The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1892-01-08
eAwN.sAop PICTURES.

;. eAwN.sAop PICTURES. N
How People a.. Loans At Three Fer Cent.
. Month. =
Behind long counter, worn smooth
and greasy by many threadbare sleeve,
is short, fat man, with dropping
tnustache and small gray eyes-eyes
that are like ferret's; they never look
directly at q man, but the person who
stands before them knows instinctively.
that they have taken Him in from head
to foot, have shown the pa~n-shop
keeper how sorely money is needed,
how much spirit is left. in the ''bor:
rover" Sizing man up" Is the pawn
shop phrase for it. ="
Don't say any thing by way of intro
duction, advises New York Tribune
reporter. There is no need to say any
thing. He knows that you have not
come there to lend money to him. Take
out your watch, say, and lay 1t ON the
shining. counter. W.
"How much?" he asks indifferently.
He has picked it up and is looking at
it contemptuously, so that you see that
he does not consider it worth 81. And
that watch cost you $3.50, perhaps.
'Thirty-fivc dollars-about," hazard
ing guess.
"Can't do II" shortly; ''thirty."
every we'll, then, we can't mako .
bargain y
This gives him cue. He takes lit
tie coupon" and begins to write on it.
''Thirty?" he asks as If there were no
doubt about it.
NO" ..
"Thirty-two?" softly. =,
"Oh, no, not thirty-two."
He has finished hiswriting. Going tc
2 drawer he pulls forth four bills, ono
five and three tens. Laying the .tcou.
pom" on them he pushes them toward
you, reaching for the watch.
'Wait minute. think want $40,
"Oh, pshaw, $40. 1t isn't worth S35,
but I'm willing to accommodate you
with thirty five. No more" !
A young man is at your side, nervous
ly tapping the counter with pair OF
opera-glasses, and the small eyes shoot
swift glances at him. ~
"How much?" gruffly. j;
give dollars" II i
.'Five nothing; two.'
"Fiftieth time I've heard that to-day.
Never were here before in your life." =
"Three, them" doubtfully.
"Two," is the sharp response
.''Oh, very we'll, says the cowcd young
man in despair. "Two.'
But he is so confused that he scizes his
coupon and darts through the door.
leaving his So on the counter.
"Humph," grunts the man behind the
counter; first experience ut this sort of
| business" -.
The young man rusles back, crying
breathlcssly; "My Sc! left it on tho
counter; where is it?'
"What s2?" says tho other, looking at
him with his restless gray beads of eyes.
"Oh, give it to me-" cries the poor
wretch almost with vail.
.'Hcre's your money, young man..
says the pawnbroker with smile which
is almost good-natured. "I thought
you might miss it, so I took caro- of it
| for you. You ought to be moro careful
about money matrcrs." And the young
man goes out shamefaced as if he had
accepted alms-alms at 3 per cent d
| month.
A young girl who has quietly slipped
in drops ring on tho counter. She
carried it in her closed hand. Perhaps
She drew it from her finger just before
she entered the front door. She keeps
her eyes turned from every one; her
hands trcmble and her lips are blood
less.
"How much?"
"oh, any thing" she says, in 2 4 low "
tone. - - "
"Three dollars?.
EYES," as she nervously twists the
ring in her shaking fingers. You can
almost hear her catch her breath as she
reaches tho door. ''''.
"Well? (The ferret eyes have hained
over you asain). Thirty-ave?r @' :
:.'No, think said forty.
"Thirty-seyen?" ''-''
.'No."
"Wcll, forty suddenly, for you hays
started for the door.
"No, thank you."
"Forty-fve," q cry follows you into the
narrow halfway. But you are near the
street. and the air ahead of yon looks
bright and inviting, and as you step on
the sidewalk your lungs feel refreshed.
It is pleasant to sec people in the
street. They seem moro like men and
women than the unfortunate creature
who trembled before the pawn-shop.