Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-05-10
NEW VOL. 29--NO. 80.

the country.
"To my disgust found it impossible
TO get compartment to myself. The
train was too crowded, but reflected
that the trains returning to Paris
would probably be much less crowded
in the afternoon than those going into
the country.
In this supposition l was right. |
hung about the suburban railway sta
tion till return train was about to
start. 1t was nearly empty, and a
douceur to the guard secured me the
privacy | needed. BY the time / re-
turned to Paris was a stout, benevo-
lent looking French priest in comfort
able circumstances. Ny 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.
Il was just in time for the table
dhote, and as took my seat ! noticed
with great satisfaction that my trans
Atlantic friend was sitting not far off,
and that he had not suspicion OF my
identity. Nothing, knew, could be
done until after dinner, 80 | waited
through the tedious procession OF
courses as patiently as | could, and
when at last they came to an end |
followed the American and little
group of men who surrounded HIM to
the smobing-room. 1t was not exactly
the place for priest, but | could not
help it.
II sat down by little round table
near the American, but slightly behind
him. so as to be able to hear the con-
versation without joining in 1t unless
| 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 l smoked my cigar and
slipped my coffee in silence.
"As I expected, it was not long be-
fore diamonds became the subject of
conversation.
d" 4 don't know much about dia-
monds myself, said the American,
speaking in his native tongue, but
l m told by good Judges that thar's
about as good stone as you'll see
anywhere round. Almost exactly the
phrases, l said to myself, which the
fellow used to me at Nice.
You kin take look at it, he
added carelessly, drawing of the ring
and handing it to one of the group
I bent forward, so as TO see more clearly
what was going on. One after another
the men who were sitting near exam
ined and admired the ring. The man
next me was the last TO look at 1t.
d" "A friend ! have at Buenos Ayres
sent it to me, and | had it cut myself.
"At this point noticed that my
neighbor had finished his examination
of the diamond, and ! touched him,
intimating that /, too, would like TO
have a look at it. He handed it to
me as a matter Of course.
1T was the very ring which had been
exhibited in the same way at Nice. l
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 ! easily sub
stituted 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.
81 put the real diamond, which |
had secured, into my pocket and fin
ished my coffee hastily just as Brother
Jonathan was making an appointment
with a 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,
said the unsuspicious American, you
shall hev it for the same sum the jew
eler offers me forit. can't say fairer
than that now, can j?
Il went back to the railway station,
got my bag, changed my hat and coat
in the waiting-room, slipped into the
hotel and next day set of for Cannes
MY only regret was that | was nm
able to make study of the American e
face when the Paris jeweler put a
price on his beautiful diamond next
morning"
Mark Twain tells Of young col
ored oirI Who "experienced religion