Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-09-16

-'tf#E . stsS -
cry to see it fall upon the sorting ia
BILE and blaze back its sinister CLEANS
to the i%ncandescent light above. Where
was the diamond from the sky?
The Waterman relieved at dawn on
the loading platform outside might
have known as he stepped across the
mail bags marked Repair But the
side Of his right shoe just grazel it.
The truck driver might have known
as he loaded. the bags to lie repaired.
for like many a poor man.ha held a
fortune in his hands for once at least
in his poverty stricken life and never
knew it. r
Held by its clasp in the Rawlings Of
the inner seam at the bottom Of the
bag, the heirloom Of the Stanleys rest
ed in the darkness of the soiled interior
Of the service worn old mail bag. The
truckman held it in his arms and toss
ed it on top Of bis load. But his fingers
just missed the feel of it. And so be
threw away his fortune. perhaps all
evil one, and drove on with his mind
upon other matters than fortunes OF
missing gems Of price.
Down the city street from his hum
BILE lodging place in the poorest. part
Of the town came Qnabba. musician
and a traveller. And he Travelled not
alone. With him was his orchestra
and his collector Of external revenue.
True. his orchestra was but a barrel
organ and his collector Of external rev.
enue a monkey, but the organ was n
fairly good one, sweet Of tone. ana tn"
monkey was a simian Of sorts and his
name was Clarence.
So It was that Quabha was gay Of
heart and sung to himself as he trudgcd
along. Only a poor %hunchback organ
grinder with his monkey was Quabba.
But his heart was light. his conscience
untroubled and his appetite. alas, only
too good. The whole wide world a
his, and no mar was his master. ana
70 Quabba the .h%unchback sang. and
winked at the monkey, Clarence. as if
to say: .We haven't a penny, Clarence.
but what an appetite we'll have for
brcakfast-as soon as we pick up the
price Of one!:
Hi there, get out Of the way!!" shout
ed a rough voice, and Quabba, reused
from his reflections, stepped aside just
In time to avoid being struck by Il
passing truck. \ jolt OF the vehicle
threw an empty mail bag marked with
chalk Repair" from a pile of those
ut the back of the track.
The h%unchback picked up the mail
bag and called. after the driver. But
that worthy failed to hear the cry and
Quabba waved the old mail bag after
him. Then he felt something the size
Of an English walnut i'll his hand and
under the dirty canvas Of the bag. His
sensitive fingers felt along the side
seam of the bag aud he could feel. even
through the thickness Of the canvas.
that the object in the bag was a chain
and lockct.
The hunchback wheeled into a near
by alley. between two warehouses. No
one had seen the mail bag fall from the
truck. Eo;e noticed him turn up the
deserted alley. 1t was only the work
Of an instant to loosen the drawstring
and turn the mail bag inside out.
There. on the inside outside. strung
the diamond from the sky. its upper
clasp engaged in the seam Of the bot
tom of the bag.
The itinerant musician thrust the d;a.
nlond and its chain into his bosom and
popped the mail bag In Il garbage can
hard by, then. his heart beating high.
Quab1a winked to the monkey and
ceased to whistle to whisper: I'VE are
rich men now. Clarence" ~
And soon out from the, alley came q
l,unchback organ grinder with his mon
key. and the itinerant hunchback was
r,.a possessor Of the diamond from
the sly.