Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-09-15
Copyrighted 1889 by S. S. Mcclure.

pawnbroker? Look here my friend,
where did you get that watch? -
Mr.. Pager fixed the Jews eyes with
his own as be spoke. 1t was crude and
inartistic way of coming to the point,
but he felt sure of his ground. If the man
had had the sense to leave the watch
alone it would have been different, but
that mysterious evanishment convinced
Mr.. Padger that he held the lever of the
screw, and had only to turn 1t.
ono; you are right, remarked the
Jew feebly, ono good; ats quite
shpoled. -
81 am afraid our friend Moses is little
better tran q thief said Mr.. Padger IN
an undertone to Mary. He kept the Jew
in sight with the tail of his eye, and per-
ceived a faint scOwl shadow his face as
he spoke.
''Where did you get that watch?'' he
said again, raising his voice in a short,
stern tone.
'sWhat is that to you?' SAID the Jew,
abandoning his original line of defense,
and recovering his hearing.
cit is so much to me that mean to
find out if I wait here all day
''Not from me, - grumbled the man,
sulkily.
calmly. s'WheTe did you get that
watch?'
~ bought it - said the man angrily.
''From whom?'
The Jews face grew blacker and
bIacker, but he stood glaring at MI.
Padger, with his arms folded, in I'M
broken silence.
From whom?' repeated MIR. Padger
bn of
schoolmaster, cane in hand, examining
u sullen and obstinate pupil.
The Jew maintained his former attl-
tuGe, but did not speak.
ssIook here, nv friend >, - said Mr..
Padger, suddenly dropping into the most
confidential and familiar tone. ''This
behavior is perfectly ridiculous. have
nothing against you. How your business
is conducted is no concern of mine what
ever: that is the business of the borough
police, but fancy, if I was to give them
the tip, they would find the overhauling
of your affairs more interesting TO them
than entertaining to you.
This was an unusually hong speech for
Mr.. Padger, and its purport was not
without effect upon the Jew.
cit WASH t shtolen, he cried plte-
ously. IS help me Abraham, it WASH t
shtolen.
- never said it was. Where did you
get it?''
81 daren t tell you. Pom my shout
daren It, - stammered the wTetched old
| man.
''You daren't refuse, you mean.
| Come, out with it. -
The man fenced for a long time, but
| Mr.. Padger knew the influence of his
! threat to inform the police, and using il
| to the utmost conquered the others re-
| luctance at last.
'shwear you Won't sphlit if tell
! YOU, he demanded.
! ,"'I woh It split.
''You Won Il tell 'em peachedP
ono, no. Hurry up.
al bought it of Rag Barlow. -
"Who is he?
"a Iongshore Ioafer that lives down by
| the harbor.
''Where did he get it?
81 don 1T know; III take my oath
! don t. never asked him.
81 dare say not. You ind il convent
emf, sometimes, not to ask too many
| questions.
The mau grinned with hideous ex'
preston of senile cunning.
''Come, said Mr.. Padger, "hand il
over. -
AZ gave a quid for it, s" cried the Jew
IS help me, did.
"You don t deserve it, but there IS tht
1 quid. Now hand it over Sharp!'
He looked at it for a moment, and hi
eyes sparKled as he slipped 1t into hi
pocket.
'sNow look here, - he said impress.
| tall
truth, or it will be the worse for you
Have you touched the works or altered
the hands in any way?'
ssI haven t, shwear, - answered tht
Jew earnestly. "lt's just as l bOugh
! il. -
"What did you want to know thai
for?'2 asked Mary, who had been follow
ing Mr.. Padger's proceedings witt
speeches. admiration, as soon as the!
were outside the shop.
"Because, my DEAR he answered
cit goes half way toward clearing Mis-
Gertrude; and you know what tina
means to me.
s'Does it, does it, indeed?'' crie'
Mary rapturously.
Mr.. Padger left Mary at the back doc
of Monplaisir with a kiss and a promis
to return before he left, bid her adieu
and bring her the latest news. But Ra:
Barlow, though perfectly well known t
everybody he aceosted, was not so easil
found. He was afraid to inquire to
particularly for fear of alarming his man
but he discovered by dint of CAREFUL
guarded questions that Barlow had no
been seen for week and nobody scenes
to know where person anxious 70 max
his acquaintance would be likely to com
across him.
This disappearance struck Mr.. Padge
as being not little suspicious. He Ha
himself been very cautious IN his investi
cations with regard to the hitherto miss
ing watch, but the borough police, VII
had taken up the ease in desuItory an
ineffective fashion, had been less dis
Greet, and apparently Rag Barlow 70
some reason or another had taken tn
alarm and retired into obscurity. Mr.
PadgeT had no doubts as TO his ow
capabilities of finding him, bRt that mus
unfortunately be delayed until his re
turn from London. It was annoying, bu
could not be helped.
Il Meanwhile he betook himself TO tn
sbore oDd Strnfchiuo himself i0dOleDtl