Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-09-07

snia1 back yard and to a fight or
Shiny steps. down which clients who
did not wish to be seen could arrive
at a kind of cellar to transact business
with Aaron Norman.
This individual combined two dis
tinct trades. On the ground floor he
sold secondhand books; i'll the cellar
he bought jewels and gave money on
the same to needy people. In the shop.
pale youths, uEtidy, distracted 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
| pawnbroker as could he found in
London Touching books he was easy
enough TO deal with, but Shylock
as regards jewels and money lent.
| With his bookish clients he passed for
a dull shopkceper who knew little
| about literature: but in the under
| ground establishment he was spoken
| of by those who came to pawn as Il
| uSurer of the worst. In an underhand
| way he did a deal of business.
this Strnnua man that poui
Beecot encountered in the doorway of
| the Gwynne street shop the day after
his meeting with Hay. Many visit
had Paul paid to that shop and not al
ways to buy books. Norman knew him
very well. and, recognizing him in a
fleeing 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
disappointed glance in his direction
seller. Il 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 u brooch wish to pawn"
The old mans mouth became hard
and his eyes sharper. Il can't attend
to that now, Mr.. Beecot," he said. and
his voice rang out louder than usual.
After ~
ITS only 6 now" said Paul, looking
over his shoulder at church clock
which could be seen clearly in the pale
summer twilight. II can't watt
well. 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 quarter to Z, and III
come round through the outside pas
sage to see you. Meantime l must &C
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 Ill pleased that Aaron had
gone out and that there WIS an idle
hour before him. He stepped lightly
into the shop, and under the fiarine
gas-which was lighted, so dark was
J the interior of the shop in spite of the
luminous gloaming-he encountered the
, smile of Barty. Paul. who was sen
sitive and proudly reticent. grew red
: He knew well enough that his appar
ent admiration of Sylvia Norman haC
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 thes.
servants were devoted to Sylvia anC
knowing that she returned the feeling:
of Paul said nothing about the posi-
ton to Aaron. Beecot could not affort
to make enemies of the pair and ha,
no wish to do so. They were coars'