The Yellowstone journal., 1894-12-20
8zsaagRMgs 8alzR;Ms
A PARTISAN DIAMOND TRICK.
The swindier Substituted an Imitation Foi
. Gem Before the jewelers. Eyes.

-
The swinsller Substituted an Imitation Foi
Gem Before the jewelers. Eyes.
One of the foreign travellers of ia
nous jewelry house in this cnty has just
returned from his annual trip abroad.
and upon reading of a clever shoplifter's
trick executed here told Of bold and
clever diamond robbery in Paris that
borders on high art.
The swindle was perpetrated in dia.
mond shop on the Rue de la Paix, on
of the busiest centers of the trade i'll
Paris. A stranger came in and told the
proprietor that he had found a stone /
among his family effects which had
been there a great many years, and the
value of which he was anxious to know. I
He said he didn't suppose II could be
worth very much, as otherwise IL would
not be found among his family posses
sions The jeweler took the diamond
ont of the soiled paper in which the
stranger brought it, and examining II
closely with a strong glass seemed sur
prised. Hesitating a moment, he stepped
into his private Office 20 show it to an
other expert Returning, he said:
why. sir. that is not only good
stone, but a remarkably clear one and
very valuable.
The stranger laughed incredulously,
remarking lightly: Nonsense: it may
be fine imitation, but certainly not
real diamond, for how would it get into
the possession of my family, who were
always poor? And how could it lie
among our effects undisturbed for sc
many years.:
The jeweler assured him that II Ger
tainly wits a diamond and a gem of the
first water and added that if the owner
would leave il for day or two he would
show the stone to other jewellers and get
their opinion. The owner agreed to this
aud two days later called again. The
diamond merchant promptly repeated
his assertion az to the purity of the
stone and added that it was worth at
least IS, db0 francs
"Well," the owner replied, Il can't
believe vow vet, for | am certain it must
be an imitation, no matter how good it
looks, but | want to sell it, and. if you
are willing to buy it, how much Will
you pay for it and take your chances on
the stone''
"well, under the circumstances will
give 1900 francs for the stone, the
merchant repiied.
"And when can get the money or
your check for it7''
'You may call in day or two
The jew-ler was not novice in bust
ness Moreover, he was q Partisan OF
the puress type, and in matters of bust
meas was as shrewd as any Of his brothe,
merchants in that busy city. He TOOK
NO chances, and, TO make doubly sure
Ut his bargain, he put the stranger of
again and in the interval not only re-
moved all possible doubt as to the gen.
uineness of the stone, but also found at
least two very willing purchasers at a
handsome advance over what he had Of
fered Therefore when the stranger paid
his final visit the jeweler had the stone
in mis- safe and. with it check all fill
ed out As the jeweler turned to hand
the check over TO the stranger the lat
ter said, with half sigh:
"Well. if l must part with it, let me
have one last look at it. :"
The check still lay on the counter as
the stranger picked up the paper con
tanning the gem and slowly opened it:
folds. Then, after a long look, with q
heavy sigh. he folded the paper again
and handed it back to the jeweler.
As the jewelel started to make out 9
receipt for the money the stranger said
Now, it is not very clear in my MIND
that this can be genuine stone, and a.
/ am very peculiar about some thing;
please make your receipt read, Received
for one imitation stone IL, 600 francs,
for / can never believe that our family
ever possessed anything else. "
THAT is strange popularity o.
yours, the jeweler replied, but
don't know that it makes much differ
ence'
The receipt was made out as the stran
ger desired, who signed it, and the jew
eler deposited the paper containing tn
stone with the receipt once more in tn
drawer of his safe.
The following day friend called, tn
recent purchase wac spoken OF, and tn
paper containing the stone was hrough
out As the jeweler took out the ston
his face grew pale.
Mon Dieul" he cried. my money
my money!"
The N he now examined the ston
the more evident it grew that the ston
was really an imitation after all, and a
ae sank down i'll his chair and read tn
wording Of his receipt and then recalle'
all the circumstances and how the stran
eer took one last long look at the treas
ore it became clear to him that in tina
uomeut he was robbed and an limitation
substituted for the good stone befor
his very eyes.-New York Sun.
Johann Strauss Today.