Los Angeles daily herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1873-1876, 1874-05-17


where a tolerable variety of jewelry
was displayed. Twas duly introduced
to the proprietor, Mr.. Roshong, who
appeared like a German Jew.
al have brought this gentleman to
examine my diamonds" he said.
Roshong looked little dubious.
My new acquaintance smiled.
81" DO not fear,n he said; you may
bring them out and exhibit them with
perfect freedom; and L do not doubt
that he will be pleased to show you in
| return such a set of diamonds as it has
not heretofore been my fortune to be-
hold" z&
"Py all means, my, tear sir! II you
! hat der fine shewels, moost see dem.
Der exshelent shewels; dey turn my
poor dead"
1 drew my prize from my pocket
with heart alpitating with pleasure,
| for thus will things which ones vanity
reduces TO mere baubles, make an ar
rant fool of him.
"Ah, mein herr will no more ply
mein profession Vor vat can poor
Roshong do after beholding der sight
like dat? But, hold! will show der
admirable shewels of mein friend, in
Won case so like der Won dat ish SO
happy as to contain your marvellous
diamonds, dat you no tell ter differ
ence between dem.
Whereupon, he went to the rear of
his shop, and soon returned with a
case exactly like my own, and laying
| it on the counter beside mine, he
opened 1t, displaying what appeared to
he nj ~ IF RI 10 do
was free in my expressions of ad-
miration, determined not to be out
done in generous reception of the
merits of anothers jewelry, which he
evidently cherished as much as l did
mine.
But presently an incident occurred
which caused the scales of vanity and
stupidity to drop from my eyes.
After having INDUCED very freely in
mutual admiration of the sets, placed
side by side, We fell into an interest
ing conversation on the various phases
of the jewelers. art, until, almost un-.
consciously to myself, the dusk began
to settle in. Suddenly, while in the
midst of a discourse on the marvellous
performances of a certain European
jeweler, whose name do not at this
moment recall, RoshOng started for
ward and, staring out of the window,
cried:
"Vat vas dat striking mein vim
dow ?" -
1 turned to follow the direction of the
Germans stare; but my eye was in
stantly caught by movement which
was much more important to me, at
least. 1t was not SO dark but what [
could see objects reflected in the glass
side of a counter-case, which occupied
a separate and somewhat prominent
position between us and the window.
Now, as 1 looked toward the window,
I saw reflected in this side quick and
truly lightning-like movement of the
admirer of nay diamonds, who was in
M rear. This movement was to shift
position of the jewel-cases, which was
closed just before our examination be-
ing finished.
AS l before remarked, the scales
dropped from my eyes. My urbane
friend was revealed TO me in his true
character.
1 was now as rash as 1 had hereto
fore been foolish Turning upon the
man, seized my exchanged case in
one hand, and clinching the other,
shook it in his face, and exclaimed:
~ see it, you scoundrel II See it!
You have got me here to rob me l
see it all. You may laugh at me for
being a fool, but not with my dia-
mcnds in your pocket You're a gang
/ know you-your'e gang ~
The scoundrel, seeing his game was
up, uttered an oath, and cried out,
Roshong, close the door ~ Then,
leaping upon me, he made a grab for
the diamonds with his right hand, at
the same time dealing me powerful
blow with his left.
l staggered back, still clinging to
the case, and my assailant followed
me up. He was about delivering an
other blow, which I saw was to be a
wicked one, when the jeweler, by some
happy miss, proved that two may be
weaker than one, for, rushing up be-
hind me, he made such bungling at.
tempt to assist his accomplice, that
the next instant found us all on the
floor together.
By good fortune / rolled out almost
instantly from the other two, and, be-
ing myself a man of much vigor and
quickness, [ leaped to my feet, and
still grasping the diamonds in my left
hand, seized II stool with my right,
and, springing to the window,
smashed it into thousand pieces;
then leaped through and called for the
police.
You will readily believe me when I
tell you that there was rush for that
shop such as had never been made for
it before. My urbane friend and the
discursive German picked themselves
up and made for the rear, but the lat
ter, who was an unwieldy sort of u fell
low, was almost Immediately caught;
and the other, after hard chase, suf-
fered the same fate. They both found
quarters at Chatham, which, for poor
Roshong, who was SO attached to his
time-honored shop, must have been
the cause of much inconsistencies. AS
for myself, 1 still keep my diamonds,
but with due restraint of spirit.