Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-11-04
The Sturp Teller.
HOW | WAS VICTIMIzED.

will not mention the name of the firm
with which was some years ago, connect
ed, but let it suffice that their name was wei
known in the jewelry trade. l was will
them some twelve or fourteen years, and |
was during that period that the incident
am about to relate occurred.
was seated one day busily examining
some stones which were to be reset, wheI
the principal came softly In.
''Lock those up, Willis" he said, sand g
and attend to those parties in the front show
room. Thomas is with them, and dom
half like their looks.
hurried into the showroom to relieve
Mr.. Thomas of his task, and proceeded tc
listen to the demand of tall lady and gen
t!eman in black, both of when wore respi
rators, and spoke in low husky voices. The
gentleman looked very pale and i'll, and the
lady was very closely veiled.as to the upper
part of her face; but upon my approach she
threw up her veil, and displayed the bright
bold eyes of a very handsome woman.
swell, Lila, what is it TO be ?" said the
gentleman.
al thought you had decided, love-" was
the reply. Something simple, and not toe
expensive now, whatever you may decide
upon hereafter. Why not keep to what
you said-a bracelet or cross ?"
Iproceded to open case after case of brace
lets Of all prices, but though they were fas-
tidous and hard to please, was bound to
confess tie lady's taste was excellent, and
that the gentleman was no mean connoisseur
in gems. :, -.
81 rather like that, said the gentleman at
last, selecting very pretty but slight brace
let, set with sapphire, surrounded by pearls.
"What is the price ?"
"That is sixty guineas," said.
:, Yes, 1t is pretty enough" SAID the lady ;
"but not sufficiently good"
" You mean not valuable enough" said
the gentleman "but you know the old
proverb about the gift horse. Lucille will
not study the value, depend upon it and,
besides, don't see anything like half so
we'll?
"Haye it then, dear" was the reply and
then, directly after, "Ah, what sweet
cross !" exclaimed the lady, looking at an
enamel and gold ornament lying in case
and which I Immediately opened-for
must confess l had almost forgotten our
principals suspicious.
SIT is a sweet little thing I" exclaimed the
lady, examining the cross "such fine
pearl, too, in the centre. l should like it. y
What, to give to Lucille p said the gen.
tleman, smiling.
"No; of course not. l fancicd It my
SELF"
"What is the price of the CROSSE" said
the gentleman.
l named it.
1t seems good deal for so small an or
nament," said the gentleman, turning and
returning the cross, but, after n little hesita-
tion, he decided to take it.
WI, md tho, al 7 s.,s \
"Ah we'll take them," said the lady ;
"we will not trouble you to send."
explained that it would be no trouble,
but they held to their determination and
on payment being requested, the gentleman
drew out a cheque-book, asked for pen and
ink and wrote cheque for one hundred
and ten guineas upon small city bank.
Now it was that my lips become q little
tighter, and / felt that the principal had had
some cause for his suspicious; and thorough
ly on my guard took the cheque, and ex-
planned that it was rule of the establish
ment that goods should not be delivered
until cheque had beef presented
''Ah, quite right, quite right" said the
gentleman quietly, and without displaying
the slightest annoyance. 81 can easily sup,
pose that you are obliged to be careful"
But the lady looked angry, and returned
my bow very distantly, as 1 ushered them
out, having promised TO send the purchases
on to the fashionable hotel-Moores, In
Brook street-at which they were staying
All farce, but well carried out, l sale
to the principal as he came up TO me, and
showed him the check and the card giver
me, bearing the name; "Mr. II. Elliston
Ross" and in pencil, "Mleores Hotel.
But we'll send the check all the same
Here Johnson"
The principal shrugged his shoulders; ant
as johnson came up TO where l was carefully
running over the various items of iewelry
to see that nothing had been stolen, CAV,
him the check, and he went cityward.
To our intense astonishment, at an hour
end, johnson returned smiling.
"All right, sir" he said.
"Why, you don't mean
"All right, sir" he said. ''Chcck cashe,
IN an instant hundred and fifteen pounds
ten shillings."
A month passed, when one cold Januar.
day was in tho show room, and the sam
lady made her appearance alone. She still
wore her respirator, but looked very pale
haggard and troubled. The bold look secme
to have gone from her eyes and as re
Judged her, for she began to speak tenderl
of her husband, Mr.. Ross, who was lyin
very i'll at the hotel.
| 81 have brought back the cross TO be re
paired" she said, drawing the little morocco
case from her rich sable muff "The rim
was too slight, and II broke from my nccklt
the second time it was worn. had maj
row escape of losing IT. but Mr.. Ross found
himself upon the lawn, trodden into til
grass. l thought would leave it until W
came up again. Ofcourse, you can repai
it,"
expressed my sorrow, and promised t
have it seen to at once.
tsYou need not hurry for few days. MI
Ross is in town to consult Sir Ealing Dean
and fear he will send us to Madeira. Til
climate is killing my poor husband"
sour friend was delighted with the littl
bracelet, a gift which Mr.. Ross wishes I
supplement with something little NOR
valuable. Perhaps I could be allowed t
select n few things for you to submit to hi
choice at the hotel? Iknow Lis taste no,
pretty well, and it will save trouble"
"Anythng you would like to select sha
be sent ma'am," said; and l then proceed
ed to open and display to their best advaI
tage some very valuable bracelets, whic
were one and all rejected.
"Yes," she said sadly, "they are all yer
handsome but Mr.. Ross would not liE
them, am sure, and 1t is useless to tall
things on that he would not approve. Ii
taste was always good; and as his heall
fails, 1t seems to have acquired an indescri
! able tone that cannot explain, except th
it is artistic, and dreamy"
i" 1t is only fair to say" said the lady sml
ing-at least, could see that she was sm
. ing, in spite of her respirator--" that NJ
, Rois will not purchase many Of these orn
. ments. know he would like a watch al
chain, and a ring. Perhaps, too, if he a
mired them, one Of those pearl suites
! l thought it better to speak, as since his /
ness he has become, not irritable-but-b
: perhaps little hard to please, and shou
be sorry if he rejected everything "
a brought"
+ SO much delicacy was displayed in the
! remarks that could only courteously
), sure her that we should only be happy
a attend again and again upon Mr.. Ross
l. we had hit upon something that he admir-,
l. and upon promising to send the select
o goods on the next morning at eleven, Q
visitor rose to go
!. 81 would ask you to send this afternoon
# said the lady, on rising, but don't thi
Mr.. Ross quite well enough. He saw {
n physician this morning, and the intervic
are always very trying to his nerves"
er placed the little cross in the workme
Ct hands for repair; and the next morni