The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-19
THE DIAMOND DRUMMER.
Men with Big Fortunes in
their Vest Pockets.

thelr vest rockets.
One of them Speaks Interestingly Of His
Life and Experiences.
"My life is anything but life Of
ease and pleasure" said a veteran
travelling salesman for one of the
largest diamond houses in America,
seated in an easy chair at an uptown
club. II have been on the road tor
oy;ssss sswelye years, and have travelled
all over America and Europe" con-
tinued he, taking an easier position on
his chair and lighting cigar. at is
sometimes a wonder to myself to think
of what have been through and lived
| spend ten months out of the twelve
on the road, and l live nearly always
on the train or boat. seldom stop at
city longer than two or three days.
must stop at the best hotels, on ac-
count of the valuable property carry.
I start out on my trips twice a year,
from New York, in May and Novem-
Der, taking $l50,000 to 100000 worth
of stones with me each trip. 1 have
regular route that 60 over once
year. I take the west in on my May
trip and 60 south as far as Mexico in
November. am treated much more
courteously than the ordinary jewelry
salesman by the people to whom I sell.
In the first place, my having such an
enormous amount of property in my
pockets commands a certain kind of
respect. There is a curious fascination
about diamonds that few men can
resist. Nearly everybody loves to look
at them and watch the different effects
of light on them in various positions.
When diamond drummer enters a
store and makes known his business,
he is generally invited back into a
private room and asked to show his
stock If a stone suits customer,
instead of ordering so many by sample,
he buys at once, gives his note and the
transaction is complete"
"How do you carry your diamonds?'
"In cases like this" replied the
salesman, taking out a Russian leather
case shaped like a common envelope.
1t was about six inches long by four
broad and sewed together with strong
silk thread. 1t was lined with oiled
silk, and fitted on the inner back with
two compartments also envelope shape.
When folded up two heavy bands of
elastic held the laps. 1t looked like an
ordinary pocketbook. "That little
book" continued he, "will carry about
$30, 900 worth of diamonds. Nice pile
eh? have my vests especially made to
accommodate these cases. have seven
of them and pockets for each one. All
the pockets are on the front of the
vest and strongly protected from pick
pockets. An effective protection
against the knife of the pickpocket is a
fine gauze of steel sewed next to the
cloth of the vest. Very few can 60
through that in the short time they
have to work. l never take my vest
off, even while I am sleeping. have
never lost dollars worth by robbery
or otherwise"
"Of course you 90 armed?'
"Well, slightly" replied he with a
quiet smile, reaching back of him and
bringing out an improved Colts re-
volver, 3o-caliber. 81 carry two Of
these with me or two Colts deringer
pistols when on the road. Ipractice
shooting regularly, and 1 think 1 can
hit a five-cent piece at fifty PAGES"
al can tell you the life of diamond
broker is one that requires nerve, and
a great deal of sharpness. In the west
last summer, on my way from Denver
to Chicago, discovered Twas followed
by man who had got wind of my
vocation and the diamonds l carried
with me. l had an alligator-skin
travelling bag, which l had put up in
the rack over my head in the railroad
| car. He evidently thought l was fool
enough to put my diamonds in that
bag, by the way he eyed it. AT little
way station, about one hundred miles
this side of Denver, we had twenty
minutes for dinner. 1 went out with
the rest, leaving the bag in the rack.
Instead of going to the dinner table
took up my stand by the window look.
ing toward the cars l saw this fel.
low walk up to the rack, take down the
bag and throw the strap of it over his
shoulders. With satisfied smile he
walked down the steps of the car, and
started out through the station. A
shot from my revolver caused him to
stop and nearly frightened him to
death. He gave up the bag, which
only held some soiled linen and such
things, and 1 let him 60. Ihave some
adventure every time l go ont, and
some day suppose some one will XII
me-" and he laughed lightly and turn
ed to other subjects.-Ne,o York Ne,cS
Their Nose Rings Torn Out.
Jewels on children have at all times
been a source of crime. Within the