Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-07-19


careless of me. hope my clerk won't
find it,
On Monday morning he got up ear
lier than usual and drove down to the
Temple in hanson. His clerk ha0
already arrived. Hamlyn searched all
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.
mo, sir. l haven't touched thing"
"You haven't by any chance found a
ticket, l suppose?" pursued Hamlyn.
mo sir. What kind Of a ticket have
you lostY'
1T doesn't matter" he replied impa-
tiently, "it is Of no Importance"
Putting on his hat Hamlyn hurried
into Fleet street to the pawn shop.
Il want to redeem the watch l left
here on Saturday." he announced.
Where is your ticket, sir!" said the
man.
=" have mislaid it," replied Hamlyn,
"but it is all right, you remember me,
l expect. The watch belongs to me
and l want it now"
:" am very sorry, sir, but you can't
have it without the ticket"
Hamlyn muttered an exclamation OF
impatience.
But suppose l have lost it, what
then?'
Il will give you form of declaration
to be made before Il magistrate"
us there no other way?" said Ham
lyn, realizing the trouble and annoyance
this would cause.
mo, sir" said the pawnbroker, Il
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 so before magistrate ana
sign the declaration as soon as
possible. Returning to his chambers,
he put on his robes and was soon lost
in contemplation of the business i'll
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 Hamlyn's
table on the Saturday afternoon ana
had appropriated it. meaning to re-
deem the watch and send it back to
him as soon as possible. She was
rather nervous at going into the shop,
but she was not the kind of a girl to
allow her feelings to stand in the way
of any project she wished to carry
through; so, putting on an air of un-
usual haughtiness, she entered the little
compartment and handed in the ticket.
II want the watch. please" she said.
The pawnbroker's assistant looked
her up 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 l
have to pay and give me the watch"
Not SO fast said the young man.
"you must answer one or two ques-
tions first"
He went away, and after whispered
consultation returned with a gray
bearded old man, who was polite but
firm.
~ am sorry, madam, but / cannot
allow you to redeem this pledge until
you inform me how this ticket came
into your possession"
Il found it," said Alice.
ALLOW me to inform you, then" said
the pawnbroker, sternly, that you are
committing very grave Offense. BY
attempting to obtain the watch you lay
yourself open to criminal proceedings
But" said Alice, II am a friend or
the gentleman to whom the watch be-
longs"
Come, come, that won't do at all.
A gentleman who called himself MIR.
Hamlyn was here about an hour ago
endeavoring to get the watch himself"
'Mr. Hamlyn been here this morn
ing!' cried Alice. She had never ex
pected that he would be able to re-
deem his watch SO soon.
Better send for policeman" sug-
gested the assistant
Hold your tongue" said his master.
Then, turning to Alice Valentine. he
said: Il do not wish to be hard upon
you, but insist upon an explanation.
l will send over to the address on the
ticket, and if your story is true Mr..
Hamlyn will corrobate it. Harvey,
send the boy over to Queens Bench
Walk and ask Mr.. Hamlyn to come
here Immediately"
'.Mr. Hamlyn coming here" cried
Alice unguardedly. "Oh, ] must go
at once"
II cannot allow it," said the pawn
broker. You must wait. If you re-
fuse have no option but to call a po-
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-
colted to the back parlor, while Harvey
kept watch and ward over her.