The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-03-24

board-twelve glittering, glistening,
sparkling, resplendent diamonds, not one
OF which would have looked out of place
ON the shirt-front of Duke Alexis.
The diamond merchant was not q
young man neither was he old and
broken down. He was just about old
enough to sell diamonds, and just about
seedy enough to make folks believe he
would discount thousand dollars on
each precious stone for the sake of OBJ
tanning cash down. He first tackled the
special policeman at the Central depot.
He held up the card, flashing the twelve
diamonds in the officers eyes, and sweet
ly said:
"You are noble-looking man. I've
visited the principal cities of Europe
and Africa, and never saw a more no
ble-looking officer than you are. Ths~a
is only one thing lacking-you should
have one of those diamonds.
"Can't afford it." said the officer,
feeling to see if the lone So bill in his
watch-pocket was safe.
"These diamonds are being sold by
all first-class jewellers at $500 each, !"
whispered the man "but 1 tell you
what I'll do. took 'em on chattel
mortgage, and I'll let you have one for
$25."
"Snide," replied the officer, as he ex-
amined them.
"Snide Dear me but 1 thought
you were keen, sharp fellow. Go with
me to jeweler, and if he denies that
these are diamonds of the first water I'll
give you the whole twelve"
The officer couIdn buy. The man
came down to five dollars, and at last
dropped to two, but it was Saturi day,
and policeman loves chicken for his
Sunday dinner. There was great many
hackmen around the depot. The stranger
went ont among them, selected one
whose makeup betokened good taste,
and drawing him away from the rest he
asked
"You wouldn't go back on poor
man, would your"
"Never," was the earnest reply.
Here's some diamonds / stole in
Paris" whispered the stranger as he
pulled out the card. I'm hard up, and
will sell one or two."
The hackman gazed on the jewels for
half q minute, handed them back, and
began to unbutton his overcoat.
"You have had good bringing up"
whispered the stranger, "and you can
wear one of these diamonds and be con-
sistent. There are men in De-"
"Pll hurt you if you don't go away !"
growled the hackman.
GAS said, I stole these diamonds in
Paris, and I've got to part with one or
two to pay curreut expenses, continued
the peddler.
"You keep right away, or I'll make a
sand-bar OF your nose," replied the
hackman. When want dollar diamond
I'll whittle one out of Eastwood I"
"a dollar diamond Eastwood Whit
tie Is there no taste in Detroit! |"
The hackman rushed at the peddler,
and the peddler had to leave the neigh
borhood of the depot. He went over to
where city expressman sat on his sleigh,
waiting for Job, and such soft, tender,
smile as he smiled would
almost make cabbage plants sprout in
January.
1t isn't very often that one sees
man of your stylish look driving an ex-
press wagon" remarked the stranger.
Take your trunk up, sir 2" asked the
driver "any part of the city Tor fifty
cents"
"Your looks go to show that you once
moved in high circles" continued the
stranger, and have no doubt that you
once wore one of these"
"Ah those are Beauties" said the
driver, as he saw the card of diamonds.
"Guess they are beauties. One of
thom on your shirt front would look
WE'LL"
cit would, that"
"And, owing to the way I got hol d
'em, l can sell you one cheap, found
'em on the street in New York city,
where thief dropped 'em, and I'm hard
up, and will sell you one almost at your
own price,"
"And I must have one," replied the
driver. DO you warrent 'em real dia-
"Of course 1 do"
"And the pin is golda"
"Pure gold, SIR"
"And you want how much 2"
"Well," whispered the stranger, as
he looked all around, eff you won't
blow on me I'll let you have one for
seven dollars"
"Seven dollars" yelled the driver,
" do you think can find food for horse
and nine children, and pay rent, and buy
clothes, and spend seven dollars for
Why, I can buy diamonds
for two shillings I"
"Oh, no you can't. If 1 wasn't hard
up / wouldn't sell one of these for less
than $500"
Haven't I driven an express wagon
in Detroit for fourteen years. Don't /
know the price of diamondsa Wasn't
in the army for three long years
Eli give you twenty cents and no more"
81 couldn't do that"
"Then leave me alone, you swindler
you / believe you came here to steal
my horse blanket IL
The two had fight. It was q one
sided fight. The stranger had his head
jammed into the snow and his breath
shut off, and when he got up his twelve
were missing. Although val
ued at SO, 900, he did not stop to look for
them, but with thumb and finger down
behind his coat-collar to pull out the
snow, he made haste TO be somewhere
else. The driver borrowed pin 10 take