Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-12-09
An Adr0it SWindle.

ONE day a gentleman called in at tn,
store Of Mr.. Ralph Hardman, in Pawtucket
with violin box under his arm. He prlr
chased necktie for which he paid fifty
cents, and then asked permission to leave
f.. his box, While he did few errands dow1
town. Old Hardman-a dealer in new
and second hand clothing-had no objec
ton.
at is a VIOLIN" said the gentleman
(which / prize very highly. 1t was given
me by an Italian who died at my fathers
house. | beg you to be careful of it, sir. y
Mr.. Hartman 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 suit of shoddy for bang
up Prussian tricot, a stranger entered the
store-a remarkably, well dressed man,
with distinguished look. The violin box
was in sight upon the shelf, and no one
being nearto prevent, the new comerslipped
around and opened the box and took out
ancient looking-one.
'Hallop' cried Hardman, when he heard
the sound of the viol, "what for you touch
dat, eh ?"
The stranger explained that he was a
professor--that he was leader of orches-
tra-and that he could never see violin
without trying it, And then he drew the
bow across the strings, playing few pas
sages of fine old German waltz
My soulp' he cried after he had run his
fingers over the instrument awhile, "that
is the best violin l ever sawi There is not
better one in the city-a perfectly genu-
inc old Cremona! will give you a hun
dred dollars for it."
Hardman said it was not his.
Il will give you hundred and fifty
Two hundred"
Mr.. Hardman was forced to explain 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 re-
marking: ma
81 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. Will you do that y"
Hardman said he would:
But" 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. You will be careful and circum,
spect" t .,5<\ .Iusa.t. 81
The stranger went away, and Ralph
Hardnan reflected. In the course of an
hour the owner of the violin returned, and
asked for the box. But the shoddy maj
had been captivated by the golden bait.
What wonld the gentleman sell his VIC
lin for?r re,, el,,, .-E--etrff r,,,
At first the gentleman would not listen
to the proposition; but, after deal of talk
he confessed that he was not himself a pro
fessor, and could not well afford to keep
suchiia valuable instrument. He would
sell it for one hundred and seventy five dol
lars-not penny less.
Ralph Hardman paid the money and be-
came the legal possessor. OF the. violin,
ready to take anywhere from $500 to $500
from the director frthe orchestra, as he
might be able.
i. 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 exam
ined it, and said:
sii'sTwo dollars and a half, without the
boxp'
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,T together they had made him
their victim. That night shoddy was
marked up ten per cent e lea afasa a-a ..-tAFiY