Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-16
8he Hrgus Daily Short Story
Redeemed Pledges. -By ]. Ludlum Lee.
Copyrighted 1908. by Associated Literary Press

Solomon lsaacs mad been counted a
prosperous pawnbroker for years. His
little shop. located on the corner of
busy thoroughfare. showed big
profit. while large concerns b the
neighborhood had failed during the
hard times.
Real estate sharks had made tempt
ing offers to Solomon for his precious
corner, lat he assured them all that
he was doing very well and did not
care to sell Indeed, Solomon boosted
of many fashionable customers, and
his showcases often displayed gorgeous
gems. offered for sale at temptingly
low prices
Business seldom started in until after
10 in the morning. so Solomon was
standing in the open doorway smoking
cigar when his attention was at
tracted TO fashionably dressed young
woman looking in his window. Sud
denly she caught his glance and darted
in the doorway.
Il want to get this watch out of
pawn she said as Mr. Isaacs followed
her into the shop. She handed him
the ticket.
Out early, amt you?" suggested
Isaacs as he glanced her over. wonder
ing how she had happened TO pawn Il
| watch for So. Clearly some one had
| arranged the matter fer her. Isaacs
never forgot a business face.
| He took the ticket and went to the
back of the store in search of the
pledged article. and Mia Norcross
spent the time in looking intota tempt
ing case of old jewelry. One old
locket attracted her and on his return
she asked its price.
Isaacs took out the locket slowly,
still searching the girls face. The
price seemed reasonable, and she
bought it, Turning to leave the shop
she met face TO face a huge policeman
and 1.-THE youth. Nita's heart went
out to the latter. In her imagination
she pictured the young man as way
ward and Pawning. perhaps stealing
iewelry. Surely he must be n thief. or
why his police escort? The suspected
youth looked at her sharply as he
passed into the shop, and Mia hurried
home with her purchase. Once in hel
room. she told her maid TO send the
llaundresS upstairs. She wished tC
speak to her privately.
Here is your watch. Mrs. Berry
said Mia as she handed the timepiect
TO her washerwoman, who began to
weep cop;ously on a Bingham apron
III hope you will never have 10 part
with it again. The heXt time you neet
money for sickness or any serious
trouble come TO me. Never pawn any
thing again. 1t is terrible habit,
continued Mia. Then. recalling The
picture of the handsome youth, sh,
added: 1T teaches young men where
they can get extra money and oftene
gets them into trouble than out of il
Now run along to your work and neve
think of 1t again." And Mrs. Berry
clasping the cheap yet precious watcl
of her dead husband to her heart
went back TO her tubs.
Several weeks later Nita Norcros
was invited to the clambake given a
Oak Ridge by her old friends tb
, Clydes. Mrs Clyde introduced her t
the many new friends they had me
! since moving to Oak Ridge, and 500
supper was in full swing.
Encircling the round table were thil
ty men and girls. and Mia CASUAL
looked them over. Directly opposit
she recognized new face strangel
familiar. Where had she seen tina
, man before? He had an almost impeI
= tinent smile. and, look where sh
would, their glances seemed always t
cross.
Supper was over, and the CUES
were strolling about the grounds I'll
man with the NOTWITHSTANDING fat
came up to Mia as she stood beneat
/ a clump of lanterns.
8 This is Miss Norcross. believe
he said. 81 am Mr.. Hildredth. II
I were introduced early in the evenin
:. but no doubt you did not catch N
name. Have you seen the sunken lal
Of which Clyde is SO proud?'
q Once away from the crowd, the
found a comfortable little seat alor
the waters edge, and the mooniigl
o fell clear upon them.
= Gorgeous night. isn't itg' sugges
y ed Mia. She could not explain v