The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-10-03

ter taking lunch he dropped into
jewelers. establishment.
"I'll see what he says about it,"
thought John, Sand may be he'll give me
a fair price for it. II he does | think
I'll take it, for what is twenty-five or thir.
ty dollars for me now ?"
Sure enough, here was vital question.
He was addressed by u smiling, good
naturcd sort of man. to whom he gave
the watch with perceplible pride of
manner.
about what would " IL call that time.
piece worth p he asked.
The man glanced it over, and some
thing of II smile appeared upon his fea-
lures.
"Where did you got this - he asked,
cycling John curiously.
"Me? oh, I'm dJc1r for en- in this
vicinity !" ne said, somewhat proudly,
and rather mistaking the feeling which
prompted the question.
"Ah indeed !" said the ewcler, look
ing at him again. GLOW do you sell
'cm ?"
"Wcll, | hadn't really set price"
stnmmered John, to whom trading was
rather II new business. IL only got this
one yesterday. | suppose its worth
about hundred dollars
"ls it possible j.
"WMt would you call il worth7
see you have some COOL deal like it
here" in i Ii - some in case.
"No, sir" returned the dealer, rather
quickly. '1've nothing of the kind.
And as you seem to be an honest fellow,
let me tell y u pne thing, canlidIy-tiat
rdich isn't ~ ri cA1W,ng home"
Some Gus ne - nt"rcl at the moment,
and advanced TO the twain, but the shop
man found time to add:
''lt is MS true as you live :"
John left the shop AMI moved across
the street. lie did not believe what the
man told him, but as there was
another shop some distance below, it
would do 70 harm to apply the test.
"IIe feels jealous of me-" thought
John, "and hopes to persuade me out OF
the business OF course it will hurt him
somn, but trade is free
He entered the second shop.
I'll take him little differently. y
was the mental resolnli n-"though il
cant be that I've been swindlcd out OF
my money in that wayl"
The 'welcr was busi'y mt work whcr
the countryman entered, but he io'c OF
seeing that the latter had business will
him.
"A friend of mine wanted me to asl
you abont this watch!" he said, produc
ing the condemned article.
''I> il his ~
81 don't know whether hc has bought
i; or not he talked of it week ago OF
So
The story stuck in Johns throat a lit
tie, but he was moi disposed. to let il
appear that he was concerned party.
"lf he has family OF children, i
might b. worth ten cents as a toy though
such one as those"-pointing to SON,
toys which lay in Il c,sc-''would b,
better, and | sell 'cm for eight cents"
"Ale you honest about it p
There was look of blank diSmay or
TIE features of the qucstioner, whcl
light have betrayed the interest he felt
"Ccrtainly | am. You don't think
this is IA real watch, do you ?"
Il don't know anything about watch
cs," the crest fallen spccuator replied
IL never had one in my life"
swell, he must be n grecny not tC
know the difference. There's no work,
inside, oi any account, nor place for works
l he case is of the poorest kind of brass-
lust compare thrm"-anl he took a gen
uine gold watch from the window, ant
handed it to John.
Even il unpraciiccd eye saw ut 6
glance that he had been dec, ivcd as tt
the watch. His heart sank at the dis
closure, but he felt grateful to the honcs
men who had prevented his making q
fool of himself.
"Now | will convince you," said III,
jewelcr, 'if you are not afraid Of having
this thing spoiled in the looks"
John babe him proceed and he took uT
small vial filed with colorless liq lid
Some Of this he applied to the watcl
he had taken from the window, and after
allowing it 10 remain Il short time, wipet
it off
"lou see it leaves no STAN! !" he said
Now | will make very slight app!lca,
tion to this bogus concern"
lie did so. and The application was fol
lowed by an instant dl>coloration. ii,
wiped it away with the same movement
but the blot could not be cifaced.
81 will gid the place over, if you wish,
he said,
John did not with lie dropped the
bauble into his packet, and started upor
his return. But how CHANGED WAS every.
thing! Ills gold n dreams had all van
ished, the unnatural ligItness and buoy
ancy of hi. step had fled. The deac
swindle in his pocket weighed him dowr
like mill stone. No sooner was he cleal
of the village than he drew it forth,
placed it upon a fiat rock, and chrushec
it with stone till not sembance Of III
original shape was left. Then he drove j
into the ground and stamped down th'
the dirt above it.
"rherc is my twenty-five dollars" HI