The free press., 1897-04-22
CAUGHT.
nature.

DOX under MS arm. he puTCuuseu
neck-tie, for which he paid fifty cents,
and thea asked permission to leave
his box while he did q few errands
| downtown. Old Hardman-a dealer
in new and secondhand clothing
no o! lection.
"It is VIOLIN" said the gentle
man, which prize very highly. 1t
was given me by an old Italian who
died at my fathers house. beg you
will be careful of it, sir.
Mr.. Hardman promised, and the
owner of the precious viol departed.
Towards noon, while the old cloth
ing dealer was very deeply engaged in
the work of selling some goods,
stranger entered the store-a remark
ably welldressed man, with a dis
tinguished look. The violn-box was
in sight, and as no one was near to
prevent, the newcomer opened the
box, and took out the instruments
very dark-h -hued and ancient looking
one.
"Hello!" cried Hardman, when he
heard the sound of the viol. "What
for you touch dat, eh?'
The stranger explained that he was
professor-and that he was leader OF
an orchestea-and that he never could
see o violin without trying it. And
then he drew the bow across the
strings, playing few passages OF a
fine old German waltz.
''My soul! he cried, after he had
run his fingers over the instrument
awhile, "that is one of the best vio-
Inns I ever saw! There is no better in
the city, perfectly genuine old Gre
monia! I will give you hundred
dollars for it,
Hardman said it was not his.
"I'll give you hundred and fifty Z!
Two hundred"
Mr.. Hardman was forced to explain
how the violin came to be left in his
store.
The stranger had taken out his
pock et-book, and drawn forth two
one hundred dollar banknotes. He
put them back, remarking:
81 must have that violin if money
will buy it. am the director of the
Academy of Music. When the owner
returns, will you ask him to wait for
me? If he cannot wait, ask him to
meet me here at six o'clock. Will
you do it?"
Hardman said he would.
"But," suggested the stranger, "you
need not tell the man what L have
said about lis viol, or what l have Of
fered; because he may have no idea
of what treasure he possesses. You
will be careful and circumspect.
The stranger went away, and Ralph
Hardman reflected. In the course of
an hour the owner of the violin re-
turped. and asked for his box. But
the shoddy man had been capti'
waited by the golden bait
What would the gentleman sell his
violin for?
At first the gentleman would not
listen to the proposition; but after
deal of talk he confessed that he was
not himself a professor, and could not
we'll afford to keep such valuable in
strument. He would sell it for one
hundred and seventy five dollars-not
a penny less.
Ralph Hardman paid the money, and
became legal possessor of the violin,
ready to take anywhere from three
hundred to five hundred dollars from
the Director Of the Orchestra, as he
might be able.
But the Director did not come. AT
the end of a week Hardman carried
the violin to professional friend, and
asked him what was its real value.
His friend examined it, and said:
"Two dollars and half, without
the box p
Ralph Hardman then knew that the
gentleman who left the violin in his
care was O swindler, and that the
Director was partner in the busi'
ness, and that together they had made
J him their victim