The Irish standard., 1900-04-07
81 want to redeem the watch I left

here OH Saturday," he announced
'Where is your ticket, sire" said the
man.
Il have mislaid it," replied 1Iamlyn:
''but it's all right. You remember me,
| expect. The watch belongs to me,
and | want it now"
81 am very sorry, sir. hut you cunt
have it without the ticket
Ilamlyn muttcred an exclamation
of impaticnce.
but suppose l have lost it, what
thcn?"
81 will give You Il form of declara-
tion to be made before Il magistrate"
rs there no other way?" said Ham
lyn. realizing he trouble and annoy
ance this would cause.
''No, sir" said the pawnbroller, 81 am
afraid there is not
There is no time to waste. He had to
be in court cariy as his case was among
the first on the lists. 1t was no use
stopping to argue the matter. He
must go before magistrate and sign
the declaration as soon as possible. Re
turning to his chambers, he put on his
robes and was soon lost in contemplu-
tion of the business in hand.
About an hour after his visit to the
pawnbrollcr's shop Alice Valentine
drove up in Il cab to the same door.
She had found the pawn ticket lying
on Ilamlyn's table on the Saturday
afternoon and had appropriated it.
meaning to redeem the watch and send
it back 20 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 OWL feelings to stand
in the way of any project she wished
to carry through; so, putting on an
air of unusual haughtincss, she en-
tered the little compartment and hand
ed in the ticket,
II want the watch please" She said
The pawnbrokcr's assistant looked
her up and down carefully. When he
had, as it were. sized her completely
he inquired, dryly: "Whcrc did you
get ths??"
Alice flared up Indignantly. "That
is no business of yours. Tell me what
have to pay and give me the watch" :"
Not 50 fast" said the young man;
you must answer one or two questions
first
He went away, and after whispered
contamination returned with a gray
bearded old man, who was polite, but
firm.
Il am sorry. madam. but ! cannot al
low you to redeem this pledge until
You inform me how this ticket came
into your possession
81 found it," said Alice.
"Allow me to inform you, then" said
the pawnbroiler, stcrnly, "that you
are committing a very grave olfcnse.
by attempting to obtain the watch
you lay yourself open to criminal pro-
ceedings."
But" said Alice, II am friend of
he gentleman to whom the watch
belongs"
Come, come" replied the man. that
won't do at all. A gentleman who
called himself Mr.. IIamlyn was here
about an hour ago endcavoring to get
the watch himself"
"Mr. Hamlyn been here this morn
ing!" cried Alice. She had never sus-
pccted that he would be able to redeem
his watch so soon.
"Better send for Il policeman sug-
gested the assistant.
Hold your tongue" said his master.
Then. turning to Alice Valentine. he
said: Il do not wish to he hard upon
you, but | insist on an explanation. /
will send over to the address on the
ticket, and if your story is true, Mr..
llamlyn will corroborate it. Harvey,
send the boy over to Queens Bench
walk and ask Mr.. Hamlyn to come here
immediately"
"Mr lIamlyn coming here" cried
-\lice, ungnardedly. "Oh. | must &C
at once"
81 cannot allow it," said the pawn,
broker. "iou must wait. If you re.
fuse | have no option but to call a po-
liccman."
If looks could kill the pawnbroLcr
would have died on the spot. as Alice
with the air of Il tragic queen. submit.
ted TO the indignity of being escorted
to the back parlor. while Harvey kept
watch and ward over her.
4 quarter of an hour later Eyerar6
lIamlyn jumped out of hanson and
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 tho
passage way by Harvey. who had beer
awaiting his arrival with keen inter
est.
There's woman in here" he said
| pointing to the parlor. "whO says she:
Il friend of yours, and has found youl
| pawn ticket. but i"
"Out of the way" cried Hamlyn
thrusting the otIicious young man OF
one side and rushing into the room.
"Alice, by all that's wonderful!" h,
exclaimed, and then. seeing that he
! bosom was helvin@ convulsively, he pu
his arm around her and inquired ten
derly what had happened.
"They have been so rude and insult
ing" she sobbed.
Hamlyn waited no further explana
tion, but. scizing Harvey by the throat
he shook him until the unfortunat
! youth had not a breath in his body
Then, turning on the older man, h
cried sternly: "What do you mean b.
insulting this lady?'
The pawnbrolcr. discovering hi