Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1917-02-15
A SHABBY
NOBLEMAN
BY ALAN f}LNSDALE

The clerk went to safe, took out
several trays and placed them on the
counter.
These necklaces are very expen
sive," he said 'Of course SO large a
number OF real pearls cost money. But
this one" handing out a single string
OF very small jewels. rs cheaper The
price Is 81, 500"
The man did not seem shocked Mt
ihe enormous price named by the clerk,
but after close inspection OF the ar
ticles, holding them within "A few
inches OF his eyes on which he wore
glasses evidently 10 correct near
sight, he handed them back TO the
clerk, saying; II can do better In Lon
don. Let me see some earrings"
The clerk put away the trays and
brought forth others containing ear
rings. The customer, as IN the case
before, examined the more expensive
articles ana asked the price Of pair,
each having single pendant of a dia-
mond as large as good sized pea
The price was $4,000.
You are nearer reasonable price
OH these" said the customer They
are very pretty"
The clerk had shown the man jewels
far beyond the price he supposed from
his appearance he could pay Indeed.
he fancied the party simply desired 10
feast his eyes upon them The diamond
earrings We're apparently nearer his
caliber. Perhaps "a sale could be effect
ed. After holding them near and far
and catching the light on the diamonds
he asked the clerk II he could send
them TO his hotel. He would like his
wife 10 see them The clerk agreed
The gentleman gave his name, George
Throckmorton, and his hotel, at tn
same time taking out a cambri, ham
kerchief and wiping his glasses VIII
the handkerchief came letter VIII 3
dropped OH The floor
The clerks back was turned at IL.
time for be was putting away ti.
Jewel trays, and when be again IA 81
the counter fashionably dressed ma
was there holding ont the letter Tire
other had dropped
THE man who Just left you drop
this" he said
The clerk took the letter and natur
~ looked at the address II was
Earl OF Boyingstone. hotel, Ne
York, L S A. ana bore Londo.
postmark
That's singular said the clerk 10
the man who picked mp the letter
What's Singular
Why. that the fellow should he a
nobleman' His clothes are worn
shiny"
Don't you know" replied the other,
examining the address. that those
English lords wear seedy clothes? It's
an afrectatiOn But you should see
their lackeys. all velvet and gold. with
powdered wigs and silk stockings
Sometimes their shoe buckles are set
with real Jewels"
"You don't mean it, said the clerk.
I've heard It said that the members
Of the house OF lords are the worst
dressed men 10 he found In any legis
lative assembly happen 10 know
that the Earl OF Boyingstone Is one or
the richest men In England
The clerk put the letter In his pocket
aud when he sent the earrings and the
letter to the earl's hotel sent also a
message that there was 10 per cent
discount Oh the necklaces. which he
had not mentioned. The Countess of
Bayingstone admired the earrings, and
the earl asked the man who brought
them II draft OH London for the
price would be accepted In payment
The bearer telephoned the firm. and
since the clerk had reported that
George Throckmorton was also Earl
OF Boyingstone the partners consulted
as to whether they should do so un-
usual "A thing rs he requested The
clerk was called in and told that the
customer had RETAINED from buying
the pearl necklaces not because they
were expensive. but because he said
he could do better in London. III
there was anything wrong with him"
added the clerk. 1T would seem that
he would have chosen the Jewels in
volving the greater amount"
The junior member Of the firm said
that II he could have look az the
purchaser he could rate him correct
~; he would know gentleman by
instinct II was agreed among the
partners that this man should go 20
the hotel and give the answer
The junior member ~ the jewelry
irm in order to excuse the visit said
that he had come to say that IL Mr.
Throckmorton fancied any Of their
necklaces it could be- had for less
money than the clerk had named. But
the earl said that his wife would not
need jewels IN America. and hc would
not purchase anything more than tile
earrings AT present This statement
removed an doubt a. to the genuine
ness OF the transaction, tie carl's draft
on his London bankers was accepted
and the earrings pissed into his pos
session
couple Of weeks later the draft
came back marked NO funds"
Then II appeared 10 the jewclry firm
that they had been neatly tricked The
earl was confidence man. and the
person who had picked mp the letter
was his confederate II is well
shabby clothes. The swindlers took
advantage OF the fact 10 inspire conf
dence and by II made successful
haul.
PAINFUL COUGHS RELIEVED