Morris tribune., 1880-11-04
DETECTIVES STORIES.
The Three Greens.

The Three Greens.
Shsrtly after the Crimean War, an in
dividunl, whose right arm was incased
In splints and hung in sling, entered a
magnificent jewelry store, the proprietor
of which was Mr.. James Green. The
stranger had that in his appearance which
Is generally styled distingue; his carriage
and garb revealed the military veteran,
and his manners the finished gentleman.
At the door halted an elegant cabriolet,
and the good taste of the owner was
made apparent by the plain but neat liv-
cry of the groom and the choice trap
pings of the handsome blooded horses.
The stranger stated that he was deslr-
GUS of procuring complete silver table
service, rich solid and elegant, but with
little ornamentatlon. Could Mr.. Green
prepare such one for him9 The gold
smith answered, of course, in the affirm
ative, and showed several patterns to his
visitor, who then described very minute
ly the styles in which nc wished the arti-
cles to be made, and asked by what time
they could be got ready. At the same
time he insisted on punctuality, saying
he must use the set at reception he
would soon give at his new residence in
Leicester Square. Green promised to
have it done in three weeks, and then the
two parties discussed the terms.
The jewelcr very calefully made all
his calculations, and demanded 1900.
The stranger reflected few moments,
then said he had determined upon get
ting a service at cost of 81 so and re-
quested Mr.. Green to add as many more
pieces to the set as would fix the price at
that sum. Mr.. Green thanked the gen.
tleman for this mark of confidence,
and inquired of him to whose recon-
mendation he owed his patronage.
"No one has recommended you to me,
SIR" returned the stranger.
The jeweler looked up in surprise; the
strangerS who had at first worn an air ot
dignity amounting almost to austerity,
now became more friendly, and contin-
ued:
81 am a soldier. I have served for
years in India, and more recently in the
Crimea. At Balaklava I received a sew
ere wound in my right arm and hand,
which will perhaps disable the member
for life. My patronage you owe to your
parents, grandparents, and in fact to the
whole line of your ancestors"
The jeweier was amazed and bewilder-
ed. His parents and other ancestors had
long been dead, and could not have re-
ferred the soldier to him. The latter ap-
parently enjoyed Mr.. Green's perplexity,
and smilingly continued:
81 will make myself clearer. When,
in consequence of this unfortunate
wound" here sudden twings in his
arm made him start painfully was
compelled to leave the service, I resolved
to settle down in London. While riding
out the other day my attention was at
tracted by the appearance of your splen-
ly-furnished shop, but more so by the
name of your sign, for mine is precisely
the same. To this simple circumstance
you owe the present visit of Colonel
James Green, of the Grenadier Guards"
The Jeweler expressed his delight at
the honor of being the namesake of SO
distinguished warrior, and after few
more phrases of this sort the conversation
reverted to the business in hand.
MAY now inform you, said the jew
elcr with some hesitation, "of the condi-
tions which must generally be complied
with previous to making sale9"
"No,' said the Colonel sharply. ~
have my own way of doing business. You
and I do not know each other; and al
though my order is not an uncommonly
large one, still it amounts to a sum with
which you can not credit stranger. I
will therefore pay you e100 cash down
for surety, the remaining 81, 400 when
I call for the service
Mr.. Green accepted the proffer with
profuse thanks.
"You need not thank me-" the officer
interrupted. "As remarked, always
have way of my own, from which
never like to deviate. Now do me the
favor and take my portemonnaie from.
my coat.pocket; nay unfortunate Bala-
klava wound"-the Colonel again w1nced
with pain-"has lamed my right arm and
hand completely"
Mr.. Green expressed his sympathy in
the warmest terms, carefully pulled the
portmonnale from the veterans pocket,
opened it at the latter's desire, and from
four or five new 81 notes took one
which the Colonel requested him to keep
Mr.. Green wrote off a receipt and placed
it in the pocket-book, which he restored
carefully to its resting-place. He then
assisted the Colonel to enter the carriage,
and the groom-Co Colonel Green could not
drive on account of his injured arm
rapidly drove off in the direction of Lei
cester Square. The jeweler, though much
overjoyed, was cautious business man,
and notwithstanding the considerable
deposit, proceeded to make his safety
certain.
In the "War List" he readily found
the name and rank of his customer, Just
as he had been given; and from the es-
tate agent who rented out the splendid
mansion in Leicester Square, he had as
certained that it had recently been occu-
pied by Colonel James Green, of the
guard, and that the latter had brought
the most excellent recommendations
from his banker, and sundry ether dis
tinguished personages.
In the course of the three weeks, at
the end of which the set was to be done,
the Colonel often came into the shop to
see how the work was going on, and al
ways disceursed so affably with the gold
cient words of praise for his genial Gus
toner when speaking to others about
him. At last the service was completed.
It was placed upon large table In the
counting room and covered with cloth
OF blue velvet. Punctually at the stipu.
lated time in the afternoon, Colonel
Green entered the shop, his elegant cab
riolet with his blooded horses remaining
before the door IN care of the groom.
The officer stepped into the counting
room, and Mr.. Green, swelling with pride,
removed the velvet cover from the service.
The Colonel, though usually quiet man,
declared that it surpassed his most san.
guine expectations, and greatly insisted
upon paying the entire 81, 500, and also
upon the ieweler retaining the deposited
e100 as a douceur for the satisfaction he
had given.
"You owe me no thanks, my dear Mr..
Green,'' warmly said the Colonel to the
delighted goldsmith. "Give me your