Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-01-13
1t 1t as'l'la9IOn s tanaard
RATHER A PECULIAR ERRAND.
4 Melancholy Young Man Who Wanted I"
Sell Some ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Ont,

\ Melancholy Young Man Who Wanted I"
Sell Some Dia;nonds-Scared Out.
4 handsome private cab stopped in
front of an old established jewelry store
on Fulton street one day not long ago. a
tall man with very pale face and mourn.
full black eyes alighted and walked into
the store. All the clerks were at once
upon the alert to serve him. He was
elegantly but quietly dressed, and carried
himself easily and gracefully. He lad
handsome face with clear cat features.
and rather long black mustache, but his
eyes were particularly attractive from
their peculiarly sad expression.
~ would Ike to see The propIiotor,' he
said in quiet, manly voice.
\ good looking young man, with a jovial
twinkle in his brown eyes, stepped for
ward. What is it l can do for you:' he
inquired.
milne is rather peculiar errand." said
the stranger "A short time ago bought
a very elegant pair Of diamonds, intend
ing to give them to my wife to have made
into pair of earrings" Here his voice
became very soft, and he with difficulty
concealed his emotion. "Since them" he
continued in firmer tones, "my wife has
died. Her illness dated from the time she
received the diamonds, and I am sufR-
GENTLY superstitious to connect the dia-
monds with that sad event. / am therefore
DESTROYS of getting rid of them as speedily
as possible, and l am willing to make a
sacrifice in doing So"
AS he spoke the jeweler watched him
closely. The stranger drew small pack
age from his pocket and handed it to the
iovro1ar Tho 1offo Crv;cly1x- r. on6
two large and brilliant stones rolled out
on the show case. The jeweler examined
them closely. 'Well, don't know about
buying them," he said. "How much do
you want for them?''
"Well," said the man, obviously, 81
paid $4,000 for them. l am willing, in
order to get rid of them right away, to
sell them for 81, 200"
The jeweler smiled slightly. "Where
did you buy them?'' he inquired at length.
cat Tiffany's," was the reply.
The jeweler continued to toy with the
diamonds, and signs of nervousness began
to show themselves in the face Of their
owner.
''You are quite sure that you paid
$1,000 for them?' said the jeweier, sud-
denly, looking the man full in the face.
The latter started and turned q shade
paler.
Certainly; that is, believe did," he
stammered ''it is some time ego, and
have been SO upset by my affection since
then that / may have forgotten the exact
price"
"You live in town, presume?s eontin-
ued the jeweler, stilI keeping his gaze
firmly fixed on his customers face
''Yes-that is, no; don't just at pres
ent. did live at the Windsor. am
living with some friends in the country
just now"
''Quite sure about that, aren't your'
said the jewelcr in a quizzing Tone
BY this time the stranger had become
very weak :, his legs and more or less
shaky all over. His hands trcmbled vio-
1ently despite all efforts to control them
and his face was white and drawn.
Gathering himself together he said, in a
tone of pretended indignation, "What do
YOU mean, sir, by that question! would
not sell the diamonds to you now at any
price. / did not expect to be insulted
when came here viii trouble you to
return my diamonds and he put out his
hand to take them.
''Oh, no." returned the jeweler, quietly
smiling. "You are right in saying that
you will not sell them to me, but you will
not take them away either. Those dic-
mOnds are stolen"
''It's lie" cried the man, his features
contracted. 'Giye them to me''
The jeweler did not move, but continued
to smile pleasantly. ''If you wish ! will
call in policeman" he said.
The fellow shrank back, and without
another word ran out Of the store Quickly
whispering to the coachman he jumped
into the cab and was rapidly driven away.
"You had considerable nerve to I'M
mask that fellow" the reporter observed
"Why, I took him for some bank presi-
dent or retired Croesus from his appear
ance and style Of his turnout"
The jeweler laughed. ''It is not the
first time that such a thing has happened, :"
he said. "a jeweler in this city has to be
continually on the qui vive to avoid being
taken in by swindlers. / had the same
opinion Of this man that you did until he
began to tell me about these stones As
soon cs he said that he had bought them
at Tifany's for 81, 900 I know they were
stolen"
ssWhy!'' asked the reporter.
because Tiffany could not buy them
for that sum. Those jewels are worth at
least 81, 500 at first cost. That is the way
we catch most thieves. We ply them with
questions about the jewels they want to
sell until they give themselves away"
tsWhat do y,u do with the jewelrys''
1--WE try to find the rightful owner."-
New York Sun.