The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-20


One Of the foreign travellers Of a famous
jewelry house in this city has just re-
turned from his annual trip abroad. and
Spon reading of a clever shopnfter's
trick executed here, told OF a bold and
clever diamond robbery in Paris that
borlers on high art.
The sWindle was perpetrated in a dia-
mond shop on the Rue de Ia Paix. one of
the busiest Centers of the trade in Paris
4 stranger came in and told the propTie-
Tor that he had found a stone among his
family effects, which had been there a
great many years, and the value Of
winch ne was anxious to know. He said
ne 'idH suppose II could be worth very
much, as otherwise ii would not be found
among his family possessions. The Jew
eler took the diamond out of the s0iled
paper ii which the stranger brought it,
ana. examining it closely with a strong
glass. seemed surprised. Hesitating a
moment ne stepped into his private office
TO show 1t to another expert. Returning
he said:
Why, sir that is not only a good
stone put remarkably clear one and
The. stranger laughed increduIously. re-
marking lightly: Nonsense; il may be a
uIdlhond, Tor now would It get into the
possession of my family. who were al
ways poor, And how could il lie among
our ettects undistaFbed for so many
years.
The jeweler assured him that it certain
~ was diamond and a gem of the first
leave II FOR day or two he would show
Inc stone to other jewelers. and get
thelr opinion. The owner agreed 70 this
ana Two days later called again. The da-
mond merchant promptly repeated his as
seruon as to the purity of the stone, and
added that it was worth at least 1900
We'll" the owner replied, q can't be-
HeEe you yet, for am certain it must be
an imitation no matter how good it looks;
put want TO sell it, and if YOU are will
ing to buy it, how much will you pay
for it and take your chances on the
Wen. under the circumstances I will
give you 1900 for the stone, the merchant
And when can I get the money or
your check for it?''
You may call in a day or two"
The Jeweler was not a novice in business,
moreover he vas Partisan of the purest
/ type, and in matters of business was as
ShreWd as any of his brother merchants
in that busy city He took no chances
he put the stranger off again, and in the
interval not only removed all possible
doubt as to the genuineness of the stone
put also found at least two very willing
purchasers at handsome advance over
what he had offered. Therefore, when
tne stranger paid his final visit the jew
II check all filled out. As the jeweler
turned TO hand the check over to the
stranger, the latter said with half a sigh:
well, if l must part with it, let me
/ have one last look at it
Inc chech sun lay on the counter as
the stranger picked up the paper con-
/ tanning the gem and slowly opened it's
iods. Then, after a long look, with Il
heavy sigh, he folded the paper again and
handed 1t back to the jeweler.
AS the JeWeler started to make out a
receipt for the money the stranger said (:
Now 1t is not clear in my mind that this
can be genuine stone. and as / am very
peculiar about some things please make
your receipt read Received for one irnita-
uon stone 1900 francs for ! can never
believe that our family ever possessed
anything else"
That is strange popularity of yours, "
the JeWeler replied, but / don't know
/ that 1t makes much difference"
/ The receipt was made out as the
stranger desired. who signed ii, and the
( jeweler deposited the paper containing the
stone with the receipt once more in the
/ drawer Of his safe.
The following day q friend called. the
/ recent purchase was spoken of. and the
/ paper containing the stone was brought
/ out. AS the jeweler took out the stone
! his face grew pale
/ money! '
The closer he now examined the stone
I the more evident It grew that the stone
/ was really an imitation after all, and he
sank down in mis- chair and read The
/ wording of his receipt and then recalled
all the circumstances and how the strang-
/ er took one last long look d the treasure
/ il became clear to him that in that mo-
/ ment he was robbed and an imitation
/ substituted for the good stone before his
/ very eyes.