Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-09-08
CHAPTER vI.-continued.

"
CHAPTER VI.-Continued.
In the middle of the block, sunk a
little back from the fronts OF the
Others, the goldsmith's shop showed
"a single, filmed window; and the pale
glow through it proclaimed that the
worker in metals preferred another
light to the suns. The threshold was
worn to a hollow that surprised the
foot; and the interior into which 1t
He'd them gloorned sc suddenly around
them after the broad sunlight, that it
was a moment before they made out
the little man behind the counter, sit
ting hunched up on a high stool.
"Hullo, joe" said Harry, in the
same voice that hailed his friends on
the street corners; but the goldsmith
only nodded like a nodding mandarin,
as if, without looking up, he took
them in and sensed their errand. lie
wore a round, blue Chinese cap drawn
lover his crown; a pair OF strange
goggles like a mask over his eyes, and
his little body seemed to poise as
lightly on his high stool as a wisp, as
If there were no more flesh in it thar
In his long. dry fingers that so mar
~velously manipulated the metal. Save
for that glitter of gold on his glass
plate, and the grin of a lighted brazier
all was dark, discolored and cluttered
Over everything was spread a dim
mess of age like dust. 1t envelopee
the little man behind the counter, no
with the frailness that belongs te
human age, but with that weathered
polished hardness which time brings
to antiques of wood and metal, In
deed, he appeared SO like a carved
idol in a curio shop that Flora was
little startled to find that he was look
ing at her.
Harry" she murmured to Greasy
who was stirring the contents OF
box with a disdainful forefinger, "thi
aittle man gives me the shivers."
"Old Joe?" Harry smiled indulgent
,ly. He's a queer customer. Bee
quite a fgurehead in Chinatown for 2
years. Say, Joe, heap bad!" and wit
the back Of his hand he ficked til
tray away from him.
The little man ~undoubled his knee
and descended the stool. He stoo
breast-high behind the counter. H
dropped a lack-luster eye to the boz
"Velly NICE" he murmured wit
g falling infection.
ooh, rotten!" Harry laughed at hin
"You no like?"
mo. No like. You got somethin
selse-something nice?"
mo" 1t was like a door close
DIN the face of their hope-that fallin
infection, that blank of vacuity thu
settled over his face, and his who
dropping figure. He seemed to |
only mutely awaiting their departul
to climb back again on his high stoe
But Harry still leaned on the countt
and grinned ingratiatingly. "Oh, 10
you good fen. You got somethir
pretty-maybe?"
The curtain of yacuity parted just
ecrack-let through a CLEAN OF inten'
intelligence. Maybe" The gol
smith chuckled deeply, as II Hair
had unwittingly perpetrated some jol
some particularly clever con1urel
trick. He sided out behind the cou
ter, past the grinning brazier, al
sshufled into the back Of the sh'
where he opened a door.
Flora had expected a cupboard, b
the vista 1t gave upon was a lor
black, incredibly narrow passage, th
stretched away into gloom with
the suggestion Of distance Of a 70
going over a horizon. Down this t
goldsmith went, with his straw 81
pers clapping on his heels, until |
small figure merged in the gloom a
presently disappeared altogether, a
only the faint fiipper-lap of his 81
pers came back growing more a
more distant to them, and finally (
ing into silence. In the stiffness tt
followed while they waited they cot
hear each other breathe.
Then came the fipper-lap Of t
gOldSmltnS Shippers IeluFHiHS. 4
sound snapped their tension, and II
ny laughed.
Lord knows how far he went
get III"
Across the streetg Flora W
dered.
cor under 1t. And it won't be wo
two bits when it gets here"
peered at the little man coming
ward them down the passage, fiappi
and shufiing, and carrying, held
fore him in both hands, q square, d.
little box,
1t was a worn, nondescript box Il
he set down before them, but
Jealous way he had carried 1t had $
wasted treasure. and Flora leaned g