The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-03-09

IdIldn Ieau tuis, fuu Ill uis qudiHls
Of conscience were gone in moment.
Money had potent influence over his
thoughts and feelings.
Shortly after this, the broker went out
and got some dinner, and not long after
when he returned to his office, he was
visited by an elderly gentleman. This
visitor was well dressed, though his
garb had the appearance of being well
worn, and his linen was far from being
clean. He must have been not far from
sixty years of age, and possessed kind,
open countenance. He stated his bust
ness in as few words as possible. He
found himself in a strange city, without
money, and he wished to borrow small
amount for few days.
al have money to lend, sir, on good
collateral security" reiterated Lamar.
Then let me have what you can on
this watch; say, for one week." said the
old. gentleman, at the same time draw
ing gold watch from his pocket, and
handing it to the broker.
Lamar took it and opened it. 1t was
an extra jeweled, heavily cased chrome
meter, worth three hundred dollars at
least.
" Welln said the broker, after having
looked the watch over, 81 suppose
might advance seventy-five dollars on
this"
F" should like a hundred"
81 haven't got hundred now to
spare. Must pay away large sum this
afternoon. But I'll advance the seventy
fve."
DWELL, | can make that do"
For one week, you said"
" Yes"
Lamar went to his desk and drew up
two instruments, one of which was bill
of sale of the watch, and the other a
note of hand, payable in one week, and
these he asked the old gentleman to sign.
The bill of sale he signed first, and then
| he took the note.
WhatW he uttered, as he read it.
"Eighty-three dollarsT'
Yes, sir" returned Lamar, unblush-
ingly. THAT is the best that / can do.
My money is worth that to me, for j
can let it out in smaller sums at far
greater profit
| The man signed the note, but he did
it with bad grace, for he saw that he
was in the hands of a sharper.
"Now," said he, as he pushed the
note along, trust you will take the
best of care of that watch, for it is a
valuable one, as you can see--far too
valuable to be pledged for such paltry
sum-"
" 1t shall be safely kept, sir; but you
don't realize how much trouble we have
with such things. If such thing
should happen that such watch was
! left on my hands, might not sell it for
years to get anything like half its real
worth. But you need not fear, sir. 1t
shall not be harmed"
And so the old gentleman went away
with his seventy-five dollars, and left
the broker with his watch and note
His present situation was peculiar one.
He had just arrived in the United States
from a foreign country. London was
his last stopping-place previous to COM
ing over, and there he took bill of ex-
change on an American house, not car
ing to travel with large bulk of money
about his person. He had reserved such
a sum as he supposed would meet all his
expenses, until he could reach the bank
ing house upon which his bill was
drawn. But he now found himself
landed in this sity, long distance from
| the bankers whom he must see, and his
money was all gone. He had no wish
to sell the bill, or to trust it in the
| hands of another, so he resolved to bor-
row money enough to carry him on to
the distant city. But how was he to do
this? He knew no one to whom he
wished to apply, and as the quickest and
most sure way, he betook himself to the
pawnbroker's. We have seen the result
He had taken Lamar Goldridge's card,
| but Laman's own name was not upon it.
1t bore fictitious name, for our young
broker pretended to those who never
asked, that he did business for another
| person. This same fictitious name was
upon the little plate on the door-post
also, so that the people knew not, when
they heard the name of Lamar Gold
ridge mentioned, thai he was the man
who had fleeced them.
The week passed away, but the old
| gentleman did not come for his watch
He had been detained just one day
| longer than he had expected. But on
the day following he entered the bro
| ker's Office. Lamar bid him "good
day." but with the air of stranger.
I've come to redeem my watch, !"
said the old gentleman, at the same time
drawing forth large pocket-book.
Watch, sir p
/" Yes-my gold chronometer-the one
| left here week ago."
Lamar goes to his book, and after
looking over one of its pages, he said:
There was no such article left here
at that time. sir"
"Ah, it is one day over week,
know, but of course you remember"
Gone day over" muttered Lamar,
turning back leaf. "Ah, yes. One
gold watch bought for seventy-fve dol
lars. Yes-yes, | see now. The watch
is gone, SIR" F
Gone !" echoed the old gentleman. in
establishment. What do you meanY'
Simply that the watch is sold. |
bong hit it, you remember, and took a
regular bill of sale for it."
Bought it? Took a bill of sale {?
But the watch was to be redeemed"
Certainly within a week. The
week passed, you did not come-and of
course | supposed you would not redeem
it. | had an offer for it this morning,
oud I lat ~ M q"