The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-07-22

~ HAS been explained otherwhere
how. Hagar Stanley. against her
own interests. took charge Of the
pawnshop and property Of Jacob
Dix during the absence Of the right
ful heir. She had fun control Of
everything by the terms of the
viii. Jacob had made many good
bargains in his life. but none bet
ter than that which had brought him
Ragar for a slave-Hagar. with her
strict sense OF duty. her upright
nature and her determination toAact
honestly, even when her own interests
were at stake. Such a character was
almost unknown to the denizens OF
Carbys Crescent.
Nark the lawyer. thought her a
fool Firstly. because she refused TO
make nest egg for herself out Of the
estate; secondly because she had sur
rendered a fine fortune to benefit
man she hated; thirdly. because she
declined to become Mrs. Nark. other
wise she was sharp enough-too sharp.
the lawyer thought. for, with her keen
business instinct and her faculty for
organizing and administering and un-
derstandinR. he found II impossible to
trick her in any way. Out of the Dix
estate Eark received his due fees. and
no more. which position was humiliat-
ing TO man Of his intelligence.
Hagar. however. minded neither
Nark nor any one else. She advertised
for the absent heir. she administered
the estate and carried on the business
OF the pawnshop, living in the back
parlor meanwhile. after the penurious
fashion of her late master. 1t had been
a shock 10 her to learn that the heir
OF the old pawnbroker was none other
than Goliath. the red-haired sutton who
had forced her to leave the gypsy
camp. Still her honesty would not per-
nit her to rob him OF his heritage. and
she attended to his interests as though
they were those OF the man she loved
best In the world. When Jimmy Dix,
alias Goliath, appeared to claim the
property Hagar intended TO deliver up
all TO him and leave the shop as poor
as when she entered IL. In the mean
time, as the months went by, Hagar
minded the shop, transacted business,
and drove bargains. Also she became
the heroine OF several adventures, such
as the following:
During Z June twilight she was sum
moned TO the shop by a sharp rapping,
and on entering she found a young
man waiting TO pawn a book which
he held in his hand He was tall, slim,
fair-haired and blue-eyed, with a
clever and intellectual face, lighted by
rather dreamy eyes. Quick at reading
physiognOmies, Hagar liked his ap-
pearance at the first glance, and.
moreover admired his good looks.
Il wish TO get some money on this
book" said the stranger in a hesitat-
ing manner, a flush invading his fair
complexion; could 'you-that is, will
you" He paused in confusion and
held out the book. which Hagar took
in silence.
It was an old and costly book over
which a 'bibliomaniac would have
glOated-
The date was that Of the fourteenth
century. the printer a famous Floren-
tine publisher OF that epoch; and the
author was none other than one Dante
Alighieri, poet not unknown to fame
In short. the volume was a second edi-
tion OF La Divina Commedia,' eX-
tremely rare, and worth much money
Hagar. who had learned many things
under the able tuition of Jacob. at once
recognized the value OF the book; bui
with .keen business lnstinct-notwith
standing her prepossession concerning
the young man-she began promptly L
disparage IL.
4 don't care for old books" she said
Offering IL back to him. Why not take
1t to a second hand bookseller"
Because / don't want TO part with 1t
At the present moment I need money
as you can see from my appearance
Let me have IS on the book until L car
redeem st."
Hagar, who already had noted thu
haggard looks of this customer and thu
threadbsre quality OF his apparel, laiC
down, the Dante with a bang. Il can
give f5, she said bluntly. The bool
isn't worth itr
Shows how much you know of sucl
things. my girl 1t Is a rare edition o.
a celebrated Italian poet, and it Il
worth over 900"
Really" said Hagar dryly. I'm tina
case. why not SELF"
Because 1 don't want to. Give m,
a." 4
No; faur is ell that can advance
-Four ten" pleaded the customer
-Four" retorted the memorable Ha
gar. "Or else-
She pushed the book toward him with
one finger. Seeing that he could ge
nothing more out Of her, the yount
the e." he said, gloomily. Il nigh
have guessed that a Jewess woulC
grind me down to the lowest"
Il am not a Jew. but a gypsy" re
pied HaRar, making out the ticket.
"A gypsy said the other, peerinI
into her face. And what is a Roman.
lass doing In this Levitieal tabernacle?
That's my business retorted Ha
gar, CURLY. Name and address,
"Eustace Lorn, ~ Castle road" sait
the young man. giving an address nea
at hand. But / say-if you are tru
Romany you can talk the Gallo jib."
i talk II with my kind, young man
not with the Gentiles."
But ] am a Romany Rye"
I'm not a fool. young man
Romany Ryes don't live in cities 70
choice"
Nor do gypsy girls dwell in pawn
shops, my lassT'
-Four pounds" said Hagar, taking
no notice OF this remark; there IT is
in gold: your ticket, also-numbel
eight hundred and twenty. You car
redeem the book whenever you like, OF
paying per cent interest GooC
light"
But 1 say" cried Lorn, as he slippes
money and ticket into his pocket. -
want to speak TO you. and"
Good night SIR" said Hagar. sharp
ly. and vanished into the darkness o
the shop. Lorn was annoyed by he
curt manner and his sudden dismissal
bat as there was no help for ii. h
walked out into the street.
What a handsome girl!' was hi
first thought: and What a spitfirei
NrqS his Second