Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-22
.PANGBoRN's PASTE DIAMOND.
He Offers to Bet it is Real and Has
to Pay for the Supper.
From the Neqo York Star.


jeremiah Pangborn, the widely known
real estate broker, is the possessor of a
very costly diamond, which ever adorns
his immaculate shirt bosom. Fabulous
tales are told about its value, the most
moderate of which puts it at $1,000. 1t
has long been the source of envy to his
friends, and they are all the time inform
ing the proud owner that the stone is not
a genuine diamond. For months ex-Sen-
ator Frederick s. Gibbs, Clarence Mead
and Fred Loud, the manager of the Hof-
man House, have tried in vain to steal
the gem. They have adopted all sorts of
means, one oil them being to get MIR. Pang-
born asleep. Night after night have they
kept him up until be was so exhausted
for want of sleep that he would drop into
a dose at the least provocatl0n. But no
sooner would they attempt to remove the
diamond than Mr.. Panaborn would wake
up. The diamond 10 in the shape of q stud, ).
with plain gold setting. Senator Gibbs
secured a stone which bore close resem-
blanoe to a diamond, and had setting
made for it exactly like that OF Mr.. Pang-
born.
Last Wednesday night week Senator
Gibbs and his friends succeeded in get,
ting possession Of Mr.. Paug born's jewel.
1t occurred at the Hoffman House, while
the party were seated around one of the
mahogany tables. They succeeded in
getting him greatly interested 10 heated
political discussion, and then Mr.. Meade
unscrewed the stud from the shirt aud
substituted for it the one that Senator
Gibbs had prepared for the purpose.
Mr.. PangboFn went home that night
perfectly unconscious of the trick that
had been played upon him. The matter
was kept very quiet for several days, and
then few outside parties were taken into
the secret. Toward the end of the week
they began to ehide Dir. PangbOrn about
wearing a "snide" diamond. The broker
would LOOK down admiringly at the bogus
stone and agree to bet any amount that IL
was worth $500. 1t finally got TO be so
that no matter where he went some one
was sure to tell him that man OF his
wealth and prominence should be
ashamed TO wear paste diamond. The
subject became mOnotonous, and on
one or two occasions the broker
lost his good humor. On Tuesday
he became engaged In an excited discus
sion with q friend about the value of the
stone.
'1'll bet you $780," said Mr.. Pangborn,
''that it Is genuine, and that any dia-
mond broker will gladly advance me
$500 on it without question. am
tired of this thing, and want 1t settled
right now"
"Oh, don't want to ROB you" said his
friend, "because you would have no
| chance Of winning"
well, you never mind that; will bet
you 81, 900 TO $500 on It,"
There was no other way to get out OF II,
80 the bet was made. 1t was agreed to
leave the matter to Fred Loud ana GER
| tain DIAMOND broker, and the matter was
! TO be decided at the Hoffman House last
night. Mr.. Pangborn and his friend were
there on time; so was Senator Gibbs and
Clarence Meade and about dozen other
friends OF Mr.. PaDgborn. The stone was
first given to Mr.. Loud, and he pro-
nounced il an imitation diamond. Mr..
Pangborn was wild, and insisted that Mr..
Loud's senses had taken temporary leave
OF him. The diamond broker then care
fully examined the stone, and came to
the Same decision as Mr.. Loud. Mr..
Pangborn was now furious, especially
when IL was insisted that he had lost the
bet. Then the joke was explained 10 him,
and mis- precious stone returned. He did
not pay the bet, but he did pay for very
delicious supper.