Gilpin observer., 1915-08-19
The PAWNED BABY
BY vANE MERRIMAN.

ieood f1oiuilZ AoNeu ucdNlly down
The narrow aisle between the dusty
glass cases of the pawnshop and
peered up into the storm-swept
streets.
I'VE got to light the lamps about
now, papa" she said over her shoul-
| ier
| The little man huddled over a
greasy ledger at a desk near the win
dow looked up with hawk eyes.
You shouldn't be cutting on all
what light there is, Rosa" he re-
proved his wife. When l make a
footing of this here yesterdays page,
then, maybe, we shall light lamps"
Rosa moved her bulky form SO that
1t no longer obscured the window
From the basement doorway she could
look up and see many feet passing
along the sidewalk, the feet of men,
women and little children, and If it
had been light enough in the basement
Papa Hornitz might have seen his
wife's face wet with tears.
Suddenly a pair of large, mascu-
line feet, shod in well-worn galoshes,
hesitated at the top of the flight of
stone steps and then passed on.
Rosa turned toward her husband.
Cousin Lensky just went by; 1 could
70 tell his galoshes."
THE feet of a meddler," snarled
Jacob Hornitz. He dare not show
his face to me-
Papa, papa" soothed Rosa, laying
her hand on her husbands trembling
arm.
did he not steal my boy-my
Joey?"
"Ah, papa!" walled Rosa, "it was
not Lensky who stole our son. 1t was
his niece, that good for nothing Ray
Nemuss. with her fancy ways"
1T was Lensky who told Joey il
he broke his engagement to Ray her
neart would break. And even though
our hearts break from his disobedi-
ence our son marries her, and we new
sr see him." Jacobs voice cracked
drearily.
You told him never to show face
here again. And her; we hated her
for her silly ways and because we
we're jealous. Now they have moved
to Chicago-so far away" reminded
Rosa.
The door opened suddenly to admit
a customer. Jacob retired to light a
lamp over a distant counter and pre-
pared to haggle over a gold watch.
Mrs. Hornitz stood before the door
watching the feet on the sidewalk
Suddenly bulky object blotted out
the view; there was a commotion on
the stone steps and something bumped
against the door.
Out Of the storm and wet there
was propelled into the shop a baby
carriage pushed by shawl-shrouded
woman
For what" Rosa was angrily be.
ginning when the woman interrupted.
''Please-please to let me have a
dollar. on it. It's a fine carriage, al
most new and"
Wait" Rosa interrupted in her turn
and lighted a bracket lamp. She ex-
amined the carriage closely, poked its
empty depths and then nodded assent.
While she fumbled in the cash drawer
the woman pushed the carriage into a
dusky corner out of the way of a
passing customer
The transaction concluded, the WON
an clutched the dollar bill and the
pawn ticket and vanished into the
night.
Jacob was lighting the remaining
lamps that shone like dim yellow oases
in the desert gloom Of this shop.
"Times is hard, papa" observed
Rosa.
Times is always hard for some
folks" retorted Jacob as he returned
to his desk.
Times is very bad when a lady
pawns her baby carriage. Look, papa
a fine, handsome carriage, and only
dollar asked
Jacob glanced toward the corner
apd nodded. Rosa usually made a
good bargain. He sighed sharply.
Rosa Hornitz knew that he was
thinking of their son Joey, gone al.
most year. They had not seen Joey
since his marriage. Now he was in
Chicago. where Cousin Lensky had
relatives, but he had never written.
Perhaps Jacobs denunciations still
rang in his ears.
At eleven o'clock Rosa, nodding over
her knitting, lifted her head sharply.
Jacob locking up his books, stared
at her curioHsly.
What is ~" he asked.
Il thought ysu made cry, papa. -
she said meekly.
You would always hear things.
Rosa he reproved.
queer little sound came from the
darkest corner OF the shop, feeble.
half strangled cry.
Rosa and Jacob rushed from their
place and met in the middle of the
shop.
Their eyes questioned each other.
Jacob spoke first. Perspiration
beaded his forehead; he essayed a