The diamond drill., 1921-07-16

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Jesse Hexam. crouched IL the
- - stern OF dirty rowboat, his
eyes fixed upon the broad waters OF
the Thames. his arms bare, his hair
matted. his clothes mud-begrimed.
Twilight deepened the shadows cast
by the huddled buildings Of London,
but his ghze did not swerve. His
daughter. a girl OF twenty. rowing In
obedience TO his mods, regarded him
with a fascinated dread. Suddenly he
stiffened; the bird OF prey had sighted
the quarry. A few minutes later be-
bind the boat body bobbed and
funged. Hexam had found another
corpse. the pockets OF another drowned
soul to rifle. 1t was this grisly liveli-
hood that was reflected In the fright
ened eyes OF Lizzie Hexam.
The story Of that find was to be
talked about In drawing rooms; In
dingy homes along the waterside and
In the comfortable bar OF the Six Jolly
Fellowship Porters; In the musty shop
Of Mr.. Venus where skeletons leabed
gut Of cotners as the fire frightened;
In Bof1n's Bower behind which rose
the dust-mounds that had created the
Harmon fortune. For the body was
Identified as that of John Har-
mon, returned 10 England TO claim
a fortune of S500.000, left him by an
eccentric father upon condition that
he wed girl whom he had never
seen.
John Harmon was decreed dead and
the fortune came TO Nicodemus Boffin.
He remained the same unaffected and
lovable man he had been in the past
when he was foreman in charge of the
dust heaps. They were singularly
happy. were Mr.. and Mrs Boffin. Men
and women laughed at their oddities
but never with malice. Commonplace
as they were. there was sterling
worth TO them.
Eager TO atone for his lack OF school
Ing. Mr.. Boffin hired Silas Wegg.
wooden-legged vendor of sweets and
ballads. TO read aloud Gibbons story
OF Rome. His eyes popped with
astonishment as Wegg plowed stolldly
ahead, making havoc OF Roman names.
II didn't think there was half so many
Scarers In print" Mr.. Boflin muttered
sagely.
He acquired, too ward and sec
retary. Bella Wilfer had been named
In the Harmon will as the sons future
bride. Her blighted hopes so troubled
Mr.. Boffin that he Installed her In his
home. treating her like beloved
daughter. And soon after John Har-
mon disappeared there came into Lon
don a mysterious John RokesmIth, who
obtained the position OF secretary. A
secretive man was John Rokesmith,
unwilling TO speak Of his past.
Rogue Rlderhood, former partner
and now sworn enemy to Jesse Haxam,
set afoot suspicious that Hexam had
murdered John Harmon and the law
trailed the vulture of the Thames. IL
found Jesse dangling behind his boat
as SO many had dangled there before,
swept overheard and caught In his
rope Eugene Wrayburn was one OF
the trailers. and again he looked into
the clear eyes of Lizzie Hexam.
Lizzie found refuge with Fanny
Cleaver, better known as the Dolls
Dressmaker, a fantastic little creature
with tongue as sharp as the needle
she so incessantly piled. Intruding
into Lizzie's life came the love OF
Bradley Headstone, morose man. and
OF Eugene Wrayburn, conscious that
she was too far below him for mar
rlage, unwilling 10 do her harm, and
yet unable TO resist his longing TO be
near her.
Rejected, Bradley Headstone vowed
vengeance upon the man whom he be-
lleved responsible. In the Boffin
home too. unhappiness was brooding.
Bella Wilfer. her head turned by
wealth. remembering poverty at home.
set her heart upon wedding a rich
man and discouraged John Roke-
smith. The secretary had other trou-
bles. He was trying 60 put together
the past He recalled n voyage. a
ship upon which he was known as
John Harmon. He remembered COM
ing ashore and going with a mate 10
the house OF Rogue Rlderhood. Some
where was room where he drank cof-
fee. Then stupefactlon, with CLEANS
OF memory concerned with a fight. n
slide, cold water swirling about him.
rescue and decision TO test Bella
by taking another name. After that
the discovery OF the mates body, mis-
taken for that OF John Harmon.
Suddenly Mr. Bofiin seemed 20 lose
his amiability. He was gruff with his
secretary; he turned 10 stories about
mlsers. The more / save, the more
you shall have" he said to Bella. but
she did not Ike the cunning look In
his eyes. Nor was sIlas wegg aloof
from the lust for money. He cast COW
etous eyes upon the mounds that had
made Mr.. Bofln "the Golden Dust
TT n