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on Falls nods for securing make you a 51" These goodsVin lored to insure 2 you been 0136 :easure work ? 11 ac in and learn perfection. We PM" Ill 5t stoma:- nbbers or public of Ming hold ant Me in '7 ”905. The white st1 :ellmn ore, had bee: y by clever journ km: nted Isaacstein ”ft by facts gleame “‘38 an dinterviews [Os probably this ha -» quuy 39c pvrtiun of the contents ”Wk: last purtmunteau. Had he 815° "messed m», rvmuval of the others {0 the pantry" hflip‘s expvrivnce as a neWSPaper W10! told him that all London W33 ““3 familiar u‘éi‘n his personal 8P' as awil as the semblanfee 0f his meteoric cha- - The white: stones, the clumps 11'0!) ore, had been describd min- ,‘QIY by elem? journalists, who sup- emented Isaacstein’s clear state- eat I) ’d' 3‘ facts gleamed from encyclo- . 139 5â€". \- nere was a zziw thingâ€"his habit discover“ it" .~~:m- tramp or criminal a‘y‘uu‘jng in tin» untenanted building mark“ out inz‘ the housebreakers '1:th a few \333‘5. It was too bad. He was sorely annoyed that he had n.“ Ihoughz mum of the potentiali- e5 01. the “'ilhlnw when the house "is illuminated by a. candle and a “‘13- fire' Huw long had the man 5W there wdu'hing him? He had Emmi), 59c gmrtiun of the contents ”the la“ Phrtmunteau. Had he also "mess“ the rvmuval of the others “the Pantry" hllips tXDe‘X‘Zurmn a: o nowannm? éW‘sâ€"Which :1 “50 Was either We something 3!! any possim. iStones. [ISJ 3 Philip, the right pertincm 3,.“ Hm! :L-Iiau‘llL “v HI‘M‘I :vrnvmlu'rc'tl 1100“!“ the M |,.-zu:.- x”: that thin ra-pvl'innt iymvumm \Ll» «.f u. typo to be: soon WW” \ mm: lu-ud. with promi- RM. Hmonl'Lul I')t"s, u :41?U!)8. crut‘l UHUHJ‘ £1 LHL'V HU‘U‘ badly bl'OkBHâ€"a «um ‘Uw‘quHx uf (-huructer in tea- ;w. mm ,.4, m drink and crimin 4.1) thw' :w llu- tutu-nu writ 183- w (h urunzmmucc glaring in- !cm} 211 mp 5,..3, frum without. 11m glu i at vuvh other for an iyrru‘d I: n m- The man's face wan- :rrui 2mm 1'};n'ip’.~. fucu to his cos- {UIHm 311M {Evil ft'stt'd 0n the open purlmuuh'au .uf {hr boy’s feet. There M.- iu his mph-“inn an air Of aston- igmmmâ€"u m z: m «rluating bewilder- mmzau nz‘ nu, who has stumbled Lunawaum Luau: some object of such U'It'ltliil va'fuv that the finder could :ardlv believ- iz {U be true. He was 2?.i:.k‘nu v,uz.Ǥ~:'i11g, debating with ..;:z.~r}f. l'i.~ 4-,:ng eyes seemed to y: mm (1m; 1: .. brain was inclined ‘4) credit, 31' n lu'luh' jyunmmlm [gulll‘ll \ mu. Muml-l unistvr MI 0f It would m mirth dmhwu Phi“? Smllrui as he recalled his Isa:u~.~!viu. He examined the 5:036 grim-lily. and realized that if it MC flawlr'” a must be one of the marvels Uf mention. Without experi~ ancing any yuSiIch motive he slipped mi: unium‘ ,gnm‘llllt’nt into his pocket and Wm W with the reconstruction ht’ Jammy-1 parcel. A; 135; he finished. The portman- ‘ :ear! was lying open on the floor, when 3.x thought uccurred to him that he might han- avoided the flurry and trouble of carrying these heavy ar- iclcs mm the sculler)’ if he had nai'l- :‘J “cum“ of yards of his drugget Muss {he umduw. h M; 11.): m» late even now to M1”? this max-ct. He glanced at the uszndow zu awn-Main how much ma- ma] 1“. muum cut off, and saw a flewâ€"an ml. brutal. suspiclous face “wring '1! him ”Ver the tOp 0f the 50351 to 'C U1" 3m. muusu might hav: goublé 0‘ doles 11110 t a a couplt (1001' was mm ‘LQ'H! dquiv- his alarm, felt that c~ur~~~ was to resent this im- pryiuu‘ into his affairs. mui“ lu- shouted “what do ii in. iiiiv tn army that Philip M i Hw sight. No braver [.miiiiiv hwy breathed; but u“ ifu- mydvrymthl' gloomy n; .inimwn's Mvwnâ€"Jent a if...» in :m apparition for- “..mvi. illlils'l‘ any circum- .m aim-Imo-ly threatening is dunijvr In unt.‘ situated 8!} A Decisive Battle. n his stocking feet or w-r his boots to dead- shatter on the paving CHAPTER IX. ,.;.+.zo+++«i~4~ with geologists. , DECEMBER loch, “v“. A uv â€"-a stand at the doc belt, took 0! his 8”“ adjusted belt and m! “Now I’m ready 10? of seniority “No, ” announced the constahe, stub- bomly “If he is here, I will handle Again his lamp swepi the snail! area 0f the mews and waded no living Object He quickly W {in ugly customer to tackle single-hand- ed,” he added, beneath his breath. “Won’t you wait a bit. until I get some help?” said Philip, anxiously. The man appeared to debate the point. The nearest comrade was an acting sergeant, newly promoted. If he were summoned, the ths of}! “By the Lord. it’s Jocky right enough!” cried the constable. “Now, where can he have got to? He’s an “A tall man,” said Philip, “taller than you, for I could see his chin over the string of the curtain. He had a big face. with eyes that stuck out boldlyâ€"” The constable stepped back into the paved court. A rapid twist of his hand sent a vivid beam of light danc- ing over mined tenement, dishevelled doorways and shattered windows. pose?” bery with violence and a. few other little things. What sort of man was he? You saw his face only, I sup- “A man with a broken nose! By jove, I’m "looking for a party of that description. A rank wrong ’un; Rob- “Well, he is somewhere in the place â€"he had a horrid appearance-a. man with a broken nose. He made me jump, I can assure you.” “But where can he be? He hasn’t left the mews, or I must have seen him. I crossed the road, and no one came out in so short a time.” you mean some time since?” “No, no. Not half a minuteâ€"a few seconds ago.” “Just'now?” he you mean some ti He backed into the house. The pol- iceman half followed him, his quick glance noting the open portmanteu and its array of old clothes. “I am very glad in deed, to see you,” interrupted the boy. “I am leaving here tomorrow. Just now, while I was packing some of my be- longings, a very nasty-looking man came and peeped in at me in the same way as you did.” ”I hope I didn’t startle you,” he be- gan, “but I just looked in on the 03 chanceâ€"’ proached. The boy listened breathlessly. The oncomer reached his door. passed it. stopped opposite the window, and then another face peered over the curtain. This time it was a policeman. For an instant their eyes met in mutual astonishment. The the police- !man‘ came so close that his helmet rested against a pane of glass. He grinned afiably, and cried: “Here! I want to speak to you.” Intuitively grasping V the essential fact his best policy was one of ready acquiescence, Philip sprang toward toward the door and unlocked it. He oi the living specter without. The idnaa recorded at auch length whirled through his active brain with lightn- ing speed, just an the knowledge now came that the lootmteps proceeded from the entrance to the men and not from its extremity, while their firm regularity betokened the advent 0! some person who had no special rea- son to conceal his movements. capture woulé b'e his by fiKh‘ __v --â€"-. v. v-Iv ”“5' At'thnt insinht he again heard foot- steps. of course, a Very few seconds had elapsed since 139 first caught night He took his discarded clothes and arranged them on the top of the last parcels of ore and diamonds: Then he reached out for the small bundle of documents resting on the chair be- side him, intending to place them in a little pocket in the flap which al- ready covered one-half of the bag. AI He dropped the drugget and scis- sors and bent again over the port- manteau. The packing operations might as well be finished now, and,‘ indeed, when the light was extin- guished, it would be better to keep away from the window, through which a sudden thrust with an instrument might do him an injury. art the step. The constable ap- questioned. “Do imperative. V in the dark. 'lis- Ind, and threaten- heard anyone en. stub- "You knocked him silly,” grinned smile the podiceman, “but he’ll get his wits back in a minute or two. Can you [area bring him a drink of water? It won’t thing do me any hami, either. his Philip hurried away to comply with [re- thisrequest. Hismindwasrelieved window. very tired, I His words were Quickly justified. Wh“ would h; The fallen man growled nnintelligibly constable believe: and moved. With a. rapidity born of cited statements? much practice the omcer handcufled no reason to fear him. There must have been some exposure might 0 sense of familiarity in the touch of Would anyone ad! the steel bracelets, for the recipient meteor? Mr. Abin of this delicate attention stirred un- a thin» 1.1. m4 .“Don’t you worry about him. He’ll do a stretch all right. I would have given him a harder one than that if I got a swing at him." eyes were glued on the prostrate form of Jacky. The policeman understood his fear and laughed. “By jove, boy, you are a brick,” he said, and his voice was under control I He inflated his lungs vigorously. Then he managed to gasp: "Thank you! You saved my life!” He pressed his ribs with both hands and gingerfiy felt his throat. He stood up. His lamp was still slight, but a quantity of oil had run over his tunic and trousers. He gazed at them as in a. trance, but relief came when he heard them breathing sonorously. At. last, after a pause that apparently endured un- numbered minutes, the constable weakly rolled himself free from the bulky form of his would-be-alayer, and sat up. -wuv-lv‘. Jam uvvvu out; Jun, saying 5 Then the boy was horrified. The two over his shoulder: lay so still that be imagined both “Pull that door to. I’ll come back were dead. It is one thing to help for my coat in half an hour." the law, but quite another to kill a Philip followed. but in a sea of per- man. He did not want Q be 8 mur- plexity. He heard Mason’s frantic derer as well as a millionaire, not “postulating to the policemanâ€" knowing then the qualities which go what was an ema_smpe to the 1033 to form these varieties of the genus of untold wealthâ€"that youngster was homo are strangely alike. richer than Rnthnohim on. “m-.. Philip answered not a word; hi Being fashioned of the stuff which g'founds empires-01: the principle that instant action is worth a century of diplomacyâ€"he picked up the trunch- eonrand brought it down on "Jocky’s" hard skull with such emphasis that the convict emitted a queer sort of cough, and collapsed Ilimply on top of his conquered adversary. 4:“th 18 on me sine or 013 mutations. to think just now. Come on." and "Jocky" was taller, heavier, very But the ex-convict became sensible much more active. Moreover liberty of the unwonted light in the deserted is as potent as ‘law any day, and law house, and slowly turned his head un- was being steadily throttled when the til his gaze rested on Philip. pale gleam of Philip’s candle *lit up “Why!” he roared, with an impre- the confines of the ruinous hovel cation, “that’s the bloomin’ kid ’00 About which the two men stamped and found the diomonds. I need 'im a- llurched and wrestled. countin’ of ’em. White stones, the At the precise moment of the boy’s paper said, an' bits of iron, too. A ‘ entrance the policeman’s knees yield- trunk full of ’em. ‘E ’as one in ‘is ed and he fell, with his remoseless pocket as big as an egg." antagonist uppermost. Philip gazing The policeman laughed. So did at them almost wideeyed ,almost fell Philip, shrilly, with ready acceptance too, for his left foot rolled on the mm of the cue. Stable,s Stag. “FA-fin .."ln..- ’ 1'--‘--.J Mind “Jocky” was taller, heavier. very .uuch more active. Moreover liberty is as potent as ‘law any day, and law was being steadily throttled when the pale gleam of Philip’s candle *lit up the confines of the ruinous hovel About which the two men stamped and lurched and wrestled. ___ “vwvâ€"I For m; was physically outclassed. "The root drop] and he knew it. and there is no more reply. unnerving knowledge can come to a "Not it. I 'ed man at such a. supreme moment. was on yer slon Nevertheless, he was a brave man, stick. Ye was i and he fought with all the resolution somebody ahted I: that is born of the consciousness of skylight.” justice and moral right. But Provi- "Never mind, .1 Jence is on the side of big battalions. to think just now‘ .-. .I ll"_ ,I, Th policeman had a second‘s warn- ing. It was something, but not enough to give him an advantage. He got his truncheon out, but nimuitaneousiy ‘hia assailant was on him with the ferocity of a catamount. They closed m bone-breaking endeavor. and beiore they were locked together {or ten rear- iul seconds the officer of the law bit- terly regretted the professional pride which sent him single-handed into this unequal strife. â€"â€" w-v n Vt... Quick as he was, he missed the first phase of a Homeric combat. The vio- lent “Jacky,” foiled by an unnoticed iron bar in his attempt to escape, turned like a madman on the police- .nan. There was no sort of parley be- tween them. Cursing the luck that had revealed his hiding place ,the man, an exoconvict, with the frame of a giant, sprang at his pursuer aud- dcnly from an inner room. [110‘ candle in your hind. If you see any- thing .yell out to me.” Philip obeyed. These preparations for a deadly struggle appealed to his very soul, for your healthy-minded ‘ boy of fifteen has generally ceased, to be a highwayman or a pirate in knig- ination, and aims rather at, planting the Uifion Jack on a glacis bristlinr with hostile canno . The policeman, feeling for the loose strap of his truncheon, commenced a careful survey of the mews. He had He had u ponce court were worth titty thousand 0 pounds-:and he had tons more I It was all of no avail. Certainly the - had neverheard such queer reasons tor 3 stopping an arrest, but Mason was 3 obviously dazed for the timeâ€"mum. l dering about the story which every- body talked of. He would change his th ’ 3" r“: PV‘W ets, offered conclusive evidence to th e other guarding a diamond “339' inspector's matter-of~tact mind the than the K°h'i'N°°’- the ex-convict’s story was the efiect o excited by the newspaper comment: . . “id the on a sensational yarn about some b0) Inspector. “The constable here tells who had found a parcel of diamonds me that you very pluckily helped him This youngster had not been favor- to capture a notorious burglar. The ' ° man was bid ’ th ' indebted for his capture. mg m ese me".- and It The boy walked behind them me- through your window. What were you wanted scoundrel, and he had V817 “38mm? shading the candle “'me d bravely prevented a member of the his hand. He was so absorbed with "Packing my portmantean.” force from being badly worsted in the his‘tmnultuous thoughts that the that “Oh, packing your portmanteau." 811501138 encounter. indication. he received of anything bl' "Yes. That is it." A subscription would be made am- sax-re "1 hit} appearance “98 the m- Re atopepd and nonchalantly threw one the omcers and men of the divi- t open. His clothes and boots. and sion. and they would give him a sil- ver watch, with a suitable inscription. The inspector noted the address giv- ‘ en by Philip. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask his christian name, when the constable suggested that “No, sir I told you Essen was they should examine the stable in talking rubbish." which Mason had hidden. “Did he say any more about me be- They went up the mews. Philip inxtbeboy who foundthe meteor!" lockedhisdoor,extin¢uished the can- dle. and lay down on the mattress. 4‘ fully dressed. with his newly bought i, rug for covering. He was so utterly tired. so exhaust- j He blew it out. A clocks in the small jeweler’s shop opposite showed the ‘that part of London, a busy hive of men and women of the working class. he had no chance of removing his he- longings before the policeman return~ ed. % It was all of no avail. Certainly the - had neverheard such queer reasons for ' stopping an arrest, but Mason was obviously dazed for the timeâ€"mum. dering about the story which every- body talked of. He would change his tune when he learned to whom he was indebted for his capture. ‘ The boy walked behind them me? chanically shading the candle with his hand. He was so absorbed with his tumultuous thoughts that the first indication he received of anything bi- zarre in his appearance was the gist!- ing of a girl who saw him standing in the arch of the mews carefully shielding the flickering wick. He blew it out. A clock in the small jeweler’s shop opposite showed the timeâ€"ten minutes past eleven. In I that part of London, a busy hive of men and women of the working ch”, 1 he had no chance of removing his be- what was an exttafitripe to the loss of untold wealthâ€"that youngster was richer than Rothschild, the papers police court were worth fifty thousand poundsâ€"fond he had tons more The ex~convict began to protest, but be wasted words in sweating. The “Sailor” grasped him by the arm and marched him down the yard. saying over his shoulder: “Pull that door to. I’ll come back for my coat in half an hour." “The water was too strong for him,” put in Philip. “Come a‘long,’ Jocky‘ you‘re wool- gathering. I’ll get. you a pint of co!- fee at the station just. to show there’s no malice,” said the constable. "The root dropped," was the joculu reply. "Not it. I 'ed yer dohn. Ballot. I was on yer store ye could use yer stick. Ye was fairly bested untll somebody ahted me wiv a welt on the skylight." “Never mind, Jocky. It’ll hurt you Mason wobbled his head Ind culled his neck awkwardly. "Oo gev me that one]: on the nut?” he acked. The man glared dully at his captor. With the apathy of his class he knew when he was beaten, and becune sub- mianiVe in demeanor. Philip, holding his candle aloft, marveled n his own temerity in hitting this giant, oxlike in atreugth and size. me. You must either go quietly or I win drag you to the street over the stones, and that will hurt.” “That's better," said the constable. encouragingly. "Now, up you get! It‘s no use, Jacky. I won’t let you kick The stars in their-courses must have conspired that. day to supply with ex- citement. ' Mason eagerly gulped the water held to his lips. Then he tried to raise his right hand to his head. Ah! He understood. A flood of oaths began to meander thickly from his mouth. Philip saia no more. To press his reqquest implied a powerful motive was you who told me where he was, and the man himself knows that with- out somebody’s help I could not have arrested him.. There is no need to mince matters. I have to thank you for not being laid out stiff." “Well, don’t you see that will be rather dificult.” was the answer. "It accent was \that. of the men of the University Mission. And how many boys of his age would have struck so straight and truly at a critical mo- ment? wonld be greatly obliged were. ' my name not mentioned at all with re!- ufie fined asmdlinat thescufiery day?Wouldmotherinspirehima¢tin tap and ran with it to the scene of ushehsdnothiledtododnrimso the capture. The oonstsble m genie many stanza events? Would her 1y shaking his prize and addressing spirit guide his footsteps actou this him by name. new quickssnd on whose verge he “Jacky! Jacky Mason! Pull your- hesittted? self togethex. This way for the 01d A few doors to the left us: O’Brien's Bailey!” shon; The old mm mm infin -a..|.¢ THE ween? m: New. .9 h aid Philip, Philip met his scrutiny without flinching. He leaned against the wall with his hands in his pockets, one fist clinched over the pouchful of gold, A Step Higher. “This is the boy, sir,” said the pol~ iceman. “Oh, is that him?’ ’observed the in- spector, sticking his thumb: into his belt. and gazing at Philip with proteso sional severity. expli‘ Th last dress she wore, her boots, a hat, an album with photographs. some toilet accessories from the tiny dren- ing table, the covelet o! the bed on which she diedâ€"these and kindred mementoes made a very credible bulk ing the denuded portmsnteau. “The divil a bit. I! thing: so on as they are. there'ii soon be room enough in the poor ould chop. To think, at- ther ai ltheae years, that a murtherin' thief in the War Ofice-â€"” Philip was sate. He rapidly helped his lriend to put up the shutters. and rushed back to No. 8. Even yet he was not quite prepared {or eventuali- ‘ ties. He ran upstairmand gathered a ‘ few articles belonging to hia mother. articles he never endeavored to sell even when pinched by hunger. “Bradley. he hasn't got a watch." observed the inspector. He again ad- dressed Philip. “Where are you going to-morrow ?“ "I sm not quite sure, but by ad- dress will be known to Mrs. Wrigley, the James Street Laundry, Shepherd’s Bush.” "Ahi‘ The constable says you do not wsnt to be mixed up in the arrest of Mason. There is no need for you to sppesr in court. butâ€"erâ€"in such _ ‘ ‘ I .nn' phwat's in them?" in quired the “'3‘ ss yours. theâ€"er. police like to astonished pensioner. “‘0" thei"“3"“.Pimw‘lmm 0‘ your . The boy brsvely celled . smile to services. Thst is so, Bradley, isn't it P” his sid. "l hsve 0. big story to tell "Yes. sir. If it hsdn'tl for him you one 0! these days, Mr. O‘Brien, I shouldn't be here now Jock . y had but 1 have no time io-night. These me {sirly cornered." things will not be in your wsy until “You hsd no time to summon ss- the morning?" sistsnce P” “The; Al...“ - LIA '1 AL!__ and into the shop. A passer-by oflered to help him. “No. thsnks.” he managed to say. though the chart to spesk calmly took away his remaining breath. "I am only taking it to the shop there." The men glanced at the shopâ€"it was s msrine store deder'sâ€"s piece where iesd snd iron and ban found resdy sale. He psssed on. “Be the forchun ov wsr, Phil. where did ye get the iligsnt leather thrunks. was alt in one 'hand. But he got it The ii there, breathless with the exertion. lip. He had to open the fourth and tear "The 1 out the stufing of paper. When filled he said. with the packages taken from the fifth watch P" it was beyond his power tc lift it. 80 “N0.” “Wait 5““ the little bit' M" 0’- gttyto?sot:e infomsfionfnd VhVee m Buen. I have ”me ”Wm“ and looked in, but your door was lock- that! wenttostoreforthemght. D° ed. The men on this best this after- let me Put them 0" he 1"“ 0' your noon told me that the same clerk was shop. My place is not very sale. you linking further enq . . l y, nose know." V I came on night duty I strolled into ‘ "Sure, boy, that’s 3 dun“: ““38 ‘0 the mews to find out if you were at u. Brine ’em an’ velcome- home. Thet is how I happened to With the speed of a deer Philip see you.” dived into the mews. He carried the He turned toward the inspector. two lesser begs without xtreordinsry “He was packing his bag at that dimcum’. 811d deposited them behind moment ,sir, and Mason hsd evidently { O’Brien‘s counter. The third was sl- been scared from the window by by most too much for him, as the weight footsteps in the arch-” hesiuted? A few doors to the left we: O’Brien's shop; Theoldmancrepcintodght. staggering under the weight at a shut- ter. Good gracious! Why had he not thought of this alley sooner? Some precious minutes were rusted already. “Amh, Phil. phwat in the worruld oue hand. But he got it The inspector pureed out his under thless with the exertion. lip. 3 Open the fourth and tea:- “The whole thing is perfectly clear.” Eng of paper. When filled he said. “Boy, have you got a :kages taken from the fifth watch P” nd his power tc lift it. 80 “NO.” said Philip. surprised by this it. bodily along the mews Odd question. he an atom and stress of this eveitfui' (178}; Rut he was sound asleep when the his save some of them, especially her vies. wedding ring." Jocky Mason’s romance was now into thin air. The contents of the portmanteau, the squalid appearance of the house .the date of the solici- fl“ tor's letter, the bundle of pawn tick- ”d' ets, ofl‘ered conclusive evidence to the 39" inspector's matter-oi-tact mind that} . the ex-convict's story was the efiect of “‘3 a truncheon rapidly applied to a brain ' excited by the newspaper comments “19 on a sensational yarn about some boy I118 who had found a parcel of diamonds. in: This youngster had not been favor- he ed by any such extraordinary piece of it lucy. Simple chance had led him to in put the police on the track of amuchg out all f?!" M ‘0 “I.” observed the con- auu \ucuaca. net weaamg ring was the last to 30. Most of them are out of date but I _in§end {0â€"1 will tryto, em ?n “Yes, twice ?" Philip looked the policeman square- ly in the eyes. “You had just taken on your great coat when the glass cracked." he said. Police Constable Bradley stooped to pick up his coat. He did not wish ‘this portion 01 the night’s proceedings to be described too minutely. In mov- ing the garment he disturbed the pac- ket of letters. Instantly Philip re- ‘ called the names of the solicitors men- i tioned by the constable. “You said that a clerk from Messrs. Shutpe Smith called to see me “I berely heard he wee here, before the window we: embed. and I knew he wee trying to get out the other way. You heard him. Anson P” "He was packing his bag at that moment ,sir, and Mason had evidently been scared from the window by by footsteps in the arch.” mn certainly didn’t seem to know much obout yo‘nr movements. He has :been here twice looking for you. The first time was. let me see. lat lon- day. about (our o'clock. I was on dutyinthemeinmadandheuked me tor some information. We came lild looked in, but your door was lock- “Yes. most tartan. ." “Anybody conected with Shape a; Smith ?” the constable put in. “Shim Smith! Who no they?” “Don't you know ? The yam The inspector’- (lace raved from the «nimble portunnmu to Phil- ill'l tidy menu, and it was his business to nuke rapid deductions. some of my mpmer’s jewelry “I only want. these bags taken to the luggage room.’ said Philip. "You had better get some one to help you with meme two. They are very heavy. be: contain specimeuta of iron ore." The ma took a pull a the solid “Where to. air ?” asked a who opened the door for him. , The two large heavy bags he man- : aged to fit! into the interior, one of > them needing all his resources tocar- ’ ry it from the shop door to the cab. Were he not fresh and untired. he could not have done it. As it was. the eflort was a. splendid success. The cabman knew little. and O’- Brien less. of the tremendous avoird- upois of this inocentJooking baggage. A long-swearing horse may have had his private views. but he did not ex- we. them. ‘ Buying goodâ€"bye to the pensioner in the chap. Philip took good care that ‘none overheard his direction to the driver. In about three-quarters . o! 6’" With a. cunning that mounted to genius. the boy placed the large, light portmanteau and the two small, heavy one: on the roof of the vehicle, where the driver 6i dnot notice the least pe culiarity in their weight. As there are no signs in the art of literature. similar to those which serve the needs of musicians, where- by thoughts can be expressed da ca- pa, like a musical phrase, without ‘risk of wearying the reader, it must be understood that Philip had return- ed from far-away Fenchurlch Street Station with a four-wheeler before O’Brien had finished the first tirade to the day against the We roaace. With a. cunning that mnnnfu-I on “A lot of ould duds belongin' to Mrs. Anson, I’ll be boun’. Ah, well, the Lord rest her Bowl, ‘tis she was the fine woman. I wish I had some one as clever as her to write fer me to that thafe of the worruld who “Faix, he’s a. wonderful lad entire~ ly." commented the old man. “What isort of plundher has he in the bag at ‘all at all .9" In idle curiosity he lifted the last addition to the pile. It was normal. even light in weight. They be nodded knowingly. "Arrah, Phil, me bhoy, where in the name of goodness are ye gatherin' the bee-utiful, leather- thrunks from P" asked the pensioner. “This is the last one,” laughed the boy. “I am 03 now to find a cab, and you would see me again until Mon- day.” VV__-_... rvvvun UL “10' law would be invoked to prevent him from dealing with his meteor if once the exact place where it fell became publicly known. O'Brien's shop was scarcely open be- fore Philip was there with his remain- ing portmanteau. At best they might imagine that the ‘dread evidence of some weird crime lay in the unbroken area. If so, they could dig until they were tired. But, indeed, he was now guarding against a most unlikely hypothesis. The probability was that J ohnson's Mews would cease to trouble him, for Philip was quite sure the whole power of the "___ 7 cu. ale people, but whiéh wouldjggorEIx-o possible clue to the nature of the dis- turbing element. Amidst the earth and broken stones of the excavation there were a few fragments of ore and some atomic spe- cimens of the diamantiferous material -â€"not sufficient. all told, to fill the palm of the hand. But be summed them {or obvious reasons. and then devoted five vigorous minutes with O'Brien's spade to the task of filling up the deep hole itself. By lowering- the flagstones and breaking the earth beneath, he soon gave the small yard an appearance of chaos which might certainly puz- (6 parts of the house and yard ior shy traces of the meteor which which might. have escaped his ken in the darkness. meal. and, on his return to the mews. he lost not a moment in carrying out a. systemgtic search through all In the Mile End Road there are plenty of early morning restaurants. At one at them he made a. substantial Philip awoke shortly before seven. He was cold and stiff. The weather was chilly, and there was no ardent meteor in the back yard to keep the temperature of the house at a grate- ful point during the night But his active, young frame quick- :ly dissipated the eflects of a deep sleep on a draughty floor. He wash- ed his face and hands at the sink in the soullery, and his next thought was for breakfast, a proof, if proof were needed ,that he arose refreshed in mind and body. rtlechapl He'ssleepinglikeetop The inspector called at No. 3, John- son's Mews man after ten next morn- ing, but the door waa locked and the bird down. He spoke to Mason after that'worthy was remanded for a week, but a night’s painful seclusion had ceded the burglar-'3 lips. He vowed, with tearful emphasis. to “get even" with the kid who ~“ahted” him .011- the policemen’s evidence had revealed the truth concerning the arrest. But not another word would Mason say about the diamonds, and for a little while the inspector placed his over- night revelations in the category of myths familiar to the police in their daily dealings with criminals. erodianhuing :utuaoulin the at his destination. PAGE THREE.