The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-03-09
THE PAWNED WATCH.
BY ARTHUR REMINGTON.

BY ARTHUR REMINGTON.
Lamar Goldridge was pawnbroker
He occupied small room with large
window upon the street, and over the
door was suspended those three gilded
balls which seem to indicate that within
may be found " friend in need" The
window was adorned with watches, Jew
elry, musical instruments, pistols, etc,
ETC., while upon the stool, which was
covered with black cotton velvet, were
displayed large sums of money in gold,
silver and bank-notes. Lamar Gold
ridge sat behind his counter on a tall
stool, and before him stood female,
that seemed to be urging some claim,
but to which the broker would give no
assent He was a well-built, cookbook
ing man. with a countenance indicative
of great shrewdness, and with that Pc
culiar lurking, restless, twinkling light
of the sharp gray eye which generally
accompanies a relentless, INSCRIPTIONS
disposition. He was yet young, being
not over thirty at the furthest.
As the woman went out, another per
son came in. The new conner was a
youth about twenty years of age, hab-
iVCi IL q WI Sdl ", olON lllR III tNtTy
feature the signs of a generous, noble
souled fellow. His name, too, was
Goldridge, and he was a cousin to the
broker. He was just finishing his term
of apprenticeship to a machinist, and
merely stepped into his cousins office
now on his way from dinner.
say, Lamar, what was the matter
with that womanW
What woman, BillY'
"The one that just went out as |
came in" said he.
Maternity
Why. she was crying. What was it
all about?' .....
"Ha, ha, ha!-Pll tell you, Bill.
Just about a month ago she came in
here and wanted some money on gold
chain. / let her have ten dollars on it
for two weeks. AT the end of the two
weeks she came in and told me she
could not raise the money to redeem her
chain under two weeks more, and asked
me to hold on to it. told her would
if / could; but of course | made no
promise, for the term of payment had
expired, land the chain was mine. The
other day man came in and took
fancy to the chain, and / sold it to him
for twenty-five dollars. The woman
came in to-day to get it, and she was
mighty wrathy when she found l had
sold it."
Twas some keepsake, I suppose"
remarked William.
$50 she said"
well, now, I'll tell you what it is,
Lamar, l consider that operation of
yours to be just about ON a par with
robbery"
1t don't matter what you think,
Bill; call it fair business She sold
me the chain, and it was mine / was
not obliged to keep it for her after the
time | had promised to wait had ex-
PRED"
But humanity would have told you
to keep it."
Oh, bah! Don't talk of humanity
in business, such times as these. Money
is money, and he is best off who has the
most of it"
"Then, according to your idea, a pi-
rate who has managed to make himself
rich must be happy man."
ION, you may joke as much as you
please, but ] don't want one of your
moral lectures now You know as we'll
as l do, that when people come here and
borrow money, | buy their goods that
they offer as security. / have them dis
tinctly understand that they have sold
me the goods. But if within a certain
time they have mind to pay me ND
they can have their goods back again.
It's simple trade, and if they lose by
it, it is their own fault"
81 understand it, Lamar, / under
stand it-and so do you. If there is
anything in the shape of robbery that I
detest more than another, it is the tax
ing advantage of other peoples necessi-
ties"
There" uttered the broker, showing
signs of anger, you've said enough.
And let me give you hint, too. If
you can't come in here without attack
ing my character every time, you'd bet
ter stay away"
"Oh, don't get mad, Lamar. | only
tell you my honest opinion. And let
me tell you one more thing. You'll get
paid for all this one of these DAYS. I'll
gains never thrive, and you'll yet find it
30. Mark my words"
William Goldridge left the Office as
he thus spoke, but before he closed the
door behind him he heard a good round
oath drop rom his cousins lips.
"The little dirty meddler,h muttered
Lamar, after Bill had gone. "What |
do | care for his code Of morality? / |
must make money-and / do it hon
estly, too. What's the use of being too |
careful of other folks? l tell Fem.
when they want my money, Just my
conditions, and they can take them or
let 'em 60, just as they've mind TO-"
And yet Lamar almost wished that he |
had kept that woman's chain, for her
grief had moved him little. But then
his eyes rested upon his journal, and it |
stood after this wise:
May 25-took one chain for ten dol /
lars. Not redeemed. June 20-sold it |
for twenty-five dollars. Profit, deduct
ing, regular interest fourteen dollars
and ninety-6ve cents"