The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1869-08-18

ture. Several wlthered trees III the WOODS
through which it passed were set opdre.
aud continue burning STILL
AN ADR0IT SELL.
One day gentleman casirii at ne stnre
Of Mr.. Ralph Hardman with ? ,ioiin-oox
under his arm. He purchased neck tie.
for which he paid fifty cents. and then asked
permission to leave his bex while he did a
few errands down town. Old llardman--a
dealer in new and seconL-hsnd clothing
bad 40 objection.
.It is a violin" said the gentleman,
(which prize very highly. L was given
me by an Italian who died at my fathers
house. | beg you will be careful Of it. sir"
Mr.. Hardnan promised. and the owner
Of the precious violin departed.
Towards noon, while the old clothing
dealer was very deeply engaged in the work
Of selling suit OF shodty for bang-up
Prussian Tricott, stranger entered the
s,ore--a remarkably weli-dresset man,
with distinguished look. The vlolin-box
was in sight upon the shelf, and as no one
was near 70 prevent, the newcomer slipped
around and opened the box and took out the
instrument-a very dark-hued and an an
cient.looking ODE.
"Ilallo:" cried Hardman, when he heard
the sound OF the violin. "Wbat for you
touch dat, eh u
The stranger explained that he was a
proiessOr--thal he was leader OF an or
chestra-and that he could never see vi
olin without trying il. And then he drew
the bow across the strings, playing few
passages of fine old German waltz.
INV soul !" lie cried. after he had run
his fingers over the instrument awhile, "thIs
is the best violin ever saw There is NOT
a better in the city-a perfect. genuine old
Cremena! | will give you hundred dol
lars for IT,
Hardman said it was not bis.
.Iwlll give you a hundred and fifty
lwc hunred."
Mr. Hartman was forced 10 explain how
the violin came TO be left IN his store.
The stranger had taken out bis pocket
book, and drawn forth two one hondred
dollar bank notes. He put them back, ne
marking:
Il must have the violin il money vii
bny it. When the owner returns, you Will
ask him TO meet me here at 6 o'clock. lihe
cannot 10 that, tell him 10 call at the office
of the treasurer Of the Academy oi Music.
and inquire for the director Of theorchestra.
Will YOU do il :"
Hartman said be would. :,
,, .But suggested tue stranger, you neea
not tell the man what have said about tIs
violin, nor what have uRered. because he
, may have no idea Of what treasure he
! possesses. You will be careful and cIrcum-
! sPect." p.,nL
. The stranger went away, and Ralph
Elardman reflected. In The course ol an
> hour the owner Of the violin returned aud
asked Tor his box. But The shoddy mah
had been eaptiyaIed by the golden bait.
What would the gentleman sell his rIolln
, for.
/. At FIRST the gentleman would not listen
!, to The proposition; but after deal OF talk
!, he confessed that he himself was not pro-
Q lessor, and could not well afofd to keep
!, such a valuable instrument.
D He would sell il Tor one hundred and
: seventy five dolls.s--not . penny less.
! Ralph HardInan paid the moncs, and be.
: came The legal possessor u tue siolIu, rea =
4 dy to take anywhere from three hundred 10
. five hundred dollars from the director OF
/. the orchestra, as he might be able.
But the director did not come, AZ the
I end of a week Hardman carried The violin
. 10 professional friend aud asked him what
was lis real value. Ills friend examined it
! and said.
aTwo dollars and halfwithout the box"
Ralph Hardman was strongly Of the
opinion that the gentleman who left the vi.
olin in his care was swindlsr, and that the
director was partner 10 the business, and
that, together, they bad made him their
victim. That night sho,ldy was marked up
ten per cent.
r.ilUSrlSo oPARry.-A friend ipIorms
J ps teat ne was "a meeting ol . party u sen-
y demsn Yin Loenburg county, Who. /, an.
.,SS''ss dorias destruction to The crows and
- genileman. Lyast twelve months. An
KID e"'y MY! years old. sshiRgs,ms q Ben Smith.
took took 1"'e =. shouts. IS his ss.a5 sa5 crow bills
rsded e ~ y rreniu". The ,s1,s NJ i sark. lie
0e'"een 5000 and s'ooo @ss ps,,y pa.