Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-08-10
UNREDEEMED PLEDGES.
ACCUMULATIONS OF A PAWNBROKEF
PUT UP AT AUCTION.

ACCOMMODATIONS OF A PAWNBROKEF
PUT UP AT AUCTION.
Curious Crowd in a Chicago Street
Mr.. Pickwics and MIR. Jingle as Auction.
eers-A Bleeding Heart-some Prett.
Tall Stories-Sentiment.
The street was more crowded than usual
The auctioneers had house clearing. All
the watches, jewelry, scarf pins, opera glasses,
pocket pistols which Mr.. Wilkins Micawber,
Gent, and others who were waiting for some
thing to turn up had confided to the care of
a south side pawnbroker, were to be sold
under the hammer. Mr.. Micawber attended
the ceremony. So did Mrs. Micawber. So
did throng Of bargain hunters The street
was packed with them. The auctioneer was
elderly bald and benevolent. He wore spec
tacles. He bore a general likeness to Mr..
Pickwick. He was assisted by young
gentleman Of rapid and disjointed utterance
who resembled Mr.. Jingle; and he was always
calling attention to his Pickwickian philan-
thropy, the purity of his motives, the square.
ness" of his conduct. In his vindication M
Jingle aided him volubly.
The sale began with pair Of solid gold
mounted earrings Somebody bid So.
1.-TWO dollars" sang out Mr.. Pickwick.
1.-TWO dollars and a quartera Who says
quarter7 Quarter, quarter, quarter, will
you make ita"
"Property Of prominent society lady,"
cried Mr.. Jingle Husband speculated-
caught in wheat deal-couldnt come to time
went to board at night-hung himself from
gaIlery-cut down IN morning wheat rose
immediately-would have been millionaire
sad case-very."
"My only reason" said Mr.. Pickwicl, "for
parting with these precious relics is the
pawnbroker's stern command. Gentlemen,
you know me. l guarantee everything l
sell. My heart bleeds to dispose of these ear
rings, but guarantee them. Now who says
quartera Quarter, quarter, quarter, shall
make ita"
The crowd was now Dense Two or three
heavy faced, beetle proved men stood near
the auctioneer, and whenever he urged them
to "make it a quarter" they generally made
it a quarter. A suspicion that they were. in
sympathy with the vendors made their
neighbors fight rather shy of them, and
whenever they showed much disposition to
pile up Quarters" they generally had the
bidding to themselves. Once or twice wo-
man at the back would tinidly raise her
finger and secure ring or brooch. The
professionals would turn with laugh, and
regard their unprofessional sister with scorn.
A handsome Newfoundland dog strayed in
from the street, lay down on the edge of the
throng, and regarded the proceedings with
philosophic loftiness. "What form of human
chicanery is thiss" he demanded, blinking his
big brown eyes in the sun.
"Here is a WATCH" said Mr.. Pickwick
with a solid fourteen carat gold case"
IAN immense bargain" added Mr.. Jingle
''Stem winder," said Mr.. Pickwick.
"Key winder," said MIR. Jingle.
'Perfect order" said Mr.. Pickwick.
"Case alone worth the money!" said Mr..
| Jingle
''Gentlemen," said Mr. Pickwick, beaming
through his spectacles, "this is not my sale
| This is the pawnbroker's sale. You know the
| pawnbroker. He is as benevolent as am.
His heart bleeds when circumstances compel
him to sell the forfeited pledges of the needy.
Twenty dollars are bid. Who says quartera
| Quarter, quarter, quarter, shall make itp'
A third auctioneer now made his appear
ance. He was more violent than his part
ners. He was revolutionary in his doctrines
and was for smashing things" A lady's
gold watch was produced "Break it to
pieces, gentlemen" cried the revolutionist.
'Grind it to powder. The gold dust to which
you reduce it will be worth more than you
bid for it."
Remarkable WATCH" cries Jingle, TIE
markable history-lady approximations
scandal-thought she eloped with German
baron-no baron at all-only footman-
hadn't a cent-everything saltwater
| pawned-curious story-very,"
"Gentlemen," says Mr.. Pickwick, there is
| lady'S lace pin; star and crescent; nine
diamonds; worth $3.50"
Formerly property of Hattie Blackboard
says Jingle-"daughter of Philadelphia par
son-went to Russia-called herself Fanny
Lear-not grand duke-grand duke all broke
up-robbed grandmother's shrine-gave
stolen diamonds to Fanny-Russian police
bounced her-fed to Paris-went broke
sold this lace pin-odd creature-very."
"Worth $780," says Mr.. Pickwick. "Who
bids for Fanny Lear's lace piha Ten dollars9
Thank you, sir. Quarter, quarter, quarter
shall l make it,"
'Here is Tissot watch" says the revolu-
ZIONIST ''Smash it with hammer. Screws
are solid gold. Tear 'em to pieces; rip 'em
up; pulverize 'em; and pawnbroker will
lend you SIS on the fragments. What's the
bida Six dollarsa Why, the glass is worth
more"
"Watch belonged to Bearded Lady," says
Jingle. "Great attraction-dime museum
manager presented watch-token of esteem
-envious rival-took scissors-approached
Bearded Lady In bed-cut off beard-neveI
grew again-Bearded Lady busted-manager
cred her out-presented another watch to
envious rival-sad calamity-very."
Mr.. Pickwick got rather jealous of Jingle'
Gales He even attempted to spin yarn OF
two of his own. He tried to pass off gold
headed cane as tsTascott's cane" But the
crowd jeered, the professionals laughed and
the Newfoundland dog gave an ominous lit
| tie growl They wanted the original Sche-
herezade, the authorized teller Of tales, o.
nobody.
In 1.-THE Ragpicker of Paris"-that famous
old play of Felix Pyat, the communicating
ragpicker sorts out his bag and finds shred
Of sentiment or humor in every rag. This
bit Of lace was worn by the belle of the ball
that scrap Of calico came from shirt that
was made by starving mother beside the
cot of a dying child So in tiis pawn
brokers' sale every article had its history.
Jingle, the romancer, knew nothing about
them. The opera glasses in mother-of-pearl
that lie at his side could tell of the night
when he and she went for the first time
together to the theatre; how she had no eyes
for anything but the stage, and he bad nc
eyes for anything but her; and how the
opera glasses, having the gift of observation
s1rnised from her behavior that the engage
ment subsequently came to nothing. This
ring could tell of betrothal of which the
parents hoped SO pluch that ring could tel
Of marriage which ended in strife and
separation
Gravely rose the Newfoundland dog
gravely he shook his head gravely he walked