered.
Like all others. the shopman was
amazed by the difference between the
boys manners and his appearance
Information" he repeated. in his
surprise. What information can we
give you?
The wealth of the firm oppressed
this man. He could only speak in
accents of adulation where the shop
was concerned.
| Philip produced his white pebble.
What is this?" he said
The directness of the query again
took his hearer aback without a
word he bent and examined the stone.
Professional instinct mastered all
other considerations.
You must apply to that depart
ment" He majestically waved his
hand toward side counter. Philip
obeyed silently. and approached a
small, elderly parsonage, a man with
clever, kindly eyes, who was submit
ting to microscopical examination a
number of tiny stones spread out on
chamois leather folding case. He
quietly removed the case when his
| glance rested on the boy.
A SURPRISE
'Well?' he said, blankly, wonder
! ing why on earth the skilled shop
walker had sent such a disreputable
urchin to him. Philip was now quite
collected in his wits. He held out the
| pebble. with a more detailed state
1 ment.
II found this" he said IL thought
that it might be valuable, and a
friend advised me to bring it here
viii you kindly tell me what it is?'
The man behind the counter stared
at him for a moment. but he reached
| over for the stone. Without a word
he placed it beneath the microscope
and gave it a very brief examination
Then he pressed it against his cheek
Where did you get it?'' he asked
II found it where II had faller
on the pavement.
Are you sure?'
quite sure"
"Strangei" was the muttered com
| ment, and Philip began to understand
| that his meteor possessed attributes
| hitherto unsupported.