10 ; THE SCRANTON TRIBUNE-WEDXESDAY: MOBNINQ. DECEMBER -10, 3 89G.
? BY W. W. JACOBS.
C Author of "flany Cargoes." X
PART I.
The shop of tho pawn broker stood In
a small thoroughfare branching, oft the
Commercial -Road. In Its windows un
redeemed pledges of all kinds, from
old-time watches to seamen's boots, ap
pealed to air tastes and requirement.
Bundles of clears, candidly descrilxvi
as "wonderful," were marked at ab
surdly low figures, while silver watches
endeavored to excuse the clumsiness
of their make by describing themselves
as "strong workmen's." The side en
trance, up a narrow alley, was sur
mounted by the usual three brass
balls, and here the proprietor's clients
wore.wont to call. ' They entered us op
timists, smiled confidently upon him.
a lulled, protested shrilly, and left the
establishment pessimists of a most pro
nounced arid virulent type.
None of these things, however, dis
turbed the pawnbroker. The drunken
client w.ho endeavored to bail out his
Sunday clothes wlMi a tram ticket was
"WHAT SORT OF BI'STN'ESS IS IT?"
UK INQU1UKD.
accommodated with a chair, while the
nssisiunt went to hunt up his friends
and contract for a speedy removal; the
old woman who, with a view of obtain
ing? a slighter advance than usual,
poured a tule of grievous woe Into his
hardened ears, found herself left to the
same Invaluable assistant, and, realiz
ing her failure, would at once become
cheerful nnJ lake what was offered.
The proprietor's methods of business
woro quiet and unostentatious, and ru
mor hud It that he might retire at any
time and live In luxury.
It was a cold, cheerless afternoon In
late-December as the pawnbroker, who
had occasional ht'.zy ideas of hygiene,
stood nt his door taking the nir. It was
nn Hlmosphere lnilen with soot and re
dolent of many blended odors, but after
the fusty smell of the shop it was al
most health-giving. Tn the large pub
lie house opposite, with its dirty win
dows and faded sign boards, the gas
wns already being lit, which would
transform it from its daylight dreari
ness to a resort of light and life.
The pawnl roker, who was never In
n hurry to lii,iit up his own premises,
many of his clients preferring, the ro
mantic lis.ht which comes bctwei'n day
and night for their visits, was about In
leave the chilly air for tbewaYhrtn in
side, when his attention was attracted
by a seaman of stvs?y aspect stopping
and looking in at the window. The
jawnluokej.' rubbed his hand softly.
There was an nlr of comfort and pros
perity about this seaman, and the pro
prietor had many small articles in. his
wludow, utterly useless to the man,
which he would have liked to have sold
him.
The man came from he window,
made as though to pass, and then
paused irresolute before the pawn
broker. "You want a watch?" said the lat
ter, genially. "Come Inside."
"I don't want no watch." said the
sailor, following him in after a mo
ment's hesitation.
The pawnbroker went behind his
counter and waited.
"I don't want to buy nothing, and
I don't want to pawn nothing." said
the sailor. "What do you think o"
that'"
The proprietor, who objected to
riddles, especially those which seemed
to be against business, eyed him un
favorably from beneath his heavy
sandy eyebrows.
"We might have a llttl quiet talk to
gether," said the senman, "you an'
me; we might do a little business to
gether,, you an" me. In the parlor,
shall we say, over a glass o' something
hot?"
The proprietor hesitated. He was
not adverse to a little business of an
illicit nature, but there rose up vividly
before him the picture of another sai
lor wha had made much tho same sort
of proposal, anil, after four glasses of
ruin, had merely suggested to him that
he should lend him twenty pounds on
the security of an I. O. U. It was long
since, but the memory of it still
rankled.
"What sort of business Is It?" he In
quired. "Business that's too big for you,
p'raps," said the sailor, with a lordly
air, "I'll try a bigger place. Whnt's
that lantern-faced swab shoving his
ugly mug Into the daylight for?"
"Oct off," said the pawnbroker to the
assistant, who was quietly and unob
trusively making a third. "Mind the
"HANDS OFF," HE
shop. This gentleman and I have busi
ness In the parlor. Come this way,
sir."..
Ire raised the flap of the ewnter and
led tho wiy to a small, untidy room at
the. back of the shop. A copper kettle
was bulling on the fire, and the table
9 U 1 W
was already laid for tea. The pawn
broger, motioning his visitor to a dingy
leather armchair, went to a cupboaid
and produced a bottle of rum, three
parts full, and a couple of glasses.
"Tea for me," said the seaman, ey
ing the bottle wistfully.
The pawnbroker prickled up his ears.
"Nonsense," he said, with an attempt
at heartiness, "a Jolly fellow like you
don't want tea. Have some o' this."
"Tea, blast you!" said the other, hit
ting the table with is fist. "When I
say tea. I mean tea."
The pawnbroker1, repressing his
choler, replaced the bottle, and seating
himself at the tal!e. readied over ior
the kettle, and made the tea. It was
really a pleasing picture of domestic
life, but the pawnbroker grew restless,
lie was intent upon business but the
other, so far as his Inroads on the tea
pot and the eatables gave any indica
tion, seemed to be bent only upon
pleasure. Once again the picture of
the former sailor rose before- the pawn
broker's eyes, and he scowled fiercely
as the seaman pushed his cup up for
the fourth time.
"And now for a smoke," said his vis
itor, as he settled back In' his chair.
"A good un, mind. Lord, this is com
fort! It's the first bit b" 'comfort I've
'ad since I come ashore five days ago."
The pawnbroker grunted, and, pro
flusing a couple of black, greasy-looking
cigars, gave one to his guest. They
both fell to smoking, the former 111 at
ease, the latter with his feet spread out
on the small fender, making the very
utmost of his bit of comfort.
Are you a man as is ioiiu oi asKing
questions?" he suid. at length.
"No," said the pawnbroker, shutting
h'is lips illustratively.
"Suppose," said the sailor, leanlttr
forward Intently, "suppose a man can!
to you an' ses there's that blasted ntl
sistant of yours peeping through thl
door."
The pawnbroker got up almost as ex
asperated as the .seaman, and, after
rating his assistant through the half
open doer, closed It with a bRiig, and
pulled down a blind over the glass.
"Suppose a man came to you," re
sumed the sailor, after the pawnbroker
had seated himself again, "and asked
you for live hundred pounds for some
thing. Have you got it?"
"Not here," said the pawnbroker,
suspiciously. "I don't keep uny money
on the premises."
"You could get it, though?" suggest
ed the other.
"Weil see," said the pawnbroker;
"five hundred pounds Is a fortune
live hundred pounds, why it takes
years of work five hundred pounds"
"I don't want no psalms," said the
seaman, abruptly; "but, look here, sup
pose I wanted five hundred pounds for
something, and you wouldn't give it.
How am I to know you wouldn't glvr
Information to the police If I jlun't
take what you offered me for.U?"
The pawnbroker threw tip his huge
palms In virtuous horror
"I'd mark you for It If you did," said
the seaman, n-.cnai flipiy. through his
teeth. "It 'ud he the worst day's work
you ever 'W.' Will you take It or
leave It at my price, an' If you won't
give it-, leave me to go as I came?"
..'I will," said the pawnbroker, sol
emnly.' Tin' seaman laid his cigar In the tray,
where It expired In a littlj puddle of
tea. and, undoing his coat, cautiously
took from his waist a canvas belt. In
a hesitating fashion he dangled the
belt in his hands, looking from the
man to the door,, and from the door
buck to the man again. Then from a
pocket in tho belt he took something
wrapped In a small piece of dirty flan
nel, and, unrolling It, deposited on the
table a huge diamond, whose smould
ering lires Hashed back In many colors
the light from the gns.
The pawnbroker, with nn exclama
tion reached forward to handle It, but
the sailor thrust him back.
"Hands off," he said, grimly. "None
of your ringing the changes on me."
He tipped It over with his fingernail
on the table from side to side, the oth
er, with his head bent down, closely in
specting it. Then, as a. great indulg
ence, he laid It on the proprietor's open
pnlm for a few seconds.
"Five hundred pounds," he said, tak
ing it in his own hands again.
The pawnbroker laughed. It was a
laugh which he kept for business pur
poses, and would have formed a valu
able addition to the good will of the
shop.
"I ll give you fifty." he said, after he
had regained his composure.
Tho seaman replaced the gem in Its
wrapper ngaln.
"Well, I'll give you seventy, and
risk wether I lose over It," continued
the pawnbroker. .
"Five hundred's my price," said the
seaman, calmly, as he placed the belt
about his waigt, and began to buckle
it up.
"Seventy-five," said the pawnbroker,
persuasively.
"Look here." said tho seaman, re
garding him sternly, "you drop it: I'm
not going to haggle with any man. I
ain't no Judge o' diamonds, but I've 'ad
cause to know as this is something
special. See here."
He rolled back the coat sleeve from
his brawny arm, and revealed a long,
new-ly-healed scar.
"I risked my life for that stone," he
said slowly. "I value my life at five
hundred pounds. It's likely worth more
than us many thousands, and you
SAID, GRIMLY.
know It. However, good nltlit to you,
mate. How much for the tea?"
He put his hand contemptuously In
his trouser pocket, and pulled out some
small change.
"Titer's tho risk of getting rid of the
stone," said the pawnbroker, pushing
aside the proffered coin "Where did
it come from? Has it got a history?"
. "Not : in Kurope, It ain't," said the
seaman. "Ho far as I know, you an'
me an' one other are the only white
men as know of It. That's all I'm go
iu to tejl fou," ......
"Do you tntnd waltlns while J go
and fetch a friend of miae to see it?"
Inquired ' the pawnbroker. You
needn't be afraid." he added, hastily.
"He's a resectable man and as close
as the grave."
"I'm not afraid," said the seaman,
quietly. "Cut no larks, mind. I'm not
a nice man to play them on. I'm pret
ty strong-, an I've got something else
besides."
He settled himself In the armchair
again, and accepting an other cigar,
watched his host as he took his hat
from the sideboard.
"I'll be back as soon as I can," said
the latter, somewhat anxiously. "You
won't go before I come?"
"Not me," said the seaman, bluntly.
"When I say a thing I stick to it. I
don't haggle, and haggle, and " he
paused a moment for a word, "and
haggle," he concluded.
PART II.
Left to himself, the sailor smoked on
contentedly, blandly undisturbed by
the fact that the assistant looked in at
the door occasionally, to see that
things were all right. It was quite a
new departure for the proprietor to
leave his parlor to a stranger, and the
assistant felt a sense of responsibility
bo great that it was a positive relief to
him when his master returned, accom
panied by another man.
"This Is my friend," said the pro
prietor, as they entered the parlor and
closed the door. "You might let him
see the stone."
The seaman took off his belt again,
and placing It In his hand held It be
fore the stranger who, making no' at
tempt to take It, turned it over with
hts linger .and examined It critically.
"Are you going to sea again Just
yet?" he inquired, softly.
"Thursday night," said the seaman.
"Five hundred is my price; p'raps he
told you. I'm not going to haggle."
"Just so. Just so," said the other
quietly. It's worth five hundred."
"Spoke like a man," said the seaman,
warmly.
"I like to deal with a man who
knows his own mind," said the stran
ger; "it saves trouble. But If we buy
It for that amount you must do one
thing for us. Keep quiet and don't
touch a drop of liquor until you sail,
and not a word to anybody."
"You needn't be afraid of the llcker,"
said the sailor, grimly. "I shan't touch
that for my own sake." .
"He's a teetotaller," explained the
pawnbroker.
"He's not," said the seaman, indig
nantly. "Why won't you drink, then?" asked
the other man.
"Fancy," said the seaman, dryly, and
closed his mouth.
Without another word the stranger
turned to the pawnbroker, who, taking
a pocketbook fro his coat, counted the
amount In notes. These, after the
sailor had examined them In every
possible nirnner, he rolled up and put
In his y;.cket, then without another
word !ie took out the diamond again
and laid It silently on the table. The
pawnbroker, his fingers trembling with
eagerness, took it up und examined it
delightedly.
"You've got It at a bargain," said
the seaman. "Good night, gentlemen.
I hope, for your sakes, nobody II know
I've parted with It. Keep your eyes
open, and trust nobody. When you see
black, smell mischief. I'm glad to get
lid of It."
He threw his head back and, expand
ing his chest as though he already
breathed more freely, nodded to both
men, and, walking through the shop,
"WHAT DO YOIT WANT?" HE
YELLED.
passed out into the street and dlsap
Iieared. Long after he had gone the pawn
broker and his friend Bat with the door
locked and the diamond before them,
eagerly Inspecting It.
"it's a great risk," said the pawn
broker. "A stone like that generally
makes some noise."
"Anything eood Is risky," said the
other, somewhat contemptuously. "You
don't expect to get a windfall like that
w ithout any drawback, do you?"
He took the stone in his hand again
and eyed It. lovingly. "It's from the
east somewhere," he said quietly. "It's
badly cut, but it's a diamond of dia
monds, a king of gems."
"I don't want any trouble with the
police," said the pawnbroker, as he took
It from him.
"You are talking now as though you
have Just made a small advance on a
stolen overcoat," said his friend. Impa
tiently. "A risk like that and you
have done it before now is a foolish
one to run; the game Is not worth the
candle. Hut this why, It warms one's
blood to look at It."
"Well, I'll leave it with you, " said the
pawnbroker. "If you do well with it. I
ought not to want to work any more."
The other placed It In nn inside pock
et, while the ow ner watched him anx
iously. Don't let any accidents happen to you
tonight." he said, nervously.
"Thanks for your concern." said his
friend, grimacing. "I shall probably be
careful for my own sake."
He buttoned up his coat,' and, drink
ing a glass of hot whisky; went out
whistling. He had Just reached the
door when the pawnbroker called him
back. , . ,
"If you like to take a cab," he said.
In a low olee, so that the assistant
should not hear, "I'll pay for It."
"I'll take an omnibus," said his friend
smiling quietly. "You're petting ex
travagant. Besides, fancy the humor
of setting next to a pickpocket with
this on me."
He waved a cheery farewell, and the
pawnbroker, watching" him from the
door, scowled nngrily au he saw his
lifcht-hearted friend hall an omnibus
at the corner and beard it. Then he
went back to the shop and his every
day business of making advances on
flatlrons and other reliable assets of
the nelghliorhood.
At ten o'clock he closed for the night,
the assistant hurriedly pulled down the
shutters, that Jils time for recreation
might. not be unduly curtailed. He
slept off the premises, and the pawn
broker, after his departure, made a
light supper and sat revolving the af
fairs of the day over another of his
black cigars until nearly midnight.
Then, well contented with himself, he
went up the bare, dirty stairs to his
J0
room and went to bed and, despite the
excitement of the evening, was soon
In a loud slumber from which he was
aroused by a distant and sustained
knocking.
At first . the noise mingled with his
dreams and helped to form them, lie
was down a, niine. and grimy workers
with strong picks were knocking dia
monds from the wall diamonds so
lurg? that he became despondent at
the comparative smallness of his own.
Then he awoke suddenly and sat up
with a start, rubbing his eyes. The din
was Infernal to a man ho liked to do
a quiet business In an unobtrusive way.
It was a knocking which he usually as
sociated with the police, and It came
from his side door. With a sense of
evil strong upon him, the pawnbroker
"WHY DIDN'T YOU DO SO AT ; FIRST?" SAID THE PAWNBROK
ER, EYEING HIM SUSPICIOUSLY.
sprang from his bed, and, slipping the
catch, noiselessly opened the window
nml thrust his head out. In the light of
a lamp which projected from the brick
wall at the other end oi tne auey iie
saw a figure below.
"Halloa!" he said; harshly.
His voice drowned the noise.
"What do you want?" he yelled.
"Hullon, there! What do you want, I
sav?"
The knocklnr censed, and the figure
stepping back a little, looked up at
the window.
"Come down and open tho door," raid
a voice which the pawnbroker recog
nized as the sailor's.
"Go away." he said, in a low, stern
voice. "Do you want to rouse the
neighborhood?"
"Come down and let me In," said the
other. "It's for your own good. You're
a dead man If you don't.
Impressed by his manner, the pawn
broker, afterbldding him shortly not
to make any more noise, lit his lamp
and, dressing hurriedly, took the light
in his hand and went grumbling down
stales Into the shop.
"Now, what do you want?" he said
through the door.
"Let me In and I'll tell you," said
the other, "or I'll bawl it through the
keyhole. If you llko."
Placing the candle on the counter, he
drew back the heavy bolts and cau
tiously opened the door. The seaman
stepped In, as the other closed the door,
vaulted on to the counter and sat there
with his legs dangling.
"That's right," he said, nodding ap
provingly In the direction of the pro
prietor's right hund. "I hope you know
how to use It."
"Whnt do you want?" demanded the
other, Irritably, putting his hand be
hind htm. "What time o' night do you
call this for turning respectable men
out of their beds?"
"I didn't come for the pleasure o" ese
lng your pretty face again, you can
bet," said the seaman, carelessly. "It's
prood nature what's brought me here.
What have you done with the dia
mond?" "That's m business," said the other.
"What do yon want-"
"I told you I sailed In five days.' said
the seaman. "Welt, I got another Bhlp
this even Ins: instead, and I sail at six
a, m. Things are gettlnff t.ust a bit
too thick for me, nn' I thousrnf. out o'
pure eood nature I'd stay arount and
put you on your guard."
"Why didn't you do so at first," said
the proprietor, eying his suspiciously.
"Well, I didn't want to spoil a bar
cnln," said the senman. carelessly.
"Maybe you wouldn't have bought tha
stone If T had told you. Mind that
thing don't co off; I don't want to rob
you. Point it the other way."
"There was four of us In the dal,"
he continued! after the other had com
plied with his request. "Me an' Jack
Ball and Josey Wheeler and a Burmese
chap: the last I see o' Jack ball he was
quiet and peaceful, with a knife stick
ing In his chest. If I hadn't been a
very careful man I'd have one sticking
in mine. If you ain't a very careful
man, and do what I tell you, you'll have
ono sticking In yours."
"Speak a little more plainly." said the
other. "Come Into the parlor; I don't
want the pollre to see a light in the
shop."
"We stole It," said the seaman, as he
followed the other Into the little back
parlor, "the four of us, from "
i don't want to know anything about
that,' interrupted the other, hastily.
The sailor grinned appreclatlngly,
and continued: "Then me an' Jack be
ing stronger than them, we took it
from them two, but they got level with
poor Jack, blast 'era! I shipped before
the mast on a bark, and they cam? over
by steamer and watted for me."
"Well, you're not afraid of them?"
said the proprietor. Interrogatively.
"Besides, a word to the nollce "
"Telling 'em all about the diamond,"
said the seaman. "Oh, yes. v? ell. you
can do that now If you feel so Inclined.
They know all about that, bless you.
and, if they were had, they'd blab about
the diamond.
"Have they been dogging you?" In
quired the pawnbroker.
"Dogging me!" said the seaman.
"Dogglng's no wprd for it. Wherever
I've been they've been my shadders.
They want to hurt me. but they're car?-
ful about being hurt themselves. That's
where I have the null of thpm. They
want the stone back first, and revenge
afterward, so I thought fd put you on
your guard, for they pretty well gue?s
who's got the thing now. You'll know
Wheeler by his nose, which is broken."
"I'm not afraid, of them," said the
pawnbroker; "but thank you for tell
ing me. Did they follow you here?"
"They're outside, I've no doubt," said
the other: "but they come along like
human cats leastways, the Burmah
chap does. You want eyes in the back
of your head for them almost. The
Burmese is an old man and soft as vel
vet, and Jack Ball Just afore he died
was going to tell me something about
him. I don't know what it was; but
poor Jack, he was a superstitious sort
o' chap, and I know It was something
horrible. He was as brave as a lion,
was Jack, bu he was afraid o' that
little shrlvekd-p Burmese. They'll
follow me to the ship tonight. If they'll
only come close enough, and there's
nobody nigh, I'll do Jack a good turn." i
"Stay her ttll the morning," said the
other.
The seaman shook his head. "I don't
want to miss my ship," said he: "but
remember what I've, told you, and
mind, they're devils, both of them, und
if you are not very careful theil have
jou, sooner or later. Good night"
- He huttoned up his coat, and leading
the war to the door, followed by the
proorletor with the caudle, opened It
noiselessly, and peered carefully out
right and left. The alley was empty.
"Take this," said thep roprietor, piot
fering his pistol.
"I've got mt4" said the seaman.
"Good night." .
He strode' boldly up the alley, his
footsteps sounding loudly in the silence
of the night. The proprietor watched
him to the corner, and then, closing the
door, secured it with extra care, and
went back to his bedroom, where he
lay meditating upon the warnlngwhlch
he had JUBt been given to him until he
fell asleep,
PART III.
Before going downstairs next morn
ing the pawnbroker placed the revolver
tn his pocket, not necessarily for use,
but ai a demonstration of the lengths
to which he was prepared to go. His
manner with two or three Inoffensive
gentlemen of color was al.-o somewhat
strained. Especially was this the case
with a worthy Lascar, who, knowing
no English, gesticulated cheerfully In
front of him with a long dagger which
he wanted to pawn.
The morning passed without any
thing happening, and It was nearly
dinner time before anything occurred
to Justify the sailor's warning. Then,
happening to glance at the window, ho
saw between the articles which were
hanging there a villainous face, the
principal of which being strangely
bent at once recalled the warning of
the sailor. As he looked the face dis
appeared, and a moment later Its own
er, after furtively looking In at tha
Bide door, entered quietly.
"Morning, boss," said he.
The pawnbroker nodded and waited.
"1 want to have a lltln talk with
you, boss," said the man, after wait
ing for him to speak.
"All right, go on," Bald the other.
"Whut about Mm?" said the man In
dicating the assistant, with a nod.
"Well, what about him?" Inquired the
proprietor.
"What I've got to say Is private,
said the man.
The proprietor raised his eyebrows.
"You can go in and get your dinner,
Bob," he said. "Now. what do you
want?" he continued; "hurry up, be
cause I'm busy."
"1 came from a pal o' mine," said the
man, speaking In a low voice, "him
what was 'ere last nlzht. He couldn't
come himself, so he sent me. He wants
It back."
"Wants what back?" asked the pro
prietor. "The diamond, " paid the other.
"Diamond? What on earth are you
talking about?" demanded the pro
prietor. "You needn't try to ccme It on me,"
said the other, fleieely. "Wo want that
diamond back, and we'll have It."
"You clear out," said the proprietor.
"I don't allow people to come threaten
ing me. out you go."
"Weil do more than threaten you,"
said the man, the veins in his forehead
swelling with rage. "You've got that
diamond. You rot It for five 'undred
pound. Weil give you that back fur It, 1
una tnink yourseir lucky to get It."
"You've been drinking," said the pro
prietor, "or somebody's been icoling
you."
"Look here," said the man, with a
snarl, "drop It. I'm dealing fair an'
square by you. I don't want to hurt a
hulr on your head. I'm a peaceable
man. but I want my own. and what's
more, I can get it. I got the shell, and
I can cet the kernal. Do you know
what I mean by that?"
"I don't know, and I don't care." said
the proprietor. He moved off a little
way, and, taking some tarnished spoons
irom a dox. negan to rub them with a
pltee of leuther.
"I daresay you can take a hint as
well as anybody else," said tho other.
"Have you seen that before?"
He threw something on the counter.
and the proprietor started, d:spito him-
seir. as lie giancea up. it was the sail
or's belt.
'That's a hint." said the man. with a
Irer, "and a very fnir one."
The proprietor looked at .him stead
ily, and sa.v that he was white anil
nervous; his whole aspect that of a man
who was running a great r sk for a
great stake.
I suppose,' he said, at length, sneak
ing very slowly, "that you want me to
understand that you have murdered the
owner or tms?
"Undcrrtand what you like," said the
THEN HAPPENING TO GLANCE AT
THE WINDOW,
other, with sullen ferocity. "Will you
let us have that back again?"
"No," said the proprietor, explosive
ly, "I have no fear of a dog like you;
-
If it, was worth the 'trouble I'd send for
the police and hand you over to them."
"Coll them,"- sold the other: "do, I'll
wait. But. mark my word, it you don't
giv,? us tho Hone back you're u dead
man. I've got a pal what hulf that dia
mond belongs to. He's from the ea.t.
i. rid a bad man to cross. Ho has only
got to Y-ish it, and you're a dead man
, witliutft his raising a finger at you.
I've come here to do you a god turn;
If he roines here It's all up with you."
"Well, you go back to him," Jeered
the proprietor; "a clever man like that
can get the diamond without going near
It, seemingly. You re wasting your
time here, und it's a pity; you muct
have got a lot of friendd."
"Well, I'vj warned you," said tho
other; "you'll have one more warning.
If you won't bo wise you must keep
the diamond, but It Won't be much good
to you. It's a good slone, bin speak
ing for myself, I'd sooner De alive with
out it than dead with It."
He gave the proprietor a menacing
glance and departed, and the assistant,
having by this time finished his din
ner, the pawnbroker went to his own
with an appetite by no means impaired
by his late Interview.
The cat, with Its forcpaws tucked be
neath it, was dozing on th? counter.
Business hnd been slues: that morning,
and it had only been pushed off three
times. It had s'.aked out a claim on
that counter some five years before,
and If anything was required to con
vince it of the vnlue of the possession
It was the fact that it was being con
stantly pushed off. To a firm-minded
cat this alone gave the counter a value
difficult to overestimate, and some
times an obsequious customer fell Into
raptures over Its b auty. This was
soothing, and the, animal a'lowed cus
tomers of this type to scratch it gently
behind the ear.
The cat was for the time the only
occupant' of the shop. The assistant
was out and the pawnbroker sat in the
small room beyond, with the door half
open, reading a newspaper. He had
read the financial columns, glanced at
the foreign Intelligence and was just
about to turn to the leader when his
eye was caught by th headline: "Mur
der In Whltechapel." He folded tha
paper back, and with a chilly feeling
creeping over him perused the account.
In the usual thrilling style it record-d
the finding of the body of a man. evi
dently a sailor, behind a hoarding
placed In front of some shops In course
of erection. There was mi clew to the
victim. who had evidently bet-n stabbed
from l hind In the street and then
drngged or carried to the place In
which the body had been discovered.
The pockets bad b?en emptied, and the
police, who regarded the crime as an
ordinary one of murder and robbery,
entertained the usual hopes of shortly
arresting the assassins.
Th pawnbroker put the paper down
and drummed on the table with his
fingers. The description of the body
left no room for doubt that the victim
of the tragedy and the man who hnd
sold him the diamond were Identical.
He began to realize the responsibilities
of the bargain, and the dating of his
vlritor of the day before in venturing
before him almost red-handed gave him
an unpleasant Idea of the lengths to
which he was prepared to go. In a
pleasanter direction It gave him an
other Idea: it was strong confirmation
of his friend's valuation of tho stone.
"I shall see my friend again," said the
proprietor, to himself, as ho looked up
from tho paper. "Let him make an at
tempt on me, nnd we'll see."
.He threw the paper down, and set
tling back in his chair, fell Into a pleas
ing reverie. He saw his release from
"Y01T A HE NOT
sordid toll close at hand. Ho would
travel ami enjoy his life. Pity the dia
mond had not come twenty years be
fore. As for the sailor, poor devil, why
didn't he sta when he was asked?
The cat, still dozing, became aware
of a strong, strange odor. In a lazy
fashion It opened one eye, and dis
covered that an old, shriveled uo little
man. with a brow n face, was standing
by the counter. It watched him lazily,
but warily, out of n half-closed eye, and
then, finding that he appeared to be
quite harmless, closed It again.
The Intruder was not an impatient
type of customer. He stood for some
time gazing round him; then n thought
struck Mm, and he approached the cat
and stroked It with a masterly hand.
Never, In the course .of Its life, had
tho ftnlma! met with such a born
stroker. Every touch was a caress, and
a gentle thrum arose from Its Interior
In response.
Something went wron;? with th-i
striker. He hurt. Tho cat started up
suddenly and Jumped behind the ci.un
Ur. The dark gentleman smiled an
evil smile, and, after waiting a little
longer, tapped on the counter.
The pawnbroker came from th? little
room beyoml.with tho newspaper In his
hand, nnd his brow darkened as he saw
the customer. He was of a harsh and
dominant nature, and he foresaw more
distasteful throats.
"Wf 11, -what do you want?" hs de
manded, abruptly.
"Morning. Mr," snld tho brown man,
In perfect English: "fine day."
"The day's well enouirh," said the
proprietor.
"I wanted a little talk with you."
said the other, suavely. "A little, quiet
reasonable talk."
"You'd bstter make It short." said
the proprietor. "Jiy time Is valuable."
The brown man smlled.and raised his
hand with a deprecatory gesture.
"Idany things are valuable," said he,
"but time Is th most vnluuble of all.
And time to us means life."
The proprietor saw a covert threat,
and grew more Irritable still.
"Get to your butlness," ho said,
sharply.
Tha Lejdins Dsnlist, Eight Yssrs'
(?x fe
409 Spruce Street.
The Better YouaFooD
I HE e3eITR YOSJRiIEAIKI
Use
Tha Cottolio trado marks are "CbUolcni" ko4
Bwr't toad tn cotton-piant vrtath on verr Urn,
THI N. K. PAIRBANK COMPANY,
CMciso, Nw York, rUlUaolpbis, PltUbus,
The brown man leaned on the coun
ter and regarded him with a pair of'
fierce, brown eyes which age had not .
dimmed.
"You are a reasonable man," he said,
slowly; a good merchant. I can see It. "
But sometimes a good merchant makes
a bad bargain. In that case, what docs .'
the good merchant do?"
"Go to the devil," said the proprietor,
angrily.
"He makes the best of It," continued
I V, Q lit tl .i I nnlniti, 1 .. . 1 Y- .. I .. ,
..... nillltjr, UIIU HIT 1H II lUCIiy
man If he is not too late to repair ths
mischief. You are not too lato."
The proprietor laughed boister
ously. ;
"There was-a sailor once made a bad
bargain," said the brown man, still In
the same even tones, "and he died of
grief."
14a frtlnnn,l nt ttila nlrniaaitlM, ii . II
his face looked like a cracked mask.
"I read In this paper of u sailor b'Hng '
killed." said the proprietor, holding It .
up. "Have you ever heard of the police, "'
of prison, and of the hangman?"
"All of them," said the other, softly.'1
"I might be able to put the hangman
on the track of the sailor's murderer,"
continued the proprietor.
The brown man smiled and shook hit
head. "You are too good a merchant,"
VlA DdM MV.anl.1nn 1 ....... 1.1 1 ........ J I iB
ic doiu, ucami-B nuuiu ue very Ulin
cult."
"It Would bp A hltanalira in ma ' matA
the proprietor.
"Let us talk business like men, not
nonsense, like children," said the brown
man. suddenly. "Ycu talk of hangmen.'
I talk of death. Well, llBten. Two
nights ago you bought a diamond from
a sailor for five hundred pounds. Un
less you give me that diamond back for
the same money I will kill you."
"What?" snarled the proprietor,"
drawing his gaunt figure to Its full
height. "You, you undersized mum
my?" :
"I will kill you," repeated the brown
mnn, calmly. "I will send death to you ,
ilenth In a hm-rll,!, uhatin T ...111
a devil, a little artful, teasing devil, to
worry you and kill you. In the dark-
' iiv ,, in niiiir Mini !.(,! UUi (I!)
yuu. You hart better give back the dUv .
TOO LATE."
mond, and live. If you give It back,
promise you your life."
(To Be Continued.)
A GEORGIA ELECTION STORY
An Itinerant Preacher Had to Much
Faith in Bryan's Election.
One election story Is that an itinera
ant Georgia preacher, who had one
horse and a large family, was so confi
dent of Bryan's election that he said
to one of the members of his congre
gation: "I don't bet, an' I ain't a-goln ter
bet; but If anybody would Jest make
believe that they wagered a hoss agin
that air creeteur o' mine that Bryan
won't be elected, an' then keep their
counsel crbout It, it would be all right
with me, an' I'd Jest consider between
me and him that my hoss wuz stakes
ag'in his."
"All right, brother," said the mem
ber, "we'll Jest look at It In that light,
an' If McKinley Is elected I'll have two
hosses an' you none."
It was "a go." but the following Sun
day the congregation was amazed to
see the preacher tramping to town,
where he arrived way-worn and mud
bespattered, and mounting the plat
form straightway began preaching
about the evils of betting.
"Yes," he cried, "there are men In
this here congregation so lost ter right
an' Jestice that they would bet ag'ln
the one hoss of a poor man. take It
from him, an' make him walk ter
glory for the balance of his days! If
such n mun Is In the hearln' of my
voice today, let him tremble! He can't
take that election hoss to heaven with
him. If he could ride It plum Into the
pearly gates the Angel Gabriel would
holler 'Whoa!' an' while the tremblln'
wretch dismounted he would hear these
words, like the knell o' dooms: 'Whar
did you get that hoss?' "
After tho sermon and the benedic
tion someone took the parson by the
arm and led him out into tho grove and
handed him a bride (and there was a
horse connected with It), and said:
"Hero's yer darned old hoss! Prajr
for me on yer way home!"
Experience, NowLocatedat
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if fiWLLMZmnmA
(0 FOR HAVING PASSED!
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EXAMINATIONS ff A