The Washington times., 1906-03-04

After half an hours wandering about
I stumbled across a curio shop. .. weird,
dim. and dusty. musty old curio shop
with stuffed peacocks hanging from
the ceiling, ami skulls, and bronzes
and marbles. paintings. tarnished Jew
elry and ancient armoT, rare books in
vellum, small arms. tapestry. pastimes,
plaster masks, and musical instru-
nents. recalled to mind the shop Of
the dealer in antiquities in BalZac's
la Peau de Chsgr1n." and glanced
about mot without a shiver) for the
fatal ass skin. q forgot that I was
wearing it myself that nightD I was
something Of a collector OF antiquities,
Of the inanimate kind, and for time
I became lost in ation-specuIa-
tion rather agreeable Of its kind 7
liked 10 con1ure up in fancy the vari-
Gus. scenes through which these curios-
tiles had drifted in their descent TO
this demi-pavnshop; the brave men
and beautiful women, the clangor Of
tocsins. the haze of battles, the glitter
.f bathrooms. epochs, and ages. What
romance lay behind the satin slipper?
What grande dame had smiled behind
that ivory fan? What meant that tar
piSaed silver mask
The old French proprietor was svi-
IDENTIFY all things from = paWnbroker TO
an art collector; for most OF the Jew
elry was in excellent order. ana the
pictlIres possessed value far beyond tue
intrinsic He was waiting upon =
customer, and the dingy light tnat
shone down on his bald bumpy head
mad, IL look for all the world like an
iU-used billiard ball. He was exhibit
ing TeVolVerS.
From the shining metal of the small
arms, my glance Travelled 10 the face or
the prOspe otive buyer. 1t was an in
teresting ItCe. Clean-cutr beardless, en-
ergetfc but the mouth impressed me as
being rather hard Doubtless he felt
the magnetism of my scrutiny, for he
suddenly looked around. The express
sion of his face was not one to induce
me to throw my arms around his neck
and declare [ should be glad 20 make
his acquaintance. 1t was scowL he
was in evenins dress, and / could see
that he knew very well how 70 wear II
All this was but momentary. lie took
up a revolver and balanced It on his
palm.
BY and by the proprietor came
siding along behind the cases, the
slip-sIip fashion OF his approach in
forming me that he wore slippers
do you keep costumes? asked.
Anything you like, Sir, from a
crusader to q modern gentleman.
with grim and appropriate irony.
What is it you are in sea- ch of-a
masquerade costume?
Only a gray mask, nsWered-
'I am going to a masked ball to-
night as a Gray Capuchin, and 1 want
a mask that Will match my robe"
Your wants are simple"
From a shelf he brought down a
box, took off the cover, and left me
to make my selection. Soon found
what 1 desired and laid It aside, wait
ing for Monsieur Friard to return.
Again I observed the other customer
There is always a mystery to be
solved and a story to be told
when a man makes the purchase
of q pistol in pawnshop. A
man who buys a pistol for the sake
of protection does so in the light of
day, and in .fsa proper place, a gun
shop. He does not haunt the pawn
broker fn the dusk OF evening. Wen.
it was none o. my business: doubt
less he knew what he was doing
coughed suggestively, and Friard
come slipping in my direction again.
This is what want. How much ?'
inquired.
(CentInued on Page 10. This Section. }