The Irish standard., 1900-04-07
MATED BY A PAWN

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w HEN a man is apou, to entertain
w very charming girl whom he is
anxious TO impress and suddenly finds
that, with the exception of Il few cop
pcrs, he has no money in his pocket, he
may surely be forgiven the use of q few
strong ejaculations. Such was the
plight of Evcrard Hamlyn at ten min
utes toonc on Il certain Saturday after
noon. He had been so absorbed in
reading The brief OF an important ease
which WAS TO be heard in he courts on
Monday that he had forgotten the
emptiness of his pocket. At one o'clock
Alice Valentine, an American girl with
whom he had formed deep friendship,
WAS coming to see what Il barrister's
chambers in the Temple looked like,
and she was also to be taken out to
lunch.
The worst of il was there was only
ten minutes TO rectify he mistake. He
wrote on, IL check hurrirdIy, and then
remembered that time would not per-
mi, him to 20 to the bank 10 cash it.
Hisclerk wns gone. and the Temple was
wrapped in its usual Saturday utter
noon peaccfulncss.
Without Il hat he rushed over o Ilar-
court building TO see il his friend An
derson was in his chambers. He could
rely upon him for 81 couple Of pounds.
But the fatcs were against lIamIyn.
Anderson was out and the doors were
locked.
Realizing that there was nothing for
it but. to 90 to he bank. he hurried
along up the court into Fleet street,
meaning 10 hail II hnnsom. But as he
arrived there the clock struck one, and
he knew that he could not get to The
bank and back under 20 minutes. Alice
would never forgive linn If he were not
at his rooms to receive her.
Suddenly his eye was caught by the
three brass balls hanging over a shop
almost opposite. The sight suggested
a new idea to his mind, and he prompt
]y acted upon it. In another moment
herushcd across the road. and. enter
ing the shop, handed his So-guinea
hunter over the counter.
''lIow much??" said the clerk. cyring
the hatlrss and brenthlcss Iamlyn
somewhat suspicously.
"Oh, only wanted a livcr." replied
Everard. hllrrirdly.
'llavr you got Il card on you?" asked
the clerk. thinking he was on the
track of Il swell mobSman.
unversrd in he ways of pawnbrol-
L., I
handed him Il card.
"All right. sir" said the clerk. see
ing the name and address. and noticing
ii correspondent With the initials on the
watch. 81 beg your pardon. SIR and
he hastily filled UP ticket and count.
cd out five pounds. "lIave YOU penny
for the ticket. pleasco" -
llamlyn impatiently threw down a
copper and fairly bolted out of the
shop. The people in Fleet street stared
at him with amazrment. and Il gutter
arab with whom he had collided shout.
ed: "Who are yer shown of?" as he
crossed the road
Now ii happened that Alice Valen-
tine was just at that moment passing
Temple. She had arrived somewhat t
earlier than she had intended. for she
upheld the traditions of womanhood
with regard to unpunctuality.
''lt would never do" she said to her,
self. "to he quite punctual. He would
think | was too inpatient"
So timing herself to arrive at the
Temple about 1:l5 o'clock, she was
strolling lrisurely along when she
caught sight Of lIamlyn rushing wildly
out Of a pawnbrokcr's shop. For mo,
mcnt the ludicrous side of the situa.
tion struck her very forcibly. and she
laughed softly TO herself But grad.
ually. as she realized the fun signifi
cance of the action. her amusement
gave place to pity.
"Poor hoy" she murlnured, II hat
not the faintest idea that he was hare
up. And TO think that have let hin
spend such a lot of money in taking mt
about. must get even with him
somehow"
There was a very tender spot in hel
heart for the tall. clever young bar
ristcr who had shown so plainly hi
preference for her above all othc,
women. Alice Valentine and her aunt
Miss Stafford. were making a tour o
Europe, and had met lnmlyn frs
OF all at n hotel in Geneva Tie hat
rendered them number of civilitics
and as he happened to be doing tn,
same round OF Switzerland as they
for Il month he was their almost dali,
companion. With the frankncss o
American women. they accepted hi
attentions graciously, and finding hin
pleasant attendant. enrolled hin
in their services without further ado
Miss Stafford generally accompanie
Alice wherever she went. and showe
quite as much eagerness to ''do" ever
place thoroughly as her niece. 1t wa
only on rare occasions. when tn
elder lady was obliged to admit tina
MCGOWAN & Mahoney, fire insurance
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