Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1887 — She Swallowed the Diamond. [ARTICLE]

She Swallowed the Diamond.

“Let me tell you of an incident that occurred to me once. I was a young man then and a clerk in Tiffany’s. One morning a richly attired lady got out of her handsome carriage and entered the store. She walked to the diamond department and asked to be shown some loose gems. She selected two valuable solitaires and paid for them. Thinking my attention was called in another direction, she slyly but rapidly took a stone and placed it in her mouth. I saw the theft, but hardly knew what to do. Calling for a messenger, I sent for our business manager, and told him ■what had happened. Without an instant’s delay he said: ‘Madame, you have made a mistake. You have one of our diamonds in your mouth. Will you return it without an exposure?’ The next moment she gave a gulp, and 1 knew the gem had gone. She had swallowed it. Of course we were in a dilemma. The lady became indignant, and threatened suit and violence at the hands of her husband.” “What did you do?” “Sent the bill with a written explanation to the husband. The next day he paid us a visit. He said that he believed there was a mistake, but that he could not afford an exposure.”— Jewelers’ Weekly.