The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-02-28
OUR STORY TELLER.
THE PAwNED WATCH.
BY ARTHUR REMINGTON.


Laman Goldridge was a 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 ga 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 10 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 relentless, unscrupulous
disposition. He was yet young, being
not over thirty at the furthest.
As the woman went out, another per-
sen came in. The newcomer was a
youth about twenty years of age, hab-
tied in working garb, showing in every
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, Laman, what was the matter
with that womanw
What woman Rill %,
The one that just went out as /
came in," said he.
Matter-whyw
Why, she was crying. What was it
all aboutT
"Ha, ha, hal-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 te -hald on TO it, teld her / would
IL could; but of course | made no
promise, for the term of payment had
expired, and the chain was mine. The
other day a man came in and took a
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 / had
sold It,"
"Twas some keepsake, I suppose" !"
remarked William.
80 she said"
"Well, now, I'll tell you what it is,
Lamar, consider that operation of
yours TO be just about on a par with
robbery"
"I It don't matter what you think.
Bill; call it fair business. She sold
me the chain, and it was mine. l was
not obliged TO keep it for her after the
time / had promised to wait had ex-
pired."
But humanity would have told you
TO keep It."
"Oh, bahl Don't talk of humanity
in business, such times as these. Money
is money, and he is best off who has the
most Of t."
"Then, according to your idea, pi-
rate who has managed to make himself
rich must be happy man."
ION, you may joke as much as you
please, but i don't want one of your
moral lectures now. You know as we'll
rs 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 certain
,-ne they have a mind to pay me up
r. -"u have their goods back again.
H. -, trade, and il they lose by
!, fault."
W. 10 .nelr own raman, / under
unaersgand IL, a" If there Is
stanq it-and so do you. hat
sany.ning IN tne shape OF robbery g.
Seeess more tnan another' IT is the tax
;s ,;Iss Vah'age oi o'her people necessi-
Anere, uttered Lhe DroKer, showing
sgns OF anger. you've SAID enough.
anu ie, me give You hint, too. IL
you can come IN mere without attack
ing nay character every Time, you'd bet
yer say wy
n, uoh see nau, Lanian. L only
eli you my honest opinion. AND lei
me seii you one more thing. you'll get
Pa,o ior all TINS one OF these days; Il
gains never tnrive, ana you IL yet md II
30; ,., MARX my words.
Wliiam do,dridge lett the office al
ne tnus SPOKE, put oetore ne closed the
ooor genihc MN ne heard good rount
oatn afoP from ms cousins lips.
Inc nttie oir.y meddler, muttere'
iaman, aiter Din had gone. Wha
90 care Tor ms code OF morality
must make money-and L do 1t hon
ess,yR cs.,,S 700, =, WHAT'S s sne use OF oelng to