The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-24

RS57zss.SI OF the stock was almost as old
EEkAasI as the building itself A wealth
er stained board Of faded blue bore in
furnished gold lettering the name of its
owner. and under this were two broad
windows divided by squat door, open
on week days from 8 in the morning
until at night Within. the shop was
dark and had a musty odor.
On either side Of the quaint old
house was a butchers and q bakers
Haunting places of business, raw in
their newness. Between the first
named establishment and the book
shop a low, narrow passage led TO
small back yard and to a flight Of
Shiny steps, down which clients who
did not wish to be seen could arrive
at kind of cellar to transact business
with Aaron Norman.
This individual combined two dis
tinct trades On the ground floor he
sold secondhand books; In the cellar
he bought jewels and gave money on
the same to needy people. In the shop,
pale youths, untidy, abstracted old
men, specialized girls and all varieties
of the pundit caste were to be seen
porting over ancient volumes or ex-
changing words with the proprietor
But to the cellar came fast young men,
aged spendthrifts, women of no repu-
tation and some who were very re-
spectacle indeed. These usually came
at night, and In the cellar transactions
would take place which involved much
money exchanging hands. In the
daytime Mr.. Norman was an innocent
bookseller. but after he retired
to the cellar and became as genuine
a pawnbroker as could be found in
London Touching books he was easy
enough to deal with, but q Shylock
as regards jewels and money lent.
With his bookish clients he passed for
a dull shopkeeper who knew little
about literature; but in the under
ground establishment he was spoken
Of by those who came to pawn as
usurer of the worst. In an underhand
way he did a deal of business
1t was this strange man that Paul
Beeeot encountered in the doorway OF
the Gwynne street shop the day after
his meeting with Hay. Many a visit
had Paul paid to that shop and not al
ways to buy books. Norman knew him
very well, and, recognizing him in
fleeting look as he passed through the
doorway, smiled weakly. Behind the
counter stood Bart Tawsey, the lean
underling, who was much sharper with
buyers than was his master, but after
a disappointed glance in his direction
Inn m 10
seller. II wish TO see you particular
ly." he said, with his eager air.
81 am going out on important bust
ness said Norman, but if you will
not be very long
ITS about a brooch l wish to pawn"
The old mans mouth became hard
and his eyes sharper. Il can't attend
to that now, Mr.. Beecot," be said. and
his voice rang out louder than usual.
after T."
IT'S only 6 now" said Paul, looking
over his shoulder at a church clock
which could be seen clearly in the pale
summer twilight. Il can't wait"
We'll. then. as you are an old Gus
tOmer-of books" said Aaron. with en-
phasis. "I'll stretch a point. You can
go below at a quarter to I, and I'll
come round through the outside pas
sage to see you. Meantime I must go
about my business" and he went away
with his head hanging and his solitary
eye searching the ground as usual.
Paul, in spite of his supposed hurry,
was not i'll pleased that Aaron had
gone out and that there was an idle
hour before him. He stepped lightly
into the shop. and under the fiaring
gas-which was lighted. SO dark was
the interior of the shop in spite of the
luminous gloaming-he encountered the
smile of Barty. Paul. who was SEN
sitiYe and proudly reticent, grew red.
He knew well enough that his appar-
ent admiration of Sylvia Norman had
attracted the notice of Bart and of the
red armed wench, Deborah Junk. who
was the factotum Of the household.
Not that he minded. for both these
servants were devoted to Sylvia and
knowing that she returned the feelings
of Paul said nothing about the posi-
ton to Aaron. Beecot could not afford
to make enemies of the pair and had
no wish 10 do So They were coarse
grained and common. but loyal and
kindly of heart
Got any new books. Bart?" asked
Beecot coming forward with rowing
eyes. for he hoped to see Sylvia glide
out OF the darkness TO bless his hungry
eyes.
mo. sir. We never get new books. -
replied Bart smartly. ''Leastways
there's a batch of secondhand novels
published last year. But bless you,
Mr. Beecot, there amt nothing new
about them 'cept the bindings"
You are severe. Bart. 1 hope TO be
a novelist myself"
we need one, sir. For the most
part them as write now amt novelists.
If that means telling anything as IS
new. But ! must go upstairs, sir.