The union Democrat. [volume] (Sonora, Calif.) 1854-1946, 1870-12-24
An Adrei, swiadle.

One CAV gentleman caueu IN at TIE Stufs
of Mr.. Ralph Hardman, in Pawtucket, with
violin box under his arm. He purchased
neck tie for which he paid fifty cents. and
then asked permission to leave his box. while
he did few errands down town. Old Hard
man--a dealer in new and secondhand cloth
ipg-had no objection.
ut is 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. aud the owner Of
the precious violin departed.
Toward noon, while the old clothing dealer
was very deeply engaged in the work of SELL
ing suit of shoddy for bang up Prussian
tricet, stranger entered the store-a re-
markably, we'll dressed man, with distin-
guished look. The violin bex was in sight
upon tie shelf, and no one being near to pre-
vent, the new conner slipped around aud open
ed the box and took out the instrumental
very da7k-hued and ancient looking-one
Halo ~ cried Hardmau, when he heard
the sound of the violin, "what for you touch
dat. ell ?''
The stranger explained that he was a pro-
fesSor-that he was leader of orchestra
and that he could never see violin without
trying it. And then he drew the bow across
the strings, playing few passages Of a fine
old German waltz.
"My SOUL" he cried after he bad run his
fingers over the instrument awhile, "that is
the best violin | ever saw There is net q
better one in the city-a perfectly genuine
old Cremonal l will give you hundred
dollars for it"
Hartman said it was not his.
81 will give you hundred and fifty Two
hundred
Mr.. uardman was forcel to explain how
the violin came to be left in the store.
The stranger bad taken out his pocket
book and drawn forth two one hundred dol
lar bank notes. He put them back remark
ing;
81 must have the..violin if money will buy
it. When the owner returns, will you ask
him to wait for nue. If he cannot wait, ask
him to meet me here at o'clock. II he can
not do that, tell him to call at the Office of the
Treasurer Of the Academy of Music. and in
quire for the director of the orchestra. Will
you do that?
lIardman said he would.
"But," suggested the stranger, hyou
need not tell the man what | said about his
violin. nor what I've offered; because he may
have no idea of the treasure he possesses.
You will be careful and circumspect.n
The stranger went away, and Ralph Hard
man reflected. In the course of an hour the
owner of the violin returnd, and asked for
the box. But the shoddy man had been cap
tivated by the golden bait.
What would the gentleman sell his violin
for?
At first the gentleman would not listen to
the proposition but, after q deal of talk, he
confessed that he was not himself professor,
and could not we'll afford to keep such val
liable instrument. He would sell it for one
hundred and seventy-fve dollars-not pen
ny 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 of the orchestra as he might be able.
But the director did not come. At the
ED of the week Hardman carried the violin
to professional friend, aud asked him what
was its real value. His friend examined it,
and said:
"Two dollars and half, without the box ~
Ralph Hartman was strongly of the opin-
ion that the gentleman who left the violin ID
his care was swindler and that the direct
or was q partner in the business, and that,
together, they had made him their victim.
That night shoddy was marked up ten per
cent.