The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-02-27

This fact having been commitment
ed ~ the embassy to the baron. one
| of the clerks of the legation called at
his hotel and accompanied him to the
| jewelers.. Won Hemmerstein received
the ruby in leather box lined with
velvet and. calling Il cab, drove to the
| pawnshop Of Jules Pombeau, where
he pledged 1t for loan Of Il thousand
| francs.
A few days later. Won Hemmerstein
called again ut NJ. Cheseul's shop and
confided to him that he was about to
be married and il had occurred to him
that two rubies, OF the size and shape
and hue Of the one he had purchased.
would make pair of earrings suitable
for a gentleman's wedding gift to his
bride. Did the jeweler have such an
other ruby In stock?
NJ. Cheseul had only one or two 9TH
er stones that would come near to
matching the frst. and In all there was
some slight variation. The baron ap-
peared disappointed. and the jewel
err bent on making a double profit.
agreed to try to find match for the
ruby in the stock Of some other jew.
perfect mate would require consider
able labor and the second gem would
be worth a much larger sum than the
first. Won Hemmerstein asked him to
tx price for the mate, and after some
elaboration he named 10000 francs.
Won Hemmerstein did not seem
staggered at this figure, saying that
he would give 1t provided perfect
match were obtained. and the jeweler
called his attention to the fact that
the two together would command a
much higher price than separately.
The baron gave the order. and NJ
Cheseul began hunt all over Paris
for the second ruby.
A great many valuable gems are to
be found in the hands of pawnbrokers.
and among others to whom the jew
eler applied was NJ. Pombeau. one of
the principal members Of that trade
in Paris. That he would do SO was
expected by Won Hemmerstein and
was a part of his plan. A few days
after ordering the second gem he call
ed at NJ. Pombeau's shop and said he
would redeem his pledge. He laid down
the thousand francs borrowed on 1t.
and the broker handed 1t back to him.
by the bye. baron" said Pombeau.
would yOu like to sell that stoneT
"No. indeed. l value 1t very highly.
1t has been in my family hundreds of
years."
II have brooch into which it would
fit nicely. On this account, II you
were willing to part with 1t. l would
give you good price for it."
What do you call good price"
Pombeau would not mind giving TO-
600 francs for it. Won Hemmerstein
sneered ut this and started to leave
the shop. Pombeau called him back
and said that the ruby to him would
be worth 10000 francs. This seemed
to arrest the baron's attention. Aft
err some dickering he sold the stone
for 21.000 francs and received the
money for 1t on the spot
Calling cab. he drove at once to M.
Cheseul's shop and asked If they had
found a mate to the ruby. No: they
had not had time. They had sent out
minute description of ii and were
expecting replies. The baron said that
was fortunate. He had changed his
mind. He had determined on more
magnificent present for his bride than
the twin rubies. And. now that his
mind was made up. he would pay for
the stone he had bought. So he pro-
duced bank notes to the amount Of TO-
600 francs and took a receipt.
BY this ingenious device he had real
lied 1000 francs. or 50. 200.
But that the baron was a gentleman
of superior caliber is proved by the
sequel With the 1900 francs that
he had made he returned to Monte
Carlo and by one Of the most remarka-
BILE runs Of luck ever known there won
back all he had lost and 1000 per cent
in addition. When he left Monte Carlo
he went direct to Paris and ON arriv-
ing there made straight for Pombeau's
pawnshop. The pawnbroker met him
as though nothing disagreeable had
happened.
IL have been regretting parting with
the ruby ! sold you and would like to
buy 1t back" said the baron.
81 do not wish to sell it."
mot for better price than you paid
me?"
81 do not say that | will not sell
anything | own mt price"
LET me see; think you paid me
21,000 francs. How would $4,000
francs suit you?"
The pawnbroker was perplexed. He
had been done once, and now he fear
ed to be done again. He baked at
the offer.
"Well," said the baron. turning
away, "if you conclude to sell the gem
address me at the Circle Francois Ma
tional. Good morning"
This was enough to decide the paw
broker. who regarded bird I'm the
hand worth two in the bush. He call.
ed the baron back and sold him the
stone. after all clearing 1000 francs
on the transaction.
From Paris Won Hemmerstein went
to Berlin. where he was received with
the usual eclat attending his return