Waterbury Democrat., 1901-09-07
NOT THE GUY HE LOOKED.
Jeweler Thought He Was Dealing
 With a Wayback Pearl Hunter.

" llu d W dyUdCh I CetA %-~ >~~~ ~-@s
 ssThey were ordinary looking coun- trymen attired in the up-riyer country fashion, and would have passed unno- ticed by the casual observer, said q well known travelling man the other day ill speaking of group of country men whom he met on q train en route from Memphis few days ago, but, continued the travelling man, II was attracted to them by their conversa- tion. and so joined in and heard good story.
 II learned that the men were pearl hunters from De Kalb county and they had been in Arkansas prospecting
 .sOne of the men. who seemed to be the leader, said he was pearl dealer, and had been for years, but there was nothing about his general appearance to indicate that he was possessed or wealth, and this was no doubt the prime reason for his being able to play the unsophiSticated countryman.
 As I have said, the men had been in Arkansas, where they fished up a few pearls, and, in passing through 01SlApAASs IAOuSAL IACL WOhAO tAy IA~ market in disposing of few of them. They chanced to go into jewelry store owned by fat, sleek-looking man, evil dently thoroughly acquainted with the ways of the world.
 My country acquaintance sidled up to this man and asked if he would like to buy pearl. The man was willing and my friend showed him a very pret- ty specimen. for. which he wanted a couple of hundred dollars"
 Oh, no,' said the. jeweler, that's too much, I couldn't think of buying at such price and by way of empha- sis he said he had much handsomer pearl for which he only asked $500. He produced his gem and my country friend examined thoroughly and ask ed the German several times if he real ly would take $500 for it. The jeweler assured him that it was all he asked 1 and would sell it to him for that amount.
 : All right, said the. countryman, placing the pearl, in his mouth, and drawing from his wallet roll of bills, counting ont $500 and throwing it on the counter with the remark that he would take 1t. 3tsA
 "The jeweler at once turned pale and began a protest that he was jok- ing, but the countryman was firm and then the jeweler said the pearl was not his, was left with him to be sold on commission The countryman said he was not responsible for that, as it was a question between the jew eler and his client.
 The jeweler then grew indignant and threatened to have the countryman arrested and did send, out for q po- liceman, but my friend waited for the officer and stated his side of the case. The officer declined to make the ar rest, and then the jeweIer sent one of his partners out for a lawyer, to whom hef stated his case, and the lawyer de manded that the ieweler have the coun- tryman arrested, but he hesitated, and after a brief consultation with the officer, decided to drop the matter. pay the lawyer his fee of $10 and gather in his $500, whichsup to this time was lying on the counfer untouched.
 The countryman laughed as he fin ished his story and told me that he was going to New York, where he ex- pected to sell his pearl for at least $2, GOO or $3,000, if he chanced to find a man who wanted just that kind of a pearl. do not know the value of pearls, but that one was beauty, and as my country friend is evidently up on pearls, had no reason to doubt the correctness of the value he placed upon it."