The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-06-08

gem. In all prODaDlilty the fellow made
living, and a very good one, by going
about Europe and practicing this trick
'':.rhis idea sent off my thoughts on E
new track, and by the time 1 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 a tall Amer
lean who had arrived from Nice by 6
certain train on preceding day, and
by the help of some franc pieces
found the cabman who had driven him
to his hotel-the Continental.
'This being ascertaIned, chose 6
quiet, unpretending hotel for myself
near ore of the railway stations. Ther
| emptied the contents Of light bag OF
my. bed, and taking it empty in my
hand went to theatrical costumer s.
and saying intended to take part il
some private theatricals l hired the cos
tune of French able. 1t was part
had often played in piece that had 8
pretty long run in London some eight
years ago, and had little doubt that
should be able to acquit myself in il
fairly well. got the proper dress, wig
powder and everything complete, and
having put all the articles into my bag
went to one OF the railway stations
and took a return ticket for station &
little way out in the country.
ITO 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. .e.
''In this supposition l was right.
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 l returned to
Paris l 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 l made the
best of my way to the Hotel Continental.
II was just in time for the table
d'hote, and as I took my seat 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 1 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 a priest,
but I could not help that.
Il 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 1
wished. From time to time l 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.
81 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'll see anywhere round. Almost
exactly the phrases, said to myself,
which the fellow used to me at Nice!
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.
G. 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 1, too,swould 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. 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 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 lack to my neighbor, who in
turn gave it to the American.
II put the real diamond, which I 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,
said the unsuspicious American, you
shall hev it for the same sum the jew
eler offers me for it. can't say faireI
than that now, can ~
II went back to the railway station,
got my bag, changed my hat and coat
in the waiting room, slipped into the
hotel and next Cay set off for Cannes.
My only regret was that l was un-
able to make study of the Americans g
face when the Paris jeweler put a price
on his beautiful dia22ond next morn
ing. "-Exchange.