Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-12-02
An Adroit SNindle.

| -4 ONE day a gentleman called, in at the
! store of Mr.. Ralph Hardman, in Pawtucket,
| with a violin box Under his arm He pur-
chased a necktie for nwhichul lie paid fifty
cents and then asked permissionto leave
his box, while he did, few erTands down
town. Old Hardman-a desler,,in new
and second hand clothingg--had no objec-
| ton,
"Tt is a vio1in," said the gentleman,
(Which prize very highly. 1t was given
me by an italian, who diedat my,fathers
1 house beg YOU to be careful of it, sir"
Mr.. Hartlman promised, and the owner
of the precious violin departed,
| 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 entered the
storeAa remarkably, well dressed man,
with distingViishedlook 4Theyiolin box
was in sight upon the shelf. and no one
being gnearte prevent the new, conner slipped
around and opened the box apd took out
the instrument very 1ar dark 1tT lit1ed and
"TTallof' cried Hardnlan, when he heard
the sound of the viol, what for you touch
dat, elI?" "-y s.a - .si.aas saT
+" The stranger explained that he was a
professor-5that he was a leader Of, orches-
| tTa.-7and that he could never. see a violin
without trying it, And then he drew the
| bow across the strings, playing a few pas
| sages Of fine old Gernangwaltzsst
4 "My soull' he cried after he had run his
4 fingers over the instrument awAile, "that
is the best violin Lever sawl There is not
a better one in the city-Za perfectly genu-
inc & 9ld , Cremona WI VIII g give ego you hun
Hartman said it was not hisAissa
II will give. you a hundred l'and fifty
| Two hundred" .s.rsfib iD0
Z Mr.. Hardman was forced to explain how
the violin came to be left in thelstore.
- The stranger had taken out his pocket
! book and drawn forth two one hundred
dollar bank notes. He put them back re-
marking: --'7 s- u si't1i-
II must have the 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 at o clock.
If 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 that?"
Hardman said he would.
"B1t," suggested the stranger, you
need not tell the man what said about
his viol, nor what I've offered because he
may have no idea of the treasure he pos
sesses;;, Yon1will be, careful and and circum-
Espeet." ,,s.,.,.,. s,.... -, -,
Hardma11 reflected In the course of an
4 hour the owneriof thezyiOlin returned and
asked for the bexll But the shoddy man
! had been oaptiyated BY the golden bait.
/ :, What,wonld the gentleman sell Ell his vio-
lin for2 f. ,.
At first the gentleman would not listen
TO the proposition but after adeal of talk,
he confessed that heiwas not himself pro-
fessor, and could not well aadHty to keep
1such valuable instrument Il lHe would
sell it for oneihundred and seventy five dol
! lars-pot penny less. -,...-l y
Ralph Hardman paid the money and be-
came the legal possessor OF the violin,
ready to take anywhere from .S3UD to 5000
from the director of the orchestra, as he
might be able. t,'a e6I M hfsL
But the director did not ceme.. AT the
! end of a week Hardman carried the violin
to a professional friend, ana asked him
what was its real value. His friend exam
| ined it, and said : s1f9 aa5l eiIvas
'Two dollars and a half without the
4 I,boxlni-- ..sf-l l.,..-aI
Ralph Hardman was strongly OF the
opinion that the gentleman Who left the
violin in his care was swindler and that
the director was partner in the business,
and that, together, they had made him
their victim That night sboddy was
marked up ten per cent.