Evening star., 1922-01-29

twinges of rheumatism distorted his
face, but he mentioned it to no one,
not even Isaac.
1t was in April that a sudden and
dramatic change came into !Im's life.
One morning he was albse in the
shop. 1t was raining and no Gus
toners had been in for several hours.
Jim was Struggling with the un-
solvabie problem Of getting things
straight and sorted out. Beneath a
bed he came across a jumble of in
describable things-hits Of iron and
broken pots. nameless odd-shaped
remnants covered with dust and
CRIME. He sighed He remembered
this tot quite well. It had been a
great disappointment to him.. He had
, trundled his barrow. all the way down
to a sale IN Greenwich. where he had
been given tn, tip that there were some
good things going. He had arrived
late. and all the pIums had been de-
voure4 by rival dealers. He had
picked up this lot at the end Of the
sale for a few shiIlings; not that the
things struck him as a good bargain.
but because he did not want to feel
that he had completely wasted his
day. He had brought them back and
dumped them under the bed. That
was many months ago, long before
he had been to the hospital-and
there they had remained ever since.
* r + +
TINS ideas Of busting were always
) little perfunctory. With q small
feather brush he was flicking Clouds
of dust from one object to another.
No, there was nothing here of any
value. though that piece of en-
broidery might fetch five shillings,
and the small oblong. box which
some one had painted dark green
might bs worth a little more. He
picked its.up and examined it. A RI
diculous notion, to paint iron. But.
there, people were fools. OF course
it might be copper or brass. In that
case it would be worth more. He
pulled out a long jackknife and
scraped the surface. The paint was
old but incredibly thick. It must
have had a dozen coats or SO. When
he eventually got down to the sur
face he found dark blue color. He
scraped a little more and found some
brown and white. That's enamel"
| he said out loud; IAN enamel box.
Um! TIL show that to Isaac. An
! enamel box might be worth several
pounds"
That evening after supper he
wrapped the box up in a piece of
newspaper and took It around to his
friend. Isaac adjusted his thfckest
glasses and examined the spot where
Jim had scratched. Then he went to
the door and called out, Lizzie. bring
| me some turpentine."
When the turpentine was brought,
Isaac began to work away at the sur
face with q rag and penknife. His
face was very red, but he made no
. remarks, except once to mutter.
'.This paint alone is twenty or thirty
years old"
1t took him nearly half an hour to
reveal a complete corner Of the box.
Then he sat back and examined it
through microscope. Jim waited
patiently. At last Isaac put 1t. down
| and tapped the table.
"This," he said deliberately. 'fs q
Limoges enamel box Of the finest
period. 1t is copper, iniaid with
enamel. It Is. an amazing ind.
Whore did you obtain it?''
II bought it at , sale Of the effects
| Of an old lady named Brandt at
! Greenwich. She died interstate and
had no relatives"
you are in iuck's way, Jim Can
ming" ssE
..But why was It painted dark
greenT s.
"There are many mysteries in our
| profession. It was probably stolen
many years ago, possibly a CEN
I tury ago. The thief knew that the
| piece was too well known to attempt
"a dispose of>f6r somA time. So for
! security he paint4d It In order to
hide II. rhen somsthing happsasa
"a may havs dIea or been sent d
y