The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-02-23
TRICKS OF DIAMOND SELLERS.
How Man Buys One Jewel and Gets
Another.

"If you want to buy diamond you
must be careful to go to 4 trustworthy
house or you will get awfully cheated, ,"
said young man to friend who con-
templated purchasing a diamond for
his Christmas gift. DO you see this
ring?" he added, extending one OF his
hands on which a fine diamond spark
led and glittered in the sunlight.
We'll. that's a pretty nice sort of a
ring and had hard time getting it.
That's why like it, and that's the rea-
son | warn you to be careful where
you 60 to get one.
About a year ago ! had a surplus
800 bill in my pocket. and, getting an
idea that | would like to invest it in a
ring. | went down TO a iewelry store to
make the purchase. There was in the
show window on exhibition this dia-
mond you see on my finger. 1t was
marked for sale for 500. 1t struck
my fancy and asked the clerk to show
it to me. After examining it with a
great deal of care and finding that it
would fit my finger, | decided that |
would take it.
a. am sorrv,' said the clerk, but we
are not allowed to sell show" goods,
but have the mate to the stone here
and you can buy it.
"He took the ring to the rear of the
counter, and when he returned he had
perfect counterpart Of the one which
| desired. After the usual details |
put the ring on my finger, took the
guarantee which he proffered, and
started up town and luckily happened
to meet a friend who is an excellent
Judge of diamonds. I was proud of
my ring, and, as you can imagine, lost
no time in showing it to him.
"'Thunder,' he exclaimed. where
did you get that chunk of glass? 1t
looks as if it had been run over by a
street car
Il was highly indignant for a mo-
ment, but a glance at the ring as
held it up to the light convinced me
that he was right. 1t did look as if it
had been run over with car wheels.
1t was terrible looking affair, with
out luster or merit. | had been swim
died. The ring l had selected was
still in the store, but | had the guar
antee, and | determined that on the
following day | would have the stone
changed, as | was sure that it was all
a mistake. But next day | found out
differently. They would not exchange
the ring for the one | desired, nor
would they give me my money back.
They were willing to exchange for
something else, however. and finally
took serpent ring with a diamond
al, hn Of bor
ring. The clerk again gave me a
guarantee and | went away trying to
make myself believe that | was salts
fed. The serpent proved to be hoo
doc to me. So in weeks time !
wanted the ring changed again, especi-
ally as the recollection of the first one
still haunted my mind. Finally | re-
sorted to my friend, the diamond ex-
pert, for aid, and he suggested that he
should visit the store while | remained
on the sidewalk, and after he had told
the clerk that he wanted to buy ring
and had found one that was worth
800 he would take his handkerchief
from his pocket. This would be a sig
nal for NE to take the ring and give
the serpent and guarantee for it.
Well, he went into the store, and when
he found a ring that pleased him,
which happened to be the same ring
that was shown me, he took his hand
kerchief from his pocket, as we had
agreed upon, and | walked in like q
little man. Ny friend asked me il
that ring suited me. l took it and
gave the guarantee and the serpent
ring in exchange for it. The clerk
made 4 terrible rumpus, but | was
desperate and could not be 'blutfed off.
So here have ring which is cheap
for 800. There are plenty of people
being swindled the same way every
day, but if they only insist on their
rights they will come out all right in
the end, but | would advise them tc
buy of house that does not resort to
tricks of that sort-N T. Tribune.