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‘Cln’th Boas Goods, for 75 ' ., $1.“), 75!. , merino toes. ‘navy. iSkirts, sale 75 3'5, 56., 1%.,1 or 15c. hite Lavn for olored Shetl: flannel reg, Ile fie. red and 1 ole $12. costumes, 48 Ynu saw Mr Wilson sent youâ€"Mr. 5” “ilwu (.f Grant Sons . UsiI)‘ “Sn-p in hum." he said, and led the my In his priavc office, surprising hiuwh' us wvll as his assistants. by {MS (“)XI\’«'.~1.~ih11, "[ }3;‘\t' {”111 5'1)“ ,Sir, I WiSh t0 hm. :1 1.-w minutvs ‘talk with you in want"! In husium'x' of ' X ‘L an 1m numrr. portaDt Philip vim-.1 the door, and Isaac- m-in tux-ml .~h:zrply at the sound, but m Em}: :uVr him no time to frame a I huvv- tnld yuu. sir. I wish to have 3.1"“ mmutrs' Conversation with you \mh rr-gnlfil to business of an impor- tant nuturc.” qurstinn criticu again. "Do yuu mum to say Mr. Wilson arm you w dispose of this stone to nw?” ln- «Mnuudt-d. "Nut r-xmrlly. sir. I showed it to him. zm-i 2w n-(mnmended me to come 1V‘1““" Kimln-x-L-y, Amsterdam and London Cumhinml In laud effect to Isaacstein’s “it “In-I: in- said: “1, [his 1: joke ?’ All thv ('lvl‘ks guffawed in chorus. fm-tunutr-ly. Isaacstein was in good huuml‘. HP had just purchased 8. par] fur hm hundred and fifty pounds which ho- Would sell to Lady Somebody in; right humlrvd pounds, to match unnf‘lltf raring. “It app-ms tu be,” said Philip, af- M- m- Invrrimt-nt had subsided. 1:..1- .wmv I'c-uson the boy’s grave, mm”; .‘yvs \‘ollquf‘l'tl'd the big man’s :uuuml wrutiny. “SUV, buy, ht‘ (lUiC‘k. What is it?” in- my, unily. and every clerk bent. 9 Kimbrrl combint‘d wit W11?” "Is this me fairly me a in“ Cided In] trranm I0 the [equefit 1w. it is \Vul‘th six or seven hun- dMl pounds.” hr announced, “but it Wil Iw mun; time before I can speak_ accurately m to its value. I think it may be flawlms, but that can only be- eterminml when it is cut.” ‘ Philip’s huurt throbbed when he heard the mtimate. "Tth I can have a feW pounds ” AA- . :0 so buy. Philip’s 7 3;” throbbed when he heard the, mtimate In ’ h Tht'n I can have a feW Pom”:ls ’ e commencHl. “N bteady. You are not in such 8 “HT; eh ? You won’t. tell me where 30“ got it “1 “Fl-‘3 later, if you continue ’to e31 Wm} me as honestly as you have AIIA- J . “1 mm you to buy this,” he said, :xmlizm :m-r the,- diamond. Ixuhtviu took it, and gave it one riziml L’Iuncc. He began to wobble “0 doubt you arevsurprised, sir, b1}? 90?. more than I am myself. Yet, 1‘ ‘8 tl"1f- I have someâ€"as big again? .9 in his eagerness, nearly 101” a; resolution to advance 310171!- ‘he diamond merchant would 11011]de y likt‘ 3 v if an) .‘ Sailt‘Str If .1. in was a. big-headed, big- ml man tapering to a small at his fut He looked absurd- ;1 {up and surprise or emotion Mii't caused him to sway gent- . - .v um] now and every clerk m. . xpt (ting him to fall bodily i”. unhin with the refined ut- . \xhn liml dared to penetrate in- IiiiIr‘lllate’s office with such a V9 You any more like this I suppose not, eh ?” Z I have many more." -’ What? Boy, do you know '911 .are saying ?” potc in yivlded to amazed curi- King of Diamonds? wanted to wobble. There , NOVEMBER 28:6, ms. on his seat. Philip was ever on the verge oi bursting out into confidences. His se- cret was too vast, too overpowering for a boy of fifteen. He wanted the knowledge and the trust of an older man. He did not realize that the Jew, begining by regarding him as a thief was now veering round to the opinion that he was a lunatic. For it is known to most men that the values of diamonds increase out of all prop- ortion to their weight. While a oneâ€" carat stone is worth ,roughly speak- ing, ten pounds, a twenty-carat gem of the same purity is worth any sum beyond two thousand pounds, and the diamond Philip had submitted for in. spection would probably cut into ten or twelve carats of fine lustre. To speak, therefore, of an abundance of larger and finer stones, was a simple absurdity. The Den Beers Company alone could use such a figure of speech and even then only at isolated dates in its history. The boy, with his eyes steadfastly fixed on the Jew’s face and yet with a distinct expression in them that paid slight heed to the waves of emoâ€" tion exhibited by the heavy cheeks and parsed-up mouth, awaited some final utterance on the part of his questioner. Surely he had said enough to make this man keenly alive to the commercial value of the business he offered. Under the conditions, Isaac- stein could not refuse to give him suf- ficient money to meet his immediate wants. “Far more! Far more! Be content with what I tell you today, Mr. Issac- stein. I said my business was impor~ tant. When you are better acquainted with me, I think you will find it suf- ficiently valuable to occupy the whole of your time.” 1W“.- uuâ€" v-â€"‘ A policeman entered, and Isaacstein bounced out of his chair. “Ivhave sent for you,. constable,. to take this boy into custody,” he cried, excitedly: “He came here, ten min- utes ago and offered for sale a very valuable diamond, so rare, and worth so much, that he must have stolen it.’ Philip, too, sprang up. “It is a lie!” he shouted. “How dare you say such a thing when I have told you that it is mine!” The policeman collared ban by the shoulder. _ - -- u of. auvuv, u...“ - _v_ _ far wrong this time.‘ 1.); you know the The Jew, seemingly at a loss for words, bent again over the stone. He was scrutinizing it closely when 9. heavy tread crossed the outer show- room and the door was flung open. Gun; I10 D and each moment the policeman’s grip became firmer. Evidently the boy was the mere agent of a gang 0‘ thieves, though it was beyond compre- hension that any sort of an 1d10t should choose an emissary mth brok- en boots and ragged clo ‘ .‘in order to effect a deal withthe leadmz house ug.’ v___7 . 531155337, my young spark,” he said. “Mr. Isaacstein knows what he is about, and I don’t suppose he is very “How many, now,” he murmui'ed. “Ten, twentyâ€"of asorted sizes, eh?” Pinup llswncu. W van-v â€"~ deathly dumb agony. His face was. pale and his eyes gloyved mthsdratfi: Philip smiled. He could not tell how it happened; he felt that he was the intellectual superior of the man who sat there glowering at him so in- tently. Already the boy began to grasp dimly the reality of the power which enormous wealth would give him. Such people as the Jew and his satellites would be mere automate. in the affairs of his life, important enough in a sense, with the import- tance of a stamp for a letter or a rail- way ticket for a journey, but governed and controlled utterly by the greater personage who could unlock the door of the treasure house. For the first time Philip wished he was older, big- ger, more experienced. He even found himself begining to wonder what he should do until he reached man’s estate. He sighed. Isaacstein was watching him close 1y, trying to solve the puzzle by the aid of each trick and dodge known in a trade which lends itself to acute ro- guery of every description. The look of unconscious anxiety, of mental weariness, on Philip’ sface, seemed to clear away his doubts. He chuckled thickly. - f‘i‘fie‘n come 31098:" shake if only he could see some of the white pebbles in the meteor. “As big again! Where are they ?” The chair was creaking now with the rythmic swaying of its occupant. “Where this one came from, Mr. Is- sacstein.” Hatton be it so.“ n ma uâ€"d- The stout man gurgled" “Not me. I know ’is sort. Bue ’e ’ad you a fair treat, Billy.” “Mebbe, an’ mebbé not. Enny- how, two bob won’t break me, an' I'm sorry for the kid. Wot’s ’e'done, Mr, Policeman ?” Mr. Judd was nettled, yet unwilling to acknowledge he was wholly wrong. “Stole a heap of diamonds. Do either of you know him i” “Never saw him store this mornin',” “Never bin. in my ’onae before.” “Then come dams,” and Philip was In after years Philip never forgot the shame of that march through the staring streets. The everlasting idlers of London’s, busiest thoroughfares gathered around the policeman and his prisoner with a grinning callous- ness. “Wot’s ’e bin a-doi’ of ?” “Nicked a ldy’s purse ,eh ?” “Naw! Bin ticklin’ the till, more like.” ‘ “Bli-me, don’t ’e look sick!” They ran and buzzed around him like wasps, stinging most bitterly with coarse words and coarser laughter. An omnibus slowed its pace to let them_ cross the road, and Philip knew that the people on top craned their necks to have a good look at him. When nearing the viaduct steps, the police- man growled something at the pursu- ing crowd. Another constable strode rapidly across to the entrance and cut off the loafers, sternly advising them to find some other destination. But1 wrong ’un.”. - “ ’Old ’ard,” put in the greengrocer‘ “that’s not quite the ticket. ’E ask. ed you to trust ’m, but you wouldn’t.” “Lock him up instantly. The mat- ter must be fully inquired into. And do be careful of that parcel, consta- ble. Where do you take him ? To the Bridewell station ? I will follow you in a cab in five minutes. DU uuu wvâ€" . the respite was a brief one. The pair reached Farringdon-st., and had bare- ly passed the rstaurant where Philip had lunched. The hour was yet early Withra great efiort he forced himself to speak. low. . But Isaacstein did not hear the in- sult. When he saw the collection he nearly lost his senses. What had he done ? Was he or the boy mad ? The veins stood out on his forehead, and he wobbled so fearfully that he clutch- ed the desk for support. A scarecrow of a boy wandering about London with thousands of pounds’ worth of dia- monds in his pocket, wrapped up in a piece of newspaper like so many sweets! There were not any meteo- ric diamonds of such value in all the museums and' private collections in the world.,He began to perspire. Ev- the policeman was astounded, quite as much at being called “constable” by Philip as by the mean appearance of articles presumably of great value. “This is a rum go. What do you make of it, Mr. Isaacstein ?” he said. The query restored the Jew’s wits. After all, here was the law speaking. It would have been the wildest folly for a man of his position to dabble in this mysterious attraction. ' So Philip, handcuffed, was marched down the stairs past the gratified oi- fice boy and out into the street. As f0} Isaacstein, he required alit- tle brandy befale he felt able to fol- a sudden glow of fiery satisfaction. he remembered that his clothing con- tained no clew to his address. and he had not given his name. either at Ludgate Hill or Hutton Garden, How long could they keep him a priBOner ? Would other’s find his meteor and rob him of his mother’s gift P In less than a fortnight men would come to tear down the buildings in Johnson's Mews. Well, it mattered not. The courage of despair which nerved him the previous night came to his aid again. He would defy them all, care- less of consequence. The policeman "was saying: “It’s a queer affair, sir. Did he really say he had lots of ’em ?” Philip, with lips tensely set, was desperately cool again. He moved his arm, and the constable’s grasp tightened. / ~ “You are hurting me,” said the boy. “I merely wish to put my hand in my pocket. Are you afarid of me, that you hold me so fast ?” The policeman, like the rest ,did not fail to notice Philip’s diction. The scornful superiority of his words, the challenge of the final question, took him aback. He relaxed his grip and grinned coniusedly. Philip instantly produced a paper of diamonds and opened it widely, so that all the stones could be seen. He handed his parcel to the policeman. “Take good care of them, consta- ble,” he said. “Judging from re- sults, they would not be safe in that man’s hands.” “Yes, yes! Do you think I a; mancing? Perhaps they are i possesion now.’ “Have you any more of these stones, boy ?” Perplexing a Magistrate. CHAPTER V. “I tell you what,” said the inspec- glnd if Mr. Isucstein can throw euy tor, jubilantly, after a. slight peuse. light upon it." “We will charge him with being in But Mr. Issncstein could not do my unlawful possession of certain dia- thing. He wound up an uccount of monds, supposed to have. been stolen. Philip's visit and the meteoric dis- Hehasgivenmesialsenemesnd mondsknowntohimtromwhichs a silly address. Park Lune, the remuhble set of stones could bestol- en. “Amaninyourpositionoughttobe Thisemphnticstuementimpreued more accurate,” interposed Philip. “I the magistrate. did not saylliv‘ed'inPsrkLnne. I "Lctmeseethemf’heuid. toldyouIintendedtobuyshoule Thepucdwuhsndeduptohim. there.” ' and). he enminedzh content; with Seldom, indeed.weretheninordei_ obvious interest. ' tieadthepoliceststiouheudsdlu “Anyouqunemdmm tain them. I have robbed no man. Give me my diamonds and let me go.’ The inspector laughed oficially. He gazed intently at Philip, and then sought ilumination from the Jew’a perturbed countenance ,but Isaacatein was moodily exa’mining the contents of the paper and turning over both stones and the scraps of iron with an air of profound mystification. The inspector was staggered by this well-bred insolence. He was search- ing for some crushing legal threat that would frighten the boy into a state of due humility when Mr. Isaac- stein entered. The Hatton Garden magnate again related the circumstances attending Philip’s arrest, and the inspector promptly asked: -- â€" - A 1' W “I have answered you quite prop- erly. The constable who brought me here has in his possession diamonds worth many thousands of pounds be longing to me. I own a hundred times as many. Surely I can buy a house in Park Lane it I like.” “What charge shall I enter? You gave him into custody. Do you say he has stolen the diamonds ?” Isaacstein had been thinking hard during a short cab drive. His reply was unexpectedly frank: “He could not have stolen what nev- er existed. There is no such known collection of meteoric diamonds in the world.” -“Mr. Isaacstein is righ inter- posed Philip. “No one also owns dia- monds like mine. No one else can ob- shouted, angrily: Why this time the parcel of dirty white stones was lying open on the counter, and both Jew and policeman were gazing at them intently. There was a nettling logic in the inspector’s retort. “Park Lane.” ‘ The inspector began to write before the absurdity of the reply dawned on him. He stopped. “I cant answer riddles,” said Isaac stein, shortly. “I can not state facts. If any other man in the city of Lon- don is a‘ higher authority on dia- monds than 1,30 to him and ask his opinion.” ‘V‘Philip Morland,” he said, dogged- ly, when the inspector asked him his name for the. last time before record- ing a definite refusal. “Philip Morland!" It sounded cur- iously familiar in his ears. His ed curiously familiar in his ears. His mother was a Miss Moralnd he rmarriage. His mother was a Miss prior to her marriage, but he had notnoticed the odd coincidence that he should have been christened after the “Sir Philip" of the packet of letters so fortunately left behind that morning. “Address ?” “Is your mother a caretaker there. or your father employed in a mews ?" “My father and mother are dead." “Then will you kindly inform me what number in park lane you live “This is 'no nlace for joking. boy. Answer me properly, or it will be the worse for you.” “But there must be. are here.” “Think you once more, Mr. Judd. I will keep my promise. have: ten.” “What are you thanking him for ?" said the constable. I No answer from the prisoner, follow- ed by emphatic demands from inspec- tor and constable, the former volun- teering the information that to refuse your name and address was in itself an offence against the law. Philip’s sang-froid was coming to his aid. The horror of his passage through the gaping mob had cauter- ized all other sentiments, and he now saw that if he would preserve his in- cognito he must adopt a ruse. “I have not determined that as yet. I intend to buy a house there.” Some constables lounging about the office laughed, and the inspector, in. censed out of his routine habits, The policeman tried to extract some meaning from the words, but failed. He privately admitted that it was an extraordinary afiair, How came a boy who spoke like a gentleman and was dressed like a street Arab to be wandering about London with a p00- ketful of diamonds and admitted to the private office of the chief diamond merchant in Hatton Garden ? He gave it up, but silently thanked his stras for being conne'cted with an important case. ‘ At last Philip Via Dolorosa ended in the Bridewell police station. He was paraded before the inspector in charge, a functionary who would not have exhibited any surprise had the German Emperor been brought betore him charged with shoplifting. He Opened a huge ledger, tried it his pen would make a hair stroke on a piece of paper, and said, laconial- conially: ' at “For believing in me,” was thé curt answer. “Name.” 9” WEEKLY FREE PRESS. he be called at themext hearing. as he â€"the inspectorâ€"would ask for a re- mand to enable inquiries to be made. Meanwhile. Mr. Isaaeatein, of Hat ton Garden. had made it convenient to attend to-day. and would be pleu- ed to give evidence it his worship de- sired to hear him. “Certainly,” said Mr. Abingdon. the magistrate. “This seems to be a somewhat peculiar ease, and I will be glad it Mr. Inaacstein can throw any light upon it.” But Mr. Inseam could not do my thing. He wound up on wcount of Philip’s visit and the meteoric du- mondsknowntohimtromwhicha reimrhble not of none- could be stol- But the inspector in making the cop- perplato hair strokes which had gain- ed him promotion. and his brain had gone back to its normal dullness. “I will just nee it we cannot bring him before a magistrate at once,” he said, addressing Hr. Isaacmein. “Can you make it. convenient to attend the Nevertheless. he was tired. Yield- ing to the conceit, be stretched himself on the wooden couch that ran along one side of his narow cell. soon he would awaken amidst the fa- miliar surroundings of Johnson's Mews. To convince himself that this was not so, he reviewed the history of the preceding twenty-four hours. At that time yesterday he was going to Fleet Street with a capital of nine pence to buy a quire of newspapers. He remembered where he bought a penny bun, and how he came to lose his stock and get cuffed into the bar- gain for rescuing a girl from an over- turning carriage. Then his mind reverted to his fixed resolve to hang himself. and his sto- lid preparations for the last act in his young life’s tragedy. Was that where the dream started. or was the whole thing a definite reality. needing only7 a stout heart and unfaltering purpose to carry him through triumphantly? Yes. That was it. “Be strong and. brave and all will be well with you. Surely his mother had looked beyond the grave when she uttered her part- ing words. Perhaps. if he lay down and closed his eyes. he would see her in his dreams, but never was the vis- ion vouchsded to him. Poor lad. he did not understand that his sleep was the sound sleep of health and inno- cence. when dreams. it they come at all, are but grotesque distortions of the simple facts of everyday existence. Only once had he dimly imagined her presence. and that was at a moment which his sane mind now refused to He (was led through gloomy corri- dors and placed in a receptacle just large enough to hold him uncomfort- ably in a huge, lumbering vehicle. He thought he was the only occupant, which was true enough ,the prisoner's van having made a special call for his benefit. After a rumbling journey through unseen streets, he emerged into an- other walled-in court yard. He was led through some more corridors. and winding staircase. At the top he came out into a big room} with a well-like space in front of him. filled with a huge table. around which sat several gentlemen, among them Mr. Isaaestein, while on an elevated plat- form beyond was an elderly gentle- man, who wore eyeglasses and who wrote something in a book without looking up when Philip's name was called out. éonrt within an hour, sir .9 Then we will get a week’s remand, and we will soon find onâ€"” A police inspector, whom Philip had not seen before,‘ made a short state- ment, and was followed by the consta- ble who made the arrest. His story was brief and eorerct, and then the in- spector stated that Mr. Wilson, 01 Gmnt Sons. Ludgate Circus, would They searched him and found noth- ing in his pockets, save a key, a brok- en knife, some bits of string, neatly coiled and a couple of buttons. He spent the next hour miserably in a whitewashed cell. He refused some coffee and bread brought to him at twelve o'clock. and this was the only sentient break in a wild- jumble oi conflicting thoughts. The idea came to him that he must be dreamingâ€"that “silence! Search him carefully and take him to the cells.” The boy turned deopciringly to the Jew. “Mr. Imcstein.” he said. with a pitiful break in his voice, "why do you let them do this thing 5’ You are a rich man, and well known. Tell But Ismstein was wobbling now in a renewed state of excitement. "What can I do, boy!" he vocifer- ated, almou hysterically. “You will have to say where you got those stones and then ,perhapa, you can clear up everythincf' â€" Philip’s lips met in 3 thin seam. “I will never tell you.” he answer- ed, and not another word would he utter. this Minion, and by 3 allow youth. told to “skip lively" through up a Some one called to him, not unkind- 1y. “A week’s remand !" Philip became white again. bud those luge eyes of his began to burn. “W but have I “Now, youngster. jump up. The “ I gather that the dismantiferous material was present in the form of tiny particles and not in stones at all approching these in size ?" said Mr. Abingdon. z “Exactly. I have never either seen or heard of specimens like these. In 1888 a meteor fell in Russia, and con- tained one per cent. of diamond in a slightly metamorphosed state. In 1846 the Ava meteorite tell in Hung- ary. and it held crystalline graphite in the bright as well as in the dark form. But, again, the distribution was well diflused, and of slight com- mercial value. Sir William Crookes. or any eminent chemist. will bear me out in the assumption that the dia- monds now before your eyes are ab- -solutely matchless by the product of any recorded meteoric source.” Isaacstein, having delivered his lit- tle lecture, looked and felt import ant. The magistrate bent forward with a pleasant smile. with renewed a’ctivity. Here was a. auction with s nuance-worth all the dinphy it demanded in the even- ing pupae. Headlines would whoop through a quarter of 1 column. and 'rhe boyhimleltwu nppuentlythe most M man fire-ent- mmwmm' aheonce matters in dispute. But never. dur- ing his long tenancy of the court, had hebeenunedontodeelwitheme of this nature. He smiled in hit per- plexity. “We :11 remember the eopyb-ook main: "Let justice be done though the heavens tell,” he acid; “but here it is clearly shown that the ideal in noteuilyreeched.” ', The reply startled the‘ magistrate. nnditnentathrillthronghthecourt. “Benny! So much!” Mr. Abing- don was almost sen-ed. "11., alter cum they turn out ‘u well as I expect, that is a. modénte “I am very much obliged to you for the highly interesting information you have given." he said. “One more questionâ€"the inevitable corollary or your evidence is that the boy now/in the dock has either found a meteor estimste of their worth." “I tske it, from what you say. thst meteoric diamonds" are rare P” W closed his throat with a premonitory cough and bunched up his shoulders. A slight wobble was steadied by his stumpy hands on the rail of the witness box. He was real- ly the greatest living authority on the subject. and he knew it. me tell and plowed these deep ho . distributing diamonds in all directions as they passed. But the so called pipes are really\ the vents of extinct volcanoes. Ignorant people do not realise the chemical composition of the earth does not‘ diner greatly form that of the bodies which sur- round it in space, so that the same process of manufacture under high temperature and at great pressure which creates a diamond in a meteor has equal powers here. In a word, what has happened in the outer uni- verse has also happened at Kimber- ley. Iron acts as the solvent during the period of creation. so to speak. Then, in the lapse of ages, it oxidizes by the action of air or water, and the diamonds remain." The magistrate nodded. ~ “There are particles of a mineral that looks like iron among these stones ?" he said. (E's hiéteoric deposit. Can you say if it is a. nutter of recent o¢currence_?” Philip's riod. and near the centre is a crat- er-like hole which suggests the im- pact of some very large body which buried itself in the earth. All miner- alogists know the place as the Canyon Diabolo. or Devil's Gulch, and speci- mens of ore are in every collection. Ordinary tools were spoiled, and ev an emery wheel worn by some hard ingredients in the iron. and analysis has revealed the presence therein of three forms of diamondsâ€"the ordinary stone. like these now before you. both transparent and black graphite, and amorphous carbon; that is, carbon without crystalizazion.” “Judging by the appearance of the accompanying scraps of iron ore, I should say they have been quite re- cently in a state of flux from heat. The silicates seem to be almost elim- flve miles in diameter, are scattered thousands of masses of metallic iron. varying in weight from half a ton to a fraction of one ounce. An enormous meteoric shower fell there at some pe- puzzled. Queer incidents happen in police courts daily. and the most un- scientific and technical point: are elucidated in the eflort to secure an accurate comprehension of "It is a common delusion among diamond miners that diamonds tall from the skies in meteoric showers," he said. “There is some sort of foun- dation for this mistaken view. as the stones are found in volcanic pipes or columns of diamantiferous material. and the crude ideas.is that gigantic The question gave Ismstm'n time to draw a fresh supply of breath. Sure of his audience now, he proceed- ed more slowly. “That is a certain proof of a me- teoric source. A striking confirma- tion of the fact is supplied by a dis- trict in Arizona. Here, on a plain ic origin. It. “Can you tom any minute of their course, everyone laughed, and reporters plied pen_and pencil ID s of a mineral 1 among these Isuatm'n time Jply of breath. 10W, he proceed- unquestionably ’ he ask- again experienced the odd sensation of aloofness, of lofty domination. amidst a commonplace and insignifi- cant environment. The Jew was clever. of course. but his cleverness wasthatofthetex‘trbook, edryrec- ord of fact which needed genius to 11- luminate the printed page. And these lawyera, reporters, policemen, with the vacuous background of loungers. the friends and bottle- holders of thieves and drunkardsâ€" the magis- “I do not wish to argue with you,” he said. quietly; “nor do I expect you to commit yourself in any way. But you must surely see that for a pover- ty-stricked boy to be found in posses- sion of gems of great marketable value is a cimumstanoe that demands in- quiry. yhowever honest andâ€"erâ€"well bred you may be." war of wits. “Quite true. The inference is that you lave discovered a meteoric depo- sit oLdiunonds.” trnte, even, remote in his dignity and sense of powerâ€"what were they to him ?â€"of no greater import than the paving stones of the streets to the pul- sating life of London as it passed. The magistrate glanced at Isaac- etein and stroked his chin. The Jew gazed intently at the packet of dia- monds and rubbed his simous nose. There was a. deep silence in court, broken only by the occasional shuf- fle of feet among the audience at the backâ€"a shame which stopped instant- ly when the steely glance of a police- man darted in that direction. For the first time the magistrate heard the correct and well-modulated flow of Philip's speech. If anything. it made more dense the mist through which he was trying to grope his way. “What do you mean ?" he asked. “I mean that if I state who I am. I will be robbed and swindled by all with whom I come in contact. I have starved, I have been beaten, for try- ing to earn a living. I was struck last evening for saving a girl's life. I was arrested and dragged through the streets, hand-cufied. this morning, be- cause I went openly to a dealer to sell a portionâ€"to sell some of my diam- onds. I will take no more risks. You posit?” “I inve. Someâ€"not allâ€"ate b61963 you.” , , .J veal that “The only witness against me has said that the diamonds could not have been stolen,” cried Philip, now thor- oughly aroused. and ready for any half-crown. The magistrate was as surprised as any. > At last the magistrate seemed to make up his mind to a definite course of action. What was going to happen ? Was this destitute urchin going to leave the court with diamonds in his pock- et worth fifty thousand pounds ? Odd- ly enough, no one paid heed to Phil- ip’s boast that he owned far more than that amount. It was not he, but his packet of diamonds that had evoked wonder. And had not Isaacstein. the great merchant and expert, appraised them openly S’Was it possible that those dirty-white pebbles could be en- dowed with such potentiality. Fifty thousand pounds! There were men in the room, and not confined to the un- washed, whose palates dried and tongues swelled at the notion. The outburst fairly electrified the court. Philip could not have adopt- ed a more domineering tone were he the Governor of the Bank of England charged with passing a counterfeit “There is only" one person present," he said, “who can throw light on this extraordinary case, and that is the boy himself.” “Philip Morland," began the mag- istrate. “My name is not Philip Morland," interrupted the boy. “Then what is your name ?” “I will not tell you sir. I mean no disrespect, but. the fact that I am treated as a criminal merely because I wish to dispose of my property warns me of what I may expect if I state publicly who I am and where I live." He looked at Philip, and all eyes turned toward the thin, ragged figure standing upright against the rail that shut him 03 from the well of the court. The professional peOple pres- ent noted that the magistrate did not look to the strangeJooking youth as “the prisoner." Philip knew that a fresh ordeal was at hand. How could he preserve his secretâ€"how hope to prevail against the majesty of British law as person- ified by the serene authorty of the man whose penetrating glance now rested on him ? His was a dour and stubborn nature, though hardly mold- ed as yet in rigid lines. He threw back his head and tighened his lips. He would cling to his anonymity to the bitter end, no matter what the cost. But he would not lie. Never again would he condescend to adopt a subterfuge. may im‘ytison me, but you cannot force me to speak. If you are a fair man, you will give me back my diam- onds and let me go free." C‘Ya.” h z". ' A Game of Hazard. CHAPTER VI. ,on'pcce 4.) PAGE THREE BO’) II