The San Francisco call., 1906-08-12


~ /H Bolker, the misshapen
w E imp who was Hagars
factotum and the plague
Of her life. With her clear brain and
strong viii she could manage most
people but not this deforned street
arab. whose nature seemed to be COM
lDounded OF all that was worst in
human beings. He lied freely. he alb
scented himself from the shop when he
had no business to do so, he even stole
little things when he thought it was
safe TO run the risk with so vigilant a
mistress; but notwithstanding all these
vices Hagar kept him as servant. Her
reason was that he possessed three re-
deeming virtues; he was an excellent
watchdog. he was admirable at clinch-
ing bargains and he was cunning
enough not to lose his situation. Clever
servants have been retained by mis-
tr1stful mistresses for less reasonable
qualities.
When Hsgsr went out on business
which she frequently did-Bolker
stayed TO look after the shop and to
receive such customers as might pre-
sent themselves. To these he gave as
little as he possibly could on the ar
ticles they wished to pawn; and when
Hagar returned he had usually some
tales TO tell OF excellent business hav-
ing been transacted for the good of
the shop. Then Hagar would reward
him with q little money and Bolker
would take unauthorized leave TO mis-
snndHrs hfsaNSelf camera llzy n the
ceeds- The programme never varied.
One day Hagar returned late in the
evening. having been in the country
on an excursion connected with q cop
per key. This adventure will be re-
lated another time, for the present
story deals with the strange episode
OF the silver cruci6x. II was this ar
ticle which Bolker had ready to show
Hagsr when she entered the pawnshop
at s o'clock
See here, missusT said BoIker,
pointing 70 the wall at the back of
the shop; there's a fine thing 1 got
Tor you-cheap"
1t may be here remarked that Bolker
p. had been 10 school, and having a re-
markedly clever brain as a seton
against his deformed body, he had sue
ceedeo in gaining certain amount OF
learning and also a mode of speaking
as regards both dicUon and accent
much above the ordinary conversation
OF his class. Proud of this superiority
the clever imp spoke always slowly and
10 the point, so that he might preserve
his refined speech.
Dirt cheap, missus." added Bolker
who used vulgar words when excited
ard he was so now. Ten pounds l lent
on il: the silver itself is worth more
than that"
oh, / can always trust your judg-
Ucnf in these - laughed g a ga p
AID took down the crucihx to examine
II more particularly
Il was over q foot long. made OF re-
flned silver now somewhat tarnisheC
from neglect and exposure to the air
and the workmanship was peculiarly
Ine and delicate. The figure Of the
Christ crowned with a thorn wreatf
was exquisite. and the arms of tn.
cross itself, .enchased with rabesqu'
patterns, were beyond all praise from
an artistic point OF view. Altogethe1
this silver crucihx. obtained by tn,
crafty Bolker for fl0-a sum great,
below its real valUe-was a remark
ably fine sample Of renaissance work
manship in the style of Cellini. LearneC
in such things. Hagar. even in the yel
- low glow OF the badly lighted lamp
saw its ma gnifcence and worth at
glance. She patted Bolkers red heat
Of hair with approval
Good little man." she said, in
pleased tone. You always do vel
when I am out Of the shop. There i
half a crown. Co ane enjoy yourself
but don't make yourself sick witt
smoking a pipe as you did last time
my boy But one moment" she added
who pawned this?"
"cenams Barda, 1877 Saffron Hill"
"A Italian woman. Like enough, a
the cruci7x is of the renaissance" sal,
rnrEfnc1rr -. 1sl.
Bolker?"
-oh, q fine. handsome girl" replies
Bolker, leerlng in a man about towi
style; Black hair and eyes the same
just like yours, missus only ! CUES
you're the finer woman. Here-don'
You box my ears" shouted tho imp
wriggling out Of Hagars grip. "or
shan't teh you what / found OUT"
About the. crucifx?" asked Hagar
dropping her hands.
Yes. 'Tain't a erucihx; it's dag
ger"
a dsgger you young fool! wha
are you taking"
Sense, missus-ss I always do. Lool
here, IL you don't believe me-
Bolker toek the presumed crucifx Il
his lean, small hands. and with def
fingers he touched a concealed sprini
set where the four arms OF the eros
Joined. At once the lower and Ionge
arms, with the silver Christ attaches
thereto, slid down, and lol the eros
was changed into slender and shar
pointed poniard, the handle Of whic
was formed by the upper arms and the
SO 10 speak, hsft of the cross. TIL
symbol OF Cnrist, OF peace, of faith haJ
become a deadly and dangerous weapo
Of bloodshed. HaEar was so startle
that Bolker, the discoverer, grinned
It's fine. amt it?" he said, gioatiny
over the shining blade 1T would sticl
q man like fun: I dare say it's beeI
through lots. Ny eye. what larksw
The JOY OF the boy was so grim an,
unnatural that Hagar snatched tn
crucihx-or rather the poniard, as 1
was now-fronl his grasp. and pushe,
him out OF the shop with the sharl
command that he was to put up th
shutters. When he had done so an,
all was safe for the night he wen
away TO enjoy himself with his hal
crown. while Hsgz carried the newi,
pawned article into the back parlor I,
examine 1t anew as she ate her fruga
supper. The crucifx, which was a
once q symbol of peace and war, at
tracted her strangely.
why did il possess these dual char
scteristics, To what end had IL
maker placed in the hands of priest
thfs deadly and concealed weapon Tn