The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-17
PAWNED FOR TWENTY GULDEN
CLERK IN THE LITTLE JEwELRY
SHOP RECOGNIZED ITS VALUE.
He Notified the Authorities and Re-
ceived Reward-How the Pearl
Came to Be in Peasant Hands.

ton, for his Majesty's officers have just
recovered one of the chief splendors of his
diadem, the famous black pearl that formed
one of the quartet of drop-shaped jewels
under George II and has been missing un-
der every one of his successors, the third
and fourth George. William Nv and Vic
toria.
1t appears that this pearl, which was
stolen from the Tower in 1850 together with
two big diamonds, Travelled abroad Until
a few weeks ago. when it was discovered
in a small pawn shop in the town of Gross
warden, Hungary. The pawn shop keeper,
an ignorant young woman. having rashly
loaned s. on the jewel, became alarmed at
the thought that it might be a fake and
went to Buda-PeSth to consult with the
leading jeweler, who sent her to Vienna,
where Emperor Francis Joseph's court
jeweler caused the pawnbroker's arrest.
The woman proved, however, that she came
honestly by the famous pearl, and further
Investigations by the police and English
treasury revealed the story of it's travels,
its various proprietors and accidental dis
covery.
The account is here given in the words
of Herr Klein, a poor Hungarian clerk, who
had the good fortune to recognize the pearl
and as an after thought caused its seizure
by the Vienna police.
a PAWNBROKER'S TREASURE.
1.-The store at H-artengasse, Buda-Pesth,
where 1 used to work for a living, is a
most insignificant affair compared with the
jewelry shops in old Bond, Regent or Ok
ford streets; indeed, it hardly comes up to
some Of the little silversmitheries in the
Strand even. l was the only clerk, and
more often than not my master was absent
half the day to attend to customers clocks
and other outside work. On Oct. 10, at II a.
m, L was as usual alone in the store when
a young women entered, whom 1 at once
classed with what we call souvenir Gus
TONER'S that is, provincials who, upon Wis
iting the capital, feel in duty bound to
commemorate the event by purchasing
some trinket or other bearing ar appso.
pirate reminder in the form of an inscrin-
ton.
THE girl, though rather pretty with the
prettiness b~espeaking an active life in the
open, was outrageously dressed in clothes
of good material that fitted her like a
sack. A single glance showed that they
were never Intended for her, being toe
large in spots and skimped in others. AS
to fashions. they probably belonged to the
early eighties. Add to this a monstrous
hat combining all the colors of the rain
bow in it's feathers and silk and velvet ma
terial and a parasol of faded Powered silk
and you have a complete picture of the
woman who unconsciously restored to the
English crown one of its chiefest treasures.
LAS she stepped up 20 the counter l no.
ticed that my prospective customer was
also distinguished for a pair Of sparkling
black eyes and dimples in her red cheeks.
Much to my establishment the young WON
an paid no attention to our exhibition OF
cheap jewelry, but, sitting down on a stool
began to search her Gretchen pocket. The
examination lasted several minutes while
the girl successfully flushed with fear OF
excitement. probably because she did not
find the article wanted as quickly as antici-
pated. At last there was a little cry OF
pleasant surprise. An. here it is. she
said. Il thought 1 had lost it In pulling
out my handkerchief
PEARL OF STRANGE LUSTER.
With that she exhibited a tiny package
done up in soiled paper that might have
covered a silver thimble or something OF
the sort. Yet, though circumstances GER
tainly favored this thought, it never strucB
me. On the contrary, I was reminded of ar
incident that happened some 200 years age
at Koenigsberg, when Peter the Great Wis.
tied his friend Frederick William I OF
Prussia and to show his gratitude for TIKI
gorgeous hospitality offered him, tossed 2
big diamond, wrapped in dirty paper, into
the capacious bosom of the Queen. who
was his opposite at table and extremely
decollete, as the c~hronicler puts il. Thi:
situation, strange 10 say. was uppermost il
my mind when the young woman tore of
the cover and, holding an oval something
between thumb and ~forefnger, asked
What may this be worth"
1 expected TO see some old ring or other
trinket destined for the melting pot, but
what l did perceive took my breath away
A large, drop-shaped pearl of deepest black
matchless as TO size and beauty-one Of the
rare gems that might be responsible for the
popular superstition that pearls are dew
drops swallowed by the oyster in whose
shell they are found. AS / beheld the price.
less jewel. all the stories of great treasure:
harbored by Indian and European princes
ever read came back to me and the youns
4 NOuldu Hdu 10 repeat ueE question Twice
before 1 took notice of it, so she told m,
afterward.
What may this be WORTH" she asked
a third time, and as If 1 had the means Il
bid on it L replied, after the fashion oil
the middleman. who, in order to buy cheap.
ly, depreciates the value of goods he mean:
TO purchase. The pearl has a flaw"
"Really?" asked the stranger, bendins
forward TO examine an inhnitesimal imper
lection, which l pointed out 10 her anC
which was probably caused by the mount
ing now missing. 1t was easy TO see tina
the woman was no connoisseur, for a con
noisseur sees flaws as quickly as beauties
MAY I ask where you got the pearl?"
| continued.
The question didn't seem to brighten tn.
stranger as it might a dishonest person
| she only looked annoyed. Il don't see wha,
that has 10 do with it," she made answer
but after a moments reflection added
well, / own a small pawn shop in III.
province-an inheritance. by the way. On,
! OF my customers offered the pearl as !