New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-11
DIAMONDS AND JUNK
By David w. Thatcher of Detroit


better than good, fat order or decisive scoop on
competitor. it was practical Joke. Give or take,
il made little difference to him, so long as the motive
was straight and the result clean.
It happened one day, some fifteen or twenty years
ago. that hc dropped off a train at Detroit and was
Immediately whiskcd to one Of the leading hotels ana
went in TO lunch.
Directly opposite him at the table sat a stranger
Fuon's attention was instantly attracted by the lavish
disDlav Of diamonds worn by the other The man was
literally walking cwcry emporium In his smrtiront
qlistcncd an immense diamond probably worth scV-
cral thousand dollars -Four large perfectly matched
stones. set in pair Of cuff links, twinle with every
movement Of his hands. fob nearly as large as Il
watch was made up of a cluster Of large stones while
nearly every finger both hands carried one or more
rings rcsplendcnt with the same precious Jewels
TO Fulton modest in the way of personal ornamental
ton society woman wearing this magnificent collcc-
ton at some big social function would have been con-
spcuois parsonage but for man SO TO bcdcck NM
saf at any time or in any circumstance, particularly at
that time Of day, seemed so utterly ncongruou' ana
out Of place that he was fillcl with disgust.
The stranger looked up suddenly. Catching Fulton
qazc fixed upon him. and undoubtedly believing that he
wasadmirngt diamond in his shrtfront, he laid down
his knife and fork and pointing to the sparklcr with
smile said THAT stone weighs nearly four carats. II
is one of the finest blue-whe diamonds in existence,
and cost me fifteen hundred dollars.
at dbl" exclaimed Fulton. at ought to be cheap
at half the price.
You couldn't bug one ike it for twice the
amount continued the stranger paying no attention
to Fulton's comment. And these, pointing TO the
cuff links cost me a cool thousand each. have half
a dozen Just like them in the safe.
"Whcre is the safc2" asked Fulton.
And this. pointing 10 the charm Il got IN Paris |
struggled it over. 1t cost me four thousand; but YOU
couldn't buy one right now for five, and
81 couldn't buy one like it for fifty II had to pay
cash. broke in Fulton.
And this he said. still ignoring the interruptions,
rointing to stone as large bean in one Of the rings,
cost me thirteen hundred dollars This one, yellow
tint YOU will notice cost eleven hundred dollars; this
one seven hundred and fifty; and this little of
color | got for five hundred but II Is worth nine
hundred
Finishing with this hand, he PROCEEDED to cnumcrate
the sizes and values Of those the other when Fulton
interrupted him with:
Say, my friend, why don't YOU start croclery
store"
Unabashed he replied, well, thin, l could DO
that too if wanted to- at the same time digging down
into pocket and pulling out q buc,skin bag. Opening
this he exposed view probably dozen magnificent
unset stones the beauty and brIiance of which nearly
took Fulton's breath away
These are only a few | have many more Of the
same kind that cost all the way from three hundred
70 q thousand dollars each.
Better have a care cautioned Fulton, ~or some
ncysboy or con man will get them for considerably
less"
During the rest Of the meal Fulton cndeavorci to
figure out the meaning Of this strange proceeding
the part Of his table mate apparently q little off in