Wichita eagle., 1888-05-03
IN THE PAWN SHOP
ALiTTLE GIRLS MISSION AND HOW
SHE PERFORMED IT.

His Unfortunate CusComers~ AimoHos
Are Way Town"-"Doin' OF 1t Agin."
Heavy Interest Charged.
In the afternoon of one of the coolest days
last week a little mite Of a girl pulled and
wheezed laboriously up one of the east side
streets. She was remarkable for the artistic
way in which her face was soiled and for
big red shawl that was wound about her.
One end of it swept the sidewalk several feet
behind. A big basket was on her right arm,
and that it was much too heavy for her was
proved by the way she hitched it up at fire.
quent intervals. A dirty little boy on the
opposite side of the street stopped rubbing
his ears long enough to shout:
''Are you doin' of it aginF"
The little girl laughed as broadly as her
frozen face would permit, and nodded at the
basket on her arm. In course Of time she
had puffed her way up to dingy building
ornarnented with three gilt balls above the
heavy door. She placed her back against
the door, and, by pushing with all her might,
forced it open and slipped behind it, Then
she was in a small, square space, and was
very uncomfortable in little knot Of very
poor persons.
ALL MANNER OF BUNDLES
There was short counter, on one end of
which stood a little desk, with tall, ground
glass back that obscured the business done
upon it from the persons in the store. Just
in front of the other end was a little inclos-
ure like sentry box, that was for the use of
customers who were ashamed of being there.
A range of shelves behind the counter, that
reached from the floor to the ceiling, was
loaded with all manner of circular bundles
that bore upon their exposed ends little
squares of brown paper. But by far the
most prominent thing in the place was a
gigantic safe that stood with gaping doors
near the desk.
A tall, heavily built man, with eyeglasses
and Hebraic cast of features stood behind
the counter wrangling with q good natured
Irish woman. In the mans shirt bosom and
on several of his fingers glittered big dia-
moHds. On the counter between him and the
woman was pair of girls shoes but slightly
worn, a white skirt and sheet.
Come, now; be good natured," she was
saying as the little girl entered, "and give
me So Shure, I'll be afther taking them out
again on Saturday. Me man has steady
work now.n
81 py me dose new for two dollar I lose
money of | gif you Won dollar, but you vas a
goot customer, und so tont care"
Then he swept the articles out of sight,
wrote a few words On ticket and passed it
to the woman, together with a silver 81.
''Velll"
The remark was addressed to a weak old
man with mass of unkempt gray hair float
ing about his face. He tremblingly dre~
from his pocket well worn silver watch and
a thin silver chain and placed them in the
clerks hand. The latter flicked open the
cases, stuck jewelers. glass in his eye, and,
after minutes inspection. said:
'Two dollar"
The old man bowed.
The door opened, letting in rush Of cold
air and slim young man, who darted into
the little box and raped imperiously upon
the counter. The clerk hurried to attend to
him, for the proceedings smaeked of dia-
mond transaction. This is what it proved to
be- The diamond was large one, set in
ring, and the young man was heard to say
$50, as though he expected to get it. But
among the many rules that govern this busi-
ness is one that says the first request must
never be granted This rule was strictly ad-
hered to on this occasion.
''Timonds are way town." said the clerk.
"And they are bound to go up again, as
you very well know" was the sharp reply;
''but if they were down lower than they ever
were before that stone would bring SIS any
where
81 gif you $40"
"Make it S45 and let me get out of here"
The clerk made it S45, and the young man
hurried out.
OF DAILY OCCURRENCE.
Then little dumping of a woman pro-
duced from the voluminous folds Of a quilt
a big gilt volume, and laid it, together with
the quilt, upon the counter. The clerk
glanced at them in a cursory way, and asked:
"Von tollarp
1.-Two, ave it's plaisln to ye," was the mild
reply.
Twelve shillingp
.All right, sir"
Then the little girl forged slowly up, and,
with an effort, raised the basket and set it or
the counter The clerk lifted the lid and
pulled out a pair of fat irons and we'll
worn dress
"Me mudder says will We give seventy-fivs
centsp
Forty cents" said the clerk.
lie uluuuer says sHc III tdhe tueuu OuU sure
on Saturday, and will We please do ita"
"Forty cents"
The little girl raised herself On her toes and
began snufiling.
"Feefty centsn
The little girl burst out into wild wail.
''Feefty-f1ve cents and no more"
Gan right, sir" ptped the little girl, grow
ing suddenly calm.
Then, having "done it again. she took her
empty basket on her arm, wound the shawl
about her and walked out.
These are few samples of the scenes that |
daily occur in the pawn shops There are SO |
many of these places in the city that it is
wonder to many how they are supported 1t
can be safely said that the liquor stores and !
the pawn shops live through one another to q |
great extent, and much of the money that /
passes over the counter of the pawn shops |
finds its way into the till of the liquor stores |
hat, in their turn, impoverish SO many and |
,orce them to the pawnshops for help. The |
charge % per cent year on |
he money they lend, or 8 per cent month |
IN fraction thereof. This is heavy inter- |
st to pay, especially where there is really no !
'iSk 1t is true that goodly portion Of the |
.rticles pledged are never redeemed, but |
hese, after a certain lapse Of time, are sold |
It action or by private sale and much profit
$ reaped from them.-New York Sun
They Both Took Tips.
Near Central park there lives woman
vho orcIpies a comfortable auartment