The San Francisco call., 1906-09-02

man who pawned II. The toy
itself was simply two balls placed to-
gether; the top ball, a small one. was
the head. masked with a quantity
painted face Of porcelain and sur
mounted by a pagoda-shaped hat jingl-
ing with tiny gohden bells. The large
ball below was the body. gayly tinted
10 initiate the oflciai dress of great
Chinese. lord. and therefrom two little
arms terminating in porcelain hands.
exquisitely finished even TO the long
nails. protruded in a most comical
fashion. Weighted dexteriously with
in. the mandarin would keelsover this
side and that. to perilous angle, but
he never went over altogether. When
set in motion the big. ball would roll,
the arms would wag. and the head nod
gravely, ''ttle red tongue thrusting
itself out ~ every bow. Then the
golden bells would chime melodiously.
and. rolling, wagging. nodding, the
mandarin made all who beheld him
laugh with his innocent antics. He
was worthy. in all his painted beauty,
TO be immortalized by Hans Andersen.
A very pretty toy?" said HaEar. as
the quaint thing tipped itself right and
left front and back. 1T comes from
China. ] suppose?"
She asked this question Of the GUS
toner who demanded &c on the figure;
but in place Of answering her he burst
out into hosrse laugh and leered un-
pleasantly at the girl
Comes from other side of Nowhere.
reckon. missus.' he said. in a coarse
voice; and bloomin rum piece of
goods tbs, anyhow
Hagar ci6 not like the mans looks at
all. although she was by no means ex-
acting on the score of personal beauty
specially with regard to the male
sex SulI. there was something brutal
about this fellow which revolted her
every sense. He had bullet head, with
a crop Of closely cut hair. a clean
shaven face OF blue-biack dirty hue
where the beard had been removed; a
low forehead, a snub nose, large,
Ugly mouth and two cunning gray eyes
which never looked any one straight in
the face. This attractive gentleman
wore 2 corduroy suit. red linen hand
lsrchiof round his throat and a fur cap
with earhaps on his head. Also he
coTried small black pipe between his
teeth and breathed therefrom an at
mosphere Of the vilest tobacco. Ger,
tainly the toy was queer. but the mar
was eueerer. Not at all the sort OF
person likely to be in possession OF Sc
delicate a work of Chinese art and
fancy
Where did you get this?" demanded
Hagar. drawing her black brows to-
gether and touching with one finger
the swaying mandarin.
It's all on the square, missus,'
grcwled the man in an injured tone
Il didn't prig the blessed thing, IL
that's yer lay. A pal O. mine as is a
sailor brought it from Lord-knows-
where an guv it to me. wants. rhino
! do so II you kin spring two quid-"
"Tu give you twenty shillings," said
Hagar, cutting him short.
"Oh, my bloomins eyes. If this afn'i
robbery an blue murder whined the
man: twenty beb, Why, the fun you
gifts oht OF IT'S worth more-'
That's my oner-take il or leave it
I don't believe you came honestly by
it. and Tn running a risk in taking 1t.
Sling US the blunt. then" said the
customer sullenly; .ft's the likes oi
you as srinds down the. likes of me
Yah, you an yer preachin'p
IN whose name am to make .ou
the ticket?" asked Hasar eold1y.
3 In the name OF Mr.. William Smith
Larky Bill they calls me. but tain
hettikit TO put hendearin' famil,
names on. pawn tickets. / lives il
sawder alley. whitechapel:"
why din't you go no a nearer pawn
shop, then?' said Hagar. taking dowi
Mr.. smiths address. without smiling a
his would-be wit.
That's my biz. retorted Bill, scowl
ing. Ere gimme the tin; an dom
you ask no questions am you won't b
toP no lies. Dye see?"
Hsgar stamped her foot. Here
the money and the ticket Take your
self and your insolence out of my shop
Quick"
I'm gitting,"' growTed the man
shutting toward the door. See ere
missus. comes for that doll in thre
months. or it may be fosr. II it ain
all right an 'anded UP to me. proper
I'll break your neck"
What's that you say" Hagar wa
over the counter and close at hand b;
this time. Larlxy BIZ stared open
anouthed at her spirit You ssay an
other word, my jailbird." said Hagar
seizing his ear. and I'll put you int
the gutterv
"Lordyl what domain muttere
Bill, rubbing his ear when he foun'
himself outside. Shell look arter tn
toy proper. Three months Text" h
raped his thumb nail against hi
teeth. \ can't get less from III
beak but I've bested Monkey. any
how"
And with these enigmatic words Nj