The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1900-07-19


lier than usual and drove down to the
Temple in hanson. His clerk had
already arrived Hamlyn searched AL
over the table carefully. then in all
the drawers. but could not find the
ticket Finally he summoned the
clerk.
Have you moved any papers, he
asked rather irritably.
NO, sir. | haven't touched thlhS.
You haven't by any chance found
ticket, suppose" pursued Hamlyn'
NO sir. What kind of Il ticket have
You LOST"
lit doesn't matter" he replied impa-
tiently. lit is of no Importance:
Putting on his hat Halniyn hurried
into Fleet street to the pawn shop.
u want to redeem the watch left
here on Saturday" he announced.
Where is your ticket, sir!" said the
man.
l have mislaid it" replied Hamlyn,
"but it is all right, you remember me.
expect. The watch belongs to me
and want it now
. am very sorry. sir. but yeu can
have it without the ticket.
Hamlyn muttered an exclamation OF
impatience.
But suppose have lost it, what
them
Il will give you form of declaration
to be made before magistrate.
rs there no other way" said Ham
lyn. realizing the trouble and annoyance
this would cause.
No. sir" said the pawnbroker, i
am afraid there is not
There was no time TO waste he had
to be in court early, as his case was
among the first on the lists. 1t was
no use stopping to argue the matter.
He must go before magistrate ana
sign the declaration rs soon rs
possible. Returning to his chambers,
he put on his rCbeS and was soon lost
in contemplation of the business IN
hand.
About an hour after his visit To the
pawnshop Alice Valentine drove up in
! a cab to the same door. She had found
! the pawn ticket lying on Hamiyns
table on the Saturday afternoon ana
! had appropriated it, meaning to re-
! deem the watch and send it back to
| him as socn as possible. She was
rather nervous ut going into the shop,
! but she was not the kind of girl TO
! allow her feelings to stand in the way
| 0f~any project she wished to carry
through; so, putting on an air of un-
usual - ttiness. she entered the little
snapssaIit Tie wafs:h. please She 60
TbeSpawnbroker' assistant looked
her M and down carefully. When he
had. as it were. sized her completely,
he inquired dryly, Where did you get
this?"
Alice fared up Indignantly. THAT
is no business of yours, tell me what
have to pay and give me the watch.
Not so fast" said the young man.
..vou must answer one or two ques-
tionS first"
He went away. and after a whispered
consultation returned with a gray
bearded old man, who was polite but
firm.
~ am sorry. madam. but l cannot
allow YOU to redeem this pledge until
YOU inform ne how this ticket came
into your possession.
Il found it." said Alice.
ALLOW he. 10 inform you, then, sald
the pawnbroker, sternly, that You az"
committing a very grave offense. b!
attempting to obtain the watch you lay
yourself open to criminal proceedings.
But said Alice, Il am a friend OF
the gentleman to whom the watch be-
longs
Come, come, that won't do at ALL
A gentleman who called himself MI.
Hamlyn was here about an hour ago
endeayoring to get the watch himself
Mr. Hamlyn been here this morn
ing.' cried Alice She had never eX
pccted that he would be able to re-
deem his watch so soon.
Better send for policeman SuS-
gcStcd the assistant.
Hold your tongue said his master.
! Then. turning to Alice Valentine, he
said: Il do not wish to b. hard upon
you but insist upon an explanation.
will send over to the address on the
! ticket. and if your story is true MI
Hamlvn will corrObate it. Harvey,
send the hoy over to Queens Bench
Walk and ask Mr.. Hamlyn to come
here Immediately"
"Mr. Hamlyn coming here. cried
Alice unguardedly. "Oh. l must so
at once
Il cannot allow it." said the pawn
broker. You must wait If you re-
fuse l have no option but to call Do-
liceman.
If looks could kill the pawnbroker
would have died on the spot as Alice
with the air of tragedy queen. sub
mitted to the indignity Of being es-
cortcd to the back parlor. while Harvey
kept watch and ward over her.
\ quarter of an hour later Everaro
Hamlyn jumped out of Il hansom anG
hurried into the shop. He was an I'M
petuous person and he had not waited
to change his robes. but had come
straight away in wig and gown from
the law courts. He was met in the
passage by Harvey, who had been
awaiting his arrival with keen inter
est.
There's a woman in here he said
pointing to the parlor, who says she's
a friend of yours, and has found youl
pawn ticket. but l suspect
n m lI-rn