The Diamond Man

Such a sight may nevcr be seen ia j troit again - twelve diamond pins cally arranged on a pieco of white cardboard - twelve glittering, glistening, sparkling, resplendent diamonds, not one of whick would have looked out of place on the shirt-íront oí Duke Alexis. The diamond mexchant was not a young man ; neither was ho old and broken down. He was juat about old enough to sell diamonds, and just about j seedy enough to roake folks believe he would discount a thousand dollars on each precious stone for the sake of obtaining cash down. He first tackled tho special pólice man at the Central depot. He held ujp the card, flashing the twelve dian-Önds in the ofScei's eyes, axid sweëtly said : "You are a noble-looking man. I've visited the principal cities of Euiope and África, and I never saw a more noble-lobkihg öfflcer than you are. There is only one thing láckiñg - you should have one of those diamonds. "Oan't afford it," said the officer, feeling to see if the lone $2 bill in his watch-pocket was safe. "These diamonds are being sold by all first-class jewelers at $500 eaoh," whispered the man ; " but I teil you what Til do. I took 'em on a chattel mortgage, and I'll let you have oue for $25. " ''Snide,' replied the officer, as he examined them. " Snide ! Dear me ! bul Í thought yoü were a keen, shatp fellbw. Go with me to a jeweler, and if he denies that these are diamonds of the flrst water I'll give you the whole twelve." The offlcer couldn't buy. The man came down to flve dollars, and at last dropped to two, but it was Satltrclay, and a policemah loVes chickën for his Sünday diilner. there was a great inany hackmen around the depot. The stranger went Out ambng them, sèlected one whoáe mdke-up betokened good taste, uüu urawmg mm awuy irom ine rest ne asked : "You wouldn't go back on a poor man, wouldyou?" " Never," was the earnest reply. "Here's some diamonda I stole in Paris," whispered the stranger as he pulled out the card. " I'm hard up, and will sel! one or two." The hackman gazed on the jewels for half a minute, handed them back, and began to unbutton his overcoftt. " Yoü have had a good bringing tip," Whispered the strangei-j "and you can wear óne of these diamonds and be consistent. Therb are men in te " "I'll hilrt you if yoü don't go away !" growled the hackman. "As 1 said, I stole hese diamonds in Paris, and I've got to part with one or two to pay curreut expenses," continued the peddler. " You keep right away, or I'll make a sand-bar of your nose," replied the hackman. When I want a dollar diamond I'll whittle one Out of basswood I" " A dollar diamond ! Basswood ! Whittle ! Is there no taste in Detroit !" The hackman rushed at the peddler, and the peddler had to leave the neighborhood of the depot. He went over to ! where a city expressman sat on his sleigh, ■waiting for a job, andsuch a soft, tender, pie-plantish smile as he smiled would almost make cabbage plants sprout in January. "Itisn't very of ten that one sees a man of your stylish look driving an expresa wagon," remarked the stranger. " Take your trunk up, sir ?" asked the driver ; ' ' any part of the city for fif ty cents: " Your looks go to show that you once moved in high cíteles," continued the stranger, aüd I have no doubt that you once wore one of these. " "Ah! those are beauties," said the driver, as he saw the card oí diamonds. " Guess they are beauties. One of them on your shirt front would look well." "It would, that." "And, owing to the way I got hold of 'em, I can sell you one cheap, I found 'em on the ttreet in New York city, where a thief dropped 'em, and I'm hard up, and will sell you one almost at your own priee." " And I must have one," replied the driver. " Do you warrent 'em real diamonds?" ' "Of course I do." "And the pin is gold ?" "Pure gold, sir." " And you want how much ?" " Well," whispered the stranger, as he looked all around, "if you wön't blow on me 111 let you have one for seven dollars." "Seven dollars," yelled the driver, ' ' do you think I can flnd f ood for a horse and nine childron, and payrent, and buy clothes, and spend seven dollars for a diamond ? Why, I can buy diamonds for two shillings I" " Oh, no you can't. If I wasn't hard I up I wouldn't sel! one of these for less í thanS500." " Haven't I driven an expresa wagon ín Detroit for fourteen years ? Don't I know the price of diamonds ? Wasn't I in the army for three long years? I'll give you twenty cents and no more." " I couldn't do that." "Then leave me alone, you swindler you! I believe you carne here to steal my horee-blanket I" The two had a fight. It was a onesided fight. The stranger had his hoad jammed into the snow and his breath shut off, and when he got up his twelve diamonds were missing. Although valued at $6,000, he did not stop to look for them, but with thumb and finger down behind his coat-collar to pull out the snow, he made haste to be somewhere else. The driver borrowed a pin to take the place of a shirt button, and feelingly remarked : " When they runs diamonds up above twenty-five cents, they touch a tender chord in every poor man's heart." -