The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-03-27
Diamonds of MalOpO

WIN me Oh d business OASIS, IOr W.
understand each other very we'll"
Dear me, are you quite sure 70,
know me, Mr.. Garrett?" inquired tbt
judge Dlandly.
"It's immaterial."
"Quite so,' responded Davis noddins
his head briskly. 'Then we will con
duct our business on a business basis
as you wish. So you couldn't raise
that capital in Malopo?"
mo, and you knew it all the time
Il suspected it." the judge admitted.
"You and |, my friend, know what a
valuable property we own. But Ma
lopo doesn't know it. A little-just a
little more development, and ]
shouldn't be surprised if we scoop up
the stones by the pailful. Kindly fill
out this transfer for thirty-three
shares, and I'll write you a check for
two thousand six hundred and forty
pounds, representing four-fifths Of
their par value. I'll waive the brok.
er's fees. The money to be repaid in
one month, or the shares to become th4,
PACpCil " liz SylulCdtc.
Three months" corrected Winton.
zone month";" answered the judge
c~ourteously. my fraternal offer was
made some time ago, Mr.. Garrett"
Winton sat down at last and looked
at the judges shrewd old face. That
meant the certain loss of his control
ling interest. All the rock that had
been brought up had already been
picked over. With only a months
grace, it was practically impossible
to hope to make repayment, unless a
stone of great value should be discov-
cred.
That was the least likely thing in
the world. The diamonds, if diamonds
there were, were distributed at a
deeper level, and it would mean
months before the diggers could reach
the matrix of the pipe in which they
lay.
Then it required weeks of disintegra-
ton under sunlight before the rock
could be thoroughly broken up and
tested.
"You might as well buy my shares
outright" said Winton angrily.
81 am willing" answered the judge.
"No, I'll accept your terms and make
a fight" said Winton. Its a sort Of
cat and mouse game, Judge Davis. If
l go ahead and develop | have to bor-
row from you if | don't you'll issue a
court injunction or whatever you call
it, to compel me to-"
you think l am Unjust, Mr.. Gar
Lets call it greedy, Judge"
HAS it occurred to you, Mr.. Gar
rett, that the syndicate was the orig
inal holder of the claim? We are only
taking back what should never have
passed out Of our hands. You can sell
to US, or 0 can have a run for your
money, my friend-a months rum
'TIl rum" said Winton, putting has
to the blank transfer.
The judge put it back in his desk.
''Mr. Garrett, you interest me very
much,'' he said.
"Well, you interest me-" said Win
ON. "You are the most extraordinarily
)razen hypocrite that have ever met"
"Now do you think that?" inquired
Judge Davis, apparently in surprise.
have heard that said about me be-
ut didn't worry you, did it?"
"Not in the least, my friend. Hy-
young man, is a mere tribute
the forces that rule the world"
"What are they?"
"Greed, selishness, and injustice"
"You think there are no higher mo- J
asked Winton, amazed at the
frankness. J
Undoubtedly, my dear sir. Every :
uality has its opposite, of course. But
.ote this the good qualities are those
f the fools and failures"
"'What shall it profit q man IL he
ain the whole world and lose his own
"Wha shall it profit a man If, hav-
lg lost all that makes life dear, he
Uses the rest? Listen. young man
twenty-five years ago I was an ideal
tic. middle-aged fool. I.ook!"
He opened a drawer of his desk and
ulled out a faded photograph of a
)mely young woman.
"a young man married and a young
an married." he said with a concen-
ated bitterness that astonished Win
N again, and touched his heart as
ell.
The judges chest heaved, and he
lshed his throat convulsively out Of
s high collar. AS he did SO Winton
wv a round scar, like a bullet wound,
the side of his neck, of a flaming
d.
"She left me for another man. said
e judge. IF l had found him I
ould have killed him." =
He took up the photograph and re-
aced it in the drawer. Winton had
It spoken.
81 don't know why l told you this,
ung man. he said. perhaps it is
cause l find you interesting. You
We so little common sense, and yet