Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-10-21

Count Sacha Roubletsky was on his
beam ends in London. To the world
he was still n dashing young noble
man, son of an immensely wealthy
Russian prince, but in point of fact
he was financially at his last gasp.
He wanted thousand or so for
nothing That was the problem he de-
oated as he sat in his lodging smoking
cigarette after cigarette. At last he
rose with a satisfied smile. Next morn
ing Count Sacha called on Messrs.
Sparkle & Shine, the well known Bond
street jewelers.. He explained who he
was and that he had come to select
some jewelry for his sweetheart.
From the glittering tray he selected
a beautiful stone, price $500. He then
explained that, his remittances being
delayed. he was not in n position to
complete the purchase at the moment,
and, in any case, he wished first to
submit the stone to his sweetheart's
approval.
He added suavely that as he was I'M
known to Messrs. Sparkle q Shine he
could not expect them to part with the
gem without making inquiries, but
they were at liberty to apply to the
Russian embassy for any information
they desired concerning him. He
would return the following day and,
everything being satisfactory, take the
diamond.
To this the jewelers. agreed and, in
quiring at the Russian embassy, were
informed that Count Sacha was IN
questionably the son of a wealthy
prince and that they would probably
be safe in giving him credit for even
more than the amount mentioned.
They did not know at the embassy
that Sacha had been disowned by his
father, and they were agreeable to the
counts own suggestion that a member
of the embassy should attend at the
jewelers. next day to identify him.
This was done, and Count Sacha re-
ceived the diamond. The same day
he called at a big pawnbroker's and,
mentioning airily that he was in tenn
porary difficulties, pledged the diamond
for the small sum of $50.
The next day found Count Sacha
again at Messrs. Sparkle & Shines.
His sweetheart, he said, was enchant-
ed with the diamond, but nothing
would satisfy her now but that she
should have another diamond abso-
lutely matching the first.
The jewelers. explained that to match
L.,
great difficulty and the price of the
second gem would be enormously in
creased-in short, for such Il pair of
twin diamonds they would have to
charge $1,000. Count Sacha shrugged
his shoulders. The price was stiff but
he could deny his sweetheart nothing.
Would Messrs. Sparkle & Shine please
at once set about procuring the second
diamond?
The jewelers. being unable to match
the diamond themselves, wrote to the
leading dealers and pawnbrokers de-
scribing the stone they wanted and
intimating that they were prepared to
go as far as f2,O00 for a perfect speci-
men. Among those they wrote to was
cha had pledged the original diamond,
which was just what that ingenious
rascal expected.
A few days later Count Sacha called
at the pawnbrokers to redeem his dia-
mond. The pawnbroker had had
Messrs. Sparkle & Shines letter, and.
remembering the beautiful diamond
pledged with him Il day or two before,
he had examined 1t and found that 1t
met all of Sparkle & Shines require
ments.
The count redeemed the stone, and
then the pawnbroker inquired whether
by any chance he would care to sell 1t.
Oh, no! 1t was a family heirloom.
His customer would not dream of part
ing with it.
That was pity, said the pawnbro,
ker. He had CHANGED to show the dia-
mond TO his wife. and she had taken a
violent fancy to it-so much so that
he was prepared to give fancy price.
BE offered $500.
Count Sacha laughed and shook his
head One thousand pounds? Oh, no!
He really did not want to sell it. An
offer of fl 300. however, made him hes
ttate. At last, after prolonged chatter
ing, Count Sacha passed back the dia-
mond to the pawnbroker and received
1880 in exchange. Once outside he
jumped into a cab and drove as fast
as he could to Messrs Sparkle &
Shines.
Arrived there. he explained. with
many regrets. that his sweetheart had
changed her mind. She no longer
wanted the second diamond. Had the
jewelers. yet found it? No? All. that
was well! Still, he feared he had put
them To much trouble. However, he
was glad to say his remittances had
arrived and he had now much pleas
ure in handing over 1900 in payment
for the original diamond. which his
sweetheart had decided to keep.
One thousand pounds to the good,
Count Sacha left the shop, having
brought off, most ingenious swim
die. Yet can any one say where he
came within reach of the law?-Pear-
sons Weekly.
1t is question which causes a moth