The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-09-09
AN ADROiT SELL.

One day a gentleman called in at the store
of Mr., Ralph Hardman, in rawtucket, with
a violin box under his arm. He purchased
Il nccLtie, for which he paid fifty cents, anG
then asked permission to leave the box while
he did Il few errands down-town. OLD
IIardmal--a dealer in new and 1rcond-hans
clothing-hatl no objections
1t j. a Yolin," said the gentleman
(which | prize very highly 1t was given
me hy an old Italian who died ut my faith
er's house. beg YOU TO hr careful of it,
~ir
Nh Hartman promised and the owner ot
the precious VOL departed.
Toward Mhilc the old tlothjno deal
er was very deeply engaged in the work OF
selling II suit of sho'lly for bang-up Prussian
Tricot, Il stranger entered the store; re-
markablp. we'll dressed man. with Il dStin-
guiShrd look The violin bon was in Sinht
upona shelf, and rs no one WAS near prevent
the new conner ,ippr'l around and opened
the box. and took out the Instruments
very dark-huel and ancient looking one
''IIallo - cried Hartman, when he heard
the sound of the yoI, "what for You touch
dat, eh p
The stranger explained that he was pro-
tessor-lhat he was 4 leader of I'm orchestra
and that he never saw Il violin without try
ing it. And then he drew the bow across
the strings playing q few passages OF u fine
Old German waltz.
'My soul.' he cried after he had run his
fingers over the instrument awhile, ''tlAt is
the best violin ! ever saw . There is not a
better one in the city-a perfectly genuine
old Cremona will give you hundred
dollars for it." Hartman said ii was not his
Il will give you a hundred and fifty Two
hundred"
Mr. IIaltlman was forced to explain how
the violin came to be LETT in the store
The stranger had taken out his pocket
book and drawn forth two one hundred dol
lar bank notes. He put them back. re
marking
= | must have that violin if money will
buy it, When the owner returns, will you
ask him to wait for me? If he can not wait,
ask him to meet me here ut & o'clock. 1t
he can not do that, tell him to call ut the
Office OF the treasurer of the Academy OF
Music and enquire for the Director OF the
Orchestra. Win You do that -
IIardman said he would.
: But" suggested the stranger, ''you
need not tell the man what said about his
violin nor what I've offered; because he
may have an idea of the treasure he possess
cs You will be careful and circumspect.
The stranger went away, and Ralph
Ilartman reflected In the course of M
hour the owner of the violin returned, and
asked for the box But the Shoddy man
had been captiv:tcd BY the golden bait.
What would the gentleman sell his violin
for?
At first the gentleman would not listen tc
the proposition: but after a deal of talk h,
confessed that he was not himself a profess
OF, and could no. well afford to keep such !;
valuable instrument, lie would sell it tol
one hundred and seyentyllve dollars, not !;
penny less.
Ralph Harlman paid the money, and be
came the legal posseSsor of the violin, ready
to take anywhere from $500 to $500 from
| the director of the orchestra, as he might b(
able.
But the director did not come. At Tho
end of a week Har,man carried the violin
to a professional friend and asked him whl
was its real value His friend examined it
and said:
"Two dollars and half, without the box!'
| Ralph lIardman was strongly of the opin
ion that the gentleman who left the violil
in his care was swindlcr and that til,
director was Il partner in the business, an1
that, together, they had made him their vie
tim. That night shoddy was marked W
ten per cent.
"My dear, what shall we name Bub p
"Why, husband, have settled on til,
| name of PctrrN