The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-11-11

his return, and vet he avoided the young
Erskines. On the east side, wide
streets. noisy and dirty, were succeeded
by narrow streets. also noisy and dirty.
He saved child from being run over
by butchers cart, and got entangled
in network of passing cars. Clearly
his choice of promenade was q bad
one. He paused for the next Car to ex-
tricate him from the Babel of traffic,
when he noticed the sign of q pawn
broker.
He peered into the place, which was
dark, mouldy and with a sinisser quiet
about it in serious contrast with the
hustle OF the adjacent thoroughfare.
The pawnbrokers shop lurked around
the corner. i patient monster, sure of
its prey-the haggard mechanic out of
work and the careless youth spending
his wages in the tawdry billiard saloon
of the avenue. No object of value met
the eye; faded carpets, lounges, rick
ETY. chairs, dilapidated clock, were
visible on one side-the wrecks OF
needy families: for the rest, not as
much as gamblers watch. 1t was a
memorable morning at this particular
pawnbrOker'S, however. The French
emigrant's wife came. her eyes blinded
with weeping. the last shreds of house
hold bedding in q bundle ready
to pawn. At the door she
was stopped by stout gentle
man, who babe her return home, guard
ing the precious blankets. and thrust
double the expected sum into her hand.
An Arab of the town, in shirt sleeves,
his last coat rolled under his arm, the
need of bread being so bitter in his eel
lar habitatiOn, ripe for any crime, in re-
volt against society, was stupetied by q
kind word from the same stranger, and
a question or two, which resulted in
his slouching back to the cellar with his
coat on his back and his arm full of pro-
visions. Agirl approached, hurried and
nervous in manner, and drew from be-
meath her shawl a silver lamp. The
lamp was small. Of unique design, and
richly embossed.
"AllOw me to look at that lamp"
said voice.
A stout gentleman snatched it up,
and scrutinized the bottom, where some
initials were inscribed.
t'Ah! never saw another like it."
he exclaimed. Il sent it to my brother
Henry years ago."
The girl turned, and pushed aside
her veil with fierce gesture. Mr.. Hunt
er recognized the Martha of the church
gallery.
"The lamp is mine and 1 may sell it
if l choose" she said, hoarsely.
"Trust me as a friend, and come
away where we can have a little con-
versation," he said, quietly, and re-
stored the lamp.
The pawnbrOker blinked behind his
counter. He opined that MIR. Hunter
was a private detective in search of
stolen goods, and rather an awkward
novice in his profession. The two per-
sons thus strangely brought together by
chance paused in little square where
flourished few discouraged trees
adorned with sparrow boxes. and
hemmed in by tall discolored houses
with ragged garments floating from the
windows.
"Now explain to me all about the
silver lamp
Martha Davenport looked at him with
clear, penetrating eyes.
! "Mark gave it to me on my last
birthday" She said. "He had promised
never to part with it, only he had moth
Ing else to give"
"Mark"' repeated Mr.. Hunter, in
credulously.
MARK Hunter. You know him?
We have been engaged for three years."
eyes, should know him." muttered
the other. ''Can he be my brother
Henry's son?''
Martha advanced q step nearer, and
inquired. imperiously, ''Do you believe
in him?'
"Why should I believe in him?''
| "Cruel! cruelr' she cried. "You
speak as his rich relations would speak.
would 60 and beg of them, but he
will not let me. They could only show
me the door. Mark is an inventor, a
great inventor; perhaps in advance of
his time. Do you hear? We have
reached the end. Why should we not
be allowed to live? Yes, we are one
household; we came from the West to
find work in the great city. I have
been employed at the ribbon counter of
Hopes fancy store until last week.
The forewoman was my enemy since l
found mistake in her accounts year
ago. You know the proverb, when the
master wishes to drown dog, he pro-
nounces the animal mad, in excuse.
Well, a package of lace was found in
the pocket of my waterproof cloak. l
did not put it there. l was dismissed,
and without character. Mark has not
finished his model. Yesterday mother
wished to go to church and saw on
the wall, Thy word shall be a lamp
unto my feet 1 laughed; 1 feared 1
was going mad, but remembered the
silver lamp at home. decided to sell
it in order that Mark might finish his
model in peace. 1 did not dare to look
beyond"
Martha spoke rapidly; her color came
and went; she extended the lamp with
a proud gesture and ray of sunshine
fell on it. MIR. Hunter had seated him
self on the stone bench, and traced lines
on the gravel with his cane as he list
ened