The Red Cloud chief., 1880-04-15

day passed As usual In the pawnbrOker1s
establishment. Men and women, old
and young, crept in with their treas.
ures, and after q few low-spoken words
with the proprietor, would creep out
again, his money clenched tightly in
their hands.
In the evening a young man of re
fined appearance came in, hurriedly,
and pawned his watch, a large gold re.
peater. He was evidently an old Gus
toner, for he said, with a hard laugh, a.
he put the money in his pocket
81 have got ahead of uncle this time,
Guttman. lie thinks / have turned
saint, you see. If he should suspect any
thing, and come poking round, keeI
mum, will you?"
"Bah! | know my business" the
pawnbroker replied.
The young man Lit a cigar, and with
another hard laugh, walked out of the
shop.
Two hours later, just as old Guttmar
was closing the shop, another gentle
man entered. The pa~wnbroker's face
frightened as he saw him, for the new.
conner was a well-known artist, a man
whose pictures he was very fond and
proud of.
"Goed-evening, Guttman," the gen.
tleman said, pleasantly. "Has Frank
been hereP"
"Yes," said Guttman, holding up
the watch the young man had just left.
slow much did you give himP"
Twenty dollar"
"All right" said the gentleman,
"'here is your money"
The watch and the money changed
hands again, and then the artist turned
to the portrait.
"IHl take this home Tonight" he
said, elf you'll let m have IT,"
Yes, all right" said Guttman.
"One, two, tree, and off she goes!"
A price was agreed upon, and then
the artist took the canvas from the
frame, leaving that to be sent to him in
a day or two. The beautiful lady with
the /" big eyes -" that had so long ''made
a fool" of old Guttman was carefully
wrapped up, and the artist, with a
pleasant goodnight, walked off with his
l~ong-coveted treasure.
"Bah!" said the pawnbroker, a few
moments afterwards, as he stood before
the empty frame.
"Bah!" he exclaimed again, with a
SILVER, as he put up the shutters, and
hid the three balls from sight for the
next few hours.
"Bah!" he repeated later in the
night, as he woke from q dream about
Nina and her mother.
Old Guttman made his fire earlier
than usual the next morning. Some
times the pawnbroker had made a little
more coffee than he needed for himself,
and saved a roll for Nina. This morn.
ing there vas a generous cupful left in
the ~coffee-pot; but breakfast passed and
no Nina. The forenoon and the after.
noon also went by, and the little one
still absented herself. Evening came,
and when old Guttman had lit the lamps,
he opened the door and looked up and
down the busy street, ~ostensibly to find
out about the weather, but really to see
if he might not catch a glimpse of Nina,
He was about to close it again, when
the child appeared on the threshold.
80 Guttman DEAR" she moaned as
she stepped inside, 81 was beaten 50
badly that L could not get up before,
and l can never, never, Guttman dear,
60 back to that place again"
"You shall stay with me-" the pawn
broker replied, standing in front of the
| empty frame. 81 save de coffee fol
you this morning, and two nice rolls
he went on.
"Oh, give them to me now, please
the little one replied, "forI am, oh, SC
hungry, Guttman dear"
"Come with me-" said the pawn.
broker, extending his hand without
moving from his position.
"Thank you," she replied with
plaintive p~oliteness which touched the
p~awnbroker's heart, but move, please
Guttman dear, and let me see my dea,
mamma"
The mans face flushed. He moved
as he was told, obediently, mechanical
", without q word. There was nothing
to be seen. The picture had passed oul
of his possession and out of Nina's sigh
forever, and there was nothing to b
done, as well as nothing to be seen.
For a moment the child stared at the
empty frame, and then with q trustfu
smile she said, looking wistfuHy abou'
her "Where have you put her now
Guttman. dearp"
"She is not here any more, Nina,
the pawnbroker answered, turning hi
face away. "I-I-haf sold her."
where has she gomez" the littl,
one cried, clutching Guttman,s arm q.
she spoke. Her eyes filed with tears
"O Guttman dear, where has shs
gomez Tell me who has got my mann
ma now"
"a great artist hat her. He viii hans
de picture in his studio for the mic
people to look at. 1t viii not be lik,
old Guttman's shop! All, no! no! 1
viii be de paradise for de big eyes ant
de beautiful face.n
"Yes, yes, Guttman dear, but VIII,
is he? where does he ive?" the chill.
pleaded.
Cup town; / can notten you where,
the pawn-broker answered, walkin,
away troubled and repentant becaus
he had grieved the child.
90 mamma, mamma, what shall
do? what shall / do?'. the little one wen
on, and burst into sobs. 81 have bee
thinking of you all day! o mamms
dear mamma, and now you are gone
what shall l doPff