The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-10-23
A Credulous Bartender.

In well-known restaurant in this
city presides very dazzling bartender
over the bibible portion of the estab-
lishment. Recently there appeared
among his regular patrons a very
quiet-looking. gentlemanly appearing
cent solitaire brilliant on one finger. 1t
was apparently stone of rare size and
purity. Day after day did this blind
the bartender's envious eyes, and final
ly, when an acquaintanceship between
the two had arisen, he said one day:
"Fine stone that you wear" "Oh. it's
nothing but PASTE" said the stranger
with laugh. There's no paste
about that, said the bartender incred-
ulously That's what it is" said the
stranger, carelessly. 81 took it for
debt of $75. The setting, you see, is
rather fine," but the whole thing is not
worth $l00." The bartender looked
at the stone again and again. The
light of his bosom looked yellow be-
side it. That night he dreamed about
it. Next day, when the stranger ap-
peared at his customary time, he said
to HIM, rather nervously: 'Have you
sufficient confidence in me TO loan me
that ring for a day. would like to
show it to friend of mine who adj
mires such things" Certainly"
said the other, and he removed the
ring from his finger. The bartender
took the stone to jeweler. The ver-
dict was: "One of the finest diamonds
l have seen. 1t is worth $1,000, and
will pay that sum for it." ''But,"
said the troubled Ganymede, "the own
er says it is PASTE" and he then told
the entire story. EITHER the owner or
the man he got it from is fool. The
stone is worth the sum / mentioned,
and if you can buy it for less will give
you that much for it."
Next day the man of spirits return
ed the ring to its owner, saying care
lessly: 81 would like to have that. !"
ats not for sale," was the brief reply.
After few drinks the bartender said
to his newly made friend: ''See here,
l want that ring. and l will give you
$500 for it." Nonsense" was the
reply. at is not worth that tell
you positively it is nothing but paste.
Besides, don't care to part with it. "
The proposal to purchase and the re-
fusal to sell were continued IN this way
until the bartender had offered 5000,
when the other said: "You tempt me
too much. But l fail TO understand
why you should be willing to pay such
a large sum for paste stone. Here it
is. Give me the money. But remem-
Der the stone is PASTE"
That's all right" said the delight
| 4 -. al al, A.
stuck on it-that's all. He hurried to
the jeweler with his prize. "Here is
the ring" he said; "give me 81 600. "
: The man looked at it, and simply said
"Why, this is nothing but PASTE" Ol
course the scheme was at once laid
bare. The rings had been exchanged.
The chagrined bartender almost wept.
He never expected to see the stranger
again, but he had been dealing with
no ordinary confidence man. 10 his
surprise he walked in again the mex
morning as quiet-loOking as usual. bu
. his finger bare of ornament.
, "Sce here" said the bartender, eX
citedly. "that stone was paste"
That's what told YOU" was tn,
quiet response. Give me brand,
: sour"
"rll have the law on you for this,
bleated the angry lamb who had beer
fieeced. But don't think he will, TO
| don't think he can. He tried to ge
the best of man who, he thought
, was not acquainted with the value o
his possession. and he simply over
r reached himself But he'll never d.
so again. -Rhiiadetphia NeUs.