The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1869-08-12
An Adroit Sell.

One day a gentleman called in at the
store of Mr. Ralph Hardman, with
violin box under his arm. He pur-
chased a necktie, for which he paid fifty
cents, and then asked permission to
leave his box while he did few or
rands down town. Old Hardman-a
dealer in new ana second hand clothing
had no objection.
at is violin,' said the gentleman,
(which prize very highly. 1t was
given me by an old Italian, who died
atmy fathers house. l beg you be
careful oft, SIR"
Mr.. Hardnan promised, and the
owner of the precious violin depart
ed.
Toward noon, while the old clothing
dealer WAS very deeply engaged in the
work of selling a suit of shoddy for
bang-up Prussian Tricot, stranger ell
tered the store-a remark able, well
dressed man, with distinguished look
The violin box was in sight upon a
shelf, and as no one was near toprevent,
the newcomer slipped around and
opened the box, and took out the in
strument-a very dark hued and ancient
looking one.
"Hallo!" cried Hardman, when he
heard the sound ofthe viol, "what for
you touch dat, ell :'
The stranger explained that he was
a professor-that he was the leader of
an orchestra-and than he could never
see a violin without trying it. And
! then he drew the bow across the strings,
! playing a few passages of fine old
! German waltz.
"My soul,n he cried, after he had run
his fingers over the instrument awhile,
"that is the best violin | ever saw
! There is not better one in the cty-a
: perfectly genuine old Crcmona! l will
give you hundred dollars for it,
Hardman said it was not his.
"I'll give you a hundred and fifty
Two hundred !"
Mr. Hardman was forced to tell how
the violin came to be left in the store.
The stranger had taken out his pocket
book, and drawn forth two one hundred
dollar bank notes. He put them back
remarking:
Il must have that violin if money
will buy it. When the owner returns
will you ask him to wait for me? If he
cannot wait, ask him to meet me here
49,. l. Il I,,,t
tell him 20 call at the Office of the Treas
urer of the Academy Of Music, and in
Quire for the Director of the Orchestra
Will you do t?'
Hardman said he would
But" suggested the stranger. "yo,
need not tell the man what | said ahou
his viol, nor what I've offered becaus,
he may have an idea of what "A treasur,
he possesses. You will be careful anc
circumspect.'
The stranger went away, and Ra'pl
Hardman reflected. In the course o
! an hour the owner of the violin return
; shoddy man had been captivated by tn
I golden bait.
What would the gentleman sell hi
violin for?
\ At first the gentleman would not lis
ten to the proposition; hut after dea
j, of talk he confessed that he WAS no
himself a professor, ai4d could not We
afford to keep such a valuable instru
men. He would sell it for one hur
dred and seventy five dollars, not a pei
= ny less.
:. Ralph Hardman paid the money, an
became the legal pos-essor of the violll
: ready to take anywhere from three
five hundred dollars from the DrectC
OF the Orchestra, as he might be able
: pay.
But the Director did not come. !
the end of IA week Hardman carried tf
violin to professional friend, and asie
= him what was its real value. His frien
- examined it, and said:
3 1.-TWO dollars aud a half, without IL
box ~
!" Ralph Hardman was strongly Of Il
opinion that the gentleman who le
the violin in his care was a swindle
and that the Director was partner
= the business, and that, together, the
- had made him their victim. That mig
y shoddy was marked up ten per cent.