Adam Cartwright was in Reno for business when one evening he got approached by three strange men.
“That is Adam Cartwright of the Ponderosa ranch. They have money enough and we can use it better than they can”, said Jack Smith.
He looked at his accomplishes Tim Parker and George Taylor.
“You don’t know the Cartwrights very well, do you?”, asked Tim.
“Why?”, Jack asked amazed.
“If you take one in the whole family comes after you. Do you want that?”, asked George.
“I am really not afraid for a bunch of Cartwrights. Only because they happen to be rich I must be afraid of them. They ought to be afraid for us. We approach Adam and say that we have a very expensive diamond for him. You keep your mouths shut because it is my plan and I do the”, said Jack.
They went to the saloon where quite soon they ran into Adam Cartwright. He sat at a table drinking.
“Mr. Cartwright? Mr. Adam Cartwright? Can we see you for a moment?”, asked Jack
“About what?”, Adam asked with distrust
The three went to sit down and looked at the eldest Cartwright boy.
“We have an expensive diamond for you for sale. For others it is just $ 400 but for you we make a friendly price of it. We only ask $ 650”, said Jack.
Adam knew right away that he had to deal with amateurs but he didn’t let it show.
“Gentlemen, may I see that diamond?”, he asked.
“We have it in a special safe which only goes open at our request”, said Jack.
“May I have some time to think?”, asked Adam.
“You get 1 day. We see you here tomorrow evening”, said Jack.
Adam nodded and got left alone. Her didn’t trust the offer and decided to send a telegram to his father Ben Cartwright and brothers Hoss and Little Joe.
But before he got the chance to do that he ran into the threesome again.
“Have you decided already to buy our diamond?”, asked Jack.
“No, not yet. Why? Has the price become lower?”, asked Adam.
“Not at all. What do you think?”, Jack asked angry.
Adam remained calm and looked at the three.
“Jack, let’s swindle someone else because he won’t fall for it anyway”, George said nervous.
“Fall for what?”, asked Adam.
“In that fake diamond he wants to palm you off”, replied Tim.
“Idiot. You betray us this way”, snapped Jack.
“Gentlemen, may I accompany you by a short walk?”, asked Adam.
The swindlers were so amazed about this question that they walked along right away. The sheriff received them with pleasure.
In the cells the swindlers scolded at each other for everything that was loose and fastened while their actually victim was enjoying his freedom.