Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-05-10

"'Ah, if that be the case, then
congratulate heem, said the polite
tradesman.
"'What do you suppose it is worth?'
l asked
"'Oh, it is difficult to say, said the
Frenchman, struggling his shoulders.
Won gentleman sinks Won price NOR
for him; another sinks
"'Yes, but what would you give if
you were to buy it? Would you give
l,S00 francs?'
The jeweler did not reply for few
seconds. He popped his microscope
once more to his eye, held the ring up
to the light, examined the setting and
fell to making elaborate calculations
with a pencil on a sheet of paper
81 do not often buy such large
stones, but I will give you $500
francs for this one
The Yankee did not reply, and the
Frenchman, assuming that his offer
was accepted, placed the ring on a
little ledge behind him and opened
his dasly for his checkbook
"'Not 50 fast, said Brother Jona-
than. The diamonds not for sale.
1.-Two thousands six hundred
francs, was the Frenchman's reply.
"The American shook his head.
"'Seven hundred-eight hundred :
"NoN
"'Nine hundred-3,OOO francs /!
That is my last offer Pause, l beg of
you, Monsieur, before you refuse it.
1t is large sum-3,OOO francs. And
as if he were convinced that no one
could refuse such a price he put the
stone once more among his own treas
ures and again turned around for his
checkbook.
Thunder, exclaimed the Yankee,
what do you take me for? | tell you
l can't and I won't sell you the ring.
It was as good as sold to this British
gentleman last night, and it isn't
mine to sell any more. Give me the
ring.
$50 saying the American took the
ring rather sharply from the jeweler' 5
hand and replaced it on his finger.
The Frenchman next made me an Of
fer for the trinket, but as had not
bought it for myself of course | could
not sell it, and we left the shop.
"My mind was clear now as to the
prudence Of giving ESQ for the dia-
mond I had heard the best jeweler
in the town offer 5000 francs, or
9l20, for it.
"'Well, I must say you have acted
most honorably,' said to the Ameri-
can when we reached the street.
After all, bargain can't be made on
one side, and l had never promised to
buy the ring, so you had perfect
legal right to sell it to the French
man.
"'You needn't say no more, stran-
ger, said the Yankee, as if he were
tired of the subject. You can hev
the stone now if you choose at the
price we fixed on last night. And he
held the ring out to me.
But had to get my letters Of
credit cashed, and l agreed to meet
the American in the billiard-room IN
an hours time and conclude the trans
action.
"No one was in the billiard-room
when I entered it, for it was still early
in the day, except the American, who
was standing by the empty fireplace.
The transfer did not occupy more than
five seconds, and the Yankee immedI-
ately proposed drinks. These being
discussed, we separated, and I saw no
more of my friend from the States
that day.
That evening after dinner hap
pened to be sitting not far from the
fireplace in the billiard room when |
noticed a small round object lying just
inside the marble fender. Curious to
know what 1t was, l LETT my seat ana
picked it up. 1t was jewelers. ring
case, not an uncommon article certain
ly, yet hardly the sort of thing one Of
ten sees on the floor of a billiard room.
Suddenly l remembered that the
American had been standing close to
the spot where I found it when earlier
in the day I had exchanged my 1000
francs worth of notes for his diamond.
An uncomfortable feeling crossed
my mind. What did he want with a
ring case? He had been wearing the
ring he sold to me. He might have
kept a case for it of course and might
have thrown it away when he parted
with the ring.