Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1908 — The KING of DIAMONDS. [ARTICLE]

The KING of DIAMONDS.

SYNOPSIS TO PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.

Chapter I—At Johnson’s Mews. a alum in London, Philip Anson, a well reared bjy cf about fifteen, loses his mother, the only illative, so far as he knows, that he has in the world. He finds a package of letters, many of them from a Sir Philip Morland, refusing aid f» Mrs. Anson. Mrs. Anson was a Miss Morland and was thought by he* - relatives to have married beneath tier station. H —During a great storm Philip saves a little gin, addressed as Elf, from being crushed by a carriage. In his squalid apartments Philip, sick of the outlook and discouraged, is about to hang himself when a huge meteor falls in the courtyard. Philip, sympathetic and imaginative. regards it as a message from hl« mother in heaven. Ill—With some fragments of the meteor Philip goes to a jeweler. He is told that they are diamonds and is referred to Isaacstein & Co., London's largest dealers in diamonds. IV—lsaacstein is astounded by the gems Philip shows him and has the boy arrested. V—lsaacstein explains in court that the gems are doubtless of recent meteoric origin. Vl—The wife of Sir Philip Morland reads in the papers about Philip and his marvelous diamonds and sends to’Johnson’s Mews to inquire about him. She learns nothing. Philip is dis- - missed from custody. Vll—Philip agrees to supply Isaacstein with a quarter of a million pounds sterling worth of diamonds each year for many years. VIII and IX—At Johnson’s Mews, while Philip is preparing to remove the rest of his diamonds, he detects an Intruder, who, with the assistance of a policeman, is captured. He is a noted criminal named Jocky Mason. Philip removes his diamonds forever from Jonnson's Mews. X, XI and Xll—lsaacstein sells thirty of Philip’s diamonds for £52,000. XIII— Ten years later, when Jocky Mason gets out of prison, he sees the Mary Anson Home For Destitute Boys, which was founded by Philip. XIV —Philip rescues a girl from insuit at the bands of two men, one of whom is Victor Grenier, an ex-fellow convict of Jocky Mason. XV and XVI —The girl rescued by Philip is a Miss Atherley, an opera singer, who proves to be the Elf of Philip’s adventure of many years before. Grenier’s companion was a nephew of Grenier. His name is Langdon.

CHAPTER XVL

to iny chambers,” mutZ tered the youngest of the B y trto. “We are fools to discuss such things here. It is your fault, Grenier. Why did you drop this bombshell on me so unexpectedly? You confounded actors are always looking out for a curtain. You should not try the experiment on your chums In a crowded bar." •Now, my dear Langdon, do be reasonable. How could I tell that the jnere name of Philip Anson would create a scene? You look as sick as a man who has just been sentenced to be hanged, and my old pal Hunter seems to have suddenly gone mad.” Indeed, his words were justified. Mr. James Crichton Langdon was corpsellke in pallor, and Mason, alias Hunter, though his tongue was stilled, bore every indication of a man enraged almost beyond control. “Come away, then,” said Langdon, with a horrible attempt to smile Indifferently. “No, no. There are too many eyes here that we should leave with the air of a set of stage murderers. Sit down. Let us have a nip o{ brandy. Talk about racing, women, anything, for a little Avbtle and then go out quietly.” Grenier was right. A detective bad already nudged an acquaintance and whispered: “The pigeon seems to be upset. And one of the hawks Is in n rare temper too. I’ll keep an eye on that collection."

He watched them through a mirror. He saw Grenier exert himself to put hia companlonH in a better humor. When tliey went out. lie followed and ascertained from the coromissionnaire at the door that tliey had gone toward Shaftesbury avenue. By walking rapidly he sighted them again and saw them turn into a doorway. “Grenier’s chambers!" he said. “What a splefldid nerve that fellow has. Reports himself coolly at Scotland Yard every month and lives in style not half a mile away. How does he manage it? I must make some Inquiry about the others.” Certainly the methods of the superior scoundrels of Ixmdon are peculiar. Grenier knew that he was a marked man In the eyes of tbe police. He knew that the particular saloon bar he affected was the rendezvous not only of others like himself, but of tbe smartest detective officers of the metropolitan force. Yet this was his favorite bunting ground. Where the carcass is there are tbe jackals. He would never dream of honest endeavor in a new land to begin life anew. The feast was spread Imfore his eyes, and lie could not resist it. But Grenier was a eareful rogue. After a boyhood of good training and education, be drifted into a bad set at the beginning of bis adult career. Once. Indeed, he endeavored to put his great natural abilities to some reasonable use by going on tbe stage. The Industrious hardship of the early years of an actor’s striving were not to his liking, however. No sooner bad he attained a position of trust as Manager of a touring company than he tampered with moneys intrusted to his care. He was not actually found out, but suspected and dismissed. Then the regular gradations,of crime came naturally to him. Gambling, card sharping, company frauds, even successful forgery, succeeded each other in their recognized sequence, until at last came detection and a heavy sentence, for tbe authorities bad long waited for him to drop into the net Now that be was free, he did not Intend to revisit any of his majesty’s

By Louis Tracy,

Author of ••Wings of the Morning,” ”The Pillar of Light,” Etc.

convict settlements if be could help it Hie wits were sharpened, his coo) intellect developed by prison life and associations. He personally would keep clear of the law and make others support him. He would depend on two classes of contributors—fools, like Langdon, and slow witted criminals, like Mason. Being a really clever man, it would be strange if his own middle path were not kept clear of fetters. In the mystery surrounding Philip Anson’s Influence over these two be scented Interesting developments. Beginning with a young rake’s attempt to' ensnare a beautiful girl, be suddenly discovered a situation pregnant with the potentiality of gain to himself. It did not matter to him who paid him, whether Anson or Langdon. He would betray one or the other or both impartially. Mason he liked. The man’s ragged Strength of character, his sledge hammer villainy, his dogged acceptance of the leadership of a more skilled rascal, appealed to him. Mason was a tool, and a hard hitting one. He would use him, safeguard him if be could, but use him anyhow. In the seclusion of Grenier’s small flat Langdon poured out his spleen. Anson was the bane of his life. His stepfather was Anson’s uncle, and the old idiot recently found out certain facts concerning the life led by, his stepson that caused a family rupture. His mother endeavored to patch matters with ill success, and the baronet was Intent on finding his sister’s son and atoning to him for years of neglect by making him his heir.

Lady Louisa concealed nothing of this from her scapegrace son. She hoped to frighten him by the threatened loss of supplies, but neither fright nor hatred could bring him to leave London and settle down to a quiet life in Devonshire, when perhaps the elderly naturalist’s fit of indignation might gradually wear Itself out. At this crisis came his discovery of Evelyn Atherley and a mad desire to win her affections. He even dreamed of persuading her to marry him and by this means succeed in rehabilitating himself with Sir Philip Morland. The girl was well born. Mrs. Atherley was Lord Vanstone’s half sister, and, although bls lordship had ruined himself and his relations by his extravagance, the match was in every other respect suitable. He was not content with the slow formula of seeking an acquaintance in the ordinary way. Accustomed to speedier conquests, be confided his wishes to Grenier and resented the latter’s condemnation of his suggestion of a mock accident In which Langdon should figure as the gentlemanly rescuer, as a ready means of winning tbe girl's grateful regard. The result was worse than failure. He was wild with himself, wild with Grenier and reached a higher pitch of fury when Mason surlily refused to say what grievance he harbored against Anson.

“A nice muddle Tve made of everything!” cried the disappointed youth. “And a precious lot of friends I’ve discovered! I tell you everything, place myself unreservedly in your power, and you not only let me drift into a stupid blunder, but decline to share your confidences with me.” He rose to go, but Grenier firmly pus bed. him back into a chair. “Don't be a bigger fool than you are, Jlminle, and leave those who will help you. I told you the cab adventure was a mistake. It might go wrong in twenty ways and right only in one. And you must admit that I never heard of Anson from you until tonight.” ”1 may be to blame,” was the sulky admission, “but who is your friend Hunter, and why does he not be as outspoken as I?” “There are reasons. Hunter was cleaned out In Africa on account of Anson’s manipulation of a diamond mine. He wants to get even with him. That should be enough for you.” Mason smiled sourly at bls leader's ready explanation, and Langdon saw only the venom in the man’s face. “He ought to have said so,” he muttered. “I am in no mood to be denied tbe confidence of those who act with me In this matter. In any case, what can we do?" Grenier procured a decanter of brandy and passed his cigarette case. “We can accomplish nothing without money.” “Money! What avail is money against a millionaire?” “None directly. Yon would be swamped instantly. But we must knowL- more about Anson. He has servants. They can be made to talk He has susceptible cooks and housemaids in Park lane and at whatever place be owns in tbe country. I am great - with cooks and housemaids. There is a mystery, an unfathomable mystery, about his supply of diamonds. It must be probed”— “No mystery at all,” snarled Jocky Mason. “He found a meteor In a slum called Johnson’s Mews. It was cram full of diamonds. I saw gome of ’em.” “You saw them!” His hearers allowed all other emotions to yield to the interest of this astounding statement

“Yes. I don’t say much; I get. You’ll get no more out of me. I want none of you* girls or property. I want Philip Anson’s life, and FH have ft if I swing fbr it!” “My dear Hunter, you are talking wildly. Have another drink?” Grenier, cool as an Icicle, saw unexpected vistas opening before him. He must be wary and collected. Here was tinman who would pay and the man who would dare all things. Mason’s truculent determination gave hope even to Langdon. He, too, gifted with a certain power of vicious reasoning, saw that this new ally might prove useful. But he was afraid of such bold utterances and hoped to achieve his purposes without binding himself even tacitly to the commission of a crime, for Mason not only looked, but talked, murder. “I think I bad better go,” be said suddenly. “Your brandy Is too strong for my head. Grenier. Call and see me in the morning.” The astute rogue whom he addressed raised no objection to his departure. He Instantly embraced Langdon’s attitude in his wider horizon. “Yes,” he agreed, “let us sleep on it. We will all be better able to discuss matters more clearly tomorrow.” Thenceforth the flat in Sbaftesbur. avenue became a spider's web Into which the flies that buzzed around Philip’s life were drawn one by one, squeezed dry of their store of information and cast forth again unconscious of the plot being woven against their master.

Within a month Grenier knew Anton’s habits, bls comings and goings, bls bankers, his brokers, many of his investments, the names of his chief employees, the members of his yacht’s crew, the topography of his Sussex estate. Nothing wfts too trivial, no detail too unimportant, to escape a note undecipherable to others and a jiiche in a retentive memory. He made a friend of one of Philip’s footmen by standing treat and listening reverently to his views on the next day’s racing. He persuaded one kitchen maid in Park lane and another at Fairfax Hall that he bad waited all bls life to discover a woman he could love devotedly. It was a most Important discovery when he unearthed in a dingy hotel the man whom Philip bad dismissed for tnmi>erlrig with tbe locked portmanteau. From this worthy he first heard of the quaint adjunct to the belongings of tbe young millionaire, and judicious inquirj’ soon revealed that there was hardly a servant in Philip's employ who did not credit tlie Gladstone bag with being the repository of the millionaire’s fortunes. Ordinary people will credit any nonsense when* diamonds are concerned. Even an educated criminal like Victor Grenier believed there might be some foundation for the absurd theory which found ready credence among tbe domestics. He never made the error of planning a burglary or adroit robbery whereby the bag might come into bis possession. If it did contain diamonds, and especially if it contained unique specimens, It was absolutely useless to him. But bls vitals yearned for Anson’s gold, and tbe question be asked himself in every unoccupied moment was how he might succeed in getting some portion of it into his own pocket. One day a quaint notion entered his mind, and the more tbe thought of it the more it dominated him. He wag tall and well made, if slim in figure, and bls face had never lost tbe plasticity given it by his stage experience. He had only heard Philip’s voice once, but his features and general appearance were now quite familiar to him, and he undertook a series of experiments with clothing and makeup to ascertain if he could personate Anson sufficiently well to deceive any one who was not an intimate acquaintance. Soon the idea became a mania, and the mania absorbed the man’s intellect. To be Philip Anson for a day, a week! What would he not give for the power! (To be continued.)

SINCERE THANKS

If Yow Have Catarrh, Asthma or Bronchitis, Read What Thankful People Say About Hyomel. Mrs. M. A. Drake,- Utica, N. Y., writes: "I could not speak above a whisper, I inhaled Hyomei, and it gave me instant relief. Hyomei will cure Catarrh and Bronchitis if used as directed.” Lodwlck Edwards, 1323 Madison Ave., Columbus, 0., writes: "I will let you know what your Hyomei inhaler did for me. It cured me of my Bronchitis all right. I feel very thankful to you for your valuable medicine.” Mrs. Bertha Weekly, Pleasantville, Pa., rites: “I want you to know I used your Hyomei for Hay Fever with good results, having suffered with it for many years, and this is the first* thing I ever found that ever gave me any relief.” Hyomei will cure Catarrh, Bronchitis, Hay Fever, Asthma, Coughb or Colds, and B. F. Fendlg will give you your money back if it don’t. It is a pleasant remedy, and gives relief instantly. Just breathe it in through the pocket Inhaler that comes with every 31.00 outfit. Extra bottles for subsequent treatment are only 50 cents. D. M. Worland sells the U. S. Cream Separator, and there Is none better, also high-grade sewing machines, both on easy terms, also an especially prepared lubricating oil for them. Call phone 23 and one will be delivered by Dave’s lightning express service.