The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-02-28

money, and he wished to borrow a small
amount for few days.
81 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 al
least.
We'll" said the broker, after having
looked the watch over, "I suppose 1
might advance seventy-fve dollars on
this"
II should like hundred"
/ haven't got a hundred now to
spare. Must pay away a large sum this
afternoon. But Pll advance the seventy
FIVE"
"Well, can make that do"
" For one week, you said"
eyes"
Laman went to his desk and drew up
two instruments, one of which was a 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.
"Whatp he uttered, as he read it.
"Eighty-three dollars?'
Yes, SIR" returned Laman, unblush-
ingly. "That is the best that l can do.
My money is worth that to me, for /
can let it out in smaller sums at far
greater profit"
The man signed the note, but he lid
it with bad grace, for he saw that he
was in the hands Of sharper.
Now" said he, as he pushed the
note along, Il trust you will take the
best of care of that watch, for it is
valuable one, as you can see--far too
valuable to be pledged for such paltry
sum-"
at shall be safely kept, sir; but you
don't realize how much trouble we have
with such things. If such a thing
should happen that such a 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
| l. IL L
ing house upon which his bill was
drawn. But he now. found himself
landed in this city, a 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 Laman 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 Laman Gold
ridge mentioned, that he was the man
who had feeced 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.
"Pve come to redeem my watch, !"
said the old gentleman, at the same time
drawing forth large pocketrbook.
"Watch, sir?
Yes-my gold chronometer-the one
l left here week ago."
Laman 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"
"One day over," muttered Lamar
turning back leaf. "Ah, yes. One
gold watch bought for seventy-fve dol.
lars. YesL,yes, see now. The watch
is gone, sir"
"Gonew echoed the old gentleman, in
establishment. What do you meanr'
Simply that the watch is sold. ]
bought 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 1 supposed you would not redeem
it. / had an offer for it this morning
and let it CO."
The old gentleman was highly indig.
nant, but he soon found that he had nc
means of redress. The sharper had q
regular bill of sale of the watch, and
no law could touch him handily.
every WE'LL" said the wronged man
as he returned the pocket-book back te
its place, "I see that I must submit
You have robbed me of two hundred
and twenty-five dollars, but shall be
happier in the loss than you will be in
the winning. 1 do not envy you youl
soul-Ah, is not that my watch upor
that little cushionT'
"It was yours. The man to whom
have sold it has not yet taken it away
stammered Laman; and his every lool
and tone showed that he lied.
The gentleman gave him one look ot
the most ineffable contempt, and the1
LIT the Office.
nh'~adl" exclaimed the broker, whe1
be yas a. rne, that's what call gooe
dor's o ,nnsL / shall make somethin.
handsome on tha,. -,
Two Gays a1rerws, he afternoon h;
cousin entered.
Seems to me you look .nlghtii!
pleased about something, Bill" sal'
J Laman.
"Don't L? All, I've reason for it.
Uncle John has got home"
Eh%' uttered the broker, springing
) from his stool. "Uncle John, did YOU
> sayT'-
eyes"
Chow dye knowp
81 spent the evening with him las