Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-03-11

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patrons pocket.
handsome Russia leather affair, bound
with silver and having an autograph
cut in tho same metal on the back But
Cornelius placed tho pooketbook in the
Americans hand without stopping to
decipher the name.
The stranger laughed again and re-
turned it TO the diamond merchant with
% request that he would read it.
The little man gave start, and q
short, sharp cry of surprise sprang to his
lips, for he could scarcely credit his eyes
with what he read There, on the Amer:
leans costly case, he saw his own unu-
sual name, Cornelius Vanderstroom.
The American lighted cigar, took a
minute or so to get it into good working
order, during which ho seemed to be de-
irving infinite amusement from the mer
chants astonished looks, and then he
said:
"All powerful strange, amt it, that
my name should pan out just like yours?
Guess Twas just rs flabbergasted as you
when, looking in your London directory
for leading diamond joint, l came
across the facsimile Of my sponsorial
appellation among the Hatton Garden
community. That's what drew me to
you. for it might be that we're kinder
related.
The little Dutchman had never heard
of any kith orkin inAmerica, But then
the tribe of VandeTstroom had scattered
from The Hague and Amsterdam years
and years ago and some of them might
have found their way to the colonies ON
tho Hudson. Yes, no doubt the general
was right--blood as we'll aa business ties
existed between them. And as he knew
full well the old settlers from the Low
Countries formed the major portion of
the aristocracy and wealth of the new
world, Cornelius was by no means loath
to welcome so desirable a family con-
nection, especially when the taste for
diamonds, the dashiug bays and the un-
told wealth of Potshot Gulch were borne
in mind.
No sooner. however, had these
thoughts taken form within the active
brain of Cornelius than horrible sus-
picion presented itself. What if this
newly discovered kinsman had only
found him cut in order to obtain n
lengthy credit for the jewels he had Sc
lected? The bare idea was too appalling
for contemplation, and it caused the lit
tie merchant to break ont into profuse
perspiration.
The American was evidently thought
reader of the highest order, He produced
u Bank of England note from his pocket
book for 500 and laid it ON the table.
Bills" said he, adroitly calling in al.
literation's artful aid, "are bully boys
for business, E" No getting over them.
he liked fair and square deal, he did.
and no favors asked. This was how he
guessed he'd like to trade. He was a
stranger in Europe, and he'c ask no
man to go bail for him--no, ,Sir-ee!
That el00 hill was, he calculated, a
better introduction than all the names
and references ''on this played out side
Of the herring pond. -
The diamond merchant rubbed his
hands, smtled effusively and was evi.
IDENTIFY of ais namesake's way of think
ing.
''Waal. then, s'pose we fix it this
way continued the American in his
uncompromising Yankee style - ''you
bold this G100 bill and wire me to my
hotel when the fixings to the diamonds
are complete. Then I come along to
your bureau and weigh in 81, 400 more,
and you hand over the jewels. That
way don't plank down too much be-
forehand for what I haver,t got acd
CASToRE-A.