The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-08-01


of broker. Suffice it to say that he
at length counted out fifty dollars to
his customer and took the watch ;
and the trade, as he termed it, stood
thus at any time within the two
weeks the gentleman could redeem
his watch upon the payment of sixty
! dollars.
sRather steep interest, said the ell.
! DERBY. gentleman, with smile far
more grim and severe than any
which had preceded it. E
John would have again explained
the enormous risks of his business,
but the customer would not listen.
sWhat name p said John, holding
his pen over his entry-Eook. ..-.-I
Put it down, Simon S,sibbs, if you
must have a name
SO John put it down, and thea he
put the watch away, and the custom
er departed with the fifty dollars.
| After the man had gone JohnG led-
din took out the watch and looked at
it again. His eyes sparkled eagerly.
Suppose any thing should happen
to prevent the prompt redemption
ofthe valuable pledges The thought
thrilled him through and through.
The days passed,-and a week
past. The days passed again, and
another week had sped by.
AT length the elderly gentlem
returned, and asked for his watch.
what name p asked John profess
ing to have forgotten.
1Snibbs-Simso,a S,ai66s.'
| sAh yes. / remember. Let me
see.'-And he looked over his book.
REALLY, Mr.. Snibbs, youmust have
made mistake. have no watch
of yours
sHow, SIR cried the customer in
blank amazement. Did not leave
with you a valuable gold watch as
security of a certain sum which l
borrowed of you?'
John smiled blandly.
Not exactly as you put it, Mr..
Snibbs. If you will refresh your
memory, you will recollect that l
bought the watch,-that for value
received, you give me regular bill
of sale with the provision, howev-
er, that if, within two weeks from
the date thereof, you should pay to
me the sum of sixty dollars in cur
rent funds, the watch should become
again your property. The two weeks
expired yesterday, sir!'
sBut-sir, Will you
John put up his hand reproving-
ly. ..
There is no need of going into a
passion, my dear sir, you see just
how the matter stands
From a tearing rage, the old man
descended to argument and explana-
ton. He told how he had been de-
tanned in New York by an unavoida-
BILE accident, and how he embraced
the first opportunity to call for his
watch. .....
Il had not worried much,' he said,
because | had not thought that any
man could be consumately mean and
cold bloodedly heartless as to rob
me upon such pretext.'
At this John waxed wroth, and or
dered the man to leave his office.
And the old gentlemen, fearing
that he should be led to commission
of some foolish outrage if he remained
longer within the viilalnous influence
closed his lips together, and went
away. -........-.. ..... .-...-...
On the afternoon Of that very day,
John Gleddin sold the watch to an
agent of a Philadelphia house for
two hundred and seventy five dol
lars.
| 'Hi,yah Pie cried, as George Aus
ton dropped in during the evening.
'Plod on at your type case, old fell
low, plod ONT
whats up John?'
The greatest operation l ever
made,--two hundred and seventy-fve
dollars in pocket at the single turn
of the die-interest on fifty dollars
for two weeks? What dye think OF
that?'
IF money were mans chief end,
said George soberly,-'if money
were the sole source of happiness
I should say you were on the road.
But you know my sentim ents, and
won't argue the point. And, be-
sides, we havn't time. | come to
let you know that Uncle Moses has
got home
uncle Moses = cried John, clasp
ing his hands --.. ......
sYes. He has but just arrived, and
called on me this afternoon. He
wants you and / to call and see him
at the fremont this evening"
sOf course We'll 60 and see him,
said John starting to put away his
valuables. sThe old fellow must be
rich as mud, and you and are his
only relatives
sHe is certainly rich,' responded
George quietly 'and we are his only
near relatives; but l don't think of
that. / only remember how l used
to love him in the old days. when my
mother was alive and he used to
cheer and comfort her, and used to
play with me under the great trees.
sAnd / remember added John,
show he used to tell me l ought to
have my ears boxed because robbed
BIRDS nests, and stole apples and
peaches out of our neighbors' gar.
dens. But that was long time ago.
have forgiven him for all that.
say George, if he should take a fan.
cy to us, we're in luck, amt we I
You won't say anything about
about
about what?'
Il was going to say about my
business; but never mind. Only
those who have been behind the
scenes know the crooks and turns.
you need not fear that shall say
: anything to your disadvantage
, John. You'll find Uucle Moses ONT
t of the jolliest and kindest hearted
men you ever saw
| And as John had locked his safe
f and finished his toilet, the two cou
sins set forth. .aa.E ...s....
Uncle Moses Gleddin had beer
J brother to Johns father and te
Georges mother, and for man,
years he had been away in Europe
: engaged in responsible agencies fol
: American houses; and it was known
, that he had amassed fortune. He
/, had married in youth but his wlf'