The herald., 1894-03-31

MIN at once. dld not despair or bnd-
ing him, as he would probably put up
at one of the good hotels.
ION the way up to Paris l could
think of nothing but my loss. This fell
low ! saw had hit upon very safe and
profitable method of swindling. In nine
cases out of ten the cheated man would
not discover his loss for years after he
had seen the last of the American. if
indeed the trick was discovered at all,
for the paste was quite good enough to
deceive casual observer, and the own
er would of course be actuated by pro-
found faith in his diamond straight
from Brazil. Had it not been for the
incident of my finding the ringcase,
which the rogue had accidentally drop
/ ped, should in all probability have un-
Willingly cheated poor Turenne out of
his money, and he might afterwari
have been supposed to be trying to
palm off spurious diamond for a real
gem. In all probability the fellow made
living, and very good one, by going
about Europe and practicing this trick.
"This idea sent off my thoughts on a
new track, and by the time l had ar
rived in Paris l had decided on my
course of action.
First of all, made careful inquiries
at the railway station as to tall Amer
lean who had arrived from Nice by
certain train on preceding day, and
by the help of some 8 franc pieces
found the cabman who had driven him
to his hotel-the Continental.
'This being ascertalned, chose
quiet, unpretending hotel for myself
near one of the railway stations. Then
l emptied the contents of light bag on
my bed, and taking it empty in my
hand went to a theatrical costumer's,
and saying [ intended to take part in
some private theatricals hired the cos
tune of a French abbe. 1t was part l
had often played in piece that had a
pretty long run in London some eight
years ago, and l had little doubt that l
should be able to scquit myself in it
fairly well. got the proper dress, wig,
powder and everything complete, and
having put all the articles into my bag
l went to one OF the railway stations
and took return ticket for a station
l1Ill6 way out Ill IHb
ITO my disgust found it impossible
to get compartment to myself. The
train was too crowded, but l reflected
that the trains returning to Paris would
probably be much less crowded in the
afternoon than those going into the
country.
I'm this supposition was right. l
hung about the suburban railway sta
tion till a return train was about to
start. 1t was nearly empty, and dou-
ceur to the guard secured me the privacy
l needed. By the time returned to
Paris was stout, benevolent looking
French priest in comfortable circum-
stances. My suit of tweeds had placed
in my bag, which took care to leave at
the railway station. Then made the
best of my way to the Hotel Continental.
81 was just in time for the table
d'hote, and as l took my seat l noticed
with great satisfaction that my transat-
lantic friend was sitting not far off, and
that he had not suspicion of my iden-
tity. Nothing, knew, could be done
until after dinner, so | waited through
the tedious procession of courses as pa
tiently as l could, and when at last they
came to an end followed the Amer
ican and little group of men who sur
rounded him to the smoking room. II
was not exactly the place for priest
but could not help that.
q sat down by little round table
near the American, but slightly behind
him, so as to be able to hear the conver-
sation without joining in it unless l
wished. From time to time offered a
remark, speaking of course in French.
to the man who sat next me, but for the
most part smoked my cigar and slipped
my coffee in silence.
AS expected, it was not long be-
fore diamonds became the subject of
conversation.
don't know much about diamonds
myself, said the American, speaking in
his native tongue, but I'm told by good
judges that thar's about as good stone
as you see anywhere round Almost !
exactly the phrases, l said to myself, !
which the fellow used to me at Nicel
You kin take look at it, he add !
ed carelessly, drawing off the ring and !
handing it to one of the group. l bent
forward, so as to see more clearly what |
was going on. One after another the
men who were sitting near examined |
and admired the ring. The man next |
me was the last to look at it.
8 A friend l hev at Buenos Ayres
sent it TO me, and had it cut myself.
"At this point l noticed that my
neighbor had finished his examination of
the diamond, and l touched him, init
mating that l, too, would like to have a |
look at it. He handed 1t to me as a
matter of course
1T was the very ring which had been
exhibited in the same way at Nice. |
had the imitation one which had been
palmed off upon me ready in my hand, |
and under pretense of trying the effect
OF the gem on my finger l easily substi-
tued the one for the other, slipped the
false ring on my finger, admired it, as
In duty bound, and then pulling it off
handed it back to my neighbor, who in
turn gave it to the American.
II put the real diamond, which had
secured, into my pocket and finished my
coffee hastily Just as Brother Jonathan
was making an appointment with rich
young Frenchman to meet at the shop
of fashionable jeweler next morning
and take his opinion ON the value of the
gem.
And since it has taken your fancy