Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-06-27
ABE'S LITTLE
FLIER 80
By GRANT THORBURN
Copyright, 1902, by T. C. Mcclure

CHURCH time, u Ue sure, IOl yet a.
Sunday school, nor week night meet
ings, nor Epworth League. 1t was at
other times he shOne-at the fairs, and
candy sales, and donation parties, and
school commandments, for he was
prestidigitator, and he was the regu-
lar thing at the village entertainments.
But lately his popularity had begun
to wane. The Flatbrookers became tired
of the same old card and coin tricks,
though Abe Hinchman. through long
and careful practice, was an adept at
them. They longed for the Indian box
trick and the juggler's sword tricks OF
the metropolis. They did not know that
down in the cities the blase members
of society, if they ever did attend
sleight of hand performance, always
came in when the card and coin tricks
commenced and yawned and went out
when the Indian box trick came on.
Abe realized that his popularity was
on the wane. Even old Doc Clarkson's
daughter had grown bit distraught
and cold. So Abe made up his mind.
He drew about two-thirds Of his bank
deposit and started for New York. He
was determined to learn few new
tricks, buy some new paraphernalia
and come back and astonish the natives
and old Doc Clarkson's daughter. 1t
was early winter and there was no
farming to be done, so there was no
better time or opportunity, and he
went.
He occupied a seat in the smoker
At station near the metropolis well
dressed young man boarded the train,
looked around for seat and finally
took the one next to Hinchman. He
was a sociable sort of fellow and en-
tered into conversation at once. Abe
told him all he knew and many things
that he didn't The stranger was not
so communicative and confined him
self strictly to fiction, although Abe
couldn't know that of course.
'Now, look a-here," remarked this
man. Don't you go to any hotel. You
go to a private boarding house. They
won't skin you. know a good one
where they'll treat you right You
come with me-" Abe went.
The place was situated in a rather
obscure street, but the rates were
cheap. Abe's companion. by singular
coincidence, boarded there himself.
After supper they went upstairs into
the parlor A caller was announced, a
rather seedy parsonage. He wanted to
see Abe's new companion. They talked
together in one corner while Abe sat in
another. Then his friend came over to
him.
."Sa.y, Hinchman," he began, "do you
know anything about diamonds? Any
Judge of them?" Abe glanced at the
other man out of the corner of his eye
"Somepin," he replied. "Was in a
jewelry store up home f'r awhile. Why!
What's up?'
''Why, say" continued the other,
''here's a friend of mine in fix. He's
got some good diamonds and wants
me to loan about 5000 ON em. They're
worth 5000 anyway. I've seen 'em.
Now, I ain't got 5000 or I'd lend it to
him. Spose you do it. How much
have you got?'' This was superfuous
question, for he had discovered on the
train that Hinchman had just $3.50.
''Well, now, here" went on the 9th
er, "he says if he don't pay up in
week you can keep the stones, see? He
can't pay up, and the stones are the
real thing, see? And you'll be in the
difference between couple OF hundred
and most a thousand, see?"
Hinchman saw. He thought it over
and concluded that it was a sound
proposition, provided the gems were
genuine. He excused himself mo-
ment. went to his room and put 5000 in
one envelope and something else in an
other envelope of similar appearance.
They had to go to the friends room,
a few blocks distant up dark, dlngy
staircase The friend produced the
Jewels. Abe wouldn't touch them un-
less they went over to some Broadway
ieweler and determined their worth
and genuine character. This was fair,
and they went 1t was really super
f1uous, for Abe could tell by the merest
examination that the stones were the
real things. There were four OF them.
The Broadway jeweler looked at them,
said they might sell for a couple OF
hundred apiece, but that he would give
$3.50 spot cash for each of them. Then
the three went back.
"Well, what do you think OF it,!
asked Hinchman's friend of Hinchman.
'"They amt worth as much as we
thought but there's good clear profit
in it for you in case my friend here
don't pay, and if he does you get your
money back, with good big interest and
a bonus besides at the end of week. "
The diamonds were again produced
and once more examined. From that
time on Abe Hinchman kept his eyes,
not on the faces of his friends, but on
the diamonds.
"I'll do it, he finally announced. He
slowly withdrew from his pocket the
envelope containing the $3.50 and a
small bag. He counted the money