Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-11-18
si-sa1
Sold.
now A SECONDHAND DEALER WAS TAKEN
IN AND DONE FOR.

IN AND DONE FOR.
The mos, frightful thing in the way of a
'job" was put up on dealer in second hand
goods the other day, that appe ars on the re-
cords of the police docket. by three "things"
whom the aforesaid dealer sa id bore some
resemblance to men, but who were in reality
friends Of the cloven-hoofed variety in dis
guise. Two men, appearing TO be quite re-
spectacle. entered his second hand store to
buy pistol. They were respectfully dressed
and would have passed anywhere for respect
able people. One of them carried in a
cofhn-hke case a violin. Having eonsum-
| mated their purchase, the gentleman who
carried the instrument said n a kind Of Ger
man silvery voice: "Ah, see here nv
friend; want 10 look ar ound town a bit
and being a stranger here, have nowhere To
leave this violin. Would YOU mind keeping
1t here for M until | return-about an
hours time ?" IL is an old and very valuable
Cremona; and, as | value il so highly. am
really afraid to carry il about with me
should be very much indebted TO you-"
Certainly. gentlemen quickly respond
ed the dealer, who had nothing but gain in
his eve; "you can leave the violin with me.
! I'll take good care of it,
The valuable old Cremona was according
| ly LETT. and the two gentlemen" meandered
off. 1t was about an hour afterwards, when
customer came in TO purchase some minor
article. and the violin case reposing on the
counter caught his eve. He opened it.
why. what's this ?" ueried he, quickly, as
! he took il out Of the case, and turning il
| from side to side scrutinized it with the eve
Of a connoisseur. AS | live, an old Gre
mona BY Gosh, Mr.. Blank. where did YOU
run across this ?"
! ut is not mine" answered the purveyor
of second hand articles. shortly
| Whose is t?" anxiouslv questioned the
customer, he affectonatcly laid it under
his chin and rippled cadcnza frcm the
| open G up to the harmonic F.. Whose is
1t lisa noble instrument, sure" as he ran
his fingers over the strings. Il am not rich.
but would willingly give two hundred and
/ fifty dollars for it,
81 cannot sell il | mus, not sell it," said
the dealer. in a yearuingly, uneasy voice.
for the prospect of bargain was almost
more than he could stand
oh, come now. Mr.. Blank, YOU needn't
! put me of that way. I'll give YOU two hun
dred and fifty dollars for il CASH
mo no. no" groaned the dealer at
NN'r '+'A R'AA i- ~ lIAE IbNL, Nlpb. III YOU
wall come IN two hours and a half. will try
and see what | can do. 1t Is very fine
instrument, and two hundred and fifty dol
lars Is not enough for such an article
The customer LETT. promising eagerly to
return and strike bargain little later, and
the dealer waited with feyerish anxiety for
the return of the two gentlemen"
They returned You have the violin
IA vhu.,I h.. Ill 4. II
Keeping II. And they turned to depart
"Oh. gentlemen, softly queries our second
hand clothier. rubbing his hands. what
would YOU take for that instrument will
give YOU fifty dollars for it
"Fifty dollars Ha. ha That Is good
Why. hundred and ffly would hardly buy
1t. Ny dear fellow, do you know that this
Is real old Cremoua2 If | could pla,
upon II ! wouldn't take thousand dollars
for 1t. Look at the curve on that belly. the
age OF the wood, the grace Of the neck, the
strength Of the iullid work No. don't
like % sell It here, AS il will command a big
price in New York, where its value will be
at once appreciated"
My friend. the violin is old and broken
up. Il is no good, but | will give YOU sew
rnty five dollars come, now"
Couldn't do it, sir" said the man, laying
1t tenderly in It's case.
oh, my dear friend" said the dealer with
moan, and catching the man By the skirts
Of his coat; please take twenty-one hun
dred and twenty dollars. | want it for my
brother, who plays. Ii is not worth it. On,
come, now
III tel! YOU what" said the fellow, turn
ing around, "the fact is | am a little shor,
Of cash, and want TO leave the city. If YOU
g'Ye me two hundred dollars for il you NAV
have IT,"
"Oh. sir-r-r, could not | am poor"
groaned the dealer as two large tears stood
IN has eyes. "Oh. take one hundred and
twenty"
Couldn't do it. Never mind. can
take i on to New York !" and the man,
clearing himselfof the fellows grasp. turned
TO leave.
Suffice it IS to say that the bargain was
consummated, and the dealer was the pos
SCISSOR OF the fine old Cremonar' at the ex-
pense OF two hundred dollars Then he sat
down and waited for the customer; but, alas,
he never came The violin got cobwebby
and moldy IN It's case still no customer. At
last musician, who happened to drop in,
picked up the case, opened it took out the
violin, turned i over and over, and scanned
It we'll Finally he said
"Nr. Blank, where did YOU get this old
two-do!iar- and -a-half thing As live, YOU
have scratched it up to make it look old. |
see li's made by that chap down on the wharf
who turns them out on a lathe and sells
them BY the dozen. Why, what is the mat
ter?
Nh Blank, had tainted. 1t i, reasonble
to suppose that three gentlemen chuckIed
as they divided the spoils.