Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-04-05
MATED BY A PAWN

EH hEN d man is about to entertain
w very charming girl whom he is
anxious TO impress and suddenly finds
that, with the exception of a few cop
Pers, he has no money in his pocket, he
may surely be forgiven the use of few
strong calculations. Such was the
pig of Everard Hamlyn at ten min
utes zone on certain Saturday after
noon. He had been so absorbed in
reading the brief of an important case
which was to be heard in the 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 u deep friendship,
was coming to see what a barrister S
chambers in the Temple looked like,
and she was also to be taken out to
lunch.
The worst of it was there was only
ten minutes to rectify the mistake. He
wrote out check hurriedly. and then
remembered that time would not per-
nit him to go to the bank to cash it.
His clerk was gone, and the Temple was
wrapped in its usual Saturday after
noon peacefulness-
Without hat he rushed over to Har-
court building to see if his friend An
derson was in his chambers. He could
rely upon him for a couple of pounds.
But the fates were against Hamlyn.
Anderson was out and the doors were
locked
Realizing that there was nothing for
it but to go to the bank. he hurried
along up the court into Fleet street.
meaning to hail hanson. But as he
arrived there the clock struck one, and
he knew that he could not get to the
bank and back under &c minutes. Alice
would never forgive him 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
" acted upon it. In another moment
he rushed across the road, and. enter
ing the shop. handed his S0-guinea
hunter over the counter
How much?" said the clerk. cycling
the hatless and breathless Hamlyn
somewhat suspiciously.
oh. l only wanted a fiver." replied
Everard. hurriedly.
Have you got a card on yOu?" asked
the clerk. thinking he was on the
track of a swell mobsman.
Unversed in the ways of Pawnbrok
ers, Hamlyn pulled out his case and
handed him card.
'.AlI right. sir said the clerk. see
ing the name and address. and noticing
it corresronded with the initials on the
watch Il beg your pardon, sir" and
he hastily filed up ticket and count
ed out five pounds. Have you penny
for the ticket. please?"
Hamlyn impatiently threw down
copper and fairly bOlted out of the
shop. The people in Fleet street stared
It him with amazement, and gutter
arab with whom he had collided shout
ed: "'Who are yer shown OFF, as he
crossed the road.
Now it happened that Alice Nalen-
tine was just at that moment passing
down Fleet street on her way to the
Temple. She had arrived somewhat
earlier than she had intended. for she
upheld the traditions of womanhood
with regard to unpunctuality.
1T would never do" she said to her
self. ito be quite punctual. He would
think 1 was too impatient"
So timing herself TO arrive at the
Temple about 1:15 o'clock. she was
strolling leisurely along when she
caught sight of Hamlyn rushing wildly
out of pawnbroker's shop. For mo-
ment the IudicrouS side of the situa-
ton struck her very forcibly, and she
laughed softly to herself. But grad
uaIIy, as she realized the full signifi-
canoe of the action, her amusement
gave place to pity.
poor boy" she murmured. II had
not the faintest idea that he was hard
ND. And to think that 1 have let him
spend such a lot of money in taking me
about. I must get even with him,
somehow"
There was a very tender spot in her
heart for the tall, clever young bar
rister who had shown so plainly his
preference for her above all other
women. Alice Valentine and her aunt,
Miss Stafford, were making tour of
Europe. and had met Hamlyn first
of all at g hotel in Geneva. He had
rendered them a number of civilities,
and as he happened to be doing the
same round of Switzerland as they,
for. a month he was their almost daily
companion With the frankness of
American women, they accepted his
attentions graciously, and finding him
n pleasant attendant, enrolled him
in their services without further ado.
Miss Stafford generally accompanied
Alice wherever she went, and showed
unite as much eagerness to 'do" every
place thoroughly as her niece 1t was
only on rare occasions. when the
elder lady was Obliged to admit that