The Van Buren press., 1900-04-14
MATED BY A PAWN

WI HEN man is about to entertain
wv very charming girl whom he is
anxious to impress and suddenly finds
that with the exception of few cop
pers, he has no money in his pocket, he
may surely be forgiven the use of few
strong calculations. Such was the
plight of Everard IIamlyn at ten min
utes one 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 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 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 ~, to the bank to cash it,
Hisclerk ne, and the Temple was
wrapped IN, rs 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 couple of pounds.
But the fates were against Hamlyn
Anderson was out and the doors were
locked.
Realizing that there was nothing for
II 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 20 minutes. Alice
would never forgive him II he were not
OF his rooms to receive her.
Suddenly his eye was caught by the
three brass balls hanging over a shop
almost opposite. The sight suggested
new idea to his mind, and he prompt
ly acted upon it. In another moment
he rushed across the road, and, enter
ing the shop, handed his s0-guinea
hunter over the counter.
"llow much?" said the clerk, eyeing
the hatless and breathless Hamlyn
somewhat suspiciously.
"Oh, only wanted fver,' replied
Everard, hurrledly.
"lIave you got card on you?" asked
the clerk, thinking he was ON the
track OF n swell mobsman,
Unversed In the ways OF pawnbrok-
ers, Hnmlyn pulled out his case and
handed him card.
"All right, sir" said the clerk, see
ing the name and address, and noticing
II corresponded with the initials on the
watch, 81 beg your pardon, sir" and
he hastily filed up ticket and count
ed out five pounds. Have you penny
FOR the ticket, pleose?"
Hamlyn impatiently threw down u
copper and fairly bolted out Of the
shop. The people in Fleet street stared
at him With amazement, and u gutter
arab with whom he had collided shout
ed: "Who are yer shown of?" as he
crossed the road.
Now It happsued that Alice Valen-
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 womonhood
with regard TO unpunctuOlIty.
ut would never do she said TO her
self, ito be quite punctual. lie would
think ! was too impatient"
So timing herself TO arrive at the
Temple about l:i5 o'clock, she was
strolling lelsurely along when she
caught sight Of liamlyn rushing wildly
out OF pawnbrokers shop For mo.
ment the ludlcrous side OF the situo.
tion struck her very forclbly. and she
laughed softly to herself, but grad
nally, ns she realized the fun signih.
cance of the action, her amusement
gave place to pity.
"Poor boy she murmurcd, VI had
not the fointest idea that he was hard
up. And TO think that have let him
spend such u lot of money in taking me
about. must get even with him,
somehow"
There was u very tender spot In her
heart for the tall, clever young bar.
rster who had shown 80 plainly his
preference for her above all other
women. Alice Valentine and her aunt,
Miss Stafford, were making tour OF
Europe, aud had met llumlyn first
OF all at hotel In Geneva. lie had
rendered them number Of clvllltes,
and as he happened TO be doing the
same round Of Switzerland as they,
for q month he was their almost daily
companion With the frankness OF
American women, they accepted his
attentions graciously, and finding him
q pleasant attendant, enrolled him
in their services without further ado,
Miss Stafford generally accompanied
Alice wherever she went. and showed
quite as much eagerness TO do" every
place thoroughly as her niece. II was
emily on rarc occasions, when the
alder lady was obliged to admit that