The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-08-12

One day gentleman called at the store
If Mr.. Ralph Hardman with Vlolin-oo2
under his arm. He purchased neck.tle,
for which he paid fifty cents, and then asked
nermiggion to leave his box while ne old
few pyramids down town. Old Hartman"
dealer in new and secondhand clothing
had no objection. ;, .,o,
ar is q violin,' said the gentleman,
1. which 7 nrize very highly. 1t was given
uo hv IN old Italian who died at my ia
80 bonse beg you will be careful OF
Mr.. Hardman 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 shoddy tor oang-nP
Prussian Tricott, stranger entered the
store-a remarkably well-dressed man.
with distinguished look. The violin-bo1
was in sight upon the shelf, and as no one
was near to prevent, the newcomer slipped
around and opened the box and took outline
Instruments very dark-hued and an an
cent-looking one.
"Hallo?'' cried Hardman, when ne
heard the sound of the violin. what 1or
you touch dat, eh 7"
The stranger explained that he was pro-
fassor-tbat he was leader of an orches-
tra-and that he could never see violin
without trying it. And then he drew the
bow across the strings, playing few pas
saces of fine old old German waltz.
:" NV soul - he cried, after he had run
his fingers over the instrument awhile,
ssthis is the best violin | ever saw ! There
oil narfppt
inc old Cremona will give you hum
dred dollars for it."
Hardman said it was not his.
~ will give you hundred and ttty-tWo
hundred"
Mr.. Hardman was forced to explain how
the violin came to be left in his store.
The stranger had taken out his pocket
book, and Drawn forth two one-hundred
dollar bank notes. He put them back, re-
marking: -,
81 must have the violin if money will
buy it. When the owner returns, you Will
ask him to meet me here at 6 o'clock. Ii
he cannot do that, tell him to call at the
Office of the treasurer of the Academy OF
Music. and inquire for the director Of the
orchestra. VIII you do it,"
"But." suggested the stranger, "you
need not tell the man what l have said
about his violin, nor what [ have offered,
because he may have no idea of what q
treasure he possesses. You will be careful
and circumspect."
The stranger went away, and Ralph
Hardman reflected. In the course of an
hour the owner of the violin returned and
asked for his box. But the shoddy man
had been captivated by the golden bait.
What would the gentleman sell his violin
for?
At first the gentleman would not listen to
the proposition; but after deal of talk he
confessed that he himself was not probes
sor, and could not well afford to keep such
o valuable instrument.
He would sell it for one hundred and
gevcnty-fve dolars-not penny less.
Ralph Hardman paid the money, and be-
came the legal possessor of the violin,
ready to take anywhere from three hundred
to five hundred dollars from the director OF
the orchestra, as he might be able.
But the director did not come. At the
end Of week Hardman carried the violin
to professional friend and asked him what
was its real value. His friend examined it
and said
"Two. dollars and a half without the
box"
Ralph Hardman was strongly of the
opinion that the gentleman who left the
violin in his care was q swindler, and that
the director was partner in the business,
and that, together they had made him their
victim. That night shoddy was marked up
ten per cent.