The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-05-27

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value Of money and the art of driving
good bargains. Otherwise she was un-
cultured, and uneducated, although, 10
speak truly, she had a considerable
knowledge of pictures and china OF
gems and silverwaTe. But a schOOlbOy
knew more than she did as regards
bCokish information. She was ignorant
OF geography, as that science had been
taught neither in the gypsy camp nor in
the Lambeth pawHshop. China was to
her-ware, and not a vast empire of
the east. But when the third customer
came to pawn an idol of sea green jade
Hagar learned something concerning
the Celestial kingdom.
The man was a sailor, with a coarse
face Redeemed by wind and salt water.
and two twinkling blue eyes, which
peered at her shTewdly from under
shaggy eyebrows He had strong white
teeth, which glistened through a heavy
mustache, a head Of fair curly hair
and a heavily built figure well sup
ported on StalwdTt legs. His rough
trousers Of blue serge, his black pilot
jacket with brass buttons. and his
gaudy loose cravat were all redOlent of
Inc ocean wave. Rings OF gold in his
large red ears added to his queer as
poet; and he rolled into the shop like
one to whom the firm earth is strange
after the swinging and pitching of d
ship
This mariner cast uneasy glanCes
over his shoulder as he entered the
shop. and finally swung into one Of
the sentry boxes like a vessel coming
TO anchor. Here he took off his gold
banded cap and wiped his rough brow
With q red handkerchief of Chinese
silk. Hagar, with her hands resting
lightly on the counter. waited for him
70 speak, and was rather surprised
when he still kept silent, and still con-
tinued to glance over his shoulder in
the direction Of the door. Finally she
lost patience
We'll, what can I do for you?" she
asked. sharply
The mariner leaned across the coun-
ter and spoke in a hOarse voice like
the roaring of waves. Nathaniel Prime
Il my name. miss" he said. almost in
whisper. Nat fur short. and I'm third
mate on board a tea ship as trades
from HOngkOng TO LOndOns port and
back agin."
Wei, Mr. Prime" said HaEar, as he
paused, what do you want?"
Nat pulled a small parcel wrapped
in a blue check handkerchief out of his
pocket and pumped it on the coun-
ter I've a small article here. miss.
as wants to lodge with you fur safe
keeping"
oh" said Hagar. adapting this
speech TO her own ideas. you want to
pawn something. What is it?r
HagaT drew back. What gibberlsh
are you talking2" she asked frovn-
ing
ITS Kwan-tai-thats what it is,
miss"
Chinese" replied the mariner
promptly. "KwaE-tai is the sod of war
i'm China, miss. This'-he unroIled the
handkerchief and displayed a particu-
larry ugly Idols his image. got It
from his temple i'm the street of the
a in, los
IL, miss-bUt wait bit He rolled
back to the door, stepped out onto the
pavement, and looked 10 right and left.
Apparently he was satisfied with this
survey for with a COmplacent whistle
he returned TO continue the converse
ton. II thought that blamed China
man might be arter me-" said he, slip
ping plug Of tobacco into his capa-
ciOuS mouth. he'd knife me like Die TO
get that ID thing there"
Knife YOU, man. What do you
mean"
why said Mr.. Prim. this China
d-l-Yu-yi1g Is his name-wants to cit
that there god, SO, as I don't want
bowie exploring my inside, 7 think it's
good biz to leave it with you for safe
keeping"
Hagar put down the idol and stepped
back SO you want to transfer the
danger TO me-" she said dryIy. NO.
thank you, take that ugly thing away
Now. don't YOU make any mistake.
miss said Nat pushing back the idol
in his turn. 'Yu-yiHg don't know as
I'm on this lay. All I wants is to leave
Wwan-tai in this here shop for week
There amt no danger in that
Hagar picked up the god again and
considered. It was a revolving ugly
figure carved out of green jade and
had diamonds for eyes, crossed legs. I
and two large. fan-liISe hands resting
on a pTOtUbeTant stomach. Not a de-
Sirable article to possess save as a
curiosity; but no doubt it had some
sacred significance in the almond eyes
Of Yu-yinE: hence his desire to obtain /
it, even at the cost Of a mans life. For f.
q moment or two HagaT hesitated as
To- taking Kwan-tai i'm pawn: but as
-. re seemed 10 be no immediate dan
ser, and might not be any. she resolved /
10 trade. Hagar' was SO far Hebraic F.
that she never lost the chance of max I
ing a bargain: but then. according to .
some folk, the ROmany are one of the .
ten lost tribes.
I'll give YOU 50 shnlings on it, she F.
said. abruptly
Thirty bob IL IS" aSsented Nat .
promptly "as all I want is to leave this f.
ere idol IN your digginSs fur safety. .
IF twas paWning. I guess thirty quid .
I'D be nearer my price. I reckon that /.
there piece OF jade is worth POO .
DOu0QS-
I don't know the market value of .
jade" ret0Tted HagaT impaUentIy +
All my business with you is 10 lend .
money on the thing. It's 50 shilfngs or
nothing
Don't I tell YOU it's a deaI2'' said
Mr.. Prime, shifting the quid of to- +
bacco to the other side Of his mouth .
Give us scratch of the pen TO say
as you've got kwan-tai i'm charge"
Name and address," demanded Ha-
gar making out the ticket.
Nathaniel Prime. mariner. 20 Old .
Cloe street, Docks said the sailor 1t /
Is pub, Y know. miss-the Nelson.
I'll stand you a drink if you looks me /
up. and proud TO do it fur a slav-up f.
gal like yourself"
Here's the ticket and the money.
Mr. Prime. # that's all your business.
g-af ont sharDuf