Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-03
Blake conducted such an establish

Blake conducted such an establish
ment.
For a moment before the show win
dow of this shop Mr.. Wall paused, and
with the eye of connoisseur studied
the brilliant display within. His
whole manner changed. The air OF
boredom with which he had surveyed
his fellow travellers OF the lobby dis.
appeared; on the instant he was alert
alive, almost eager. Jauntily he stroll
ed into the store.
One clerk only-a tall thin man with
a sallow complexion and hair the col
or of a lemon-was in charge. Mr.
Wall asked to be shown the stock OF
unset diamonds.
The trays that the man set before
him caused the eyes of Mr.. Wall to
brighten still more. With manner
almost reverent he stopped over and
passed his fingers lovingly over the
stones. For an instant the tall man
glanced outside and smiled salloW
smile. A little girl in a pink dress
was crossing the street and it was at
her that he smiled.
There's a flaw in that stone," said
Mr.. Wall, in a voice of sorrow. See
From outside came the shrill
scream of a child interrupting. The
tall man turned quickly to the win
dow. .......
my God" he moaned.
What is it," Mr.. Wall sought ia
look over his shoulder. "Automo'
bile"
MY little girl" cried the clerk in
agony. He turned to Martin Wall,
hesitating. His sallow face was white
now. his lips trembled. Doubtfully he
gazed into the frank open countenance
of Martin Wall. And then
II leave you in charge" he shout
ed, and fed past Mr.. Wall to the
street.
For a moment Martin Wall stood,
frozen to the spot His eyes were
unbelieving; his little Cupid's bow
mouth was wide open.
"Here-come back" he shouted,
when he could find his voice.
No one needed No one heard. Out
side in the street a crowd had gath
cred Martin Wall wet his dry lips
with his tongue. An unaccountable
shudder swept his huge frame.
MY Cod he cried in a voice OF
terror, I'm alone!"
For the first time he dared to move.
His elbow bumped hundred thou
sand dollars worth of unset diamonds.
Frightened, he drew back. He collid-
ed with a show case rich in emeralds,
rubies and aquamarines. He put out
plump hand to steady himself. 1t
rested on a display case of French,
Russian and Dutch silver.
Mr.. Wallis knees grew weak. He
felt a strange prickly sensation all
over him He took lstep-and was
staring at the finest display Of black
pearls south of Maiden Lane, New
York.
Quickly he turned away. His eyes
fell upon the door of huge safety
vault. 1t was swinging open!
Little beads of perspiration began
to pop out on the forhead Of Martin
Wall His heart was hammering like
that of a youth who sees after long
separation his lady love- His eyes
grew CLASSY. "
He took out a silk handkerchief and
passed it slowly across his damp fore
head
Staggering slightly, he stepped
again to the trays of unset stones.
The CLASSY eyes had grown greedy
now. He put out one huge hand as
the lover aforesaid might reach to.
ward his lady's hair
Then Mr.. Wall shut his lips firmly,
and thrust both of his hands deep in.
to his trousers pockets. He stood
there in the middle Of that gorgeous
room-a fat figure of a man suffering
cruel inhuman agony.
He was still standing thus when
the tall man came running back. APP
prehension clouded that sallow face
eft was very kind Of you The small
eyes of the clerk darted everywhere;
then came back to Martin Wall. "1'm
obliged-why, what's the matter, sir?'
Martin Wall passed his hand across
his eyes, as man banishing terrible
dream. ii
1.-The little girl?" he asked.
Hardly scratch said the clerk
pointing to the smiling child at his
side. "It was lucky, wasn't it," He
was behind the counter now, studying
the trays unprotected on the show
case.
Every lucky" Martin Wall still had
TO steady himself. Perhaps you'd
like to look about bit before 60
ooh. no, sir. Everything's all right
I'm sure. You were looking at these
stones"
Some other time said Wall weak
lily. II only wanted an idea OF what