The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-11
GENIUS IN PAWNING.

How One Picture Secured Coal and
Millinery for an artists Family.
Omaha World Herald.
Whenever you want something TO
write up, you might tell about pawning
picture for half a ton of coal" sug-
gested the artist to the reporter.
WHO did that?" the latter inquired.
L did," replied the artist with
chuckle so hearty that it was infec ious
His friend leaned back and requested
him to tell all about it.
ut was this way. You see one win.
ter, 1 needn't say now long ago. my
debtors and my coal bin did not make
connection, and one morning my wife
told me If l didn't hustle around and
make raise of some black diamonds be-
fore noon there would be no dinner.
She also advised me before starting down
town to go around to the neighbors and
borrow few sCuttles full to keep her
warm until l could order a ton. 1 took
the scuttle and went next door, but by
the time 1 had carried one scuttleful l
was tired out and quit. I never knew
how heavy coal was until then and de.
Cided next time we had to borrow [
would send the boy after it.
after telling me her needs my wife
settled down comfortably for she knew
that when the old bear started out to,
rustic, something was bound to come
But it seemed impossible to collect
cent of money due me that day and as
dinner time drew near I grew desperate.
Then the idea came to me that perhaps
1 might be able to put up a certain pic,
ture in my studio for half a ton of hard
coal. 1t was lucky idea, for the first
coal office 1 took it to agreed to send
up the coal and hold the picture as Sc
cuTity.
THAT was a few weeks before Christ
mas, and as the days glided by and no
money came in sufficient quantities to
purchase presents for the occasion, I BE-
gan to devise ways and means for secur-
ing them.
THE idea came to me that if 1 could
just get that picture back that 1 had
pawned for the coal 1 might make use
of it in securing some millinery for my
wife and daughters. So I went around
and after passing the time of day, re-
marked in an off-hand way:
L wish you would let me have that
picture for awhile; 1 think I can find
customer for it, which was perfectly
true.
Bring him in here to see it,, the coal
robber replied.
No. that won't do, I said. He
wouldn't come, and it might spoil the
sale. anyway, if he learned how hard
up l am
Well. you can't have the picture
the robber said. emphatically, for if you
once get it 1 would never see either you
or the picture
80, pshaw I said Indignantly: if
you are that suspicious you can keep
this pipe for security and 1 took out
of my pocket a French briar, amber
mouthpiece gold mounted pipe 1 had
taken with me in case he talked as he
eventually did.
Handle it carefully now 1 added. as
he took it in his hands. He thought l
meant the advice because the pipe was
so valuable, but l meant it because it
had been glued together just before L
left the studio and l was afraid it
might come apart before the deal was
made.
you've seen the pipe and know what
it is like 1t is worth half a ton OF
coal anyway. and the man took it and [
took my picture. 1t went all right, too.
when 1 proposed selling it to the other
man for Christmas presents. and as a
result we had joyful time at the
artists house that year
"A few days after the holidays ! hap
pened into the coal Office and asked If
l should bring the picture back and ex-
change it for the pipe, but the man
wouldn't agree to it. He seemed to like
the pipe so much better than the picture
that l have let him keep 1t.