The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-05-10
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How Two Sharpers victimizcd Hebrew
Pawn-Brokcr

How Two Sharpers Victimlzcd n Hebrew
Pawn-Brokcr.
A gentleman called in at the shop OF
Mr.. Abaham Levi Isaacs. with violin.
case under his arm. lie purchased a
neck-tie, for which he paid thirteen
cents, and then asked permission to
leave his box while he did few errands
in the neighborhood. Mr.. Isaacs had no
objection.
''It is violin" said the gentleman,
(Which Iprize very highly. 1t was given
me by an old Italian who died at my
fathers house. beg you will be care
full of it, sir"
Mr.. 1saacs promised, and the owner of
the precious violin departed,
Toward noon, while the old-clothes
dealer was deeply engaged in the work
of selling an ancient and time-honored
suit as bang-up broadcloth, stranger
entered the shop--a remarkably we'll
dressed man, with distinguished look.
The violin-case was in sight upon a
Shelf and as no one was near to prevent
him, the newcomer slipped around and
opened the case, and took out the in
strument-a very dark. hued and ancient
looking one.
"Hallo!" cried Isaacs, when ho heard
the sound of the violin. "what for you
touch dat, eh?'
The stranger explained that he was a
profossor-that he was leader of an
orchestra-and that he could never SEQ
violin without trying it. And then he
drew the bow across the strings, playing
few passages of fine old German
waltz.
"NIy soul,'' he cried, after he had run
his fingers over the instrument q while,
that is the bost violin l ever saw!
There is not better in England per-
fectly genuine old Cremona. L will
give you twenty dollars for it."
Isaacs said it vas not his.
"Tll give you tifty-a hundred"
Mr.. 1saacs was forced to explain how
the violin came to be left in his shop.
The stranger had taken out his pocket
book and drawn forth a roll of bank
notes. He put them back, remarking:
IL must have that violin if money will
buy it. When the owner returns, will
you ask him to wait for me? If he can
not wait, ask him to meet me here at
six o'clock. If he can not do that. tell
him to call at the Office of the treasurer
of the Academy of Music and inquire
for the director of the orchestra. viii
you do it?"
Isaacs said he would.
But" suggested the stranger "you
need not tell the man what ! have said
about his violin, nor what / have Of
fered, because he may have no idea Of
what treasure he possesses. You will
be careful and circumspect"
The stranger went away, and Abra-
ham Levi Isaacs reflected. In the course
of an hour, the owner of the violin re-
turned, and asked for his box. But the
''old clo'" man had been captivated by
the golden bait. What would the gem
tleman sell his violin for?
AT first, the gentleman would not
listen to the proposition; but after
deal of talk he confessed that he was
not himself a professor, and could not
well afford to keep such n valuable in
strument. He would sell it for fifty
dollars-not penny less.
Mir. Isaacs paid the moLey, and be-
came the legal possessor of the violin,
ready to take any thing from two hun
dred to two hundred and fifty from the
director of the orchestra, as he might be
able.
But the director did not come. At tho
end of week, Isaacs carried the violin
to professional friend, and asked him
what was its real value, before calling
on the professor.
Five dollars, without the easel"
Abraham Levi Isaacs was strongly Of
opinion that the gentleman who left the
violin in his care was swindler, that
the director was a partner in the bust
ness and that together they had made
him their victim. That night old clothes
went up ten per cent.-N. y. Ledger.